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It's November as I sit here writing this and I've just got back from a quick fishing session in the first real chill of the winter. Crikey, it was cold when I got up!As I slipped on my thermal fishing gear, it dawned on me that I'd owned the TF Gear Eskimo Second Skin trousers and top for quite some time, and I vowed to dig out my original review of them when I got home.
The piece below was written in January 2008 about some thermal clothing that I first got my hands on in 2007. It's 2010 now, so I've had these items for nearly four years. As an 'outdoor' type person, my outdoor gear gets worn a lot. The fact that they have lasted so long is a real testament to the quality of them.
Here's the original review (January, 2008):
*****
DON'T WORRY - I'm not about to subject you to the sight of a tubby bloke in skin tight leggings. This is a family fishing website and I don't want to be responsible for mass-vomiting on keyboards. I'll stick with a catalogue shot and let your imagination do the rest!
I've mentioned in previous reviews that I often use items designed for anglers in other areas of my life. I've also mentioned before that I own a dog. Therefore, I'll bore you all again by saying that I'm a dog-owning angler who uses some of his fishing gear for other purposes....and that the Eskimo Second Skin Trousers from the Matt Hayes Total Fishing Gear (TFG) range are one of those items!
These black thermal under-trousers cling to the skin, keeping a very small warm layer of air close to the skin. In a way, they look and work a little bit like a wetsuit, but without the water! They're also made of a lot more comfortable material and are easy to get on and off! I'll post the technical details below this review, as posting them here would make it look like I'd performed loads of scientific tests and research, which I haven't done. Instead, I've worn these trousers a LOT and am speaking from my own experience.
As soon as you put the TFG Eskimo Second Skin Trousers on, you feel warm. You look a bit like a wannabe Ninja, but this is soon resolved by putting your normal trousers on over the top. Once that's done, you can forget about them.
I've worn these trousers in extremely cold conditions for over a year now and have never felt that my legs are cold in them. They do exactly what they're supposed to do and have survived numerous trips to the washing machine.
When overnight carp fishing, they are great to wear in your sleeping bag. Coupled with the TFG Eskimo Second Skin top, they're a perfect combination at night. I have to say that, although I own a top and use it on occasion (especially at night), I haven't needed it so much during the day, as most of my windproof fleeces and other tops provide adequate warmth. It's hand to have at hand, though, as it really does provide instant warmth.
Both the Eskimo trousers and top take up very little room. They're almost like underwear in design, so are well worth having tucked away in your rucksack if you're doing a long session. If you're a day angler, I'd certainly recommend the trousers. The top would be handy if you prefer mobility - you won't need to wear the number of layers that I usually wear when fishing!
I've worn the TFG Eskimo Second Skin trousers and top not just when out carp fishing and when walking the dog, but also when fishing from beaches and out on a boat. Trust me, those conditions can be a lot more demanding than when fishing inshore and these products have never let me down.
The RRP of both the top and trousers is £24.95. However, at the time of writing, TackleBargains have them at just £12.24 each.
Elton Murphy, AnglersNet.co.uk - January, 2008
*****
I've just checked and, nearly four years on, you can still get these at the prices quoted above, along with a lot of other quality thermal stuff. Even if you are reading this outside the UK and can't afford to get stuff shipped to your home country from the UK, I'd advise you to find something similar locally. Being warm when fishing makes you a happier angler, and a happy angler is usually a better angler!
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