Layering is a necessity for virtually all anglers and others who spend long days outdoors in varying conditions. It's the only practical way to get through a full day while staying comfortable. You start the day with all the layers, gradually pare them down until, by mid-afternoon, you’re left with just a mid-layer. By the time the sun has dipped to the horizon, you’ve piled them all back on. Most of the time, your mid-layer is the one constant in the whole setup, the one piece that’s with you all day. That’s likely why there is no shortage of technical mid-layers out there. Virtually every reputable outdoor brand produces one—or many. But only a handful are made specifically for anglers. The Fusion Tactical Hoody, the latest offering from Bozeman-based Skwala, comes with some lofty claims from the technical gearmaker and aims to offer anglers their best midlayer option yet.

Skwala describes its new midlayer as a 3-in-1 garment. Specifically, as one “combining the cozy breathability of a mid-layer fleece, the weather resistance and insulation of a micro-puffy, and the sun protection and fit of a technical hoody.” But more important than Skwala’s efforts to replace three layers with just one is the construction of the Fusion Tactical hoody, which is aimed specifically at wader-wearing anglers.

“Like everything we build at Skwala, the Fusion Tactical Hoody is the product of intentional design,” said Kevin Sloan, CEO and Founder of Skwala. “We use different materials in different parts of the garment to maximize performance where it matters most. It layers seamlessly under waders, keeps you warm and dry without overheating, and moves with you all day.”

As noted, those material differences are leveraged to ensure the Fusion Tactical pairs well with waders. Heavier textiles are employed where waders don’t offer protection — think across the shoulders, chest, and down the arms, where a Primeflex™ stretch-woven outer shell adds extra insulation and weather-shedding coverage. Where the hoody will layer under waders, a more breathable and less-insulating waffle-grid fleece is utilized.

While most anglers will still keep their puffy or similar top layer in their rotation on colder days, the Fusion Tactical very well may serve comfortably as a single layer on cool autumn days — or even on active winter days. After a few months of testing, we’ve also found that the Fusion Tactical excels as a single layer under a wading or rain jacket, offering breathable warmth that rarely leads to overheating on cooler days when precipitation makes a rain jacket a must.

The Skwala Fusion Tactical hoody retails for $229 and is available immediately through Skwala authorized retailers and directly through skwalafishing.com.