Staying Warm on the Water - pt 3

 
Staying Warm on the Water – Part 3

Material choice is everything on the water. Not all materials are created equal, some have properties that are suited to one activity but not so much to another. For fishing in the cold when heat is at a premium, make sure you're wearing the best solution for your needs! 
 
Keeping it Natural – Down
 
Down is a great insulator, it feels instantly warm once you put it on. But once down gets wet it turns into more of a liability than an asset.  When down gets wet it saturates, mats together, and loses its ability to trap warm air. It’s not until the down is dry that it will get its beneficial properties back.  When we’re dealing with the potential of slipping into the water, soaking our arms landing a fish, and getting rained on, down may not be the best option unless you can guarantee staying dry (and you can’t).

 
Merino Wool

Moisture wicking with the ability to keep you warm while wet, we love it.  This isn’t your grandpa’s wool that is itchy, scratchy, uncomfortable and full of bad memories.  Merino wool socks (like the ones down there) offer the wicking you need to keep your feet dry, especially in waders.

Simms Women's OTC Sock	Simms Men's OTC Sock

Cotton

Run… run away as fast as you can.   If you’re looking for a comfortable track pant or sweatshirt to chill on the couch, while under a blanket, watching the snow fall from inside, all while sitting next to a roaring fire, you found a great material.  However, when it comes to being out in the cold, step away from the cotton.  There is a saying in the outdoor world: “Cotton kills”. Once cotton is damp, it holds moisture next to your skin, and holds onto it which makes you cold.  We often hear in the shop that folks think their waders are leaking after they find some dampness on their legs or their feet. Once we dig a bit deeper and ask what they’re wearing as a part of our problem-solving process, it’s usually the case that they’re wearing cotton layers.  Once we get them off cotton, they tell us they’re feeling dry and warm again!
 

Fleece

Fleece is fantastic, and we wear a lot of it.  Our favourite pant to wear in cold and extreme cold is the Simms Fjord pant (see them here).  This pant is made of non-compressible fleece that is used by Navy divers under their dry suits. This material isn’t easily compressed, it retains its loft, and is extremely warm.  We wear this as a layer under our waders while fishing, but also while ice fishing and in the duck blind, we get a ton of use out of these pants.  The only downside of the Fjord Pant is that it may be too warm for long walk-ins or milder weather.
 
There are many other fleece products available in different thicknesses and structures.  We’re here to advise you on exactly what layers and layering system will work for you, so just ask!

Patagonia R1 Fitz Roy 1/4 Zip	Simms Fleece Midlayer Top	Simms Fjord Pants

PrimaLoft

Primaloft is lightweight, packable, highly insulating, and retains its insulative qualities even when wet.  If you’ve ever wondered why the Patagonia NanoPuff are such a hit, this is why.  We’d go as far to say this is as close as you can get to down, but synthetic.   PrimaLoft has changed over the years, it has gotten better with different grades available.  If you’ve not found yourself in a PrimaLoft product, we highly recommend it as it is a perfect material for the wet conditions we find ourselves in. Primaloft can be found in all kinds of garments, see some of our favourites below. 

Patagonia Nano Puff	Simms Bulkley Bootie	Simms Exstream Hoodie

Colour Choices

It’s a well-known fact that dark colours absorb more heat.  In summer if you’re looking to stay cool, light colours are the winning ticket, but dark colours excel in keeping you warm, especially on bright days when they can absorb more light/heat.
It isn’t all about fashion, colour choice can affect how warm you are on the water.
Black, dark blue, dark grey and other dark shades are great choices for coldweather outwear.

Check out the rest of the series below!