SFR "Premium" purchases you found to be "worth it"

[Breck]

One of the best things about fishing the Deschutes during the warmer months is the rafts full of drunk harlots that float by you with their calcium cannons out. The good ol' Teat Hatch. God bless 'em.

 

[Brian]

Got me wondering now... I have the Grundens and my feet are pretty much wrecked after a full day on the boat. I don't generally get foot pain in most other types of shoes.

I have never had deck boots, so I don't know how they are fitted or broken in. Back in the day a pair of off-the-shelf mountaineering boots could be very painful. Even if well-fitted by an experienced boot specialist with the sock layers I planned to wear in them a gradual break-in period that might take a few weeks was required. Ill-fitting boots that were made on a last that wasn't the right shape for my feet were never pain or blister-free.

Try some ortho insoles, they can often eliminate foot pain from bad footwear.

Even a pair of well-fitted boots with a veg-tanned midsole that has formed to my feet over a long period feel better with prescription orthotics (courtesy of the VA ) that stabilizes the foot, absorbs high impact, and redistributes body weight away from the outer edges. They reduce shock that can cause pain in my feet structures, and upward into my knees, hips and back.

 

[wanderingrichard]

Bodega portable compressor fridge/freezer. Bought it for camping, has come in handy for so much more.

 

[wanderingrichard]

One of my buddies always comments on the depth of the river when he pisses over the side of the boat. Personally, I hold a bucket over my junk because I'm not a barbarian.

Two rejoinders are
"Well, at least the fish are biting at my depth"
And
"Cold,too"

 

[albula]

I've always been thankful for both of the Airstreams. No doubt should have brushed off the sticker shock, though, and just purchased the larger one first. The many years of having it, for a month or two, as a basecamp steelhead fishing in Northern BC are among my fondest fishing memories.

 

[SilverFly]

I splurged on a new pair of Costa sunglasses earlier this summer. Still think they're massively overpriced for a few ounces of plastic. BUT, they fit so nice I wanted them from the instant I put them on. Thankfully the improvement in optics is almost proportional to the price increase over my old cheapo polarized.

 

[Mossback]

I paid the price for a pair of Costa's....
One cheap pair at a time.

 

[Evan B]

I splurged on a new pair of Costa sunglasses earlier this summer. Still think they're massively overpriced for a few ounces of plastic. BUT, they fit so nice I wanted them from the instant I put them on. Thankfully the improvement in optics is almost proportional to the price increase over my old cheapo polarized.

I've always found premium sunglasses to be worth it. My options have become more limited with my weird prescription requirements, but I've found Maui Jim sunglasses to be exceptional. I do miss my Smith chroma pop lenses though

 

[SilverFly]

I lost a pair of Smiths into some bouldery white water years ago. Loved them. Especially painful lo$$ at the time and sent me down the path of buying shit sunglasses ever since - until I broke down with the Costas this year.

 

[Buzzy]

I lost a pair of Smiths into some bouldery white water years ago. Loved them. Especially painful lo$$ at the time and sent me down the path of buying shit sunglasses ever since - until I broke down with the Costas this year.

I was gifted a pair of Smith (pre-chromapop) sunglasses after my cataract surgery. I loved those glasses, they worked well even on cloudy days. Climbed a ladder in the garage to get down a wood box of junk, the box slipped against my chest where my glasses were hanging on their croakie. No more Smiths. I went the so-called cheap sunglasses route (for awhile).



This summer I took advantage of a price cut at Smith and ordered a pair of bifocal chromapop sunglasses. They live up to the hype, fantastic sunglasses and well worth the bucks.

 

[SilverFly]

I was gifted a pair of Smith (pre-chromapop) sunglasses after my cataract surgery. I loved those glasses, they worked well even on cloudy days. Climbed a ladder in the garage to get down a wood box of junk, the box slipped against my chest where my glasses were hanging on their croakie. No more Smiths. I went the so-called cheap sunglasses route (for awhile).

View attachment 195144

This summer I took advantage of a price cut at Smith and ordered a pair of bifocal chromapop sunglasses. They live up to the hype, fantastic sunglasses and well worth the bucks.

And now that is stuck in my head .... Oh yeah!

Thanks Pat

 

[RGB]

I splurged on a Shimano Vanford size 2500 when they first came out, $259! I use it for everything! Have caught numerous rockfish and Lings, Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, and Trout. Just a joy to fish! I was so impressed, I went back and got the size 500 and the size 4000. Also found a supplier for spare spools and now have extra spools for all three! If and when they come out with a size 1000 (or 1500), I will immediately take the plunge again!

The 2000 fills that slot and is excellent on a light / ultralight rod.