Gear Roll-up: Skwala Sol Tactical Hoody, Rocky Talkie Radios, 3BIRD Apparel
As with most of the gear from Skwala, this hoodie is designed with the angler at the forefront of the equation.
Skwala Sol Tactical Hoody
The Skwala Sol Tactical Hoody ($129) is simply put, the most technically advanced, warm-weather fishing shirt I have ever worn. It’s been on my back in the Alaskan bush, throughout the Rocky Mountains, and recently, on a redfish trip to Louisiana. In each environment, I was thrilled with its performance. The fabric kept me cool in Louisiana’s oppressive heat, while being thick enough to prevent mosquito bites from the behemoth bugs in Alaska.
As with most of the gear from Skwala, this hoodie is designed with the angler at the forefront of the equation. My favorite feature is the two large pockets underneath the arms. They are deep enough to hold large fly boxes without affecting the way the shirt fits. For those who appreciate a good hood, this one is tight enough around the face to fit well with a hat, but loose enough to allow airflow and breathability. And finally, it has a chest pocket. In my mind, I don’t want a fishing shirt without a chest pocket. The cherry on top, this chest pocket has a zipper to make sure your split shot, car keys, wedding ring, or whatever else you put in it doesn’t fall out.
If I could change one thing, it would be the way it fits around the wrists. Skwala has used a cuff material (a Primeflex stretch woven fabric) that would benefit from a bit more stretch to increase the flexibility and movement. Currently, the cuffs don’t stretch at all, and it can be a pain to roll up your sleeves, or if you have fat fingers like me, get your arm through the cuff.
My closet is overflowing with sun hoodies. Most of them are gifts from well-meaning family members and significant others. I feel bad for all those neglected garments, because they’ll rarely see the water. Skwala has made the sun hoodie of all sun hoodies, and at $129, it will be tough to beat. – Cliff Watson (follow Cliff on Kudos)
Wading
I picked up a pair of Orvis Ultralight Wading Boots ($229) back in June and have been pleasantly surprised. As the seasons change up here in Western Wyoming, I still find myself always putting these on. They might be some of the lightest wading boots I’ve ever used. But just because they are light, doesn’t mean they have sacrificed durability. With a super robust toe cap and a ripstop polyester construction, they’ve held up comfortably for the season. From wet wading in the summer to chilling temperatures in the fall, they are beyond comfortable. The Michelin rubber outsoles grip like a Porsche 911 going around the track, and even if you need a little added security, they are stud compatible. Breathable, quick drying and slim–I have no complaints walking miles in these things. Pair them with your favorite waders, you’ll feel like you’re wearing tennis shoes. True to size and at a fair price. If you’re looking for lightweight, hikeable wading boots, highly consider trying these on. The Simms Flyweight Access Boot ($299.95) is also another solid lightweight boot to consider. – Will Koenig
Radios
The Rocky Talkie Mountain Radio ($110, 2-watt radio) is a must have for people who spend time outdoors. These make a great communication device when all service is lost. Sleek design and lightweight, it’s hard to find a better radio. I’ve been testing it a lot this summer. The Mountain Radio a 2-watt radio, which is not as powerful as the Rocky Talkie Expedition Radio (5-watt radio), but it definitely holds its own. Rocky talkie claims that it has a 35+ mile range in line of sight, which is rarely what you’ll get when using, unless you and your partner are on separate boats with no obstructions. In the mountains, I was getting about a mile range between radios, through thick brush and over ridges, which is, honestly, pretty good. Taking them up to Glacier National Park earlier in the year, we were running them in our trucks. The signal significantly decreases sitting in a metal box (your truck), which is expected. The Mountain Radio is a FRS frequency, which is perfect for most applications, but if you’re looking for more power and the ability to transmit to GMRS, I’d suggest looking at the Rocky Talkie Expedition Radio. Splashproof, rainproof and snowproof, they’re durable waterproof construction holds up against all the elements. And as long as you don’t submerge it, it’ll hold up to most anything. Battery life lasts around three days, depending on how much communication is going through. There’s a slew of channel frequencies (with privacy channels included), easy to use and a great design. It’s a necessity to have solid communication in the wild, and the Mountain Radio comes in at a fair price and has everything you’ll need to stay safe and connected. – Will Koenig
Rocky Talkie Expedition Radio ($180, 5-watt radio). Using two-way radios as you fish is often child’s play. If you want to hear from your buddy that he just bagged a 14-inch brown on a prince nymph, and in reality, you’re standing 500 yards apart, go get the cheap walkie talkies you had when you played “hide the flag” when you were 14 years old. If, on the other hand, you’re an outfitter, or some other serious angler, who legitimately cares about how the Class III rapid is behaving a mile downstream from you, you probably shouldn’t mess around with toys. I think Rocky Talkies are the best option out there. I’ve been convinced in terms of range, reliability and durability (so far). They’re going to be in my dory when I’m on a group trip, especially out of cell phone range, and conditions or circumstances throw a curveball into the day’s proceedings. Read the full review. – Kirk Deeter
Accessories
Lid Rig magnetic products: Lid Rig 3.0 ($60), Flywheel ($25). The Lid Rig is a $60 pair of (magnetized) line nippers that you can clip to your hat brim. Why? I’m not sure, but the magnetic construction and nippers themselves are solidly built and perform as advertised. But for $60, I’m sure you could find three or four pairs of perfectly functioning nippers from other brands. The Flywheel is a different, but similar, concept, with a magnetic holster clip that you can attach to your wading belt or pack. It can function as a work station for tools, wet flies etc. The Flywheel strikes me as unnecessarily heavy, but that’s just me–I just like super light equipment, as it adds up. In software development, you’re always trying to avoid “cool” products that are searching for a problem–for better or worse, that’s how this product line strikes me. – Andrew Steketee
