Comments on: Underground GearTalk: Winter Fly Fishing & The Soft Shell Revolution

By: An Underground Look at Winter Fly Fishing Gear: Staying Warm in Micro (and Nano) Increments

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:17:54 +0000

[...] That’s because overheating leads to sweat, which leads to hypothermia, which is why – two winters ago – I expressed my love for Patagonia’s Insulator soft shell jacket. [...]

By: Fly Fishing the Upper Sac’s BWO Hatch (or, Are Trout Capable of Deceit and Revenge?) | The Trout Underground Fly Fishing Blog

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 19:27:57 +0000

[...] year I became a convert to the fly fishing soft shell, a remarkably lightweight jacket that’s achieved widespread acceptance among mountaineering [...]

By: Closing Day Approaches; I Whine About Looming Fly Fishing Choices | The Trout Underground Fly Fishing Blog

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:41:53 +0000

[...] like perfect soft shell weather, and after this trip, I may be forced to write an addendum to my previous soft shell equipment reviews, where I largely gushed about this embraced-by-mountaineers-and-outdoor-geeks [...]

By: Tom Chandler

Tom Chandler — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 02:13:30 +0000

Yes, I was raised Methodist.

By: Greg Hall

Greg Hall — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 19:08:07 +0000

Anyone remember Martin Mull’s The History of White People in America. IIRC the true believers were Protestant, preferred salad dressing and marjorine and always, always paid full retail.

By: Tom Chandler

Tom Chandler — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 18:02:10 +0000

Officially speaking, the Trout Underground abhors bargains of any kind, reasoning that anyone who can’t afford to pay full ticket simply shouldn’t fly fishing. Keep the riff-raff out, we say, though we’re not above keeping our eyes peeled for odd distress sale, reasoning that’s good for the economy (we’re patriots too).

By: Greg Hall

Greg Hall — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 16:47:34 +0000

If you’re interested in a quality soft shell jacket, check out ebay or some of the discounters fairly often. I just scored a Patagonia Insulator (like Tom’s) for $100 off the list price. I would bet that given the continuing economic woes that opportunities for discounted prices are going to get even better.

By: Thom

Thom — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 01:08:27 +0000

Tom
I see your point. maybe “shameless plug” or “nice endorsement” would have worked better.
Yvon will be happy with either.
Happy New Year

By: Tom Chandler

Tom Chandler — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 14:05:54 +0000

Thom: Is it “Product Placement” when I buy the jacket? When nobody at Patagonia asked me to review anything or sent me anything? Simple questions.

By: Thom

Thom — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 05:44:45 +0000

The product placement is wonderful…I suppose we will see you in quotes in the next Patagonia flyfishing catalog. Yvon will be pleased.

By: El Pescador

El Pescador — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 13:43:18 +0000

Good review TC. I’m personally happy that you are finding the Insulator Jacket to be a good match for your needs. Keep me posted on your assessment of this soft shell as you log more hours in it. If interested, check out this earlier post and comments on this jacket at Way Upstream – http://www.wayupstream.com/2008/06/insulator-jacket.html.

By: Cliff

Cliff — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 19:52:14 +0000

I bought a Mtn Hardwear Offwidth because it is one of the few softshells out there without the fleece lining. Why, you say? This makes it much easier to pull on and off for daily casual use without dragging on your sleeves and such. When fihsing I’ll generally wear it over a light or midweight base layer with R1 or some similar piece in the middle. I like the flexibility it offers for sport and everyday use.

It is one of the snugger running jackets though. If you’re on or above the average fit of a given size, I’d go up a size. Mine’s a XXL, larger than my TNF Mtn Lite, though the same size as my Patagonia Deep Wading. The arms are likely long enough to fit somebody 6′6″ and 260 just fine.

By: Smarter and Better Looking Brother

Smarter and Better Looking Brother — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 18:21:11 +0000

I think the three best inventions of our times are:
1) Apple Macintosh
2) iPods
3) softshells

I love softshells. At last count I’m up to five of them and I bought and sold two of them prior to these five. There’s different mainstream materials and the only one I haven’t tried is the Gore Windstopper. Most of my jackets have the Schoeller or Madden Mills Power Shield fabric and I can’t say enough good things about them. I even have softshell pants, hats and gloves.
I own a Marmot Gravity softshell and it’s too warm for average California use, but perfect for low activity or cold weather locales. The Cloudveil jackets are pretty nice, and like Patagonia, they understand fly fisherpeople’s, ahem…, shapes better than Marmot or Sporthill.
But see, the reason Tom bought the Patagonia in the first place is because his OTHER softshell is cut for some Olympic athlete — which might — just — fit — me. What size was that other jacket again Tom…?

By: Tom Chandler

Tom Chandler — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 17:57:56 +0000

Wannabee: Yeah, I’ve done the Michelin man thing too, and it really gets uncomfortable when you’ve got to walk or wade any distance at all, and suddenly you’re a sweatball.

Taku: My big pile o test clothes? As one of fly fishing’s leading bloggers, I’ve accumulated exactly three non-book freebies – the Sharkskin fly line, a Buff neck gaiter, and… well, two I guess. I paid for the jacket and my gear reviews are pretty much just stuff I own. Ahh, the glamor…

Don: Send us a crate of crabs and a recipe (scribbled on a $100 bill), and I’ll do something especially for you. See – the Underground’s wholly responsive to its readers. And give the soft shells a look – my original (years ago) gave me good service.

By: Don

Don — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 02:32:25 +0000

The Soft Shell Revolution?
A Patagonia product review?
Gee, I was hoping for at least a good crab recipe or an epicurean experience that didn’t include the dreaded slaw dog.

Good review, although there was nothing softshell(crabby) about it.

I guess I should look into these softshell things as I’m either freezing my behind off or layered up so much I can barely move.
Thanks Tom.