The Dryfender Insulated Jacket by Shimano won the Best of Show in the Apparel category at ICAST 2013. The waterproof, breathable jacket is fully seam sealed and insulated. It has a water-resistant chest pocket zipper, zippered pockets and an adjustable cuff. The jacket comes in red or blue and in sizes S to 3X. It retails for $249.99.
The Bandit trucker cap is a quality hat that shows everyone that you’re a fan of the sport. With a sweatband that wicks moisture, your head will stay dry. It comes in one color and retails for $24.
Carhartt has delved into technical clothing and the result is perfect for anglers. The Force line wicks sweat, repel stains and keep you cool on the water.
Buff USA introduces the UVX Mask this year to add to the company’s product line of protective headwear. Whereas the original Buff protects from the nose to the lower neck area, the UVX Mask protects from the top of the head to the upper back. The long cape protects that part of the neck between the hat and shirt that’s often exposed while fishing. Included are laser-cut breathing holes to prevent sunglasses from fogging up. Buff is also introducing the UVX Balaclava, which offers even more coverage for the top of the head, and an XL version of the original Buff for anglers whose heads are bigger than most.
Face masks are the “in” thing these days, with tons of companies introducing their version of the protective wear. Aqua Design threw its hat in the ring years ago, but this year it’s addressing wearers’ concerns about fit. The new SunGuard Tube Pro is adjustable in the back so that you don’t have to wear your face protection too loose or too tight.
The Legends insulated zip jacket by Icebreaker is made of 100% merino wool, with insulating quilting inside the front and back. The wearer can stay super-warm with secure zippered hand pockets. It has an internal storm flap as well. The retail price is $239.99.
Keep your head warm in winter with 13 Fishing’s Jobber and Miss Ellie. The Jobber has a cotton lining, and flaps protect the ears from cold. It retails for $35. Miss Ellie is a two-tone knit cap with a small hard bill.
The Everyday Crewe can be worn as a layer underneath your clothing during cooler weather or as a top layer in warmer weather. It’s made of 100% merino wool. The shirt insulates when wet, doesn’t hold odor and is soft. The Everyday Crewe comes in short sleeve, $49.99, and long sleeve, $59.99.
New SunGuard Headwear floats, so if you drop it overboard, you have a better chance of retrieving it. All the hats in the collection — a baseball cap, a military cap and a visor — offer a UPF rating of 50+ and feature enhanced moisture wicking to keep you cooler. The hats come in four colors and retail for $19.95.
SlidZ is a new line of slide shoes for Zeko. Zeko shoes have a water-draining sole made of durable EVA. The upper mesh is moisture wicking, and the soles are grippy to keep you from sliding. The shoe is light weight, only 5 1/2 ounces, so it’s easy on the knees and back. The SlidZ sell for $74.99.
Zeko has added two colors, camo and red, to its Vintage line.
The Compass LS Tee is treated with G.Loomis’ proprietary Trinsic material, which is moisture-wicking, has UPF sun protection and is antimicrobial. The shirt features mesh side panels for ventilation, flatrock seams to reduce chafing and raglan sleeves for comfort and mobility. Plus, it’s tagless. The tee comes in sizes M through 3X and in four colors: black, brown, dark olive and sand.
Not only is this hat stylish, it’s nice and cool, thanks to a vented mesh back. Look for lots of new designs on trucker-style Costa hats this year.
Killer Penguin and Blue Steel are new flatbill hats from 13 Fishing. They cost $20 to $24.
The Modulus Mock Neck by G.Loomis feels like a cotton T-shirt but is actually made of a poly-cotton blend treated with G.Loomis’ Trinsic material that wicks moisture and provides sun protection. The long-sleeve tee comes in sizes M to 3X and comes in four colors: solid steel, solid pewter, heather brown and heather dark olive. It retails for $65.
Icebreaker is introducing three new gloves in its new Hunt & Fish collection, ranging in price from $24.99 to $34.99. The Oasis Glove Liner and the Quantum Glove are bloth black, made of a merino wool blend with LYCRA, so it’s stretchy and comfortable. The Sierra Glove comes in Mossy Oak and is made of Icebreaker’s Realfleece fabric.
There’s no better way to show everyone how awesome you are than to wear a flat-bill cap. At least, that’s what some people think, and G.Loomis is catering to that group of people with its new line of RB Flatbill caps. The flatbills come in three colors — black, olive and stone. The hats are adjustable and moisture-wicking.
The Atoll Flip from Simms Fishing is a high-performance flip flop. It looks relaxed, but it has molded EVA midsoles and integrated arch supports. Plus, it has a solid toe hold so the flips won’t just flip right off. No chafing or scratching, either, thanks to the neoprene-lined uppers. Atoll costs $59.95 and comes in sizes 5 to 14.
The Reactive Denim series of caps by G.Loomis features colorful stitching. In port, autumn and pink colors against a dark denim background, the hats stand out from the rest. The stitching is 3D, and the underbill of the cap is dark colored. The caps retail for $24 each.
If your big toe or your heel sticks out of your socks, you know the importance of good quality sockwear. Icebreaker guarantees its socks won’t flake out on you — for the rest of your life! The socks are made of merino wool in New Zealand, and they have breathe zones in the arches as well as high density needle counts in the toe and heel to prevent wear-out. The socks come in multiple styles, sizes and colors, and retail for $15 to $35 per pair.
The Costa Del Mar Performance clothing line.
The Guide Glove protects your hands from cold water and the harsh elements.
