Bad weather often means good fishing, and whether you’re fishing your local lake near creeks and other inflows or fishing inshore as a low-pressure system rolls in, rain is anything but a deal-breaker.
But wet-weather fishing demands solid rain gear to keep you comfortable and extend your time on the water.
I’ve owned the Grunden’s Trident for a few years now, and I’ve worn it in everything from driving rain to gentle drizzles. It’s kept me warm and dry, and it’ll do the same for you.
- 10K/10K Waterproof/Breathable
- 100% Nylon 40d Ripstop Fabric w/ 2.5L 10K/10K PU Film Lamination
- Dual Pocket Zipper Sliders offer ventilation and handwarmer pocket access
- Internal Hood Cord Adjustment Routing
- Low Profile Hook and Loop Cuff Closure
- Double Storm Flap Zipper Closure
Construction quality
Right off the bat, you’ll notice that the Trident is well made.
The zippers are sturdy, robust, and easy to use, and I’ve yet to snag material in their teeth, have the zipper snag or stop, or have the teeth release and trap me inside.
The jacket is manufactured from 40-denier rip-stop nylon, provind a very smooth texture both inside and out. In my use both on and off the water, it’s held up beautifully, and I’ve had zero problems with abrasion, cuts, stains, or seam integrity.
Gore Tex and an exterior water-proof coating add up to waterproofness that keeps me dry in the worst of conditions, and even when taking a long hike to a stream or paddling my kayak, I found that the Trident allowed my perspiration to exit pretty well, avoiding claminess.
That said, when temps rise into the high 60s or even further into the 70s, I do start to feel a little damp as the Gore Tex just isn’t able to keep up with my sweat – though your miliage may vary.
Front zipper and storm flap
The Trident’s front zipper is robust and slick, far exceeding the standards most jackets set. In and of itself, it does an admirable job sealing the wet out, and in combination with a storm flap with hook-and-loop closures, driving rain and splashing waves have no chance to enter.
I hate when a zipper bites fabric and gets stuck, and I’m pretty sure you do, too.
The Trident is unlined, so there’s nothing to catch and hold. Expect effortless zipper action that provides a satisfying solidity.
Adjustable hood
Grundens makes fishing gear for professionals who earn their living on the water in the worst of conditions, and that expertise and experience really shows in the hood design.
It easily adjusts to fit snugly around your head, and in conjunction with a baseball cap, works perfectly to keep your head, neck, and face dry without sacrificing peripheral vision or hearing.
Hand-warmer pockets
Both sides of the Trident feature zippered pockets that are capacious enough for gloves, cold hands, phones, wallets, keys, and perhaps even small tackle storage pockets, should the need arise.
These pockets’ zipper quality is just as good as the main zipper: no snags, no slippage, no problems.
Adjustable cuffs
The Trident uses easily -adjustable hook-and-loop flaps to adjust its cuffs, allowing for perfect fit.
In the real world, that’s a feature that pays off when you don’t end up with cold water running down your arms.
Weight
The Trident weighs in at about 400g (14 ounces), and it simply disappears into a backpack or tackle bag. You can crush it down to about the size of a small football, and it comes back out looking just fine.
This allows you to have the Trident with you wherever you angling adventures take you, and I’ve really come to appreciate a waterproof shell that weighs nothing and packs down small.
Fit
Grunden’s Trident runs true to size, though it does allow space for layering a heavy wool sweater or jacket underneath, increasing its utility as a four-season rain shell.
I rountinely wear this jacket over a down mid-layer on days where the air temperatures are hoevering around 32, and it cuts biting winds and sheds wintery mix just like you’d want it to.
Conclusion
My personal experience with this jacket testifies to the fact that while you can certainly spend more, it’s unlikely that you’ll exceed the performance of the Trident in practical, real-world angling.
And from excellent quality control to features that tell, I really can’t recommend a better light-duty rain jacket/waterproof shell than the Trident.
If I ever wear mine out or lose it, you better believe I’ll be pulling the trigger on a new one immediately.
It’s that good.
Source: usangler.com