Product Review: Simms ExStream Jacket

I bought the Simms ExStream jacket the first day I saw it. I needed something warmer than a fleece for Winter steelheading. I had a Patagonia Down Hoody that just never fit right - to get the right fit across the shoulders mean a XXL with was tent-like on the body. I've finally decided that perhaps I need to give up on Patagonia's "skinny climber" fit. At least for my body type, Simms is where it's at.

But in the past, Simms tended to fall down on cold weather gear. If you wanted to be dry, you wore Simms. And if you wanted to be warm, you wore Patagonia. I think the folks at Simms got the message loud and clear. Life isn't all trout on a sunny day in Montana. Great Lakes steelheaders face some pretty brutal conditions, and being warm really extends our season (more on that later).

The ExStream jacket fit perfectly as soon as I tried it on. Roomy across the shoulders for swinging a spey rod, yet compact in the body for extra warmth. And, like all the Simms products I've owned - the hood is awesome. It's amazing the difference a well-fitting hood makes. Provides coverage, without hampering peripheral vision or just generally getting in the way.

The exterior material of this jacket is a huge step up in durability from the Patagonia NanoPuff and Down Sweater. Far more rugged and clearly likely to handle more abuse. While I'll definitely keep the NanoPuff as my "extra layer" because it packs down so small, the ExStream is a huge step forward in durability.

A few of the key features I love in this jacket:

• Giant interior net cargo pockets: I first saw this trend in ski jackets a couple of seasons back and am happy to see it in a fishing jacket. Throw a hat, gloves, a flask, a fly box - or whatever - in here leaving the side hand pockets free. Nice.
• Sleeves that are less bulky: Makes layering ever so much simpler. It's tough to find a warmer layer that slides under others well.
• Uber-slick ripstop interior: Glides over base layer, fleece or whatever. Layers that don't play well with others are a huge pain in the ass.

In fact, I liked the jacket so much that I also picked up the ExStream pant for a warmer layering option. I purchased these for a December steelhead trip. Little did I know that highs in the 40's would make them unnecessary. Ah, well. I'm sure I'll need them.

But now for the confession - I haven't actually fished in this jacket. This year's BRUTAL cold weather has kept me off the water since the NY trip. Rivers that never freeze fully have been locked up for weeks on end. And getting motivated to spend the day on the water when they high is 3 degrees and you have a 10mph wind is pretty rough. However, the ExStream has become my go-to jacket for so many things. Warm. Windproof. Convenient. I am sure that once I get it out on the water, it won't disappoint.

-Sean-

Go-To Gear - Part I

Last night I'm walking the dog as the weather goes from rain to snow all snug in one of my primary pieces and I realize that I truly have some Go-To favorite pieces of gear. So, I thought sharing some of these items might help others find some truly cool products.

Simms Windstopper Fleece Hoody
The garment that inspired this post. After picking it up on a whim, one of the things I grab without even a thought. Despite its fairly light weight, totally windproof. Winds of 20+ with gusts to 40mph last night and I'm snug as a bug. Also fairly warm. And best of all the cut always seems just right - nicely able to layer things under it (see Patagonia Nanopuff next item), but not overly baggy. Of course, like all Simms products with hoods, the hood is freakin' awesome. Yeah, it's $250. And it's worth twice that. Just buy one. Mine's black, like it should be -- picks up some nice solar energy when the sun pops out for a little extra warmth.

Patagonia Nanopuff Pullover
One thing first -- it's Patagucci, so it isn't cheap. But the reason is simple: it works and its warm. I once had a well-known Patagonia Ambassador tell me, "When I want to be really warm in miserable weather, only Patagonia will get it done." And I have to say I concur. Mine's the ultimate insulation layer for a pretty broad range of conditions. Last Fall I spent several full 30ish degree days out swinging in the Pere Marquette river with just a base layer and my Nano on top. Warm, dry and toasty. Didn't even need a shell or other top layer. Coolest feature? It stuffs into the chest pocket making it an easy extra layer to throw in your pack. My only criticism is the standard, goofy, "you never quite know" Patagonia sizing. Mine's an XXL because I needed it across the shoulders. Definitely a garment you want to try on before you buy it. If you like this one, but need something for colder temps, try the Down Sweater Full-Zip Hoody. And, yeah, I have one of those, too. I gave the Nano the edge as I find appropriate for a broader range of conditions.

