There are some parts of the fly fishing world where you live and die by your rain gear. You’re in it every day, it’s loaded down with gear, and bombproof durability and storage options are key. On the Kanektok and the Kenai and the Skagit, high-end fishing shells like the Simms G4 Pro Jacket
are a great idea.
On the other hand, there are lots of places where it’s really wise to bring a raincoat along, but you’re not going to be wearing it most of the time. Here, you want great performance and breathability, but light weight, packability and a reasonable price tag are a little more important. Places like South Andros Island and maybe the Dean River in July come to mind. These are the situations in which we really like the Simms Gore-Tex Paclite Jacket.
It’s made with actual high-quality Gore-Tex. It breathes really well, which is especially important during, say, a boat ride in the tropics. It packs down small and weighs almost nothing, but it’s an actual honest-to-goodness high quality piece of rain gear.
When you need to have rain protection along (which is probably pretty much always) but the $479 shell is overkill, give the Paclite Jacket a try.
I have owned and used the Simms Gore-Tex Paclite Jacket for the last five years and would not trade it for anything else. For example, I use it every year in South Andros and it has never failed me. It is very light weight, packable, breathable and extremely well made. The zipper is non corrosive which is most important in a saltwater environment. Other Gore-Tex jackets are available for a few dollars less but but would not withstand the saltwater environment. I rate this jacket 10/10 and by the way it's what the guides wear and they are out every day of the season.
I HAVE A SIMMS PACLITE JACKET AND IT IS FANTASTIC! BEST RAINCOAT TO STUFF IN YOUR DAY PACK. I USED IT IN BELIZE DURING TORENTIAL RAINFALL AND IT DID NOT LET ME DOWN