Umpqua RiverGrip Tools: Zinger/Nipper/Forcep combo ($36). The RiverGrip tools, as the name implies, are “double coated for maximum grip and comfort” with a rubberized material. It’s hard to determine if this is a value add or a hindrance, given the bulkier design and profile–I certainly wouldn’t hang the forceps off a vest or pack, in lieu of a slimmer, less obnoxious (Hot Orange) design aesthetic. The surgical-grade Japanese steel is a win for this product, but that’s about the only one. There’s also a “cancer & reproductive harm” warning on the back packaging for the rubberized material, which screams “buyer beware.” This product release feels like a do over. – Andrew Steketee
Pescador on the Fly sent us a neoprene wading belt with an integrated net carrying scabbard. It works relatively well, though most of the nets I use are long-handled, like the Fishpond Nomad Mid-Length Net, and they’re often in your way or banging your legs when secured at waist level. Ditto for the Fishpond Net Holster ($25)–Fishpond nets lock into the holder as expected, but when secured at the waist, they seem to be in the way most of the time. Getting the net up and out of the way with a backpack or sling is the right call, as long as it’s not interfering with your casting stroke. – Andrew Steketee
Apparel
The Frigate Windshirt from 3BIRD ($119). 3BIRD is an upstart outdoor clothing brand from Wilson, WY with an ethos and sustainability model akin to Patagonia and Stio (also from Jackson Hole): stylish, functional outdoor wear that is supposed to make us care about how our clothing is sourced. Will an interchangeable demographic and go-to-market strategy make it difficult to compete with these more established players? Probably, but they still make some pretty cool stuff. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed wearing the technical, light shell Frigate Windshirt this summer and fall–on and off the river. Made from 100% post-consumer recycled nylon (from commercial fishing nets), a “100% brushed polyester knit mesh” interior and a wind- and water-resistant (PFAS-free) DWR finish, the windshirt is durably stitched, attractively designed and performs as advertised, i.e. blocking wind, wicking moisture and performing functional water resistance, when required. It’s not a storm jacket by any means, but does provide some basic levels of protection for bugs and ubiquitous river elements. I also loved the dual front pockets for (small item) storage and the choice to employ rivets for the front, cuff and pocket buttons–in my experience, plastic alternatives always fail, fall off or eventually wear out. I want a shirt that can slide down a river rock by accident and not be bothered. Also, with its slim profile and light weight (~3 ounces), the windshirt can be easily stowed in a river pack, if dealing with variable conditions or day hikes. High marks for this product launch in a crowded category. – Andrew Steketee
The Kingfisher LS Shirt ($129) from 3BIRD. In the increasingly crowded “fishing shirt” category, the Kingfisher LS doesn’t appear to be going to toe-to-toe with the likes of Poncho’s Ultra-Lite or Patagonia’s River Rambler Hybrid Sun Hoody (increasingly technical on-water garments). But there’s still more than enough to like with this modestly intended, yet functional product entry. The key to understanding the Kingfisher LS’s design aesthetic is that it’s not trying to do everything. The shirt was created to deliver sun protection (UPF 50+), quick-drying and sustainable materials (SeaWool: made from recycled oyster shells and recycled polyester) and provide all day movement and comfort on the water. In this regard, it accomplishes its mission admirably. On the downside, it’s $40 more than the Poncho (a healthy delta), we don’t really love the plastic buttons (but get the weight concern) and misses on a few other design ideas. The sunglass cleaning cloth inside the left chest pocket is ostensibly a good idea, but in reality, it’s hard to get at and often gets covered in dry-fly Gink, rendering it useless until the next washing. The standard button front pockets are also harder to get into than Poncho’s salt-proof magnetized pockets or Patagonia’s snaps and zippers. You might access those front pockets fifty times on a fishing outing, so it’s worth thinking about. A nice, but expensive, fishing shirt, though consumers have many other quality options. – Andrew Steketee
The Migration Short ($119) also from 3BIRD. You know a pair of shorts is good when people stop you mid-errand to say, “Hey, those are sick–where’d you get ‘em?” But the real test is whether they perform as well as they look. These do. In fact, they do it suspiciously well. They’ve basically become my second-favorite pair of shorts–right behind the KÜHL Silencr Kargo Short ($79), which remains the undisputed heavyweight champion of my closet. (I’m not saying I’d cry if KÜHL discontinued them, but I’m also not not saying it.) From coffee runs to rigging a raft at dawn to sitting behind the oars all day, these things take whatever I throw at them without ever feeling clingy, soggy, heavy or weird. They dry fast, move the way I move and somehow don’t get funky even after a long, sweaty haul on the river or a questionable decision to step into pluff mud while chasing reds. They also seem to resist staining, which is a huge plus in my book. Oh, and they’ve also become my second-in-line swim trunks and handle that job admirably. Fit-wise, they’re dialed: not gym-bro tight, not parachute-bag roomy. Just clean, simple and comfortable. Enough structure to look like a respectable adult, enough flex to scramble down a boat ramp or jump in the water when someone inevitably drops an oar. And the pockets–thoughtful ones. The kind that hold your stuff without making you look like you’re smuggling grapefruit. Bottom line: these shorts punch way above their weight. Great-looking, river-ready, camp-friendly and town-approved. The kind of shorts you accidentally wear five days straight before realizing it’s time to give literally any other pair in your drawer a turn. They certainly are a little pricey at $119 bucks, but well worth the money in my opinion. – Tim Romano
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