Merino Wool is a game changer!
One of my best memories of Christmas was back when I was 13 and my mum and dad gave me a drab green, 100% wool British military surplus Wooly Pully sweater. It was far and away my favorite insulating layer in a duck blind or on the water fishing. And it kept me warm to the bone, even when wet. It was made out of incredibly scratchy wool and made my face break out, but it was better than freezing my arse off. Since then, I have been a strong believer in wool as a thermal layer, especially after I tried Merino Wool for the first time – it was a game changer for me.
Fast forward 40-plus years and I was headed to Kodiak Island, Alaska, during mid-October to check out a new steelhead fishery. I needed to be prepared for some cold, wet, nasty weather, so I immediately reached out to Kevin and Rich at Skwala to see if I could give their Thermo 350 Hoody a try. Thanks brothers!
First off, the Thermo 350 Hoody is not your typical “hoody”. This is a purposely designed and constructed thermal garment, built for fly fishers. It’s Skwala’s heaviest base layer, made of 95% hand-selected New Zealand Merino Wool. It features a full-cover hood with extra high collar to keep the bitter cold at bay and protect your ears from windchill. The mid-chest-length zipper allows you to vent when hiking but also zippers up to fully cover your chin and lock in your body heat.
The fully integrated thumb holes in the sleeves are amazingly designed, you don’t even know they are there until putting it on – surprise! Pull on the hoody and insert your arms in the sleeves, and your thumbs effortlessly find the thumb holes which allows the cuff to seamlessly cover the backs of your hands without bunching. And it’s just as easy to get your thumbs out of the holes.
The furry, fleeced wool interior is a super insulator and not scratchy at all (love that)! The durable knit face exterior is robust and resists pilling.
And it has an outside pocket on the breast made out of stretch Lycra® with a zipper that I can store my readers in – I love pockets…
I really like this piece of technical clothing and will be sure to put it through its paces on my three week, late season trip to Chile, Patagonia, this year.
I am NOT a gear hound. The longer I fish, the less gear I own, bring with me, and wear. Every piece of my personal kit has a purpose, and each piece of gear must serve more than one purpose. The Thermo 350 Hoody will be an integral part of my gear for cool or cold weather fishing adventures, and I feel it might be just right for you on your next cold weather trip.
Give me a shout (800) 669-3474, or shoot me an email pat@theflyshop.com if you want to hear more about this base layer or learn about my next favorite fly fishing destination I am headed to.
