HPFC Hall of Fame: Stormr Strykr Suit
I like fishing in the winter. The fish tend to be ganged up and the boat ramps are often empty. However, I’ve always hated extreme cold, and I find that once I my hands or toes or ears become uncomfortable, there’s no way to get back to “normal” until you’re back in a warm truck or hotel room. It can be draining, bordering on dangerous.
When I first joined a bass club in the mid-1990s, several of the anglers wore snowmobile suits. I never bought one because I didn’t have the money, but in hindsight I can see they were less than optimal: Not only did they restrict mobility, but they were potentially a liability – if you were to fall in they would likely get overloaded with water and take you to the bottom with a rock. In fact, one club member once did fall in and was only saved because it was a power plant lake with 60-plus degree water and because it was a long a stretch of shallow riprap and he had nowhere to drown. Nevertheless, it could have been tragic.
For the better part of two decades I cobbled together a layering system of quality gear, including long underwear, gloves and heavy socks, and various shells. It was ok, albeit a little bulky, and I never felt I had the solution. A little over a decade ago, however, I found a life changing solution: The Stormr Strykr Jacket and Bibs.
How I Discovered The Stormr Products
The 2013 Bassmaster Classic on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake was miserably cold for the competitors, but I have a feeling that it was worse for those of us covering it from the water. At least they had adrenaline and the lure of a six figure check pushing them – we just sat still in the boat and tried to take it all in. With single degree temperatures and ice storms, the fire department had to show up at the ramp in the morning to spray sand on it to ensure there’d be no major accidents.
Apparently some of the competitors knew what was up – because they came prepared with these newfangled neoprene suits to keep them warm. I didn’t actually notice them the first day, but my friend Chad Hallett saw them on the broadcast and messaged me to see if I knew anything about them. The next morning I noticed Greg Hackney wearing one and asked him about them. “They’re made by Stormr,” he said. I filed that away. He looked warm, as did the other pros wearing them, while I continued to be cold.
When I got back from the Classic I blogged about them and a company representative reached out to me and offered to send one. I quickly agreed to that and a few days later I had one. Since then, it remains in my tow vehicle or boat roughly from October to April, and then in an upstairs closet during the warmer months. With zero maintenance, I’m confident that it keeps me comfortable and mobile on the coldest days. In 20 degree temperature I can wear just a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt underneath without any fear that my core will get cold.
Huge Upsides
As noted above, it’s no longer necessary to utilize excessive numbers of bulky layers to maximize warmth when using the Stormr suit. Indeed, with a decent base layer and then a second insulating layer, it’s possible to be remarkably warm in frigid conditions and still be able to be fairly nimble. You can move around the boat freely, run the trolling motor, react to waves and wind, and still keep your balance easily. One additional but perhaps lesser-known upside that the Strykr suit has over the old snowmobile suits is that it offers a certain amount of floatation. I’m not sure that it’ll keep you on the surface completely or indefinitely,
That was immediately clear at the 2015 Bassmaster Classic at Lake Hartwell, which somehow was even colder than that tough Grand Lake event. In fact, single digit temps on Day One forced a delay in the take-off because some of the competitors’ boats were frozen to their trailers. Yet when we got out on the water, I was much more comfortable than I’d been two years earlier. When I had to take off my gloves to live-blog the action I suffered briefly, but my core stayed warm, which prevented pain and fatigue.
Subsequently, I’ve worn it for ice fishing, for shoveling snow (bad idea – it was actually too hot) and consistently to fish at home. Frankly, this suit and this suit alone has made me more likely to put in long days when the weather is otherwise questionable. It means that as long as the lake’s not frozen and it’s not dangerous to get there, I’m likely to make the trip – and that’s worth its weight in gold.
Moreover, in a decade of ownership, I’ve done absolutely nothing to this suit. No treatment, no washing, nothing – and despite putting it through the wringer there’s been no discernible damage and no reduction in effectiveness.
Differences and Possible Drawbacks
While I recommend the Stormr suit wholeheartedly, there are some considerations to take into account before purchasing it. First is the cost, which like most other things has gone up since I got mine. Now it’s about $700 for a full suit, so if your budget is limited or you’re only likely to use the suit once or twice a year, the juice might not be worth the squeeze.
The second one is that it feels different than a typical rainsuit. When I put on regular rain gear, it doesn’t pull against the skin. The neoprene construction of the Strykr means that it does fit a bit tighter. That’s not a bad thing, and I got used to it after a day or two of wear, but at first I questioned whether I’d received the wrong size.
Next, I don’t know if the suit is as waterproof as my other rainsuits. It might be – I just haven’t tested it. I’ve worn it in the snow and in light rain, and I’ve not suffered at all, but I’ve never worn it throughout the course of a daylong downpour.
Conclusion
There are a lot of quality warm weather and cool weather rain jackets and bibs on the market, but the Strykr is one of a kind and an irreplaceable part of my fishing wardrobe. I’ve beat the crap out of it for a decade, and then thrown it into a vehicle crumpled up and wet, and it still looks and performs admirably. Everything about it, from the adjustable cuffs to the fleece-lined pockets to the thermal welded seams is purpose driven for anglers who don’t want to be bothered by the weather. If and when mine ever wears out, I will do whatever it takes to get another.
