GEAR
SIMMS
DOWNSTREAM
THE COLD WEATHER STEELHEADING ANSWER
BY GREG THOMAS
I get it . When you walk out the door on these early fall days , the last thing you ’ re thinking about is a 750-fill down jacket with a full , insulated hood . But , the truth is , fall is here and in short time you ’ ll want to keep as warm as possible on the water . Think steelhead , in the rain , and sometimes in the sleet and snow . Think mornings in the 30 ’ s and frost on the ground right when you crawl out of the tent or out of the back of your truck .
Even this morning , there seems to be a change in the air . As I write this I ’ m sitting on my front porch in a light jacket . And the news reported West Yellowstone at 30 degrees . That means frost on the ground . Like it or not , the nights and mornings are going to be cool and by October you know the snow will fly .
So what about this jacket ? Well , let me share a little personal info with you — when fishing , I tend not to get cold , but when I do get cold I have trouble shaking it . So the key for me , and likely for many of you , too , is to not get cold in the first place . If I ’ m heading out in the cold to fish , I always wader-up and then run the heater in my truck at full blast until I ’ m just on the verge of breaking a sweat . And I always wear a quality jacket to keep my torso warm . And the warmest of the lot is Simms ’ Downstream jacket , which serves like wearing a high-quality sleeping bag , minus the bulk and weight .
The Downstream is a combination of Prima Loft synthetic insulation and 750-fill water repellent down . The outer layer is not a true rain shell , but it is water resistant and deflects the wind . So you can ’ t call this jacket your all-purpose solution to steelhead weather because you ’ ll need a rain shell , too . But , on most occasions , the Downstream is all you need .
When you first put this jacket on you ’ ll probably notice how comfortable it is . You ’ ll also note that the cuffs feel a little different . That ’ s because they ’ re next level , and an elastic band snugs to the wrist , keeping wind , rain , and snow from creeping along your arm . The rest of the sleeve extends beyond the elastic to keep your wrists and , partially , the tops of your hands warm .
While this jacket is too bulky to pack into its own pocket , it is super lightweight at 26.4 ounces and doubles nicely as a hunting jacket . It can stuff down in a pack quite easily . It ’ s also the jacket you ’ ll probably choose when cooking meals , on the tailgate or on a table in steelhead camp . Just last weekend my daughter , who ’ s 12 , wore it while in her 25-degree rated sleeping bag , and was comfortable all night long . Put this thing on and the odds are you ’ ll stay warm .
Again , this isn ’ t the jacket to wear in an all-out deluge , but it is the answer on cold days , on the coast or inland , when you ’ re swinging for steel and the chill is trying to take over your bones . You should note that this jacket does not have the short wading cut . Instead , it ’ s a little longer , which means it extends down and rests on the hips . Again , this significantly increases your ability to stay warm . This also means you ’ ll wear it inside of your
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