The mornings have teeth again. There's frost on the boat cover and steam rolling off the lake, and that first run across open water cuts right through a hooded sweatshirt. Fall is here, and so are two of Whitewater Fishing's most popular pieces, the Thermoclyne Hooded Jacket and the Thermoclyne Vest.
Neither one needs much of an introduction anymore. Since launching last fall, the jacket has earned a perfect 5.0-star rating from customers, and the vest sits right behind it at 4.8. Anglers don't hand out numbers like that lightly.
Named for the Lake
The name is a nod to the thermocline, the boundary in a lake where a warmer layer of water sits on top of a colder one. Whitewater swapped the "i" for a "y" and built two garments that work the same way: a lightweight barrier that keeps your warmth in and the cold out.
Whitewater didn't skimp on style, either. Clean horizontal quilting and a trim cut keep the Thermoclyne pieces from looking puffy or boxy, and both come in two colors, Storm and Dropoff. Odds are, it'll be the layer you keep wearing long after the boat's back on the trailer.
The Insulation Behind the Look
The warmth without the bulk comes from Sorona® Aura insulation. It's a partially plant-based, breathable synthetic found mostly in premium outerwear, and it holds heat with less fill and less weight than traditional insulation. In the jacket, Whitewater thermally mapped it, with 80 grams in the body and 60 grams in the extremities, so the warmth goes where you need it most. The vest carries 80 grams throughout.
Sorona Aura breathes, too. Moisture escapes instead of building up, so you don't overheat and turn clammy while running the trolling motor or fighting a fish. It also holds its loft wash after wash.
"Anglers want something that's warm without feeling like they're wearing a sleeping bag," said Doug Veldhuizen, Whitewater Fishing Merchandise Manager. "Sorona Aura lets us keep the Thermoclyne pieces light and trim while still putting serious warmth where it counts."
A Shell That Sheds the Weather
On the outside, a smooth 100% nylon shell with DWR (durable water repellent) treatment sheds spray and drizzle and resists stains. It's highly wind resistant, as well, which matters most when you're running across open water at speed.
The lining is treated with Polygiene® StayFresh, which uses silver chloride, a naturally occurring salt, to stop odor-causing bacteria from multiplying. The treatment lasts for the life of the garment, so the jacket smells as fresh in March as it did the day you pulled the tags.
Details That Earn the Reviews
Both pieces pack into their own pocket, so they can ride along in a boat compartment until the wind picks up or the sun drops. Each has three zippered pockets, two at the waist and one on the chest, plus an adjustable waist that locks in heat and keeps moisture out.
The jacket adds a fitted hood with adjusters that keep it in place when you turn your head, a high collar for extra protection, and articulated elbows that let you cast and reach without the fabric fighting you. The vest gets sculpted armholes for full range of motion and an easy slide under a rain shell.
"We wanted these to live in the boat," Veldhuizen said. "Stuff one in its own pocket, toss it in a compartment, and it's there the minute the weather turns. Then it comes off and goes right back in when things warm up."
Wear It Alone or Layer It Up
On a crisp, dry morning, either piece works fine on its own. When the weather turns, both slide easily between a base layer and a rain shell. Go with the jacket for full coverage, or grab the vest to keep your core warm and your arms free for casting.
Either way, fall fishing just got a lot more comfortable, and a whole lot sharper looking.
Thermoclyne Hooded Jacket FEATURES:
- Lightweight mobile warmth
- Serves as a standalone jacket or midlayer
- 100% nylon shell
- Highly wind resistant
- Thermal-mapped Sorona® Aura insulation (80g in the body, 60g in the extremities)
- DWR treatment helps shed moisture and resist stains
- Polygiene® StayFresh treated lining inhibits the growth of odor-causing bacteria
- Packs into its own pocket for on-demand warmth
- Fitted hood and high neck for extra protection in colder temps
- Three zippered pockets (2 waist, 1 chest)
- Articulated elbows for improved fit and mobility
- Adjustable waist to lock in heat and keep moisture out
COLORS: Storm and Dropoff
SIZES: SM – 3XL
MSRP $149.99
Thermoclyne Vest FEATURES:
- Lightweight mobile warmth
- 100% nylon shell
- Highly wind resistant
- 80g Sorona® Aura insulation
- DWR treatment helps shed moisture and resist stains
- Polygiene® StayFresh treated lining inhibits the growth of odor-causing bacteria
- Packs into its own pocket for on-demand warmth
- Sculpted armholes for ultimate comfort
- Three zippered pockets (2 waist, 1 chest)
- Adjustable waist to lock in heat and keep moisture out
COLORS: Storm and Dropoff
SIZES: SM – 3XL
MSRP $99.99