My introduction to Mustang Survival came during my stint working for the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). USFWS has a policy that if the air and water temperature combined didn’t break 100, then you had to wear a “float coat,” a padded jacket with a neoprene or foam flotation lining that offers insulation as well as flotation qualities to help you make it through a dunk in cold water. Being in Alaska, I had that Mustang Survival coat on more often than not. I enjoyed how comfortable it was, and really came to appreciate it when I fell into 31-degree water jumping from boat to boat.
Unlike that float coat, Mustang Survival’s Taku waterproof jacket and bib don’t feature any flotation — but they will keep you dry in the toughest conditions. The shell garments are constructed using a three-layer Marine Spec SP fabric and YKK AQUAGUARD zippers to provide lightweight protection against rain and wind-driven spray. I’ve been wearing the Taku waterproof jacket and bib for the past month, through some of the New York Finger Lakes’ worst weather. Here’s what I found.
Initial Impressions
I first put the Taku suit on in my living room, and my wife remarked that I “looked like something out of a Ralph Lauren catalog.” She noted that the black and red color scheme had a classic, timeless look, and I have to agree, No one will ever accuse me of being a fashion model but this suit almost makes me look the part.
Beyond aesthetics, you can immediately tell the Taku is well-made. Though the fabric is lightweight, you can tell it’s of a high thread count, and seems like it will stand up to rough use. The company says it’s made without “intentionally added PFAS,” you can feel the waterproofing, though it doesn’t have that plastic-y feeling that some coatings have. The waterproof YKK AQUAGUARD zippers eliminate the need for a storm flap, so the front is a little less bulky. It also opens from the top and bottom.
With the hood stowed, the high collar covers my neck and up to my cheek, which should block the wind well. Removing it, the hood offers plenty of coverage from the top and sides. A bottom drawcord cinches it tight, and a rear drawcord pulls it back, keeping your vision clear for boat handling and fishing duties.
The sleeves have plenty of freedom of movement, and feature pit zips, which should be great for venting perspiration on hot, rainy days. On the other end, the wrists feature double cuffs, with neoprene gaskets that seal tight. These should work well with so-called “crab fishing gloves” or anything else with a gauntlet. An ample chest storage pocket has plenty of room to stash tools or a phone, and a pair of handwarmer pockets on the lower half are ideally placed to cut the chill when needed.
The bibs are built with the same fabric, but reinforced with 500D Cordura nylon in the seat, knees, and back hem, so they should be able to withstand abuse on the water. Fit was great, though my short legs (29 inch inseam; 5 feet, 11 inches tall) presented the same issues they always do in bibs or waders — but there was enough adjustability to work with my dimensions. A pair of fleece-lined handwarmer pockets are positioned where you can still get your hands in above the chest belt of a life jacket. A waterproof, two-way YKK AQUAGUARD zipper should make it easy to get rid of the day’s coffee. The bottoms have a hook-and-loop closure to seal over the tops of your boots. And there was one feature I hadn’t seen on a pair of fishing bibs yet: a set of kneepads.
On The Water
The transition from winter to spring in the Finger Lakes has no shortage of rough weather. Fortunately, it also has a pretty good Atlantic salmon bite that makes braving the rain, sleet, and occasional snow worth it. I wore the Taku rain suit over the past month chasing salmon and lake trout on Seneca.
Most days, the air temp stayed below 40 and the water hovered around 36, which made for good fishing. The winds were what you expect for March: blustery and cold. The Taku rainsuit kept me dry throughout every drop of rain, sleet, and hail I encountered. My arms were free to cast, set the hook, and everything else I had to do. And the suit had enough room to add and remove layers as needed to keep up with constantly changing temps.
Many jackets tout their waterproof cuffs but few actually deliver. After reaching into the lake and the livewell repeatedly, I can say these live up to the hype. They kept my arm dry, even as I chased salmon around the bottom of the livewell for an embarrassingly long time. These may just have created the industry standard.
The hood was a high point. Many times, hoods lack structure or are somewhat misshapen, but the hood on the Taku was just right. It also stayed in place at wide open throttle, which was certainly a plus. I was surprised by the kneepads; that isn’t something I’m used to having on a pair of bibs. But it certainly was nice to take a knee without getting beat up.
I would have liked to have had a D-ring on the jacket to attach a kill switch cord from my motor, but otherwise it checked all the boxes. I think the bibs were missing the side zippers that permit you to pull them over your boots. An external pliers pocket would also be great. There’s certainly room in the large pocket in both the jacket and bib (as well as tab to attach a leash to), but I like having a sheath mid-thigh for quick access. But many anglers don’t use pliers as often as I do, so this is minor.
Final Thoughts
All told, Mustang Survival’s Taku jacket and bib deliver exactly what serious anglers and boaters need when conditions turn ugly: reliable, thoughtfully designed protection that lets you focus on the task at hand instead of the weather.
While it doesn’t replace the flotation security of the float coat I relied on in Alaska, it excels in its intended role — keeping you dry, comfortable, and mobile through long days of wind, spray, and cold rain. With a few small tweaks, it could be close to perfect but even as-is, the Taku system has earned a permanent place in my early-season gear on the Finger Lakes and beyond.
