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The Orvis Pro
Guide Stretch Wading Jacket shields anglers from the elements
| Date: |
2/15/10 |
| Tackle type: |
Fly Apparel |
| Manufacturer: |
Orvis |
| Reviewer: |
Zander |
Total Score: 8.00 -
GREAT
Introduction:
Orvis
is well recognized for their fly fishing products and offers a complete
selection of branded fly reels, rods and line, but what the company is probably
best known for is their garments. No surprise then that the company has one of
the most popular wading jackets on the market with the Tailwaters XT, and to
follow up on that successful jacket the company hopes to up the ante with the
new Pro Guide Stretch Wading Jacket designed for hardcore anglers and
professionals that make their living spending the better part of the year on the
river.
|
Orvis
Pro
Guide
Waterproof
Stretch
Wading
Jacket
Specifications
|
|
Material |
Nylon face
with nylon
tricot
backing |
|
Colors |
Olive & Grey |
|
Features |
Waterproof
laser cut
pockets,
stretch
fabric on
shoulders,
large
waterproof
pockets for
storage, two
way
adjustable
hood,
dolphin skin
cuffs, net
snap, large
pocket for
lunch and
water |
|
Sizes |
S(34-36), M(38-40), L(42-44), XL(46-48), XXL(50-52) XXXL(54-56) |
|
MSRP |
$329.99 |
Looking for a premium wading
jacket? Orvis has a new garment for anglers looking for protection from the
elements without sacrificing comfort
Impressions:
So what are the key things you look for in a quality wading jacket? For starters
it is important to decide just what conditions you will be using it in. Whether
you plan to fish in warmer California rivers or in the middle of winter in
British Columbia will factor into just what kind of wading jacket will meet your
distinctive needs. To save money you will probably want to buy one jacket that
will be able to address the coldest possible conditions you plan to fish in.
Some jackets are big enough that they allow for layering, this is also something
to consider if you only occasionally plan on fishing in extreme environments.
Our opportunity to test the jacket
in heavy rain came when fishing for Steelhead on the Smith
The next thing to consider
is whether or not the wading jacket is really “waterproof,” most of the higher
end jackets are but many of the cheaper ones are just “water resistant” which is
ok for light rain but will do nothing to keep you dry if you encounter a
downpour. When looking at waterproof jackets it is also important to see whether
or not the garment is “breathable” as this will help you stay dry even when
sweating under the jacket.
The jacket may not be made out of
Gore-Tex but it does a great job keeping water out while remaining breathable
Finally you need to
consider the layout of the jacket itself, are the zippers located in areas that
are easy to access, is there enough storage for your fishing application and are
there attachments for you to easily add options like lanyards or possibly even a
landing net.
The Pro Guide Stretch Wading
Jacket is two tone in color...
Orvis addresses these
factors with their new Pro Guide Stretch Wading jacket. This attractive two tone
olive jacket looks
and feels premium. The very first time I put it on it felt very light and didn’t
make a lot of noise when I moved around. The surface material feels like a
normal tightly woven fabric, more like the surface of a ski jacket than a
traditional fishing jacket. Currently the jacket is available in only one color
but does come in a wide range of sizes including:
S(34-36), M(38-40), L(42-44), XL(46-48), XXL(50-52) XXXL(54-56).
The grey area is more stretchy
providing extra room in key movement areas
Real World Tests:
The only way to really test the Orvis Pro Guide Stretch Jacket was to go out and
go fishing in the rain. Unfortunately the weather didn’t cooperate for months,
not that I’m complaining about copious sunny days, but this was one time I
wanted less than ideal conditions. That opportunity finally came when Steelhead
season rolled around and we head to both the Smith and Klamath rivers for a few
weeks of fishing. I tested the jacket in a number of different applications
including fly fishing from a drift boat and wading as well as drifting roe with
spinning gear.
Inside all the seams are sealed
off
Time to get wet:
The Orvis Pro Guide Stretch Jacket is both light and comfortable to wear, and
early on I also learned that it also packs down reasonably well. This jacket is
designed more for warm water fishing as there is little in the form of lining
under the membrane, but it offers enough room inside the jacket to layer up with
a warm fleece. I would consider this jacket for all but extreme cold
applications where a thicker more heavily lined jacket is preferred.
With the cuff rolled back the
Dolphin Skin cuff becomes visible
Next Section: How does the jacket handle the rain?
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