SIMMS Bulkley Jacket Review
Lots of interest in the New SIMMS Bulkley Jacket this season. With the recent advent of winter, it has been brewing but now it has certainly arrived, this insulated SIMMS wading jacket has received positive reviews from both the staff and Missouri River anglers.
The SIMMS Bulkley Jacket is an upgrade from the preivious model. Now insulated with Primaloft this will keep you warm in all but the coldest fishing situations. The previous model was not insulated, just a shell. This is a vast improvement!
I’ve been fishing and hanging and chillin’ in this jacket for about 3 months now. Just love it. Far better than I had imagined. Really enjoy this piece. I usually layer up under the SIMMS Bulkley Jacket. I have been wearing a base layer with a wool top or hoody. Works quite well.
The length is just right for deeper wade fishing. We have not experienced high water in a few years but in this lower water era the Bulkley allows for exploratory wading without dampening your pocketed gear. High side pockets give you a place to keep your hand warmers. Better to keep those hands warm!
The external bellowed side zip chest pockets are roomy enough for larger fly boxes, tippet spools, GINK, and cigars. And that is it for pockets. You won’t lose too much gear because of the common fly fishing practice of over-pocketing. An added attraction is the YKK Aquaguard Vislon zippers will not let water enter your flies get damp.
The killer features that I love about the SIMMS Bulkley Jacket include the dual draw cord bottom of the jacket. Pull on it and the bottom tightens up. A single handed release allows the garment to relax. The same dual draw cord system for the hood allows the angler to pull on one cord tightening up the hood for those nasty upstream winter winds. Then a single pressure point loosens the hood for easy removal. Again in the rear of the hood is the same type of mechanism. Tug on a single cord and the volume of the hood is reduced. So the problem of an uncomfortable hood situation has been remedied with the SIMMS Bulkley Jacket.
Two layer Gore-Tex keeps this piece lighter than your average insulated wading jacket. And who does not love the Gore-Tex brand. Rain, snow, sleet, or whatever Old Man Winter can throw at you will be dashed.
Most folks just love the Primaloft Silver insulation with 100g in the body, 60g in both the hood and sleeves. Just like wool Primaloft insulation retains its insulating properties when wet. So, if you gal in, you’ll be good. A reminder…don’t fall in.
One thing that drives me nuts about most cuff systems is that they really don’t work and your line catches the Velcro tabs. But, no worries here man. The Shingle Cuff internal cuff system is bomber. Not only does the neoprene lined sleeve bottom provide a water tight barrier the velcro tightening system is rock solid. The Shingle Cuff is the way!
FEATURES
- 2 upper hand-warmer pockets & 2 large YKK® AquaGuard® VISLON® zippered fly box pockets
- Shingle Cuff™ is watertight & eliminates line catch points
- Dual draw-cord adjustable bottom hem
- FABRIC TECH: 2-layer GORE-TEX® Shell fabric – waterproof/breathable; 100% nylon 70d rip-stop face; 100% polyester 20d rip-stop liner; Primaloft® Silver insulation 100g body, 60g/sleeves & hood – retains its insulation power when wet
- APPROX. WEIGHT: 28.8 oz./815g
SIZES: S-XXL
HEADHUNTERS STAFF SAYS: The Bulkley has long been a shop staff favorite, although we acknowledged it wasn’t the nicest jacket out there. For 2015 Simms has completely revamped the insulated Bulkley Jacket, and we would argue it is now one of the nicest fishing jackets we’ve ever seen! Quality construction using GORE-TEX and Primaloft create a super warm and dry jacket for off-season conditions. Whether you’re stomping through the rainforest in BC or trudging through thigh-deep snow in Montana, the Simms Bulkley jacket will keep you comfortable. We see the significant price increase as justified, considering the high quality of the new jacket, and the fact that we wear these nearly every day during the winter months.
