Picture: Alex Stulce
I like fly fishing within the useless of winter. The quiet and solitude are laborious to beat, however the greatest stumbling block I hear about from of us who haven’t fly fished with snow on the bottom is staying heat.
My reply is all the time the identical: ditch the cotton and go for wool. Heck, I’d even recommend of us avoid the artificial base layers (largely polyester-based) as nicely, as a result of they’re simply inferior to wool.
Wool insulates even when it’s moist, so in case your waders spring a leak, you’re not in instant hazard of hypothermia. Simply final week I used to be on the water when my waders began leaking in a single leg. The leak was gradual sufficient that it didn’t get me too moist. Extra importantly, although, I didn’t get chilly, as a result of I had two wool layers on.
I’ll share my wool layering system right here in a second, however I actually wish to drive dwelling simply how nice wool is. It’s versatile sufficient to be used on chilly, to downright frigid, days. It’s often extra breathable than artificial base layers, and it’s about one million occasions higher than cotton in each method. Cotton has its place, positive, however not within the winter.
My love for wool has superior to the purpose that I simply purchased my first real Shetland wool sweater. Shetland wool is considered the best-insulating wool on the planet, however it’s not as gentle as merino. The scratchiness doesn’t trouble me an excessive amount of, however my spouse can’t stand it.
Shetland wool is so heat, although, that it’s the one outer layer I wore final week whereas on the water, when the temps peaked at 24F. No cumbersome jackets or vests, only a wool sweater over a easy T-shirt was sufficient to maintain the nippiness at bay.
Oh, and wool is of course odor-resistant, so you find yourself washing these items quite a bit much less. Much less laundry is all the time a win in my e book.
I may go on, however I hope I’ve made my level. Now, let’s check out the wool merchandise I firmly consider in.
These are my go-to socks. They’re thick sufficient to insulate and maintain you heat, and so they’re tall sufficient to stay out the highest of most wading boots. They don’t add an excessive amount of bulk to your waders, both, so that you shouldn’t have an issue becoming into your wading boots.
Darn Powerful ensures their socks for all times, and I’ve but to wear down a pair (though one is getting shut). It’s odd to think about socks as one thing with a lifetime assure, however Darn Powerful makes good on that promise.
I’ve used these base layer pants for nearly two winters now, and so they’ve been nice. Base layers aren’t probably the most sturdy, however the Vertx pants have held up higher than most. They’re mild, snug, and add one other layer of protection towards the chilly. I hardly ever put on a base layer on my chest, however all the time have them on my legs. Standing in chilly water, within the winter, can shortly chill you for those who’re not ready.
I do know I’ve sung the praises of those pants earlier than, however I simply can’t overstate how nice they’re. These are heavyweight merino wool, in order that they’re much more sturdy than light-weight base layers. I’ve but to destroy them, and so they get worn two to 3 occasions every week within the winter. Paired with my base layer, I’ve but to get chilly when sporting these pants.
These are the wool items I all the time rely upon. For an higher layer, any wool piece will do. My favourite—the Filson Shetland 5-Gauge Wool Sweater—isn’t in manufacturing anymore, however you’ll be hard-pressed to go flawed with any wool jacket or sweater.
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