Fish harder and stay out longer with layering solutions engineered to enhance the performance of your entire system and allow for confidence in all conditions.
Diver Deeper: Watch Next Level Layering Solutions
Ask most anglers what they’re thinking about the night before a big day on the water and you’ll hear the same answers: rods, reels, flies, baits, lures, where they want to be, and when. Rarely does anyone put the same energy into what they’re going to wear. The thing is, you can have the right tackle, the right bait, flies, lures, and the right plane — but if you’re cold, wet, or sweating through your layers, the day has the tendency to unravel fast.
Layering isn’t just about staying comfortable — it’s about staying sharp and maximizing your time on the water. Because when you build your system right, the weather doesn’t dictate the fishing. You do.
The Three-Part System
Think of layering as a chain. Each link depends on the one before it. A $700 shell won’t save you if you’ve got a cotton t-shirt underneath. Every layer has a job, and when each one does its job, the whole system works in quiet harmony together.
The formula is simple:
Foundation + Warmth + Shell = Confidence in All Conditions.
Foundation — this is your first line of defense. The layer against your skin sets the tone for the entire system. Its job is simple but critical: move moisture away from your body so you stay dry and comfortable.
Enter the Strata Collection — a new family of baselayers built for anglers who refuse to hang it up when the temps drop and conditions get tough.
Strata 160: The workhorse. Lightweight, fast-drying, with just enough wool to keep warmth and fight odor. Perfect for high-output days or as your daily driver.
Strata 200: A step warmer, with a thoughtful design that plays well when doubled up with the 160. Great for colder conditions where you need a little more warmth.
Strata 330: Technically a midlayer, not a baselayer — but built for truly brutal days. Wind resistant, DWR-treated fleece with a lofted interior. Think of it as armor for the cold.
Bottom line: If your foundation isn’t working, nothing else will.
Warmth — This is where you build heat. Insulation layers come in two main flavors—synthetic or natural — and the right choice depends on how and where you’re fishing.
Synthetic Insulation (Fall Run Hoody, Exstream): Dries fast, handles sweat well. Best for active days when you’re moving, hiking, or covering miles of river.
Natural Insulation (Midstream Collection): Wool-powered warmth that holds heat even when wet. Best for cold, damp, low-output fishing — think steelhead runs, long floats, or sessions where movement is minimal.
The all-new Midstream Collection — jacket, vest, and pant — uses Lavalan wool insulation for warmth without bulk. It’s efficient, sustainable, and perfect for the most unforgiving forecasts.
Shell — this is the final piece — your shield against the elements. The shell’s job is to shed rain, block wind, and let vapor escape. From the G4 Pro and G3 Guide Jacket to the Pro Dry Suit and waders, these layers are designed to perform, but only if what’s underneath is doing its job.
If your foundation is moving sweat, and your insulation is managing heat without holding moisture, the shell can do what it’s designed to do: keep you dry, block the wind, and breathe.
Real-World Layering Tips
Don’t overdress on the approach. If you hike in wearing all your layers, you’ll sweat before you even wet a line. Start light, add layers once you’re at the water.
Match layers to activity. Floating a drift boat? Go warmer, since you’ll be sitting still. Hiking to a backcountry creek? Go lighter and let your system breathe.
Think modular. Build a system you can adjust on the fly. Zip a vest off, add a shell, shed a layer mid-day—adapt to the weather, don’t let it chase you off the water.
At the end of the day, layering isn’t about following a rigid formula—it’s about being intentional. Match your foundation, warmth, and shell to the conditions, and you’ll unlock more hours on the water, more fish in the net, and fewer early exits.
Fish with your heart. Dress with your brain. Because when it comes to layering, it’s what’s on the inside that counts.
