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WHAT NOT TO WEAR
By Kevin Griffin
Some one once said, "There's no such thing as bad weather just inappropriate clothing. Well who ever said that (somebody from the outdoor clothing industry no doubt) was absolutely correct. But it's an easy thing to pay lip service to and another to put into practice. Having said that getting it right has never been easier. So if you are setting out for a days fishing in the wind rain and freezing cold, what do you wear? Do you come home dry, feeling you have beaten the elements? Do you manage to keep warm all day? Or do you often find yourself cold, wet, miserable and off home early? If you're in this camp I hope this article proves enlightening.
So what qualifies me to write such an article- only one thing 'bitter experience' and lots of it! Most of you know me as an angler and wine merchant - not much protective clothing worn in the wine trade! But I am also a level three (there are five levels) open Canadian canoeist. I've also done a fair amount of climbing from the Cairngorms to Helvellyn and Pavey Ark in the Lake District. From a fairly early age I've always wanted to get out there no matter what the weather. I've climbed to 4,000 feet and above in wind and driving rain, up to my crutch in snow at the top the Cairngorms, paddled thousands of miles in my canoe all over the British Isles, in wind, rain, sleet, hail white water and have been in the water, not to mention thousands of hours spent fishing at Bewl boat and bank in all of the aforementioned weather conditions. Like most have spent a small fortune on Outdoor clothing! Through all this I have learnt one abiding lesson NEVER COMPROMISE buy the absolute best that you can afford and look after it.
The key to it all is to stay warm, dry comfortable whilst remaining unrestricted able to function. If all you want to do is stay completely dry then a poncho will do the job. Great for guard duty crap for fishing in. A Driza-bone full-length wax raincoat is great for horse riding or standing around at the county show in the pouring rain. Not much good for fishing though.
The fishing industry is a wash with clothing made, the manufactures say especially for anglers, a lot of it is expensive and not very good value. A lot of outlandish claims are made about performance a lot of guarantees. But remember this 'there is no International standard for clothing, and I know for a fact that none of the leading brands would in the face of a legal challenge swear that their products are 100% waterproof! Regardless of what it says on the tin. Having said that all the leading names are there because they have proved themselves in the field. Beware of brain washing, just because you are an angler you don't have to restrict yourself to the purchase of garments sold by angling companies? Most anglers do. Why? Because the item comes in a fishing colour? I bet you that's a big part of it. The climbing paddling sailing fraternity don't buy outside of their box either. Colour is a consideration no one wants to look a pratt fishing in a bright yellow jacket! No rather be cold and wet. But if you look hard enough you can find Gore-Tex Jackets made by the leading brands in fishing colours.
Because of my spectrum of activities I have borrowed from all camps mixed and matched and I think I have benefited greatly.
Fabric technology has advanced hugely over the last 50 years, one of the earliest performance fabrics that are still around today must be 'Ventile' developed and manufactured for pilots during the Second World War by Courtaulds. Very good rugged fabric made from the very purest cotton, in a good country green. The fabric works like this. As the fabric gets wet tiny microscopic holes expand this keeps rain and wind out but ensures it is still breathable. It is also does need to be treated with any exterior water repellent. The down side I found is that the coat becomes quite stiff as the fabric expands and I found this a little restrictive. I purchased a 'Bob Church' double layer ventile from the Friendly Fisherman two years ago RRP £250.00 end of line price was £100.00. A few months later whilst fishing in very heavy rain it let water in through the seams. It's done it again since in similar circumstances. Ryan Balcombe told me that thus far they had had no comebacks and sadly refused to replace it. I still have the coat and still wear it on occasion but I will never rely on it again. I'm glad I didn't pay full price for it. There is a web site worth checking out www.west-winds.co.uk they have a good range of Ventile garments for sale at reasonable prices.
Without doubt the most famous performance fabric of all is Gore-tex. It has been around for a long time, at least 25 years. It is without doubt the market leader and the only one I fully trust.
All the leading brands sell Gore-tex clothing. North face, Sprayway, berghaus etc. It's a point worth remembering that Gore-tex is only the fabric (same people own the wind-stopper brand) they don't make the garments. They don't stitch them together! There are of course a host of other performance fabrics, Regatta have developed one called Isotex it rivals Gore-tex but is not as hard wearing and I don't think as reliable. It's cheaper though, Low Alpine market a jacket made from 'Triple point' again waterproof and breathable. There is another call Sempu-tex. All of the above claim to do the same thing, again waterproof and breathable. But remember Mountain Rescue wear Gore-tex! I have owned or do own clothing made from all the above fabrics. All with the exception of Gore-tex have let me down when at the outer limits of their performance range. What is there performance range-that's the problem, If we knew of they could tell us we could organise our kit accordingly. In the absence of such information it pays to go for the maximum every time.
