April 3, 2020

The best in 2020 foul-weather boots and gear

Brian Hagenbuch

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Commercial fishermen work in every possible climate and are exposed to the harshest elements – sun, rain, wind, sea spray, hot and cold temperature extremes – in many cases all in a single workday. Building an arsenal of gear favorites is key to your comfort on deck.

Rain Gear

Grundéns is still the undisputed king of foul-weather gear for commercial fishermen, and it keeps adding to its vast array of options. In business for more than a century, the latest Grundéns catalog lists 13 lines of commercial gear for men and four lines for women, with the latter expanding quickly.The Neptune gear has been a swift seller over the past couple of seasons because the polyurethane-coated polyester provides four-way stretch and increased mobility and comfort that has resonated with fishermen. The bibs and full-zip jacket are the cornerstone of this line.

Guy Cotten has been quietly, consistently producing high-quality rain gear for commercial fishermen for more than 50 years. While it does not run out as many lines and innovations as Grundéns, the company has amassed numerous styles over five decades in the business For an all-around multipurpose set of rain gear, the seminal X-Trapper Jacket and Bibs are as durable and functional as they come. For an all-around multipurpose set of rain gear, the seminal X-Trapper Jacket and Bibs are as durable and functional as they come. The X-Trapper Jacket’s hood, shoulders and back are sheathed in Guy Cotten’s cap coz fabric, which has a generous exterior coat of PVC backed by interior polyester jersey,

Duluth Trading Co. is rolling out its first line of rain gear in the 2020 season as part of a burgeoning Alaskan Hardgear collection. Duluth tested the Resurrection Bay rain gear last season with Bristol Bay setnetters who were packing on record loads and found they needed to shore up their seams. With 100 percent welded seams that should hold up, they hit the market in time for the 2020 spring and summer fisheries. This polyurethane gear may be the stretchiest on the market, and it allows the Resurrection Bay gear — which includes bibs, a full zip coat, and an anorak — to fit a bit trimmer than other raingear.