They’re your favorite fly fishing socks. They cost upwards of $20 a decade ago, and you’ve been enjoying their soft, warm, wicking, anti-microbial features every time you’ve headed out into the great outdoors. Money well spent.
But lately things are rough, chilly, damp, and – if we’re going to be honest – a little stinky. I guess that is fishing, right?
No. It is your nasty old socks. It is socks that have been worn over and over again in demanding conditions. It is socks that have been washed and dried ad nauseum. It is socks that you’ve asked more from than you reasonably should have. I’m not saying you need to throw them away, but for the love of all things pedal: buy some new fly fishing socks.
This also applies to your jacket, your hat, your waders, and even your lucky fishing shirt. Waterproof things stop being waterproof. Breathable things stop breathing. Puffy things stop being puffy. That is simply the way of wool, nylon, and everything in between.
So how do you know when to throw in the towel and shell out another twenty bucks? Here are three things to pay attention to:
If you feel a change.
I noticed that my “nice” under-wader pants weren’t keeping me warm, but my cheap pants were. The only difference was that my nice pair was old and my less-nice pair was new. The years’ worth of use and laundering had thinned the seat and knees. Holding them up the the light confirmed this. Similarly, a pair of waders might not leak such that your feet fill up with water. But there are small pinholes that appear over time. A hat might look like a well-loved hat. But your head sweats more under less exertion.
If you see a change.
There is a fine line between well-loved and well-done. Admittedly, we live in day and age where we treat too many things as disposable. Repairs are worth pursuing, but they aren’t always possible. That deteriorating membrane inside your rain jacket is not something you’re going to be able to fix. Threadbare armpits in that high-end fishing shirt are indicative of the reality that you’re past the point of no return. A quick visual inspection of your wading boots might clue you in that a proactive replacement is better than getting stuck miles deep into the woods sans sole.
If you smell a change.
In all seriousness, sometimes the stank is the barometer worth watching. Depending on your body chemistry, the best soap and technique might not erase all of you after a while. If that is the case, count your losses and have fun shopping. It isn’t just a matter of decency – there is a good chance something else (as noted above) is also going on with that odiferous accessory.
Fish your gear hard and take care of your gear well. But know that there will be a day when it stops supporting you in the way it once did. When that day comes, put it out to pasture. That might be mowing the yard or it might be the rag bin.