Breakdown

Performance: 7.1

The Aftco Hydro Rain Bib and Jacket provide a 30k membrane designed to keep you dry from rain and block out the while while you’re making high speed runs across the lake. Whether you're battling a cold snap or humid downpour, the non-insulated construction of the Hydro-Bib and Jacket provide extra room for layering underneath when it's chilly, while remaining lightweight and comfortable in warmer weather. The knee high zippers on the bibs allow for easy on/off when storms pop up unexpectedly, and also make it easy to change footwear on the fly.

Offering freedom of movement, the Hydro Rain gear provides plenty of mobility, whether you are walking the bank, fishing from a boat, or paddling a kayak this gear keeps you dry and allows for plenty of range of motion for casts, maneuvering on a boat, and landing big fish. Velcro closures at the ankles and wrists help seal the opening and guard against any water seeping in. The adjustable and oversized speedvent hood diffuses air through rear channels to keep your head covered at high speeds.

Made specifically for cold weather and supplying a surprising amount of mobility and grip, the Breakwater Gloves feature a thick, 4-way stretch fabric on top of a 100% waterproof membrane for a comfortable and compressed fit that keeps your hands dry and effectively blocks out the wind. Providing plenty of mobility and dexterity for using a baitcasting or spinning rod setup in the cold, these premium winter gloves utilize a textured material on the palm for an excellent grip even in wet conditions. Great for manning the helm of your boat in the rain, these waterproof gloves even excelled at holding onto a kayak paddle in steady rain and gave streamlined handling with tools, rods, and reels during cold and rainy conditions. 

Durability: 6.5

The Hydro Jacket and Bibs held up perfectly against the wind and rain while showing no signs of wear and tear from the multiple fishing trips to rivers and lakes in the north Georgia area. Their sturdy construction and design is very comparable to more expensive Aftco products and we are confident that these would be very similar in long-term durability to some of Aftco’s foul-weather rain gear that we’ve used in the past. 

We did run into a damaged seam in one of the apparel pieces, however due to Aftco’s strong 2-year warranty policy on apparel we were not worried about it. We know Aftco stands by their products, so much so that we reached out to them directly to see if they could shed some light on the issues. This is what they had to say: 

"Aftco strives to ensure all of our products are made of the highest quality, unfortunately, it's impossible for every garment to end up perfect.  That being said, we stand 100% behind our product and will always take care of and replace items that have manufacturer defects.  We encourage any customer who has an issue with one of our products to reach out to our customer service team and give us the opportunity to make it right." – Matt Vander Dussen, Aftco

The Breakwater Gloves do have an outer layer that can be susceptible to hooks if you aren’t careful, however these gloves will still provide plenty of durability for your wintertime fishing endeavors. Good news is, if you do happen to hook a few threads with a sticky-sharp treble, the plastic membrane underneath will stay intact and maintain the waterproof qualities of the gloves.

Value: 8

Everyone wants rain gear that can effectively keep you warm and dry without spending a fortune. The Hydro Rain Bib ($198.99) and Hydro Rain Jacket ($198.99) are well below the average price point of the industry standard. Being non-insulated, the Hydro series features a reduced cost for those who don’t need or want a more robust protection from their rain suit. 

The Breakwater Gloves ($54.99) are 100% waterproof and are a less expensive option compared to a non-waterproof yet similar Simms Wool Full Finger Glove ($89.95). Although they are higher in price when compared to your standard cold weather fishing glove, Aftco’s Breakwater Waterproof Gloves are 100% waterproof, extremely comfortable, and deliver better dexterity needed for a bass fishing setup, making them a great buy at their current price. 

Utility: 6.8

Built to provide utility in both cold and warm weather situations, the Hydro rain gear has plenty of room for layering underneath when the temperature drops. Since the bibs and jacket are light enough to be worn year-round, the Hydro series really excels in cool to mild rainy conditions. More specialized insulated gear would be preferred in extreme cold, but the Hydro Bib and Jacket will get the job done for most of the conditions that bass anglers face.

Great for crisp mornings and blocking wind, the Breakwater Gloves lose some utility points when it comes to fishing in what we consider extreme cold or below freezing. Although they proved to be perfectly waterproof at all times, we preferred wearing the Breakwater Gloves in temps ranging from the upper 30s through the 40s. Also during the testing period the touch screen fingertips weren’t always effective and we often ended up having to remove the gloves in order to easily use touchscreen devices. Fixing this issue would give a huge boost to the utility for these gloves, especially for anglers who rely heavily on electronics.

Final Thoughts

We definitely enjoyed our time testing Aftco’s waterproof apparel and we greatly appreciate their efforts to lower costs and make a more reasonably priced rain bib and jacket. Not everyone can afford spending $500+ on rain gear and this offering will at least save some anglers a couple bucks while still maintaining Aftco’s high-quality standards.

The Breakwater Waterproof Gloves are on the verge of solving lots of problems for cold weather fishing. If Aftco is able to make a couple of upgrades on the durability and the touchscreen capabilities, these gloves will be a gamechanger. The 100% waterproof membrane, comfortable fit, and mobility provided by the gloves makes them well worth their current price, and if improvements are made, these gloves will be a hot commodity when the temperature drops. 

As always all the Aftco apparel is comfortable, sleek, and stylish. We recommend this foul weather gear for any anglers that want to ward off some light to moderate rain, windy conditions, and cold weather that commonly occurs while you're out on the water.  Plus, fact that they stand behind their products wholeheartedly provides increased confidence when shopping. Aftco is constantly striving to make the most functional and comfortable apparel for anglers while also considering price point, creating a winning combination of affordability and dependability that shines through in products like the Aftco Hydro Bib and Jacket. 

Breakdown Summary