Get Outdoors

What To Wear?

Improvements in technology and versatile layering options ensure your outdoor activities are comfortable

By Tracy Donohue

When the season of renewal and new beginnings comes calling after a long winter, it’s time to get outdoors and have some fun in Michigan’s water wonderland. As temperatures slowly rise and the earth comes back to life, preparing for outdoor adventure can be a challenge thanks to wild weather swings, especially during springtime.

“Due to the pandemic, people are realizing outdoor activities don’t have to be scheduled. They’re taking the time to enjoy the outdoors again, even getting back to activities they enjoyed from childhood. But with that realization comes the question, ‘What do I wear?’,” says Kelly Sue Eccleston, soft goods buyer for Boyne Resorts, a Michigan-based, family-owned four-season resort with properties across North America, and Boyne Country Sports stores across Michigan.

Most people who regularly spend time outdoors have a healthy respect for the benefits of layering, which is typically learned the hard way — by not properly layering. In Michigan, a spring day can start with wind and below-freezing temperatures and evolve into a pleasant, sunny day in the 60s, so it’s best to be prepared and flexible if you want to maximize your time outdoors.

With the continual development of new performance and sustainable fabrics and technologies, the art of layering has evolved over the years — so what you’ve been wearing for hiking, kayaking, or other outdoor recreation the past decade or so may no longer offer the greatest benefits.

Eccleston says there’s a broad range of versatile options within each layering category to meet most needs. Of course, the most successful layering strategy isn’t based solely on weather — exertion level, type of activity, and whether your body runs hot or cold should also be considered.

To understand how a layering approach allows you to enjoy nature safely and comfortably, it’s important to understand the purpose of each layer. Eccleston advises to “start with the skin and layer out.”

BASE LAYER

This is the next-to-skin layer that’s the foundation of your outfit. It should keep you dry by moving, or wicking, moisture away from your skin — and staying dry is the goal, especially in cooler weather. Cotton clothing absorbs moisture, so it’s usually best to limit that fabric to outdoor activities in mild, non-humid weather.

According to Eoin Comerford, CEO of Moosejaw, a Madison Heights-based retailer specializing in outdoor adventure apparel and gear, layering is about warmth and versatility.

“For a base layer, there are many great wicking choices in synthetics and wool. Smartwool has wonderfully soft Merino wool options,” he says. Merino wool also has natural wicking and odor-neutralizing properties.

Adds Eccleston: “Lé Bent has base layers made from a bamboo-blended fabric that’s buttery soft, has stretch, and comes in multiple weights. It’s a great choice if you want to be active all day.” This fabric also boasts wicking and sun protection technologies.

While many people wear thermals (long underwear) as their base layer, Comerford notes that “as you get warmer and lose the layers” you may end up wearing just your base layer, so appearance should be considered. “Brands such as Kari Traa have bright colors and patterns that can be a nice change to base layer basics.”

While socks aren’t considered part of traditional base layering, Comerford and Eccleston agree that when it comes to comfort, a good quality sock is essential. Comerford recommends “buying Smartwool socks in bunches. Once you discover the joy of a good pair of socks, it’s hard to go back to cheap socks.”

INSULATING LAYER

The mid, or insulating, layer holds the body heat you generate to protect you from cold. Some of the most popular mid-layer options include down or synthetic-insulated vests or jackets and poly fleece.

Mid-layer bottoms are often nonbulky designs that can be worn comfortably on their own or layered. On a chilly day, an additional layer of insulation may be needed.

Comerford says the newest technology is in insulation. “We’re excited about The North Face’s ThermoBall Eco, which is a lightweight, packable synthetic alternative to down.” He also mentions the ongoing popularity of fleece, especially thick sherpa piles and athletic technical fleece.

As for pants, Eccleston endorses the men’s Radikl pant and new women’s Transcendr Legging from KÜHL. “Both are abrasion-resistant, water-resistant, super comfortable, and versatile, as they can be

The new women’s Transcendr Legging from KÜHL is abrasionresistant, water-resistant, super comfortable, and versatile.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TRANSCENDR IMPULSE KUHL worn outdoors and for everyday wear.”

OUTER LAYER

The shell layer usually has no insulation, but offers defense from wind, rain, and snow — all of which are possible on a Michigan spring day. There are a variety of quality outer layer options that are lightweight, breathable, and either waterproof or water-resistant.

Breathable garment technology is important for comfort, as it lets moisture escape. Depending on the weather, softshell jackets can be a great choice because they’re lightly insulated, breathable, and offer moisture and wind protection.

“If you want to be fully protected, you need to go with water and windproof,” Comerford says. “A good choice is The North Face’s Futurelight outerwear — it’s soft, lightweight, waterproof, and made from sustainable materials. It has the benefits of a softshell in a hard shell.”

