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Product Review |
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Week of November 30, 2009 |
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SnoSuit Winter Outerwear |
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Click on Images to enlarge
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The suit that set the benchmark for “ice fishing outerwear” gets even better Snosuit performance winterwear upgrades its celebrated two-piece jacket and bibs When you’re hunkered inside the fabric-fortress of a 2010 Snosuit Jacket and Bibs, winter is nonexistent. Okay, so that’s an exaggeration. It is, however, accurate to proclaim that the 2010 Snosuit is the warmest and most technologically advanced garment to find its way onto the frozen lakes. Redefining performance outerwear, Snosuit uses the requirements of ice fishing as the official yardstick during the design and engineering process. And at last check, the sport of ice fishing asks more from outerwear than does any other winter activity.
It begins with the simple but pivotal element of warmth. At the nucleus of Snosuit’s fabric-furnace is SnoCore™ micro fiber thermal insulation. The sophisticated heating system is fueled by three fundamental functions. Initially, SnoCore reflects and reuses your body’s natural radiant heat. Secondly, warm air is trapped between micro-fibers to manage and maintain temperature. As a third constituent, SnoCore allows body moisture to escape, keeping your skin dry – an essential factor of staying warm.
As your body’s moisture escapes from the inside, SnoShell™ waterproof, windproof and breathable membrane technology ensures that nothing – we mean nothing – gets in from the outside. Snosuit’s extreme wind and weather protection is built upon a three layer foundation. Topically, the surface is treated with DuPont™ Teflon® fabric protector, which fully repels oil and water based liquids. The treatment fortifies a space-age 660 Denier Nylon fabric, which is durable and comfortable – pliable not stiff. The actual membrane completes the trifecta, making Snosuit 100% waterproof, windproof and breathable.
Unique fishing-features further stoke the value of Snosuit. For one, the shell fabric is upgraded to 1000 Denier Ballistic Nylon in key wear areas, like the elbows, knees and pant cuffs. Speaking of the knees, Snosuit bibs are blessed with quality, long-lasting neoprene padding in the knees, as well as in the seat.
Snosuit wearer and professional ice fishing guide, Captain Pat Kalmerton, offers his endorsement of the padding: “I spend hours and hours kneeling on the ice, tending tip-ups and helping land fish for my clients. I’d be lucky to still be walking without the padding. The cushioning makes that big a difference.”
The bibs also feature full length leg zippers for easy in and out, even while wearing oversized winter boots. The knees are articulated to facilitate natural bending motions. No other bibs in the ice fishing outerwear category afford that flexibility.
Freedom of motion is engineered into the jacket as well. Pleated shoulders maximize arm motion. Articulated elbows further amplify ergonomics and comfort.
More on the jacket: A fully adjustable, 3-way hood keeps your head tucked-in and toasty, but can be easily removed to put on a snowmobile helmet. Last but not least, zippered vents afford personal temperature control. If you get too warm, slide them open to achieve the ideal internal temperature.
The jacket and bibs, which are sold as separates, are available in two luxurious colors: rich charcoal gray with black and cherry-wine red with black.
Jacket about $299.00
Bibs about $299.00
www.SnoSuit.com 800-558-1005
Make a pledge to your fingers: this winter, they stay warm and dry Snosuit Gauntlet Glove gives ice anglers the upper hand against cold and wetness. Besides whacking the fish or going home skunked, a day on the ice is judged by whether you were warm and dry…or went home cold, wet and miserable. Snosuit’s new Gauntlet Glove can’t guarantee fish in the fryer – although word on the lake is that they’re “lucky” – but the advanced ice fishing-specific handwear can promise to keep your precious fingers happy.
New for ice fishing for this winter, the Gauntlet Glove leaves winter defenseless while claiming the title of being the best handwear ever engineered for the rigors of ice fishing. The mid-forearm length, gauntlet-style glove delivers unprecedented protection against wetness shouldered by SnoShell™ waterproof, windproof and breathable membrane technology. Just ask Bro, an official Snosuit tester and unofficial public enemy number one to products being tested.
“I jousted my hand down the hole without giving it a second thought,” he said after digging deep for a massive pike that wanted no part of the surface…or Bro. “Grabbed her by the chin with one hand and cradled the dripping belly with the other. Left the gloves on the whole time. Not a single drop of water got through, either, even with all the thrashing and splashing.
I was sold. In fact, I never did give those test gloves back…,” Bro said with a wink. SnoShell waterproof, windproof and breathable membrane technology is a three part proposition. Frabill (parent company of Snosuit) V.P. of Marketing, Jeff Kolodzinski, explains the technology, layer by layer. “The topside is treated with DuPont™ Teflon® fabric protector, which provides total repellency against oil and water based liquids. The physical shell is constructed of 660 Denier Nylon, a durable fabric that’s remarkably flexible and supple. SnoShell’s hallmark waterproof, windproof and breathable membrane rounds out the trio. Combined, it’s the most advanced winter protection an ice angler could ever imagine.”
The source of the Gauntlet Glove’s unparalleled warmth is SnoCore™ micro fiber thermal insulation. Like SnoShell, this companion technology performs in a three act play. First, SnoCore reflects and reuses your body’s natural radiant heat. In the second act, warm air is trapped between micro-fibers to create a wall of warmth. Thirdly, SnoCore encourages body moisture to escape, keeping your skin dry – a sometimes ignored but essential factor to staying warm and comfortable.
