Simms

[Caddis]

What can go wrong will go wrong.

I have invested quite a few bux in SIMMS wear. I own a SIMMS Vest, 2 sets of waders, boots, and a Guide jacket.

My SIMMS waders have leaks in the feet (both feet get wet after spending hours in a river). I carry my digital camera in my SIMMS Guide jacket pocket. This past weekend while fishing the Main Stem, my digital camera got soaked while in the pocket. I found out today that the pockets are not water proof? GO figure!

I called SIMMS and they are going to replace both the Jacket and the waders. They are also sending a UPS truck to my house. This means that I don't have to do a thing other than put them in a box and wait for the UPS man!

I'm going to work on getting the digicam replaced, but I think that may be a bit hard. I don't think this is my fault as the jacket is advertised as having a Gortex outer layer. Gortex is 100% water proof (Thats what the Gortex web site says). As far as I'm concerned, the pocket the camera was placed in is in fact part of the "Outer layer).

Taken directly from the Gortex web site, "Gore-Tex® membrane is waterproof and windproof but allows body moisture to escape.
Gore-Tex® fabric is the finest waterproof, windproof and breathable fabric in the world the first of its kind, it's still the best - an incredibly durable fabric that will stand up to a lot of abuse and provide years and years of protection "

Now my digital camera is ruined, no more digital photo's will be placed into the photo gallery until it's replaced.

What would you do?

 

[Caddis]

Follow-up

Nothing from SIMMS as of yet; still waiting for UPS man. The woman did say that it would normally take 4 business days to set everything up, so I'll give her till Tuesday before I call back.

On the much brighter note, my broken Nikon 990 Digital Camera that was 1/2 submerged in H2o last weekend went from non-functioning to functioning partly and sometimes, then to functioning all of the time however with no flash, and now today, oddly enough, the flash has worked all day!

BUY NIKON!!!!!!!!! A digital camera submerged in water should be non-functional, but it's working great now and I'm happier than a pig in you know what!

 

[sqerl]

well? what happened?

 

[Caddis]

SIMMS sent me a brand new jacket. They did however let me know that the Pockets are NOT waterproof. I think this is BullSh!t. Take a look on their website at the SIMMS guide jackets. It specifically says that "No water will get into the pockets."

They also sent my waders back, but I was unavailable to get them on Friday. They will re-attempt delivery today, but I forgot to leave the signed UPS thing on the door. I'll have to wait until Tuesday. Ohh well.

My opinion with SIMMS is that they are a bit slow on the returns and they are a bit slow on the pick-ups. On the brighter note, they did pay for shipping both ways.

My overall experience with SIMMS is that they could be better. There is a bit to be improved.

 

[JOE.T]

I to have simms guide waders .After the first season they started leaking i repaired them and there fine. I love em but one season and leaking for that kind of money?. As far as jackets i switched over to Patagonia sst jacket and i can say the pockets are waterproof.I also bought there beefy wading boots love em first time a set of boots lasted 2 seasons for me so far.And i also bought there vest.Simms has a great reputation, but i question there "superiority" to other products.

 

[Half Buck_Flies]

Dennis.. Sounds like you've had a mixture of good fortune as well as the usual delays that are more typical of the times and added security with couriers. I trust both the waders and the jacket were still under warrantee with Simms. Most of the companies will guarantee the product for defects. Unfortuantely they don't guarantee the damaged goods carried within. If they did, they'd have to pay my doztor bills when I get the sniffles from wading around after my Orvis waders leaked. Don't get me wrong, I wish the guarantee extended beyond the product. I have a problem with the companies that offer a guarantee but forget to tell you that the offer is pro rated such that you get docked a percentage for the time of use. You did well. I'm glad to hear that your camera is working. Go Nikon.! Incidently, I have a pair of Nikon binoculars that got wet and didn't fair as well.

 

[Caddis]

The problem with this is that the Jacket was advertised as 100% WATERPROOF, not WATER RESISTANT!. When you advertise something as Waterproof then charge $350.00 for a jacket, it best do what it was intended.

This was not a defect. The new jacket they sent me also enables water to easily get into the pockets. This is FALSE Advertising on SIMMS part, and had I requested them to refund my camera, I would have expected them to pay for it. If they failed, I would have taken them to court as I feel I would have had a valid case.

SIMMS later confirmed that the pockets are NOT waterproof and have since removed the advertisement about the pockets being waterproof from their website.

 

[theartoflee]

I cant belive i missed this one.. gotta love simms! Can some one get them to invest in a little product research instead of spending all there money on marketing?

 

[BIGBOW]

I took a knee in the Beaver Kill two weeks back and some water got into my waders pocket with my brand new nikon cam in it. The water was titty, but all I cared about was the camera. I dried it off and let it sit a few minutes before trying to turn it on and low and behold.. no issues at all.

 

[NJDrew]

IMO, I find every time I buy an expensive product like that I end up being sorely disappointed. For the kind of money your paying it should perform miracles. More often than not your lucky if they work the first time you use them.

<O</OMay be a bit off topic, but when it comes to waterproofing I like to take a more modular approach. I bought a waterproof camera, which I use for everything not just fishing. For your personal items in your vest (wallet phone, etc.) you can get an Otter Box. They are line of waterproof plastic boxes. My sister in-law, was constantly getting her fly box wet as she was wading, so she bought an Otter box and glued in foam fly box inserts to make her waterproof fly box.

 

[tomfly]

I keep my DC in a ziplock bag for added protection a 20 cent solution

 

[Simms]

You must have the baseline "guide" jacket. I have put a few HARD HARD seasons on the g3 and my current g4 and all outer pockets are 100% waterproof....

But I feel ya...You would think they would make the pockets on your model waterproof...

my older g3 waders just took a dump after 4 hard seasons....Can't complain at all...Just picked up a new pair of g3's...we shall seeeeeee