This top-notch selection of fishing clothing is recommended by our tackle editor. It will protect you whether you face frigid winds blasting across the reservoir or grue drifting down the river.
Airflo Thermotex Pro Puffa
£79.99
Lightweight, packable, quick-drying and above all warm, puffa-style jackets have been a revelation in outdoor clothing. One drawback is that they can be expensive, but Airflo solved this with its original sub-£100 Pro Puffa jacket. It has since improved that original offering, but we’re happy to say, kept the affordable price.
The new Thermotex jacket also retains the same durable rip-stop outer shell, drawcord hood and hem, elasticated cuffs, double-zipped side pockets and a single zipped breast pocket for keys or a fly-box. The main upgrade is a quality, bombproof main zip that ensures smooth operation and high neck closure, keeping draughts out and warmth in. There’s also a colour change from blue or green to a more subtle grey with bronze lining.
The jacket’s Thermotex insulation gives warmth without bulk or weight. It is ideal as an outer layer on dry, cool days or as a superb mid-layer in colder conditions — the slick outer shell slides easily into your wading or boat jacket.
In a perfect world, a durable water-repellent finish would be more effective at shedding moisture and make it even quicker to dry, but it’s a minor point on an otherwise stylish and versatile jacket that offers excellent value for money.
Available in sizes M-XXXL.
Tel 01874 618 518 Web airflofishing.com
Patagonia Swiftcurrent wading jacket
£360
Patagonia has built its reputation on producing greener and more sustainable fly-fishing products and its new Swiftcurrent wading jacket continues that ethos. It has a 100% recycled, four-layer, 6oz, 70-denier nylon shell, which is waterproof and breathable. For added protection it has a PFC-free (perfluorinated chemicals) durable-water-repellent finish, waterproof exterior zips and recessed watertight adjustable cuffs. The whole garment is Fair Trade Certified sewn, which means money goes directly to the workers at the factory.
The large adjustable vented hood has a high integrated collar and stiff peak to protect your head and neck and is roomy enough to accommodate most headgear.
Two large but low-profile zipped chest pockets allow enough watertight storage for fly-boxes and tippet materials without too many seams or flaps for fly-lines to snag. Two zipped pockets are positioned high on the chest for deep wading and have a half-fleece lining to warm cold fingers.
Inside, there’s a 15-denier circular-knit back for added comfort, a zipped pocket for storing phones and personal items, and a mesh stow pocket. The internal zipped pocket has a handy clip-cord for keys.
The adjustable drawcord hem gives a snug fit and has a mesh retainer for quick drainage. Patagonia’s designers have purposely stripped back this jacket. There are no large zips, D-rings or flaps to catch when casting. While it might appear to lack features found on other wading jackets — with just a single tab on the right chest for attaching forceps — it has everything it needs to perform and loses nothing from its functional simplicity.
Available in Basin Green or Tidepool Blue, sizes XS-XXL.
UK contact 0800 0260 055 Web eu.patagonia.com
Orvis Men’s Pro Fishing Bib
£419
To keep warm and dry on a boat, little beats a bib-and-brace. With no gap between trousers and jacket to let in wind and rain, this one-piece design protects your back and kidney areas when you’re seated for long periods.
Orvis has taken this proven design and applied the latest technology to produce a feature-packed garment for anglers facing harsh conditions.
Its Pro bib uses the same breathable three-way-stretch Cordura and Lycra mix used in Orvis Pro waders to give outstanding waterproofing, durability and movement. With taped seams and YKK AquaGuard zips, water ingress is blocked at every point, while an adjustable three-point strap system, with buckle release on the right-hand strap, combines with a zip and press-stud side opening to allow easy entry and exit. Zipped calf openings on each leg means you can do this without the need to remove your boots.
Storage includes a large zipped chest pocket and a soft-feel tunnel pocket in which to warm your hands, with zip access on either side. Internally, two stretch drop pockets are designed to take personal items like keys and a phone, but they provide less weather protection than the waterproof front pocket — something to bear in mind.