Nordica Speedmachine 10 Ski Boots
I've owned a lot of ski gear, including boots. Remember the old Hanson VF101's? Top-entry? WTF was that all about? Had a pair for several years and could NEVER get them to fit right. I've had Lange ZRs, Nordica 981's, and a few others. But nothing compares to how happy I am with these boots. Great stiffness, comfy all day, and fantastic energy transfer. They're certainly not high-end race boots - which is fine by my middle aged skiing preferences - but they've got plenty of go. While the boots were pretty great out of the box, HUGE credit goes to bootfitting wizard Rob Parent, one of the owners of Sun & Snow Sports here in Ann Arbor, MI. Rob's one of the best in the Midwest, if not the country. If you want happy feet, go see him. He spent a bunch of time on mine, including custom orthotics that made a HUGE difference worth far more than the modest cost.

Columbia Stuttgart Boots
Fishing buddy and guide extraordinaire Jon Ray turned me on to the merits of duck boots for boat-based Winter steelhead fishing. Warm. Dry. Comfy all day. What more could you want? Turns out they're even good for duck hunting -- whodda' thunk it? I have no clue if these are the best. They were on sale and they fit me great. I love 'em.

Scott A4 Fly Rods
I own two A4's -- a 6-weight and a 7-weight. They're some of my most-used sticks. 100% made in America, even have Michigan-based ownership. I like that. But what I like the best is how they improve my casting and presentation skills. My 6 is awesome for terrestrials, nymphing, dries. But when the streamers or poppers bust out for trout or smallmouth, the extra oomph of the 7 is just right. Though I have several of the previous generation A3 and even an A2, the 4 series are a definite step forward. Looking for a great rod but don't want to spend a fortune? Check 'em out.

So there you are - five of my faves. Stuff that's so good I never give it a thought. In my book, that's great gear.

-Sean-

Keep Your Head

I am follically-challenged. But, if you believe the old saw that you get your hairline from your Mother's side, it's fairly amazing I have ANY hair left. Let's just say lots of shiny noggins on that side and leave it at that.

Being a Winter outdoorsman, this means that some way to keep my melon warm is critical. There's a lot of debate among the medical community about heat loss through your head. Traditionally it's been set at 40-50% but recent research seems to suggest that may be high. Anecdotally, I find that many times when I'm cold all over, a switch to some form of head insulation makes a big difference. Conversely, when I'm too warm, shedding that hat for a few minutes helps me cool back down. I did a fair bit of this recently while floating the Pere Marquette river. Got hot while rowing, so off goes the hat. Stop to fish, hat goes back on. Perfect.

I have also fairly recently discovered that hoods do more than make your Simms Windstopper softshell hoody or your Patagonia Down Sweater hoody look cool, they also offer wind and cold protection. It seems you can actually put the hood up without looking like the Unabomber. I find hoods ideal when you need that little bit of extra warmth -- when you forgot your hat, didn't want to stop to put one on, or need a layer beyond a hat for the REALLY frigid temps. This has caused me to really consider the hood design as a key part of any garment I'm considering. How does the hood fit? Is it designed to retain good visibility when you put it up? Does it fit closely so wind doesn't just whip around inside? Can you put it up and down easily? It's surprising the number of garments that don't consider these factors. For me, I've found that three companies seem to have hoods down - Simms, Patagonia, and Arc'teryx. None of them are cheap, but you really can't put a price on the value of being warm and dry when you play outside.

For me some variety of insulated headgear is a must. but I've found a wide range of fit, warmth and other issues. My go-to is some sort of knit hat/beanie. What's interesting is that if fit is any indication, I have a gigantic cranium. Finding hats that fit is a frequent challenge. Odd, as in a fitted hat I'm a 7-5/8 -- certainly far from freakishly large.

My default setting has become Simms. My most recent addition is their Chunky Beanie (pictured above). Wool warmth with a trick fleece lining the eliminates the itch. I've also got several other prior-year Simms hats that almost all are top shelf. One suggestion I will offer -- if you find a Simms hat you like, buy a second one. They switch their patterns and styles up pretty much annually. I learned this lesson the hard way. Also, a bit on the "almost all" comment. The Windstopper flap cap is the one fail I've had from Simms. Beyond the goofy fit, I quickly figured out that you can't hear a damn thing when you have it on!  Oddly, Patagonia never seems to fit me properly -- always too small. I see Arc'teryx offers a nice selection -- I'll need to try them.

So there you go - need a lid for Winter fun? Hopefully some of these suggestions will be useful.

-Sean-

Product Review - Patagonia Stormfront Hip Pack

It seems as though the quest for the best solution for carrying fly gear on the river is never-ending. Like many, I started with the ubiquitous "River Runs Through It" vest. But it wasn't long before I realized this just isn't the best solution, as many others have. Vests are too hot in the Summer, add another pointless layer in the Winter, and are just too tempting to load down with gear up to - and including - the kitchen sink.

