Best Extreme Weather OuterwearEVER

Available in early November and first previewed at ICAST, Whitewater Fishings new Great Lakes Pro Insulated is the ultimate outerwear for the hardcore hardwater anger.

Clearly, the upper Midwest and Great Lakes Region offer a natural laboratory for designing and testing extreme weather gear, presenting worst case scenario weather conditions to put outerwear to the maximum test. And the good news for anglers throughout North America is that the Great Lakes Pro Insulated Jacket and Bib passed the Ice Belt test, so its certain to perform in your region as well.

Whitewater Fishing President, Aaron Ambur, who has over 20-year experience designing outdoor apparel, said, We considered every square inch of the Great Lakes Pro Insulted Jacket and Bib. We wanted to change the way anglers go to battle in cold conditions. That was our promise, and we kept it.

ULTIMATE MOBILITY, WATERPROOFNESS, AND DURABILITY

Well get to the sophisticated zone-insulation system in a moment, but first Ambur talked about mobility. Our design team understood that superior insulation would be part of the package, but before sewing a single stich, we knew creating a highly mobile garment was job one.

Fabric first is a Whitewater Fishing mantra. Selecting the right fabric is ground zero for everything we do, said Ambur. The fabric package in the Great Lakes Pro Insulated Jacket and Bib is nylon based with a remarkable 4-way stretch and unmatched durability. The material is ripstop, too, so an accidental puncture doesnt keep going.

Next, you need precision cuts and fabric panels to facilitate mobility. The jacket and bib are constructed to move with the common motions you make while ice fishing, like trudging through snow, bending, and kneeling on the ice. To enable these movements, Whitewater cut and sewed specialized patterns in the elbows, shoulders, and knees to promote articulation. Meaning, the fabric panels are preformed to bend without pulling on the surrounding fabric.

Same goes for the crotch area. The Great Lakes Pro Insulated Bib features a gusseted crotch. That means a separate and precise fabric panel is sewn-in to eliminate resistance and advance motion. In many lesser suits, the leg sections are simply sewn into a bunch that gathers and restricts when you walk, bend, or kneel.

On the topic of patterns and cuts, Arbor mentioned another crucial element of the Great Lakes Pro Insulated Jacket and Bib: Each pattern was measured and cut to exactness to eliminate any extra material, which would have added bulk. This also gives the jacket and bib a sleek and clean look. Know, too, that every seam is precision taped to eliminate any chance of leakage. Trust that youll stay dry.

More on dryness In the minds of Whitewater, premium winterwear also needs to be waterproof not all are. The companys intelligent 3-layer fabric build on the Great Lakes Pro Insulated Jacket and Bib is 100% waterproof. The suits 30,000 mm waterproof rating is best of class, while still maintaining breathability. It means the 3-layer material is fully rainproof and waterproof under very high pressure, but at the same time perspiration can escape. Heavy rain, wet snow, and sleet are no match.

AquaGuard® water-resistant zippers.

Smooth and comfortable grid-fleece lining.

THERMAL MAP INSULATION

Insulation doesnt have to be bulky, either, if youre an expert on the subject matter. First, you need exceptional insulation, like the Primaloft® Silver found in the Great Lakes Pro Insulated Jacket and Bib. Next, that insulation must be precisely placed thermal mapped to achieve warmth while not impeding mobility. 

What is Primaloft Silver? The exceptional insulation is made from ultrafine, soft microfibers from polyester, which are connected at millions of contact points. They create a tightly cross-linked tangle of fibers with countless little air chambers that trap body heat and allow air to circulate, while also protecting against cold from the outside. 

Full-leg zippers with strorm flap.

Waist tighteners to reduce weight on shoulders.

Weve established that Primaloft Silver is technologically advanced. But its how Whitewater distributes the material throughout the jacket and bibs that maximizes its effectiveness and at the same time yielding mobility on the ice.

Thermal mapping is key, said Ambur. For example, in the chest area we included 133 grams of Primaloft Silver and 170 grams in the back. Thats for maximum warmth. In the sleeves we dropped down to 100 grams to accentuate motion. We went even further and insulated the hood and collar, too. Moreover, the hood is noticeably high to keep winds at bay.

Thermal mapping is a tenet of the bibs, too. The chest sports 60 grams of Primaloft Silver; the back 80 grams; and 100 grams below the waist.

Ambur sums it up this way: We set out to design an extreme weather jacket and bib with maximum thermal value and minimal physical weight, along with exceptional mobility, stretch, and durability. The Great Lakes Pro Insulated Jacket and Bib even exceeded our expectations

BEMIS PVC on knees for added durability and waterproofness..

Great Lakes Pro Insulated Jacket FEATURES:

• 100% Waterproof (30,000 mm rated)
• 100% Windproof
• Exclusive 3-layer waterproof/breathable material
• 4-way stretch nylon-based shell with smooth polyester lining
• Thermal Mapped Primaloft® Silver insulation (133 grams front, 170 grams back, 100 below the waist)
• Articulated shoulders and elbows
• Skillfully taped seams
• High insulated collar
• 3-panel, adjustable, and insulated hood
• Adjustable waist
• 2 sewn-in D-rings (lower ring for safety cord, upper ring for trolling motor fobs)
• 5 pockets for storage and warmth: 2 AquaGuard® water-resistant zip chest, 2 AquaGuard® water-resistant zip waist, 1 interior zip chest for smartphone
• Reflective material

MSRP $499.99

Great Lakes Pro Insulated Bib FEATURES:

• 100% Waterproof (30,000 mm rated)
• 100% Windproof
• Exclusive 3-layer waterproof/breathable material
• 4-way stretch nylon-based shell with smooth polyester lining
• Thermal Mapped Primaloft® Silver insulation (60 grams front, 80 grams back, 100 grams sleeves, and 80 grams hooda/collar)
• Gusseted crotch for added mobility
• Articulated knees for added mobility
• Skillfully taped seams
• BEMIS PVC on knees for added durability and waterproofness
• Waist high side zippers for easy in and out
• Adjustable suspenders with silicone grip to stay in place
• 6 pockets with highly water-resistant AquaGuard® zippers (2 chest, 2 waist, and 2 cargo)
• 2 sewn-in D-rings (lower ring for safety cord, upper ring for trolling motor fobs)
• Reflective material

MSRP $499.99