I love fly fishing in the winter. The solitude, the quiet, the snow (at least, in years when we have it) all combine to make a beautiful experience that you don’t quite get the rest of the year.
As such, I’ve developed—largely through trial and error—a layering system that keeps me warm, dry, and going for as long as my fingers will allow it. It’s nothing new or revolutionary, but it works.
I do recommend brand-specific gear here, and that’s for a reason. I’ve gone through quite a few base, mid, and outer layers over the years. The ones I reach for now are the most durable, and to me, that means they’re the best bang for my buck. I haven’t tried every product under the sun, but these are the ones I know I can always depend on.
Wool is King
A quick note before we get into the products themselves: I’m an avid fan of wool. Merino wool, in particular, has been a game-changer for my winter fishing endeavors. It’s light, insulates well, and doesn’t stink too bad, so you don’t have to wash it between every trip (although, you probably should).
Merino wool, in particular, does have one shortcoming, especially when it comes to using it as a base or mid-layer. The stuff just isn’t as durable as other fabrics. I’ve worn more holes into merino wool long johns than I care to count, and my wife just patched my current pair for the third time a few weeks ago.
With that in mind, I have started branching out and looking at other materials. I’ve been surprised by what I’ve found, and while I don’t know that I’ll completely ditch wool, there are other great options out there.
Base Layer
Socks
Key Features:
- Lifetime warranty
- Extremely durable
- MSRP: $35.00/pair
You can’t go wrong with anything from Darn Tough, but the Heavyweight Over-the-Calf Hunting Sock has been my go-to for over a decade. I scoffed, initially, at paying $35 for a pair of socks. In a decade of heavy use (for both winter fishing and elk hunts) I’ve only had to replace them once. They’re extremely durable, warm, and offer just a bit of extra warmth on your legs when wading in the winter.
Long Johns
Key Features:
- Durable
- 37.5 Tech for moisture and heat management
- MSRP: $74.99
Vertx is perhaps better known for holsters and bags, but they partnered with 37.5 to create a stellar long john-style Merino Wool Base Layer Pant. These are the base layer I reach for whenever it’s cold outside, if I’m chasing trout or hunting elk. They’re surprisingly durable, for a merino-based product, and they’ve lasted longer than any other wool base layer pant I’ve used.
Key Features:
- Recycled polyester fabric with high loft
- Excellent insulation and temperature control
- MSRP: $99.00
Patagonia’s Capilene fabric is the first non-wool product I’ve used in years, and it quickly made me wonder if I’ve missed out on other synthetic fabrics. Capilene is made from recycled polyester, with a lofted grid texture that both traps heat and allows your body to breathe. I swapped out my regular merino layers for the Patagonia Capilene Thermal Weight Bottom on a recent fishing trip, and was just as warm as I normally am. I’ve also worn other Capilene layers for skiing, and the fabric continues to impress me. That it’s not thin merino wool bodes well for its long-term durability, as well.
Mid Layers
Pants
Key Features:
- Grid-fleece lined for maximum warmth and durability
- Water repellent finish
- MSRP: $169.00
Another non-wool product that I’ve quickly fallen head-over-heels for is the R2 TechFace Pant from Patagonia. I’ve used, and enjoyed, their R2 TechFace hoodie for a while now, but the pants are a great option for someone who wants something cheaper than wool, but that insulates virtually as well. These also boast a water-repellent finish, so if your waders do leak, you theoretically won’t get soaked as quickly as if you were wearing cotton. These are a great layer to wear over long johns, and directly underneath your waders. Plus, they look nice enough you can wear them to grab food after fishing, without feeling like you’ve gone out to eat in your pajamas.
Key Features:
- Warmest cold-weather pants I’ve ever used
- 95% merino wool construction for best warmth and comfort
- MSRP: $219.00
The Skwala Thermo 350 Pants are my go-to for winter fishing (and skiing, and anything outside, really). These are 95% heavy-weight merino wool, and I’ve used them for three or four seasons now with virtually no signs of wear or abuse. They’ve stood up extremely well to long hours in waders, in the truck, and plenty of walking around. They’re as warm as you’d expect heavyweight merino to be, and just as comfortable, too. This is a classic example of Skwala’s company ethos in over-building a product, only to have it be perfect for its intended use case. If you spend a lot of time in the cold, and you love wool, you can’t go wrong with the Thermo 350. You’ll pay more for it, but I think it’s worth the cost.
