Simms Fishing GTX Paclite Pants

Author: josh

Category: Kayak fishing apparel

Created on Friday, 17 February 2012 18:42

Written by Josh

Up until about August of last year I'd been getting by with a pair of Immersion Research Zephyr kayaking pants to keep me protected on the Island, and I was pretty taken with them when I first picked them up. It wasn't until the mid winter of last year that I started to see their downfall for the way I go about using my yak (specifically the way I launch it), which was that the elasticized cuffs at the ankles did a better job of keeping water in that keeping it out, and whenever I launched it (getting knee-deep in water in the process) they would always fill up like balloons below my knees. And if I dared sit down without trying to drain them first, that water would run all the way up my legs, saturate my backside and I'd be off to a wet and usually cold start immediately. I soon realised that tightly cuffed leggings aren't really the best solution for me.

In replacing them, I wanted to find something lighter, yet tougher and with more durably waterproof fabric. They'd need to be comfortable, roomy and light enough to allow for an unrestricted pedal stroke, yet durable enough to withstand the rigors of open water kayak fishing. And because I tend to wear water/wind proof pants whenever I go kayak fishing (regardless of where I do it) they'd have to be highly breathable to minimize heat and perspiration build up underneath. As I looked around I found several options that might suffice but by far the best one I looked at was the Simms Fishing Goretex Paclite pants. I fell in love with these immediately, though when I first picked them up I didn't rush out to pen a review - I really wanted to put them through their paces. 6 months on, and I'm ready to declare them the best kind of water and windproof pants I have ever found for pedal-based kayaking/sailing in open waters.

Like everything else from Simms Fishing I have tried, the quality of both materials and manufacture truly are second to none, as is the cut and fit. Simms always strive for perfection in anything they make (it's a company mantra) and it really shows in these pants. Incorporating Gore-Tex Paclite shell fabric, they do an excellent job of repelling water as well as wind, but are light and pliable enough to not feel like waterproof pants. They're not far different from what you might find if you walked into a high-end up-market hiking/expedition store and are similarly priced, though there are no metal parts to rust or corode in the marine environments that I find myself kayak fishing in. They have weathered better than the Immersion Research pants, are lighter and more comfortable to pedal in, and are clearly much more wind and water resistant. Just as importantly, however, is that the cuffs aren't sealed shut via elastic neoprene (there are velcro tabs to pull the cuff in however) and as such, will drain water immediately when I hop aboard the yak.

Underneath the paclite pants I'm wearing Simms Rivertek bottoms, which I replaced my Sharkskin and Lavacore pants with late last year as well. These to have worked out really well, and I'll be posting up a review of these next. To find out more about Simms Fishing gear, contact your local Compleat Angler outlet.