Fly Fisherman's 2025 Gear Guide Best New Insulated Jacket: Skwala RS Outpost

Affiliate Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We earn from qualifying purchases.

Click here to see a preview of all the 2025 Gear Guide Award Winners.

---

I visited the Skwala headquarters in Bozeman, Montana in June during their open house cookout and had a sneak peek of the RS Outpost jacket. This foul-weather fortress can withstand high winds, pelting rain, sleet, snow, and subzero temperatures. Hard days on the water call for no-nonsense gear that simply works to keep you dry, warm, agile, and most importantly fishing longer.

“The muse for this jacket was the steelheader, but we also consider this for any fishing situation with harsh weather environments such as Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, the Great Lakes, and Iceland. It’s a unicorn of a jacket considering it has full stretch, air-permeable 3DeFX+ insulation for breathability, and is weatherproof,” said Rich Hohne, chief marketing officer at Skwala. Sweat management is often overlooked during cold-weather fishing. If you sweat and your layering gets saturated you will get cold. 3DeFX+ breathability helps regulate body temperature and allows you to stay drier when you’re active.

Skwala’s RS collection integrates seamlessly with each piece in the collection. When paired with the RS Waders, the RS Outpost’s two YKK AquaGuard zipped external pass-through pockets allow you easy access to the wader’s front pockets. A form-fitting true-to-size design and articulated sleeves keep you agile while reducing bulk. The exterior shell is 4-way stretch nylon Primeflex. Layered within the shell is a waterproof and breathable Toray Entrant microporous laminate with DWR finish. Reinforced taped seams keep the weather out and stand up to heavy wear.

“We always design gear by first asking: ‘Why does this product need created, who will use it, and how will they use it?’ For example, when it comes to steelheading with two-handed rods, the RS Outpost is designed with a sleek profile that helps avoid line snags. The 3DeFX+ insulation is a sheet material. This enables it to move and flex with the angler, inhibiting insulation migration that can cause cold spots and garment baffling (bulky areas). We didn’t need to build extra room in the RS Outpost to accommodate angler movement because the jacket flexes and moves naturally with you,” added Hohne.

Insulated handwarming pockets keep your digits warm, a fully adjustable storm hood fits snug and comfortably around a beanie or hat without blocking your peripheral vision. Adjustable hydrophobic cuffs on the sleeves keep water from shooting up your arms when releasing a fish. An angled ergonomic chest pocket and interior stash pocket hold fly boxes and valuables. A tucked-in tab above the exterior pocket holds your pliers securely. Available in sizes medium to XXL.

$649 | skwalafishing.com

To read all of the nitty gritty, field-tested reviews of new fly-fishing gear for 2025, grab a copy of Gear Guide 2025 at https://www.osgnewsstand.com/product/ff-gear-guide-2025.

---