The back of The Gauntlet Glove is blanketed by 300 grams of hard-working SnoCore™, while the palm sports an intentionally leaner 150 grams – plenty to keep your hands warm while promoting the dexterity and sensitivity needed to feel, fight and land fish on the ice. Additionally, the palm, sidewalls, and thumb are covered in goatskin, a premium leather, which is superior to cowhide for its unique blend of suppleness, durability and softness. The outside of the thumb is cloaked with a special nose wipe material. You’ll appreciate this feature with your very first sniffle.
continued in next column |
Snosuit’s Gauntlet Glove has a fraternal twin, too: the Gauntlet Mitt. The contemporary “chopper” style mitt is theGauntlet Glove’s technological and ergonomic equal.
Features include: SnoShell Waterproof, Windproof and Breathable Membrane Technology SnoCore Micro Fiber Thermal Insulation Natural Goatskin Palm, Sidewalls and Thumb Adjustable Strap and Bungee Pre-curved Ergonomic Shape Nose Wipe Material DuPont Teflon Fabric Protector 3M Scotchlite Reflective Material
About $49.99
www.SnoSuit.com 800-558-1005
Gauntlet Mitt performance so utterly amazing you can’t afford losing one on the lake Maybe it’s putting the cart before the horse – or sled before the snowmobile – but with the anticipation surrounding the release of Snosuit’s Gauntlet Mitt, those lucky enough to land a pair will likely do everything humanly possible to hold onto them, including the donning of mitten-clips.
New for ice fishing 09-10, the Gauntlet Mitt was developed to crash Old Man Winter’s party, in particular the part where he removes the feeling from your fingers. The mid-forearm length, chopper-style mitt combines warmth, dryness, comfort, and utility into a first-of-its-generation garment.
The source of the Gauntlet Glove’s unequaled warmth is SnoCore™ micro fiber thermal insulation. The warmer-than-a-bearskin-rug insulating system comes together in three part harmony. Firstly, SnoCore reflects and reuses your body’s natural radiant heat. Secondly, warm air is trapped between micro-fibers to manage and maintain temperature. Thirdly, SnoCore encourages body moisture to escape, keeping your skin dry – an essential component of staying warm.
Dryness is the result of SnoShell™ waterproof, windproof and breathable membrane technology. Like SnoCore, SnoShell’s moisture blockage results from a one-two punch, followed by a knockout blow. Topically, the surface is treated with DuPont™ Teflon® fabric protector, which totally repels oil and water based liquids. The second blow stems from an armadillo-tough shell of 660 Denier Nylon, a durable fabric that’s remarkably flexible and supple. The actual waterproof, windproof and breathable membrane curls its fist and delivers the knockout blow. Moisture collapses to the canvas…
Like a fitted boxing glove, the Gauntlet Mitt becomes one in the same with your hand. This isn’t true of the typical clunky and inflexible chopper. The Gauntlet Mitt is ergonomically pre-curved to form-fit the human hand. Once in motion, flexible accordion panels on the back of the hand facilitate the grabbing and gripping of tools like an ice auger or the handle of a bucket.
Therein lays the element of “utility.” While the back of the Gauntlet Mitt is blanketed by 300 grams of toasty SnoCore™, the palm sports a trimmer 150 grams of insulation to sanction motion and feel. But if you want out of the mitt to bare-hand a fish or jig, the Gauntlet Mitt can be thrown to the ice faster than an oven mitt on the kitchen floor. Cinch tight the bungee and adjuster strap, and the opposite is true – the mitt holds firmly in place while sealing out wind, snow and slush.
Snosuit designer Chris Leonard talks about ‘the feel’: “The typical cold weather glove and mitt have the same amount of insulation all the way around. So even if your hands are kept warm, the thick padding on the palm and fingers limits movement and drastically reduces sensitivity. The Gauntlet Mitt is different. Every square inch is engineered for maximum performance without restriction.”
Additionally, the palm, sidewalls, and thumb are covered in goatskin, a premium leather, which is superior to cowhide for its unique blend of suppleness, durability and softness. The outside of the thumb is cloaked with a special nose wipe material. You’ll appreciate this feature with your very first sniffle.
Snosuit’s Gauntlet Mitt has an alter-ego: the Gauntlet Glove. The must-have, “hand’s best friend” is the Gauntlet Mitt’s technological and ergonomic equal.
Features Include: SnoShell Waterproof, Windproof and Breathable Membrane Technology SnoCore Micro Fiber Thermal Insulation Natural Goatskin Palm, Sidewalls and Thumb Adjustable Strap and Bungee Nose Wipe Material DuPont Teflon Fabric Protector 3M Scotchlite Reflective Material Pre-curved Hand Adjustable Strap & Bungee
About $49.00
www.SnoSuit.com 800-558-1005
This new 1200 gram Thinsulate RedHead insulated boot is now available at most Bass Pro Shops stores or online thru the BPS catalog dept at www.basspro.com. It comes in whole and half sizes 8-13, no wide sizes.
Offering knee-high protection in the form of waterproof full-grain leather and tough 1000 denier camo nylon upper, this boot features a side zipper for a custom fit. Other features include Cambrelle® moisture-wicking lining, shock-absorbing molded EVA midsole, Poliyou removable odor-absorbing footbed, and rubber outsole. Color: Mossy Oak® Break-Up®/Brown
It’s great for Ice-fishing, hunting or other cold weather sports.
Features Include: ►1200 gram Thinsulate Ultra Insulation ►BONE-DRY® waterproof construction ►Durable side-zipper for a custom fit ►Waterproof premium full-grain leather ►Cambrelle® moisture-wicking lining ►Poliyou breathable and odor-absorbing cushioning footbed ►Lightweight shock-absorbing cushioned molded midsole ► Color: Mossy Oak® Break-Up®/Brown ►Cat # 38-745-903-57
About
$159.00 – on sale now for $99.99 800-227-7776 www.basspro.com
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