Spend enough time on the water and you’ll find yourself in a rainstorm. That’s the nature of the game, especially when you are fishing in the tropics. Humid days can quickly build into strong afternoon storms. Factor in that the rainforest of Costa Rica averages roughly 100 inches of rain a year, and you’re bound to be caught in a storm at one point or another. Sure, you can fish through it and hope it’ll pass, but why suffer when technical rain gear is available? On our Coast to Coast Expedition, we relied on the Columbia PFG Force XII ODX Jacket. Here’s how it held up against three fisheries and five days of non-stop fishing.
Columbia
PFG Force XII ODX Jacket
How We Tested
There is no better way to test a rain jacket than in the rainforest. At any moment, the sky can open up, leaving you fishing in a soaking rain, and we mean soaking. These types of storms are not a steady drizzle but rather a full-on torrential downpour, lasting as long as 30 minutes. Curtis Ciszek put this jacket to the test on the entire trip, from the blue waters of the Pacific to the winding rivers of the jungle, and everything in between.
These specialized fisheries are demanding in nature. Whether the tropical humidity, wet rides offshore, or all-out rain squalls, these were the perfect testing conditions. It allowed us to get a feel for the jacket’s performance and all-around versatility. If the jacket was durable enough, breathable, and waterproof to handle these conditions, it’d excel at any other fishing scenario we could think of.
What We Love
Waterproof Design
Out of the gate, the first thing any rain jacket needs to do is keep out water. Columbia achieves this with the Force XII ODX Jacket’s unique material design. They call it OutDry technology, which is a two-layer membrane meant to keep out water and wick away internal moisture. The outer layer is the waterproof layer, and unlike Gore-Tex, it holds its water repellent properties over time. This means even after several storms, the fabric continues to repel water while maintaining that dry feel.
The internal layer is a soft layer, making the jacket comfortable even on bare skin. This layer is also responsible for the moisture-wicking properties of this jacket. Especially important in the humid tropics of Costa Rica, this layer wicks away sweat, leaving you dry and comfortable.
While fabrics are important, jacket design also plays a pivotal role in how waterproof a rain jacket is. Starting with the hood, you need full coverage. To achieve this, the Force Jacket has an adjustable hood that can be snugged down to properly fit your head. In addition, the front zipper extends to cover your neck, adding another level of protection. Lastly, the same zipper is water-resistant to keep water out of the front seam.
Durability
If keeping rain out is the first priority, durability is second. No rain jacket is worth the price if it won’t perform time and time again, and most jackets start to fail at the seams. To solve this issue, Columbia opted to fully seal and tape its external seams. This keeps water out and moves the reinforcement points off your body. As a result, friction won’t weaken the seams over time. The end result is a durable and waterproof design capable of withstanding the use and abuse of hard days on the water.
Lightweight and Packable
The last requirement for a multi-location expedition is having a jacket that is packable and lightweight. Throughout our travels, we constantly face changing conditions. What started as a clear and humid day could quickly turn into afternoon downpours as storms built. The solution for this is always having a rain jacket with you. The Force XII is fairly lightweight to start, and the two-layer design lets you stuff it in a backpack or boat hatch without taking up a ton of room. While it’s not necessarily designed as a packable jacket, it fits into this role with ease throughout Costa Rica.
Final Thoughts
From coast to coast, we battled tight timelines and ever-changing conditions. Of all our gear, we demanded the most out of our rain jackets. Battling humid conditions and rainforest squalls, the Columbia Force XII Jacket quickly became our go-to. Its lightweight design, extreme waterproofing, and overall durability lent itself well to the tropics of Costa Rica. Whether you’re fishing the tropics or wading for steelhead in the PNW, a versatile piece of gear like the Force XII Jacket should always make your packing list.