OK, so now what? Where do you stash some flies, tippet, flies, bug dope, sunscreen, swivels, beads, and other hardware, and a pair of nippers. I started with a used Orvis backpack. Nice if you're doing a lot of hiking (for example in Steelhead Alley) but really more than I want to carry, plus this one's not waterproof. Wade any deeper than your waist and your gear gets a soaker.

Next up is an Orvis Safe Passage sling pack. Nice bag, well-designed, sits a bit higher up so it's out of the water. Only problem is, small capacity. It's OK for trout or smallies where I don't usually carry a ton of gear, but for a steelhead outing where I need a couple boxes of bugs, several weights of tipper, and a box of hardware its overflowing pretty quickly.

At a Fly Fishing Film Tour event, I won a Patagonia hip pack. This is the first bag that showed promise. Holds a lot of stuff. Very well organized. And, lots of attachment points to keep gear accessible. One problem. Also, not waterproof.  Don't have to get too deep before it gets a soaker.

Enter the Patagonia Stormfront hip pack. PERFECT! Just the right amount of carrying capacity. Simple zippered sections combined with an enormous main compartment. Lots of external lash points. And 100% completely and totally waterproof. Expensive? Yes, but it's Patagucci. I've come to learn that it's expensive because it's better. I'm told that the burly self-lubricating zipper is a large portion of that cost.

Yesterday bouncing around the Pere Marquette swinging for steel this bag was perfect! Held two fly boxes, two spools of tippet, and an assortment of sink tips. Another bonus is that I now have a good attachment point for my Ross Pescador pliers. I waded in well over my waist a couple of times without having to swing the pack out of the way. Nice!

One warning -- the zipper is waterproof ONLY if you zip it all the way to the end. The last inch or so is a "zipper dock" that seals it completely. Not a major issue. Unless you forget it...

Thank you, Patagonia. Once again you deliver a great product that totally meets the needs of its user.

-Sean-

Dam!

What did the fish say when he swam into the brick wall?  

Dam.

With one of my favorite jokes out of the way, lets talk about dams. We're finally starting to wake up in this country and realize that altering Mother Nature wasn't such a good idea. I'm a big believer in the movement to remove dams and return river flows to their natural state. In the Western US this movement is gaining momentum rapidly. Recent efforts on the Elwha are an excellent example, and even the once untouchable Snake River dams are now up for discussion.

But then what?

My professional colleagues will know that I'm a big believer in Systems Theory. Nothing happens in a vacuum. Every action has a reaction, and cumulative reactions can sometimes cause unplanned consequences. So, when you take out a dam, what happens next?

Human nature wants to "fix it" by intervening. In this case, that means hatchery fish. But planting with hatchery fish creates its own set of problems - it's basically inbreeding and you lose much of the fish's ability to adapt to the conditions.

The more logical alternative, in my opinion, is better management of the wild population. This is where efforts like gear restrictions, tight creel limits, and other measures begin to make sense. Give the wild fish a fighting chance and you'll see how tough Mother Nature really is.

For more on this topic, here's an excellent video from Dylan Tomine - Patagonia ambassador and legendary fisherman. It's a worthwhile watch.


-Sean-

Mmmmm ... Toasty!

Patagonia is rapidly becoming a new favorite brand for me this year. I've always liked their advertising efforts, and their consisten commitment to sustainability. But I never really "got" their products. My brand association for them would have been, "green" and "expensive". I always felt the pejorative nickname "Patagucci" suited them. But that's all changed now...

This year I've added some cold weather gear from Patagonia. It started with a Nano-Puff Pullover. Then I added a Retro-X windproof fleece. And recently, I scored a deal on a Down Sweater Hoody.

I know a few folks on the Patagonia Pro Staff and all have shared a similar sentiment - "If you want to be warm in miserable conditions, it's Patagonia." And now I get it. despite its whisper thin bulk, the Nano-Puff is a super-warm insulating layer that fits perfectly and easily stows in a pocket. The Nano-Puff caused me to want the Down Sweater Hoody for super-cold situations. I was looking for a mid-layer that would deliver extreme warmth, and still fit under a shell. Found it.

Finally, the Retro-X was a bargain find at the Patagonia outlet in Dillon, Montana. I've written plenty about windproof fleeces, but this is one of the coolest I've found. The "furry" feel looks cool and draws complements, while staying very warm. It's totally windproof.

But you'll notice repetition of one phrase, "scored a deal...". This stuff isn't cheap. But now that I've got some hours in outside in my Patagonia gear, I must say that paying the price will be far less painful in the future. Every piece of Patagonia I currently have significantly exceeds my expectations. Highly recommended!

-Sean-