Eccleston says “a lightweight, super packable shell with a hood that can be stowed in your pocket is ideal. Mountain Hardware has some great options.” She adds: “If you’re comfortable and prepared, you can stay out longer and do more.”

PLAN IT! Moosejaw moosejaw.com Boyne Country Sports boynecountrysports.com

Living a Boyhood Dream

After reaching the top, Michigan pro angler Mark Martin teaches what he’s learned

By Bill Semion

Making a living just competing against others in fishing tournaments? Come on. You can’t do that, right?

Pro fisherman Mark Martin will tell you otherwise. Martin grew up learning to fish with his father and grandfather in Michigan, especially for walleye. He went on to become one of the greats in professional angling, and now it’s your turn to learn from him.

In the mid-1980s, Martin left a factory job near Muskegon to pursue his boyhood dream that started at the age of 3 or thereabouts, he says.

That life choice culminated with Martin’s induction in 2015 into the National Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. In between, he made quite a living as a winner and high-finisher in countless professional walleye fishing tournaments; his achievements include winning the very first Professional Walleye Trail walleye championship in 1990, while in his 30s. That win launched his dream for good.

But let’s go back about 60 years, to that typical “What do you want to be when you grow up?” talk between Martin, his sister, and his father, when Mark was just 5.

“My dad sat down with me and my sister with a tape recorder, and asked what we wanted to be. My sister said a nurse. I said a fisherman,” he recalls.

“My dad said, ‘Mark, you can’t make money being a fisherman. Think about that a little and then tell me what you really want to be.’ When he asked me again, I said I wanted to be a fisherman. At age 5, he couldn’t convince me to do anything but what I wanted to do.

“When I won the 1990 championship, the first Professional Walleye Trail, I came home and we had a big dinner, and I saw that tape deck sitting in the corner. He reached over and turned it on. Nobody else in the room knew what was going on.”

His dad played the 30-year-old reel-toreel of Martin at age 5. “He looked into my eyes and said, ‘Mark, you know, maybe I was wrong.’ ”

Aside from accruing angling honors, for more than 42 years Martin’s been passing along his knowledge in a series of

multi-day fishing schools — North America’s longest-running “learn it, do it” fishing classes — in summer and winter. Students gather Sunday afternoon, Mondays are always in the classroom, and Tuesdays and Wednesday mornings are on the water practicing what they’ve learned.

Martin says he uses knowledge gleaned from his own mistakes, which eventually brought him success, to give back to others. His teaching career began when he hosted fishing schools with walleye fishing legend and former tournament partner Gary Roach, and legendary TV show host Al Lindner, 32 years ago in Minnesota. Martin carried on, solo, when those two exited due to other obligations.

His first solo event, for the outdoor media on the Upper Peninsula’s Bay de Noc, was some 20 years ago.

“When we opened it to students on Bay de Noc (near Escanaba), we had too many people. That’s when I realized (I had) to keep the number at 25 each class,” he says.

Since then, Martin’s been heading seasonal fishing schools on Michigan’s Houghton and Mullet lakes and on Saginaw Bay each January and February, with “soft water” editions on Mullet Lake and Saginaw Bay scheduled for May and June .

During the first day of classroom instruction, students learn tips from Martin and his staff of fishing experts — tips seemingly as insignificant as which hook on a treble hook of an ice fishing lure to place a minnow on, and how to find that 10 percent of water where the fish are, instead of going where the fish aren’t.

Martin’s techniques can make all the difference and he says he also learns from his students. Last year, he ended his tournament career to concentrate on teaching.

“It’s a challenge, but I can’t quit doing this because I like to give back. All the mistakes I made (helped me) get to where I am, and I like to share those so the students don’t make ’em. To get to the right way to fish, there were a lot of mistakes in between. My schools are three days because what you’re going to get from a oneday school is minimal. I may not even see every student in one day,” he says.

Martin says students occasionally come into class with a push-back attitude, preferring their own techniques to his. That is, until they’ve been with him for a couple days. By the last day, Wednesday, most are using the knowledge they came to get, and catching the fish they couldn’t reel in before, he says.

“They’re the reason I like to do it. They often say that they were fishing their own way on Sunday. By Wednesday, they’re saying, you guys are right. In 30 years, I’ve never had a negative review. By the time the last day comes, between listening to others at dinner, to the classroom and individual on-water instruction, they’ve got a lot of new skills,” Martin explains.

“And sometimes the students are using maybe a different lure, and if they can catch fish with lures we’ve never used, that teaches us, too,” he says. “It’s a two-way street. We’re learning. They’re learning more, but we’re still learning.”

PLAN IT! Martin Schools fishingvacationschool.com

This page: During the first day of classroom instruction, students learn tips from Mark Martin and his staff of fishing experts. Opposite page: Martin’s fishing secrets always lead to landing the big ones.