Simms’ Lightest, Most Breathable Jacket Featuring GORE® C-Knit™ Technology.

Winter is here but will soon be gone. In the south, tarpon will begin their annual migration and in the rest of country, anglers will be able to enjoy wader free hike/wade fishing. After the ice and snow has thawed and warm temps become the norm, Simms new Vapor Elite® Jacket offers unmatched weather protection in an extremely lightweight, breathable and packable package. Here, Simms’ Materials Manager, Curtis Graves takes us on a tour of the new Vapor Elite® Jacket and tells us all the advantages that live under the hood.

Simms: Tell us about the progression of the Vapor Elite® Jacket. In other words, what’s the history behind it?
Graves: So it really all kind of all started back in 2013. We were seeing some early successes with the release of the Acklins Jacket and were also working with GORE-TEX® on producing a laminate specifically designed for warm weather. Basically we took the silhouette of the Acklins Jacket, built some prototypes with some of the new laminates and sent them out for testing in hot, high humidity environments. Those early protos didn’t work out quite the way we planned but what did come out of those tests is the membrane that we are using in C-Knit™ now. The face fabric we used in those protos wasn’t really built for what we ultimately wanted to achieve. So, we got together with GORE’s laminate team and in the end, GORE came back to us with an amazing fabric that was super lightweight and super rugged. When we put the whole package together, we new we had a really special jacket.

Simms: So what exactly do you mean when you say “…using with C-Knit™”?
Graves: Good question. C-Knit™ is kind of the generic name for the whole package found in the Vapor Elite® Jacket but what it actually refers to is the circular knit backer that’s in the jacket.

Simms: From a product perspective what is the importance of the C-Knit™ backer?
Graves: I’d say it’s definitely one of the biggest stories to tell about the Vapor Elite®. In short, the significance of the backer is that it is a knit and is not a weave. Yarns that are woven have their place for sure and they are super tough but they don’t a great next-to-skin feel.

Simms: Aside from a nice next-to-skin feel, what else is significant to comment on about the C-Knit™ backer?
Graves: So again, the real challenge was coming up with an end product that addressed weather protection in hot, high humidity climates. Even on hot days in the tropics, there’s a good chance anglers will be wearing a shirt like Solarflex® for sun protection. We wanted anglers to be able to throw this jacket on really fast. So I guess I’d say the C-Knit™ backer does two things. It has a mechanical wicking component to it because again, it’s a knit, not a weave. Essentially, the backer is built like a base layer which allows the fabric to pull sweat away from the body. Secondly, it glides really well over clothing that’s underneath the jacket. I guess really there’s a third significant advantage and that’s mobility. The easy glide not only allows the angler to put it on in a hurry but it also allows for a completely free range of motion.

Simms: Did the jacket go through many changes from the initial prototypes?
Graves: Well, the jacket was originally suppose to incorporate pit-zips. However, for our initial protos, we pulled the pit-zips out. Because we were working with a new laminate, we really wanted to get an accurate assessment of its breathability. We felt that if we gave our testers the option of unzipping the pit-zips, we wouldn’t know exactly how breathable the jacket was. When we asked our testers if they would like the jacket better if it had pit-zips, we received unanimous feedback that they weren’t needed because the jacket was the most breathable jacket they had ever worn.

Simms: What were some other major consideration taken into account for the Vapor® Elite?
Graves: We really wanted a jacket that would appeal to flats anglers fishing in the tropics. and were well aware of how damaging carbon fiber push poles can be when in continuous contact with certain fabrics. That’s why we put so much focus on making sure the face fabric could withstand that specific abuse.

Simms: So, would you say it’s a salt water specific jacket?
Graves: Absolutely not. I personally think it’s going to be a huge player this summer for hike/wade anglers. I have one myself and plan on using it a ton out here in Montana. It’ll be awesome when the summer comes, I’ll be able to load down my Waypoints Sling Pack with all my gear, a few tall boys and still have plenty of room to stuff the Vapor in case a storm comes.

Simms: Talk a little more about the packability?
Graves: Yeah, I’d say it’s one of if not the most packable jacket we have in the line. You not only have the ability to tuck away the hood but like I was saying, if you want to stash it in a pack or in a boat hatch, the whole jacket rolls up like a burrito inside its hood. Essentially, you fold jacket in half and roll from the bottom of the jacket and stuff it inside the hood. Then, just grab the back Cohaesive™ Cord Lock on the hood and stretch it around the whole package. We actually figured that out by accident. One of our field testers sent the jacket back to us for analysis and when we received it, it was packed that way. Now everybody around here who has one is packing theirs the same way.

Simms: Cohaesive™ Cord Management, that’s a relatively new feature we are starting to see in jackets and such, can you explain the advantages of this system?
Graves: Yeah, so we wanted to keep the jacket as clean as possible because a clean jacket means less snags. Originally, our cord locks were located on the hips but our field testers commented that they were getting in the way while poling. So, we went with the Cohaesive™ Cord Lock System which is the smoothest, cleanest cord locking system you can find and we moved them to the front of the jacket. The end result is a completely clean, snag free jacket that leaves nothing to get in the way while poling and nothing for fly line to get snagged around.

Get the ultimate weather kit for the tropics and beyond and check out the Vapor Elite™ Pant