An elasticated back panel and belt loops allow maximum movement without excessive bagginess when walking or fishing from the bank.
There’s also a waterproof zipped fly with double storm flaps, which enables comfort breaks while seated without rain seeping in, and a D-ring to which you can attach the engine kill switch for extra boat safety. These features reveal the extra thought that has gone into the design of this top-notch fishing bib.
Sizes: S(30-32), M(32-34), L(36-38), XL(40-42), XXL(44-46).
Contact Orvis UK Tel 03334 004 188 Web orvis.co.uk
Driology Lotic Wading Jacket
£495
Driology may be a new name to many anglers, but the company has been around for more than five years and was created with a view to offer “quality products with a meaningful difference”.
Its founding director Steve Symons said, “We are serious fly-fishermen and heard our fishing friends and connections worldwide demanding something different, an alternative choice in high-quality fly-fishing apparel and clothing that will function within demanding fishing environments.”
There followed years of research, design and testing, focusing on creating something special, which has resulted in jackets, tops, base layers and headgear, all aimed at the fly-fishing market.
We looked at the top-of-the-range Lotic wading jacket. It is made with the company’s proprietary Lotic 3L laminate material, which offers a 20,000mm hydrostatic head, 26,000 moisture permeability and an 80/20 DWR coating, making it one of the most waterproof and breathable wading jackets in the UK.
The Lotic (meaning “inhabiting or situated in rapidly moving fresh water”) is loaded with features. It has an adjustable hood with a wired peak that packs neatly into a fleece-lined zipped collar. There are YKK Aquaguard zips on the main fastening and external pockets, an anti-snag hem and cuffs, a shooting head or tippet spool organiser in the right breast pocket and multiple tool storage options in the left, avoiding exterior hanging tools.
We think the years of testing have paid off: the Driology team seems to have thought of everything.
Contact Driology at Steve@driology.com Web driology.com
Sealskinz Marham Waterproof Waxed Canvas Cap
£35
This traditional waxed canvas cap has a waterproof membrane and foldable peak and is made by Norfolk-based firm Sealskinz. It’s ideal for outdoor activities from fishing to dog-walking.
The cap’s soft, waxed-canvas outer combines style with weather protection, while a mesh liner makes it highly breathable, too. An easy-to-adjust snap clip on the back does away with fiddly buckles when adjusting for the perfect fit. The cap will fold neatly into a pocket or pack, it’s machine washable and carries a Sealskinz lifetime waterproof guarantee. Available in olive/brown, black/olive or olive/tan; one size fits all.
Contact Sealskinz Tel 01553 348 009 Web sealskinz.com
Orvis Pro Fishing Jacket
£469
The Orvis Pro Fishing jacket is made from next generation puncture- and abrasion-resistant, three-layer Cordura and Lycra, which Orvis describes as “the best [materials] we’ve found from a comfort and durability perspective”. Extremely waterproof and breathable, it is softer and quieter than most shell jackets and is designed to last. It also has natural stretch and is tailored to give unrestricted movement.
Weatherproofing features include a YKK AquaGuard zip, taped seams, a longer rear, and internal cuffs that stop moisture even when submerged. The three-point peaked hood has hidden adjusters — no dangling cords to whip your face in the wind.
With two side handwarmer pockets, chest pockets with rubberised zips and a zipped internal pocket, there’s plenty of storage above the waterline. Zipped underarm openings work with Orvis's Pro Bib-and-Brace and Pro Waders, allowing access to features without the need to remove the jacket. They also provide a flow of air in hot weather or when you’re hiking along a beat.
Available in ink (blue/tan) or black. Men’s sizes: S (34-36), M (38-40), L (42-44), XL (46-48), XXL (50-52).
Tel 0333 400 4188 Web orvis.co.uk