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Just Enough…
It all started in 1911 when Carl Grunden began making oilskins for fishermen plying the waters of the northern Atlantic. Now, Grundens is a Swedish company known for its raingear.
The original oilskins evolved into PVC rainwear, but while the material with which they were made changed, the same attention to detail and value that kept the company afloat for a century still exists in the clothing made today.
Chances are very good that if you’ve ever been out on a charter somewhere along the west or east coasts, you’ll have seen Grundens gear in use. It’s a uniform for those who work on the water on a daily basis.
The reason Grundens is so ubiquitous is that it is gear that lasts; it’s tough and well designed. It does the best job of keeping you dry in really adverse conditions.
Now, Grundens has launched a second brand: GAGE, the acronym for Grundens Advanced Grade Equipment, to take care of those folks who don’t need gear that is capable of handling everything the northern Bering Sea can dish out. Not that there is lesser attention to design and detail in the new line.
I got to test the Nightwatch Puffy Jacket recently, and it is perfect for the Northwest. It’s a windproof, water-resistant version of a zip-front fleece jacket. It keeps the chill off without being so warm that you need to shed it when the sun peeks out from behind the clouds.
I’ve come to think of it as a “sportsman’s sweater”—giving the same level of warmth and comfort as a sweater without worrying about whether or not it will shrink. However, unlike a sweater, this is windproof. It’s perfect for early mornings on the lake or the Sound during summer. In winter, it layers well, and the slick outer shell plays well when you want to wear it under another garment or raingear.
Like most Grundens’ gear, the Nightwatch jacket is sized so that even I can fit into an extra-large. Given that I’m 6-foot, 5 inches, normal folks are very likely to find a size that will fit them well. Even better, the extra-large offers plenty of room for moving; it’s not restrictive at all.
The Grundens’ sizing chart found on the company’s website will help to get the perfect fit. As for the jacket, as mentioned before, it is windproof and has a water-resistant shell as well as water-resistant insulation. There are two zippered handwarmer pockets. The cuffs of the sleeves are elasticized, and there is a drawstring on the hem to keep out drafts.
There also is an inside chest pocket for things like your cell phone or wallet. To add to the convenience, the entire jacket can be stuffed into the inside pocket, so it travels well and can slide into a briefcase or a vest pocket without taking up much room.
For more information, go to: www.grundens.com.