Tops
Key Features:
- Unbeatable Shetland wool quality, warmth, and durability
- Filson’s legendary build quality
- MSRP: $329.00
Filson doesn’t make cheap gear, and their Shetland 5-Gauge Wool Sweater is no exception. Most genuine Shetland wool sweaters are spendy, though. This wool is a bit scratchy, but worn over a light T-shirt, you won’t notice it. What you will notice is the fabric’s ability to trap heat, regulate your body temp, and stay warm even when it gets wet. I’m going on my second winter with this layer, and it’s quickly become the go-to layer underneath my outer shell. This, with a light shirt underneath, is enough to keep me warm and going all day long. It’s also held up well to the few flies I’ve snagged in it, my 8-month-old daughter’s penchant for grabbing and pulling, and my dogs’ love to chew on everything. This is a sweater I’ll have for life, and I plan to fish in it forever.
Key Features:
- Lighter weight for more active anglers
- Offers great insulation
- MSRP: $89.00
The Capilene Midweight Crewneck is a great layer option for the middle of winter, or even early spring. If you’re hiking a lot, rowing the boat most of the day, or just don’t get as cold as the rest of us, this is a great layer to wear by itself under your shell, or underneath a heavier sweater or other mid-layer option. Built from the same recycled Capilene fabric that’s quickly worked its way into my closet, you won’t be disappointed at this piece’s ability to keep you warm and dry.
Key Features:
- Heavyweight merino wool in a half-zip sweater
- Outstanding durability and warmth
- MSRP: $249.00
If you want something that’s a bit in between the two layers already offered here, the Skwala Thermo 350 Hoody is probably your best bet. Built from the same heavyweight merino wool as their Thermo 350 pant, the hoody is a half-zip option that’s been surprisingly great for me. Whether I’m using it on the ski slope, or out on the river, it’s often warm enough on its own that I just need a light shell to stay toasty. I’ll even wear this by itself on warmer winter, or early spring days, as well.
Key Features:
- R2 grid-fleece for warmth and durability
- Large pockets
- MSRP: $199.00
The last option for mid-layer tops is another non-wool pick that I’ve come to enjoy a lot. During a recent cold snap, and day on the water, I opted for the R2 TechFace Pullover as the layer underneath my outer shell. I was astounded at both the comfort of this piece, and how it didn’t make me feel too warm, even beneath a shell. It’s more comfortable than the similar R2 TechFace Hoody, and I love the large pocket. That’s a missing feature on similar mid-weight layers from other manufacturers right now.
Outer Layers
Outer layers are much more personal to pick, and in my experience, this is where you have almost too many options to choose from. I still default to pieces from a lot of the companies above, because they offer everything I’m looking for in both warmth, but not making me feel like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.
So, while the below options are what I use and would highly recommend, you can really go off in any direction here to find the right outer layer for you. My suggestion is to pick something that insulates, but doesn’t contain you with unnecessary bulk. Water-resistance and windbreaking are two must-have features, as well.
Key Features:
- Flexible insulation that moves with you
- Unique design that doesn’t bunch when casting or rowing
- MSRP: $349.00
The Fusion 3/2 Puffy is my go-to outer layer for all but the worst conditions. It’s essentially Skwala’s answer to Patagonia’s ubiquitous puffy, and in many ways, it succeeds. It’s designed and cut to move with you, so it won’t bunch up when you’re casting or rowing for extended periods of time. The insulation is also built to stretch and move with you, so you don’t end up with patches of the jacket that are essentially empty. The 3/2 Fusion has a water-resistant outer shell that does a decent job of cutting the wind, as well. This, layered over any of the mid layer options I mentioned earlier, is all you’ll need for most winter fishing.
Key Features:
- Patagonia’s legendary durability and quality
- Surprisingly warm, even in wind
- MSRP: $289.00
The Fitz Roy Trout Hoody is a lighter option for an outer shell, but I’ve worn it both skiing and fishing this winter, and come away amazed at how well it holds up to the cold and the wind. If you’re fishing on a warmer day, or there’s not much wind forecasted, this is the perfect lighter shell that’ll help keep you warm and dry. The shell is built from 100% recycled polyester, and the insulation is PrimaLoft Gold, also made from recycled material.
Key Features:
- Overbuilt for extreme conditions
- Likely the only outer layer you’ll ever need
- MSRP: $699.00
The Skwala RS Outpost Jacket is ridiculous. It’s $700, and at first glance, it looks too bulky to be of much use. But since Skwala made it, this jacket is surprisingly nimble. I wore it on two frigid trips in recent weeks, and I rowed the drift boat on both of them. The Outpost never bunched up, or kept me from using my usual range-of-motion. It’s also insanely warm, and I only needed a light mid-layer underneath it to stay toasty in temps below 25F. It’s completely waterproof, stuffed with 150 grams of Toray 3DeFX+ spiral insulation, and so nice it almost feels like a wintertime cheat code. If you opt for this jacket, you’re buying likely the only heavy-duty outer layer you’ll ever need. If you spend time steelheading, fishing in any kind of humidity, or fighting the wind here in the Rockies, this just might be worth the splurge.