Stay dry with the StormShield Pro Jacket. It’s constructed with a three-layer system of woven microfiber, PU membrane and laminate fleece, keeping the angler dry and warm. The jacket has multiple pockets and a storage compartment, plus D-rings for hanging tools and nets. It comes in three color patterns and retails for $149.95. Sizes are S to 3X.
The Acklins jacket from Simms is lightweight and waterproof, perfect for warm afternoon showers. It’s made with three-layer Gore-Tex fabric technology. It has a three-point cinch hood and a corrosion-resistant zipper. Acklins also incorporates a secure hand pocket and zips in the armpits to allow the wearer to open for ventilation.
Rather than walking around telling everyone how big your most recent catch is, try wearing the Bragging Rights T-shirt. Now, you can just write all the information right on your T-shirt and save your breath. This shirt comes in bass and other species as well, and it retails for $36. But how can you put a price tag on letting everyone know your bassin’ business?
If you dig the camo look, 13 Fishing has several hats that fill the bill. The High-Tec Redneck combines classic white with camo to get that perfect redneck look. The Chuck is named after Chuck Norris because he’s so awesome. And the Mr. Tucker is named after the gentleman at Realtree Outdoors who helped get the camo pattern licensed to 13 Fishing to use in the hats. All three hats retail for $20 to $24.
If you struggle with getting all your clothes in one bag for a fishing trip, or if you just hate folding clothes, try owning a short that just stuffs into itself. The Paca Shirt by Guide’s Choice for Adventure has a passport pocket that, when turned inside out, serves as a holder for the entire shirt. All you have to do is stuff the shirt into it. In addition, the shirt has roll-up sleeves, back and side ventilation, and a pocket for a small tacklebox.
Ex Officio boasts that it actually cools you down 5 degrees with its Sol Cool Ultimate Hoody. It ventilates the head, pits and sides. And it protects the wearer from the sun with UPF 50+. The hoodies come in versions for men and women. They retail for $75 each.
The Crush series of ladies apparel from Icebreaker is lightweight, and like all Icebreaker products, is made of 100 percent merino wool. It keeps the wearer warm when it’s cold outside and cool when it’s hot. It doesn’t itch or trap odor. The Crush line comes in long sleeve shirts and hoodies. The retail price is $89.99 to $94.99 for the shirts, $149.99 for the hoodies.
Guy on a Buffalo (the hat with the Lucky 13) and Awesome Sauce are new hats in the 13 Fishing cap collection. The hats retail for $20 to $24.
Don’t forget about your lady friend when picking up new swag for yourself. Costa’s visors come in pretty shades for her.
Just slip the Heated Insoles into your shoes, and you’re good to go for up to five hours, even if it’s freezing outside. These foot-warmers have a remote control, so just press the button to make them warmer, cooloer or to turn the heat off. The imbedded battery on the Heated Insoles recharges more than 500 times, so you can expect to keep these around for a few winters. The insoles come in small to 2X.
The polyester material of the Coolmax Performance Cap keeps your head cool wicks moisture from your head, keeping you cool when the sun beats down. Coolmax comes in three colors: pewter, sand and dark olive. It retails for $25.
Ladies who layer will appreciate the Everyday Cami, part of Icebreaker’s Bodyfit Basics thermal underwear collection. It can be worn alone or underneath clothes. It has adjustable straps to get the right fit. It comes in black or cruise (shown) and costs $39.99.
Want to look like you fish for a living? Shimano makes it easy with the Technical Sublimated LS Zip Tee. Add your own logos and your friends will think you’re a big deal on the Bassmaster circuit! Each shirt retails for $89.99. It comes in blue, gray and red.
The Finatic women’s boat shoe is part of XtraTuf’s fishing shoe collection. It features water-resistant Nubuck leather uppers and lightweight vulcanized construction. Water drains through weep holes. The outsoles are nonslip and non-marking. Color options are beige and blue. A men’s version is offered as well.
Simms’ Tricomp line of technical clothing is lightweight and comfortable. It comes with a handy sunglass chamois patch for wiping your sunglasses. The shirt retails for $119.95.
The Chumrunner boat shoe is breathable and flexible for all-day comfort. It has a cushioned, removable insole. Colors are white, beige and blue for women, and brown and beige for men. The outsole doesn’t slip and doesn’t leave marks.
Simms has added the women’s Crewneck to the SolarFlex line. With artistic styling and contrasting stitching, the shirt is attractive and feminine. It protects the wearer from UV rays and resists odor and sweat. The shirt sells for $39.95.
If you’ve ever heard of frogg toggs’ Chilly Pad, then you already know how cool the idea of a Chilly Pad hat is. The original Chilly Pad is a towel that you wet with warm water and put it on you while you’re in the heat. It holds 12 times its weight in water and the coolness lasts up to four hours. It gets 20 to 30 degrees below the ambient temperature. The newest addition to the line is the Chilly Bean Cooling Hat. It looks like a regular hat but functions as a personal air conditioner. It retails for $12 to $15.
Long known for its top-of-the-line shades, Costa is expanding its thread line to include performance fabrics that keep you dry and cool even under the hottest conditions.
The Pilot II by frogg toggs is a jacket and bib made of the same material waders are made of. It’s waterproof, breathable and light weight. The jacket has a multiple-piece hood and several storage compartments and D-rings for accessories. The Pilot II comes in two color combinations: black/gray and taupe/stone. The jacket retails for $139 to $149, and the bib retails for $129 to $139.
What better way to demonstrate that a jacket is waterproof than to put it under running showerheads all day long? That’s what Frabill did with its F4 Cyclone Jacket and Bibs. The green rainsuit is water resistant, breathable and windproof. Almost everything on it cinches, clips, pulls, seals or zips for the perfect fit. The F4 comes in sizes S to 3X.