A Gor-tex Jacket £350 Steep!! I have seen mountain guides inspect a group's kit before setting out and rubbish most of it. Even some very expensive names. You may say, well I'm not going to climb a mountain. Well rain is the same when backed by a 20mph wind weather you're in a boat at Bewl or 2000 feet up in the Lake District.
Please if you can avoid the cheap £20-£30 jackets and over trousers. Their waterproofing relies on the fabric having PVC backing. You will sweat like a pig in them and the backing soon perishes making them leak like a sieve. All will be sold as waterproof though.
In this arena I firmly believe you pretty much get what you pay for, but you can still pay quite a lot of money and get let down.
A couple of years ago I purchased from Carrillion a pair of Salapets made from this revolutionary new fabric called 'Duck Skin' "Water just runs off it" the slogan claimed. I paid £80.00 for the pleasure. The first time I wore them on a very rainy Pike day on Bewl I was soaked through within 2 hours. I sent them back and was informed by Carrillion that there was a fault with the fabric, cold comfort. If I had been somewhere more remote I could have been in trouble. I was given a full refund and sent free of charge a cheaper replacement which I've worn once. I think Duck Skin has now been withdrawn.
All Water Proof fabrics are finished with D W R. This will eventually wear off and you garment will need to be re-proofed. Gore-Tex is the exception because although it is advisable to re-proof, it is the internal membrane that keeps the water out. DWR is what makes the water Bead Up when it hits the outer layer.
The best product for re-proofing is made by local company Nik-Wax. This is a water-based spray on liquid that is recommended for breathable fabrics. You will use the entire contents of one small bottle (cost £8.00) every time you re-proof a jacket.
Beware of Seconds
They have been rejected for a reason. If you are lucky it might be because the sleeve linings are too long or more probably that the fabric has not been finished properly or the seams are faulty, either way you won't know until the rain comes in.
Seams
A part from Poncho's no garment is made from one single piece of fabric. All have to have their component parts stitched together and these seams have to be sealed especially across the shoulders. A part from the fabric itself this is the most crucial part of the whole garment. Some manufacturers do this better than others. There are two main processes. Tapped and Wealded seams. This is almost always the first point that will fail and as far as I know there is no remedy. No amount of re-proofing will solve the problem.
Welded seams are by far more reliable than the tapped variety. The reason for this is that the fabric is literally welded together. No holes! The join is then tapped over for extra protection.
AFTER CARE
While we are on the subject let's look at how to care for all your expensive kit. First of all try to avoid washing it too much. I'm convinced that it slowly destroys the water repellence. When you do wash under no circumstances must you use washing powder. A lot of manufacturers recommend pure soap flakes, no good for the washing machine though. The best product again is made by Nik-Wax. It is a liquid detergent called Lo-Tec again its not cheap, but here is a tip - visit the Nik-Wax factory in Wadhurst and ask to buy it by the gallon (wholesale) about £40.00. Now crucially before you use it you must run your washing machine empty at 90oC to clear out any soap powder deposits. The exception to over washing is Gore-Tex, it hates dirt and won't function properly, but again only use Lo-Tec.
We have talked a lot about jackets and the next crucial piece of kit is 'over trousers'
It amazes me why people very sensibly pay good money for a decent jacket and then team it up with a twelve quid pair of over trousers. They must be insane! Everything I have said about jackets goes for trousers. Consider this your lovely water repellent jacket will do its job and shed the rain right on to your trousers! A good pair of over trousers could cost you the same as your jacket. The function they perform is just as important. I've given up buying trousers with an elasticised waist - For me it has to be either 'Salopets' or Braces. For boat fishing you will need a pair with a reinforced waterproof patch on the backside. Because the pressure of sitting down for a long period will force water through the fabric and there's nothing worse than a soggy backside.
Keeping Warm
The idea behind modern performance clothing is that the outer layer i.e. Jacket Trousers, forms a rainproof and windproof shell. That's why modern clothing is light. Your goal is to create with the help of your body your own mini microclimate. The human body creates a considerable amount of heat. The idea of the 'layering system' is to trap that heat between those layers, of course it's crucial to let sweat and moisture out and not let moisture or wind in. Hence your breathable outer shell - first line of defence.
Your first and last layers are probably the most important. There are many fleece suits available at many and varied prices. The important thing is to have a close fitting, comfortable layer right next to the skin. In very cold conditions I wear a Rash vest or Body glove. This is a very light tight fitting top worn by surfers under their wet suits. A pair of thermal leggings will do for the bottom half. I have found this system to be excellent and with a fleece suit over the top - you could climb Everest and stay warm!
