A milestone in wading clothing

Assessing a wading jacket is difficult. Which is good? Which leaves something to be desired? The findings are often the result of different demands. Someone fishing in Europe’s sunny south on crystal-clear rivers in mostly moderate weather conditions will have different requirements from those of a sea trout angler in harshest coastal conditions. A true judgement can be made only after a longer period of time, whether in the northern or southern hemisphere. We had the opportunity to stress-test the „Salar“ wading jacket from SCHÖFFEL over a period of one year. With, let us say, extremely favorable results.

First of all, we have to say there have always been true milestones when it comes to wading jackets. There were the Musto FPX (also my first wading jacket, by the way), the Patagonia Watermaster, the Simms Watermaster, the Simms G3 or the Geoff Anderson WS5. All distinguished themselves by their ability to withstand the often extreme conditions of the northern hemisphere, receiving the most positive feedback. For a long time there was nothing new that could have been included in this list. Even the new editions and continuations of the former icons, the quasi 2.0 models, were often unable to match the old models. But now, with the „Salar“ from SCHÖFFEL, has come a real contender for the title of Germany‘s next top wading jacket.

SCHÖFFEL? Aren‘t they the ones from skiing and mountain sports? That‘s right – since 1804 they’ve been based in Schwabmünchen, Bavaria, building up an excellent reputation in the field of outdoor clothing. Whether for mountain hiking, skiing, cycling or other activities with high demands on textiles – SCHÖFFEL is one of the biggest names in the outdoor clothing market. The fact that the company is a member of the Fair Wear Foundation and, as a Bluesign system partner, is also up-to-date when it comes to sustainability, has certainly contributed to the brand‘s great success. First and foremost, though, the name SCHÖFFEL means extremely high quality.

I was not initially aware of the company‘s expertise in the field of fishing, so the result was all the more surprising. The first impression on unpacking is the pleasure of immediately realizing you also get a decent bit of jacket for your money. The three-layer GORE-TEX® Ripstop laminate is light, but at the same time makes an extremely robust impression.I feel well protected and warmly wrapped just looking at it. With a specified water column of a staggering >28,000mm, you can expect this. Then, on closer inspection, you immediately notice the great workmanship: classic, roomy cut, no crooked seams, no protruding glue residues from welding, no protruding threads, and no protruding threads anywhere.

In addition to classic features such as a Hypalon tool area, fly pads, D-rings, inner zipped pockets for accessories, loops for the wading belt or the adjustable, water-repellent cuffs, the well-protected and generously sized breast pockets are a real hit. Really cool for all who, like me, never miss a chance to go fishing even in the harshest winter, the SCHÖFFEL Salar“ at last offers a jacket that has handwarmer pockets fully padded with fleece. There is even a large back pocket. I also really like the inside pocket with a clear window which allows a quick look at your smartphone (if you really don‘t want to switch it off) or your fishing papers. These and other features are listed below.

What the jacket can really do and why it deserves the title of milestone has been proved several times in recent months. It has been in constant use, especially on the open coast when fishing for sea trout – especially on our two-week trip to Bornholm and a trip to the island of SamsØ. The weather ranged from blazing sunshine to snow flurries at sub-zero temperatures, to winds of around 7 bft. The most important finding: bad weather and sub-zero temperatures cannot harm the jacket.

The SCHÖFFEL „Salar“ offers excellent protection against wind, cold and precipitation. Even when dancing in the waves, with water up to your chest, the jacket affords absolutely reliable protection, because the high collar and snug-fitting hood prevent water from penetrating, as does the elasticated drawstring at the bottom hem. Of course, after just over a year we can‘t say anything about the longevity of the jacket – even though it still looks like it did on the first day. Nevertheless, I personally let myself be carried away, rating the „Salar“ as currently the best wading jacket for extreme weather conditions that you can get at the moment.

This is also reflected in the price. The jacket is not exactly a bargain, but as a firm believer in „buy cheap and you‘ll buy twice“, I‘m sure that it‘s worth it, because of the way the jacket is made. With a little care, it should be a faithful companion for many years. In any case, I have now sorted out my almost 15-year-old wading jacket from another well-known manufacturer, and also hung the previously unworn successor model in the wardrobe as a backup. My first choice is definitely the SCHÖFFEL Gore-Tex „Salar“ – currently available exclusively at

www.rudiheger.eu

By the way: With its Mayfly model, SCHÖFFEL has also launched a wading jacket that is extremely light, very comfortable, and highly breathable, designed for fishing in more moderate conditions. If our readers have already reported on this, we would be delighted to hear from you. (Stefan Alt)

Hardfacts:

• Hypalon tool area
• Velcro fly pad
• D-ring for accessories & tools
• 2 large gusseted blouson pockets
• 2 large fleece-lined handwarmer pockets with zip and water drainage holes
• Internal zipped pockets for accessories
• 2 smaller side zipped pockets for quick access
• Wading belt loops on the sides for deep wading
• Fully adjustable, water-repellent cuffs
• YKK water-repellent zip
• Smartphone inside pocket with clear window
• Sunglasses cleaning cloth on lanyard
• Large back pocket
• Reinforced D-ring on back
• Adjustable and stowable hood with peak
• Elasticated drawcord at the bottom hem with two-way adjustability