Apparel that Demonstrated Extreme Versatility in Alaska
The one problem with traveling to Alaska in the summertime is that it’s hard to “pack light.” It can be 30 degrees or 80 degrees, sometimes in the same day, with varying levels of precipitation, and most of the best activities take place outside. Fortunately, on our last two trips to the 49th State it has been unusually warm – with temps rising into the 70s nearly every day.
That meant that some items got used quite a bit while others – like my new fleece vest and “shacket” from AFTCO – still have their tags on.
On our recent July-August 2023 visit to Homer, Seward and Bear Trail Lodge in Bristol Bay, two items in particular stood out. Not only did they prove to be valuable under specific circumstances, but they also ended up being much more versatile than I expected.
Free Fly Latitude Pants
The Problem: My body is oddly-shaped and does not fit well in many different brands of pants, particularly those made for fishing. For example, most Carhartt and Columbia pants, two readily-available brands, are generally off the table. Some models from North Face work, but not all. In order to get some that are the right length but also don’t bind me across the front or the hips I often have to get something pretty baggy. As Hanna has pointed out repeatedly, those baggy pants can look dumpy and they tend to flap in the breeze.
The Solution: I was nervous when I got the Free Fly pants because they’re tailored more narrowly than some other brands, but I was pleasantly surprised when I put them on that not only did they fit well, but they were remarkably comfortable. Some of that stems from the addition of elastic in the waistband, but it’s also the result of the super-soft material. They don’t have that “crunchy” feel of most technical pants
What I Really Liked: Because they’re sleeker than most fishing pants, you could reasonably expect to wear these to dinner or a bar and not look like you just came off the water, but I recognized an additional value of the tapered fit when I wore the Latitude pants under my waders – they didn’t bunch up uncomfortably. In fact, I hardly knew they were there. Furthermore, they’re extremely quick drying. How do I know? Well, while attempting to free my fly from an overhanging log I bent over a little too far and some water rushed into my waders. The socks stayed drenched all day, but when I pulled off the waders several river miles and several hours later, the pants looked good and dry as new.
Where They Came Up Short: The only thing that I wish was different was that they had an integrated cargo/hip pocket on the side for my wallet. I know that would take away from their sleek look, but so does a lumpy George Costanza “fat wallet” on the butt.
How I Knew I Loved Them: When it came time to fly home from Anchorage, I could have worn any of the three pairs of pants I’d brought, including the ones that I normally wear when I feel fat or bloated, but I reached for the Free Fly. Through a 6 hour flight to Dallas (most of which was spent sleeping), a layover, and then a 2 ½ hour flight home, they never pulled or tugged uncomfortably. Once we got home and did laundry, they were purposefully placed at the top of the stack of pants I draw from daily.
Gill Hydro Short Boot
The Problem: It’s tough to find footwear that is completely waterproof, yet provides traction and also the ability not to get permanently marred by fish slime, fish blood and other detritus.
The Solution: I have a pair of Muck Boots, which have a sole that’s a bit too aggressive for some boating activities, so I was thrilled to get these Gill Short boots. I’ve had them for a while but really didn’t get a chance to give them an extensive test until this trip, and particularly when we went halibut (plus salmon and lingcod and rockfish) out of Seward. In fact, they’d made their debut the day before as we drove from Homer to Seward in a downpour.
What I Really Liked: During that Homer-to-Seward travel day it poured, and after wearing them to the Alaska SeaLife Center I didn’t change for our light hike (a little less than 2 miles on groomed trails) to view the Exit Glacier. They were super-comfortable on that walk, and while I might not wear them for a more technical hike, I’d definitely wear them around town. They clean easily and the Shadow Camo pattern distinguishes them nicely.
Where They Came Up Short: Because they’re made of rubber, these boots aren’t terribly breathable, which was fine into the mid-60s, but proved to be a little bit uncomfortable above that mark. Of course, it’s a little bit unfair to ding them for that because it’s not their expected usage.
How I Knew I Loved Them: By midweek, I stopped wearing my running/hiking shoes altogether and just put on the short boots every time I wanted to go anywhere. They slipped on easily thanks to the neoprene sides and the rear pull tab, but won’t slip off. I even wore them for the ride home, and may have gotten some strange looks at the Dallas airport, but I didn’t care.
