819 | Kelly Reaume on Backcountry Skinz – Neoprene Leggings, Fly Fishing Calgary Alberta, Bull Trout

Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast

Dave Stewart

Hobbies, Wilderness, Leisure, Sports

4.7 • 530 Ratings

🗓️ 26 September 2025

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

#819 Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/819

Presented By: Visit Idaho, Smitty's Fly Box, Drifthook Fly Fishing, Patagonia

Sponsors: https://wetflyswing.com/sponsors

Kelly Reaume, co-founder of Backcountry Skinz, takes us inside the story of how a garage idea turned into a company that's reshaping how anglers wade. From breathable neoprene leggings to waterproof socks and lightweight pack-raft setups, Kelly explains why Skinz are becoming a go-to for float trips, alpine lakes, and backcountry anglers who don't want the bulk of waders.

We hear how the first 2 mm prototype gave way to a 1.5 mm design, why guides and DIY anglers alike are using them, and how he and his brother built the brand during COVID. The episode drifts through product strategy, pack-raft stories, marketing lessons, and the pride of keeping things personal as they expand into new markets.

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/819

Transcript

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0:00.0	Today's guests built a brand from the ground up in the Canadian backcountry.
0:05.8	Kelly Realm, co-founder of Backcountry Skin, started this with nothing more than an idea in his garage.
0:11.9	They created something lighter, warmer, and more mobile than typical waiters.
0:17.6	That idea became the Z-series, Neopreneem leggings leggings now worn from Alberta to New Zealand.
0:22.4	This is the wetfly swing podcast where I show you the best places to travel to for fly fishing,
0:26.3	how to find the best resources and tools to prepare for that big trip,
0:29.6	and what you can do to give back to the fish species we all love.
0:33.6	Kelly Rome is here from Backcountry Skins.
0:35.5	By the end of this episode, you're going to find out how Kelly and his brother doubled
0:39.8	their business year after year, white anglers are swapping out waiters for breathable
0:44.6	neoprene pants and what it feels like to watch major outdoor brands chase the product
0:50.3	that they invented.
0:51.8	We're also going to dig into some new designs like the Air Blitz pants, light lock socks, and everything else they have going. Let's find out what Kelly's been up to. Here we go. You can find him at backcountry skins.com. How you doing, Kelly? Everything's good over here. How about you, Dave? Good, man. Good. I'm excited to do a little update on backcountry
1:11.7	skins you know in all transparency I have worn your stuff but you know Megan my wife has
1:18.1	been wearing it a lot more and I got to say she's totally loving it so I don't have her here
1:23.1	with me to do the the total summary but she's been wearing you know your pants i think this is kind of
1:28.3	your flagship product which are your neoprime full pants um instead of waiters you know what i mean
1:34.5	so we're going to talk everything backcountry skins today we're going to get an update it's been
1:37.5	about two years uh since you guys have been on here and and i want to hear what's new what's coming
1:43.9	but yeah man give us an update right now.
1:45.5	It's kind of September as we're talking.
1:47.9	This probably goes live in October.
	...

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