Below are some comments from other Bewl Bridge club members
Grev Bromich
. I have yet to come across any waterproofs, which are totally dependable over a long period of time. The best to date is my Simms Classic Guide Jacket which is comfortable and waterproof still after a couple of years but it does 'wet out' soon after getting the appropriate 'anti wetting out treatment' and seems susceptible to abrasion from backpack straps/Velcro etc. I also have a Simms G3 Guide Jacket, which is very comfortable like the other and seems even lighter. I have not used it much in anger yet so the jury is still out on that one.
The worst gear I have had was the Airflo/Fishtec Hardwear bib and brace and matching jacket. I had the early version in green, which let by very early on. This was replaced with the later grey outfit, which I also go soaked in after only a few outings. I should say I try to keep the garments as clean as poss and also use the Nik Wax tech wash and reproofing treatment as recommended.
The only truly waterproof durable jackets and trousers I have had were the old PVC backed with cotton non-breathable variety. Whilst they are waterproof they are cold to wear, stiff in cold weather and you sweat your cobs off in warm weather.
I have also got a Musto Highland jacket, which these days I just use, for shooting. I have had the Gore Tex membrane replaced twice over the last 10-12 years but it soldiers on. The only snag is - again - that it 'wets out' and becomes very heavy. Also water wicks up the sleeves and into the pockets.
Finally, I have 2 waxed cotton Barbour jackets and leggings. They are fine for bashing through brambles when shooting but you know the downside. Heavy, stiff in cold weather etc.
Conclusion - still waiting to find the perfect gear but the Simms stuff is coming close. Ridiculous price though. Best bought via email from outfits in places like Alaska during their end of season clearout sales.
Peter Firth
My experience of breathable (performance?) fabrics has not been good! Without exception under pressure they leak! That is why they now have reinforced seats and knees! About ten years ago I bought a Bob Church Double Ventile fishing jacket. It has been heavily used and remains totally waterproof. I believe that ventile is a trade name for a material made out of the very best cotton and VERY VERY tightly woven. I do treat it every year but I am not sure it is necessary. In my youth when I walked and climbed regularly in the mountains I bought a Ventile anorak, which also remained totally waterproof under the most extreme conditions for many years.
Nowadays I only go fishing in nice weather !!!!!!
Doug Skins
This summer I got a new set of Hardy waterproofs 3/4 jacket and bib trouser, very very comfortable to wear, on a wet day in Wales, I was bone dry, apart from my cuffs, the rain had run down my hands. Tells you how wet it was. Most of the other people looked like drowned rats. Dries out quickly too. Don't know how realiable but the trousers were half price. Med thickness - I like that as you can change what to wear under- depending on time of yr.
Vernon Chapman
The main problem seems to be the aftercare - if you wash these fabrics in the normal wash they do not perform very well. If, on the other hand, you wash them as instructed and on a fairly regular basis, they perform pretty well.
The only exception to this are waterproof trousers. I have only tried Hardy gear - if you are stood up they are fine - sit down and put pressure on the Gortex and they leak through and I have not spoken to anyone who has worn any breathable product whilst boat fishing in heavy rain who has not ended up with a damp bum!
The most successful purchase I have made to date is a pair of Snowbee salapets and wading jacket. Since I purchased them from friendly fish in 1999 over the years I have worn them white water canoeing climbing in the Lake District and Cairngorms - wind rain and snow and of course countless fishing expeditions. I can't ever remember them letting me down.
The salapets are starting to leak a bit now but the jacket is still going strong.
Sadly Snowbee have withdrawn them now in favour of the camo variety. Other people have not been so happy with them. I can only speak from personal experience.
A full price Gore-Tex jacket from a leading brand will cost between £250 and £350.00. For that you will get all the features, zip in fleece, and 2 inside map pockets. I recently purchased a double layer Gore-Tex jacket made by berghaus. One Integral map pocket. No fleece or hand warmer pockets in fishing green at £150.00.
Available from Millets
I must say that I am so far delighted with my latest purchase. A pair of Ray Mears triple layer Gore-Tex over trousers! They are made by Norwegian company Norrona and I have to say they are superb! At £255 a pair I guess they should be. They also make a Jacket costing £295.
So to sum up.
· Always buy the best that you can afford. But realise that unless it is a market leader it may not be enough!
· The correct after care is absolutely essential for the prolong performance of your clothing
· Don't be fooled that the outdoor jackets sold in places like M&S will be up to the job even though they claim they will be.
· Step out of you're fishing box and look around at what's available from other retailers aiming at other sports and pursuits.
See you all out there(somewhere?)
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news
Four of our members are involved in International events this year. Congratulations to Andy Croucher, Paul Kitchen (England) and Jock Kettles (Scotland) on their Loch Style Caps. Also for the first time in the clubs history we have a member of the English National Rivers team in our ranks, well done Graham Lumsden.
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