Arctic Zone Titan Pro 55Q Cooler

The Titan Pro55Q proved to be the best cooler we have tested by far. The design reflects an eye for engineering a rugged cooler to support ice, food, and beverages for days in the field. It has a built-in LED light (also removable for flashlight use!) that activates when you open the lid, topside gear straps, solid handles and hinges, and a drain plug that won’t roll off and be lost forever.

Knowing that after a few days, supplies start to get low, so air naturally warms ice, Titan Pro 55Q coolers come with an Ice Saver Performance Booster. A high-tech layer that separates cold supplies from warm air. If you really love multi-day outdoor adventures with cold-protected supplies, the Titan Pro should be part of your packing list.

If power lines are down at home, this just might save your milk and eggs. Testing Titan’s Pro55Q cooler proved to me that there are still companies specifically focused on crafting premium-quality outdoors gear that is worth every penny.

Retail Price: $400

Adamsbuilt Truckee River Waders

I feel waders are a lot like fly reels: they serve a perfunctory role, like keeping water out or keeping line on. Waders are worth every dime when casting for spring smallmouth and worthless when they leak while doing anything. With price points from suspiciously cheap to a thousand bucks, your first step is to determine how you will use them. Adamsbuilt Truckee River Waders were my choice for reasonably priced, well-constructed waders for casting to striped bass and helping Trout Unlimited work on trout habitat. To ensure the best fit, they have a sizing chart to match height, girth, and show size as best as possible, because there is great diversity with how our bodies are shaped. The chart served me well.

Their one-year warranty allows you enough time to get on a stream or float tube. Truckee River waders have solid shoulder straps, a wading belt and gravel guards, seams seem to be wide, tight and straight and though I would appreciate a hook in the back to hang them and a bit more fleece in the pocket, although it does say “micro fleece,” so they’re honest. Shipping is fast and free with orders over $100.00, sizing was spot-on and really, they look pretty good.

Best Tech: Comfortable H-Back Suspenders. Adjustable and just wide enough to work without pressing on your shoulders.  Five Layer Reinforced Legs and Seat, handy in case you might fish Grand Lake Stream for landlocked salmon then wade to dig a few quahogs or geoducks for a weekend cookout.

Retail Price: $369.00.
Available in Men’s & Women’s sizing. 

Grundéns Deviation Sherpa Ankle Boot

The alchemists at Grundéns have melded a solid, waterproof deck boot with a supple, soft, high pile fleece to create a work/deck/chore/wheneveriwanttowearthem boot.

While the alchemist bit might be a stretch, they have forged rubber with stretchy neoprene, wrapped it in fleece with a compression-molded EVA midsole. EVA, btw, stands for ethylene-vinyl acetate. Clear enough. Back in the day, good people had one, perhaps two pairs of shoes or boots. When they began to fail, owners saved to have them repaired. We have more options now, so we can choose specific boots for specific jobs and even for specific moments of leisure. Deviation Sherps muddy that work/fun line, as tariffs may do for all our purchases, which makes them a great idea right now.

Best recommendation? I almost fell asleep wearing them at work, they are that comfortable. Please don’t ask where I work. Deviation Sherpa boots run a tad big, but that leaves room for good socks. Win, win. Front and rear loops are big enough to be functional, soles don’t hold dirt for too long, and the fit is easy right away, requiring no break-in time.

Grundéns builds their clothing and gear so well that there’s no need to change boots to go from boat to garden to kitchen. Welds are solid, the look is cool, and man, that fleece makes all the difference. 

Retail Price: $149.99 

Hooked, Legendary Fresh and Saltwater Fish to Catch in a Lifetime 

By Jerry Audet

Hooked may just be the perfect fishing camp book. A complete listing of fish we love to catch, release, and often consume, this wonderfully illustrated resource enhances Mr. Audet’s clearly related, well-earned understanding of many fish species. His easy writing style reveals a fine recipe of science, research, and personal touches with enough angling tips to quickly become an invaluable ready resource.  A wonderful positive aspect of Hooked is how his writing encourages readers to seek out new fish to catch and appreciate.

Mr. Audet offers a full history of species without overloading readers with technical jargon. Given the many levels of environmental and regulatory pressures on many fishes, being supported by his fact-rich compendium will help teach us to be better-educated and more excited anglers. Hooked is a joy to read the first time and a soon-to-be dog-eared favorite as readers travel and grow as anglers and observers. I suspect Hooked will be a very popular gift for anglers and nature lovers of all ages. Check your local bookshop before ordering online.

Retail Price: $19.99

3-Day Emergency Meal Kit

By Roundhouse Provisions

No spoiler alert here, our world is in turmoil. It’s a hell of a time to plan for anything as prices, tariffs, and volatile politics rile markets, banks, and people who just want to work and get outdoors once in a while. Chuck Norris has helped develop a line of meal kits meant to be shelf-stable for years, in easy-to-grab bags as you run for the basement shelter. This kit has three components, one each for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The maple brown sugar oatmeal gets the best reviews, the other two are a bit heavy on the salt, but that surely supports the long shelf life, which for my pack was 25 years. That’s tough to beat.

The Roundhouse goal is to provide us with a source of basic energy for emergency situations. Having supplies for the what if’s doesn’t make you a prepper and a kit like this will tuck away nicely with your jarred tomatoes, pickles and crates of potatoes. If you are a prepper, then Roundhouse Provisions has a line of get it and go foods to make you feel comfortable and well fed as the world swirls around us. 

Retail Price: $69.95

Teramar 7’0″ Medium Heavy Fast Action Rod

By Shimano

The Teramar TMSE70MHB feels right, from the 9″ grip to the brand name. I knew Shimano builds reliable rods, so I took this one to a local saltwater river, where striped bass come and go with tides, chasing herring and shad. With some 40# Power Pro Super Slick and a Shimano Orca Top Water lure, I was able to cast nearly across the whole wide river.

While I was not able to catch a bass (wrong tide, too windy, too much weed in the water, etc.) I was totally impressed with its top section flex, strong midsection and easy grip.

Construction has a remarkably custom feel for a global company production. They recommend lures from 3/8 to 1 ½ ounces but I’ll bet you can stretch this one out in a pinch when waters are boiling. That’s when those pretty SeaGuide Zirconia guides really shine. The size was easy to handle in my kayak and absolutely light enough to be reliable in a small space with backbone to handle a keeper.

I plan on catching a lot of fish on this rod, once spring winds finally subside.

Retail Price: $189.99

Five-Piece, Convertible Fly Rod

By Brackish Outfitters

Geoff Klane is the force behind this Massachusetts-based fly tying, rod building, and guiding service. His newest project is a five-piece, 5′-10″ 0 weight that converts easily to a 6′-6″ 1 weight. That takes a moment to set in because it’s a wild idea and very much Geoff. Sourcing components from all over the country, this rod is a slim masterpiece built from a convertible 5+1 fiberglass blank with a unique clear butt section. He completes each with ghost wraps, silk trim bands, chrome guides, and a “color-matched agate stripping guide.”

His passion for brook trout and conservation made a major impression on me since we first met several years ago, and it’s clear Geoff has a gift for rod building marbled into a special understanding of patience and listening. Art meets stream.

Geoff’s work is a celebration of a relentless artist building what he loves to create and enjoy, knowing his customers will admire each one as much because his years on small streams are marbled into every rod. If you want to speak with Geoff about a day on the water, this wispy stream rod, or a custom build, you can reach him at geoff@brackishflies.com. 

Retail Price: Email for pricing