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FFIM Tests Foul Weather Gear
 This Spring, DryAngler.com sent FFIM some rain gear to be put to the test. We were glad to oblige. The package arrived and we divvied up jacket, pants, and head wear to put through the proverbial wringer...check out the results:
Tundra Tech Xtreme Guide Jacket
Saturday at the FFIM Conclave saw me fishing from dawn to dusk in on again/off again rain that ranged from a light mist to drizzle to full blown downpour. Once again I was glad to have on my Drift Creek Outdoors Tundra Tech Xtreme Guide Jacket.
Drift Creek Outdoors may be relatively new to the outdoors gear scene (they started out in 2000 making a single waterproof cap), but they hit a home run with this jacket. Everything about it is well designed without being over engineered; functional without being too technical. The shell is a breathable, waterproof 3-layer laminate system. The coating on the shell is so waterproof that my fishing partners all commented on how the water beaded off all day – this jacket shed water in hour 12 as completely as it did during the first hour on the water; I remained dry all day long. Other features include expandable front cargo chest pockets with Velcro flaps as well as surface zipper pockets; waterproof zippers and taped seams; several D-rings; a well designed hood; micro-fleece lined collar and visor with 3-way adjustment; Micro-fleece lined hand warmer pockets and a nifty chin guard; two roomy inside storage pockets; neoprene lined cuffs with a velcro strap; two draw cords at the waist and a large back panel game pocket.
Everything about this jacket is well thought out and functional. The neoprene cuffs take an extra second or two to draw tight, but when done correctly, I can plunge my arm underwater and stay dry, a bonus when landing and release fish or when your magnetic net release falls in the river (I have replaced that with a new one!). The two drawstrings at the waist cinch the jacket tight. The hood is roomy enough to be comfortable but actually turns with head, keeping it from being cumbersome. The pockets are all big enough to hold fly boxes and gear, and the small surface zipper pockets are perfect for tippet, keys, etc.
The bottom line, I was able to remain bone dray and fish comfortably all day long without sweating. I was able to wear this jacket on several fishing trips in the rain, wind and cold so far this year. I own several gortex jackets from other companies, but the Drift Creek Outdoors Tundra Tech Xtreme Guide Jacket is my new number one choice for all rainy adventures. I was able to remain bone dry and fish comfortably all day long without sweating, and that is all one can ask for!
-Product Tester: Tim Soule
King Salmon XTREME Guide hat
I had the opportunity to try the King Salmon XTREME Guide hat by Drift Creek Outdoors while chasing salter brook trout in tough Maine opening day conditions. With temps hovering around the freezing mark, on and off sleet and freezing rain, and a stiff wind whipping in off the salt flats, the hat offered outstanding comfort while providing optimal protection from the elements. The XTREME Guide series of high performance outerwear features TUNDRA TECH fabrics designed to block wind and rain while maintaining breathability, allowing you to focus on the fish while staying dry and comfortable. The Drift Creek Outdoors XTREME Guide hat features a dark under brim to ease eye fatigue when fishing bright sun or, in my case, icy conditions. The neck cape came in handy providing cover from rain and harmful UV rays and protection from wind, yet when not warranted was easily folded inside of the cap and held in place with by the quickly adjustable lycra drawstring and Nexus cordlock. As an added feature, the XTREME Guide hat features a Quick-Dry® sweatband. Whether chasing big stripers on the flats, albies offshore, or looking for that perfect cast to a rising trout this hat will be making the journey. If the Tundra Tech® Xtreme Guide® boaters pants are anything like the hat I’ll be ordering a pair.
(My only suggestions would be to sew the cape in about a ½” further back on the brim so as to not block peripheral vision, and to shorten the lycra drawstring about ¾” so that the tail doesn’t rub on a jacket collar when looking up. A lighter color option (tan) would also help the northern fisherman that would otherwise be plagued by blackfly swarms attracted by the heat absorbed by darker colors)
-Product Tester: Dave Huntress
If you are interested in these, or other products by DryAngler.com, please visit their website. They are offering 10% off to all FFIM members via the promo code: FFIM
Tim_S at Grand Lake Stream in the Tundra Tech Xtreme Guide Jacket on a cold rainy April day
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