had a mk1 ECWS like mark and as he said, they're great. mine is about 12 years old now and has started leaking this year so I need to give it a treatment and stick it in the tumble dryer again.

one of my friends has a set of the canadian breathtex digital waterproof gear and it looks superb. the closest I have seen to the mk 1's .

tcpcrewontour is still about and catching them everywhere he goes.

he has an excellent account on instagram which is worth a follow.

In reply to Post #1
is this the oldest thread on the forum? 13 years old and still going strong - seems like a lifetiume ago

In reply to Post #75
the sweetcorn post show's he's no flash in 'the pan' (as it were)

great thread this - nice to see some of the old faces posting with some interesting stuff.

hope you're good mart - long time no speak

In reply to Post #38
I still wear my Bubbles hoody. In fact, I wore it on a trip out this weekend!

Also still have my Bubble Plaque hanging on downstairs toilet wall - he he he. Am very proud of that one!

In reply to Post #20
couldn't agree more. top, top bloke!

In reply to Post #50
the originals were down filled and were actually far too hot for winter's, let alone summers (and that's from someone who had them for canadian winters).

used to have some bivvy socks a few years back - big thick woolen socks that had a rubberised sole on them meaning you could walk around on wet grass etc and then wipe them off before you get into your sleeping bag etc.

my mates ripped the piss out of me when they first saw me wearing them but after a couple of days on the bank and seeing me wearing them, they all went out and bought their own pairs - LOL

In reply to Post #11
have found that 50lb braid can seriously cut down on casting distance. 30lb ftw! (even 20 with a shock leader)

35lb mono leader with 30lb powerpro.

I don't think I have had a wind knot in the last 10 years using powerpro on my reels. The secret is to underfil your spools (compared to mono) as the thinner diameter means you get less friction on the spool lip but enough to slow the line down to prevent them.

the mono leader add's just enough elasticity to help on the cast / when it hits the clip too.