Techy Thursdays - Darren Asquith reviews the Simms G4 Pro jacket
"To say I’ve just been blown away by my new Simms G4 pro jacket would be an understatement. It was comfortable from the first second I put it on, and it kept me dry during a really crappy week of late season fishing in New Zealand.
The jacket has a very well thought out pocket design, and it easily replaced my fishing pack during bad weather. It has nine storage pockets including:
· Fly-box friendly bellowed chest pockets
· Zippered chest pockets
· Tippet pockets
· A sleeve stash pocket
· Internal woven stretch storage pocket
· One MASSIVE back compartment, big enough for a jumper, lunch and more.
On the inside of the chest pockets are two built in retractors for nippers etc. These are REALLY handy, as I could tie on new flies or adjust my leader without needing to dig out my nippers in the rain.
I thought that the armpit zippers were going to be a waste of time, but I was amazed by how effective they were when I was hiking out. The breathability of this jacket must also be brilliant, as I did not get clammy at any point. There is little worse than it raining outside, and you being drenched with sweat inside.
The stormhood and collar setup is outstanding. The micro fleece lining is extremely comfortable, even when the neck zip is done right up. Hood adjustability is great, and you can turn your head without having your cap twisted off your head (something that had previously bugged me in other jackets).
The dry cuff system is fantastic. I managed to submerge my arms unintentionally when releasing a fish and still came out with dry sleeves. You also don’t get water running down your arms when casting in the rain. Dry sleeves make a big difference to your comfort levels when fishing in adverse conditions.
This is the first time I have ever remained dry and comfortable when fishing in the rain. Yes it’s big bucks, but this highly technical, high quality jacket allows you go harder and stay out fishing much longer - in comfort!"
Darren Asquith owns Untamed Flies & Tackle in Benella, Victoria, Australia. Check out his website for more blog posts and gear.