When I first took this opportunity, I figured it would be a great way to try out some new gear and catch some fish on some lures or techniques I haven't used before. One of the best ways to learn anything new is to get out there and force yourself to use these new baits and techniques. Well, that hasn't been the case so far. The good folks at Fishhound, seeing that I'm from Phoenix, thought that a good assignment for me would be a winter coat, and a hand warmer. Now that our temps have dropped down below the century mark, I figure that now is as good a time as any to post up my latests Fishhound articles here. I'll put the links below in case you want to check out the products yourselves.
I know my writing is often filled with sarcasm, parody, and overall smart-ass-ness. But I really do approve of these products. They are very high quality at a fairly low price point, and when ever I can I like to help out small businesses. So, for real, if you're in the need of a new jacket or hand warmer, check these out!
Refrigiwear Softshell Jacket:
Do
you like being cold on a brisk December morning? When the temps drop into
the 30s, do you eagerly await that sudden gust of wind that blows through your
attire like a Chuck Norris roundhouse kick to the jaw? When you're
battling the whitecaps in your 16-foot Bass Tracker do you live for the thrill
of near freezing water crashing over the sides reminiscent of the cold locker
room showers from high school? Well, if so then do not buy this jacket!
Aside from looking cooler than Tom Cruise riding a grizzly bear duel
wielding axes, this thing is going to hold in the heat while keeping the wind
and water out. This thing is so warm that the following warning is
actually written on the tag: "This garment insulates from intense heat as
well as cold therefore, ignition of this garment may not be immediately
realized."
That's
right, you'll be so warm that you don't even realize at which point you've
caught fire! Unfortunately for you, this jacket is also water-resistant.
When you burst into flames you'll have to trust the old "stop, drop,
and roll" method as spraying yourself down with a hose or even jumping
into the lake isn't going to cut it. The water beads up and simply rolls
right off leaving your smoldering torso as dry as the California drought.
I
believe it was Abraham Lincoln that said, "Anyone can make a jacket, but
to make a jacket that has the potential to change the world... Well that must
be Refrigiwear." On second thought, that may have been me that said
that. I've already discussed the functionality of this jacket, but I want
to take a moment to talk about some of its key features.
First
and foremost, the zipper. This thing is built tough. I don't know
what my problem with zippers is, but if I touch one, it's going to break.
I've broken zippers on tents, sleeping bags, purses, pants, and of course
jackets. However, in all my trials with this bad boy, I've still got a
fully functional zipper. I'm amazed how easily it is to get the zipper
started at the bottom, as well as the smoothness of the zip all the way up.
I can even achieve full zippage one handed without having to put my beer
down. But that's not where it ends, it gets better. At the top,
Refrigiwear has added a "tunnel" of sorts for the zipper to slide
into. This magical zipper womb will keep that chilly piece of metal
contained and away from your rugged, yet sophisticated, neck-beard. Now,
as an Arizona native I'm no jacket expert, but this is a feature that has been
long overdue in my repertoire of jackets.
Let
me ask you another question. Do you like holding things? Of course
not! But don't worry, this jacket has got you covered with pockets.
In fact it has four of them. These pockets are great for holding
all kinds of objects; keys, wallets, grape fruits, hamsters, the list just goes
on and on. If you're the kind of person who limits their pocket use to
hands, you are really missing out on an adventure. Each of the four
pockets comes with its very own zipper just as great as the one described above
so there's no need to worry about that grape fruit escaping and causing an
embarrassing scene.
If
being warm and dry with top-of-the-line zippers and pockets sounds like an
enjoyable way to spend a cold day out on the water, then I highly recommend the
Softshell Jacket from Refigiwear. It will definitely keep you warm while
looking cool.
Roo Outdoors Inferno Hand Pouch:
Winter; it is a tough time for many anglers. For some, winter means that it's time
to store the boat away into the back of the garage where it becomes nothing
more than a $30K shelf with a sparkly gel coat. For those of us in the warmer climates, winter means the
fish move deep, their metabolism slows and they only feed once or twice each
day. Wherever you are from San
Diego to Maine winter generally means lower catch rates. Unfortunately, there are several
reasons for this. The good news is
that the more we understand why fishing tends to slow down in the colder
months, the better we can counteract the elements and discover ways to put fish
in the boat. One simple way to
increase your success in the colder months is to keep your hands warm with the
Roo Outdoors Inferno Hand Pouch.
There are countless
variables that go into fishing during different seasons. One article cannot possibly cover all
of them across a geographical area as large as the United States. However, there is one variable that I
find to be consistent no matter where you are, what technique you use, or what
species of fish you are after: It
gets colder in the winter.
This review of the Roo
Outdoors Inferno Hand Pouch is not about keeping warm, it's about catching
fish! Keeping warm is easy; heavy
socks, heavy gloves, and a warm hat are all you need. Keep those extremities warm and you'll be comfortable in
those low temperatures. However,
the problem an angler faces is the heavy gloves.
Often times, fish will go
deep in the winter. They become
lethargic and won't travel far to chase down bait. This results in very subtle bites, especially when using
finesse worming techniques like a dropshot or shakeyhead. Bass anglers especially will spend
hundreds of dollars on high-end sensitive rods and braided line to maximize the
sensitivity so they can feel every last detail of that bait. Unfortunately, all of that goes out the
window when you begin layering gloves over your hands. So what's the best option? Suck it up and lose the gloves? Of course not, a shivering cold hand
won't pick up the slight tick of a line when the bait is quickly inhaled by
that 8-pound bass any better than a gloved hand will. Recently I got my hands on, and in, the Inferno Hand Pouch
by Roo Outdoors. This is the
product I've been waiting for; I just didn't know it!
All my life I've been
struggling with a solution for keeping my hands warm while fishing, and the
Inferno Hand Pouch finally fills that need. Just strap it on, and it's there when you need it. Fish as you normally would without the
restraint of heavy winter gloves. When
you start feeling that chill, pop your hands in for a quick warm up. Roo Outdoors even includes a couple
10-hour heat packs that you can pop in to get warm faster.
Of course there are other
hand pouches on the market, but the Roo Inferno stands out above the rest
because of some clever engineering.
The materials used are high quality, the outer Neo-Shield shell paired
with the inner PolarTec insulation creates revolutionary warmth at only 7mm
thick allowing the pouch to easily contour to any body shape. Also, the heavy-duty belt is lined with
silicon grippers that keep the pouch in place all day long. But my favorite aspect of the Inferno
Hand Pouch has got to be the utility pocket on the inside. The bonded zipper on this pocket
creates a waterproof seal that keeps all your valuables safe and dry. This is the biggest plus for me as I
frequently fish from a kayak and getting wet is the norm. Even as the days warm and Spring gets
underway, I may continue to take the Roo Inferno with me just as a safe place
to store my phone or camera with quick and easy access.
Starting at only fifty
dollars, the Roo Outdoors Inferno Hand Pouch is an investment that will surly
pay off this winter. Don't get
caught out there on the lake missing bites because of your cold hands. Get the Roo Inferno and start catching
more winter fish today!
Want to see more? Check out these products and more at the links below:
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