How To Choose The Right Fishing Shirt
Fishing shirts are must-haves for anglers. With so many styles and options available, the possibilities can seem endless. To cut through the clutter, we have broken down each type of fishing shirt and its benefits so you can pick the right one for your next adventure.
What is UPF & How Does it Work?
UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor and indicates how much UV radiation passes through fabric to reach your skin. Generally, the higher the UPF rating, the less radiation reaches your skin. When it comes to UPF, coverage matters. Long sleeve fishing shirts are optimal because they can absorb and block harmful UV radiation that causes skin cancer and sun damage. A bonus of wearing UPF-rated apparel is that it protects like sunscreen without the need to reapply. For more information on UPF protection, we’ve put together a detailed breakdown on what to wear for sun protection while fishing.
Moisture Wicking & Stain Resistant Fabrics
Another consideration when choosing a fishing shirt is if the material the shirt is made of is moisture wicking. Whether it's a sweltering day or you got wet from fighting the fish of a lifetime, the last thing you want is to be uncomfortable in a fishing shirt that clings to your body and won’t quickly dry. AFTCO offers a large variety of moisture wicking fishing shirts that will help keep you dry and comfortable. Many of these garments are also made of stain resistant materials that help keep your favorite fishing shirt clean.
Picking the Right Material Matters
Regardless of style, fabric determines the quality, durability, and level of comfort. The primary materials for AFTCO fishing shirts are polyester, cotton, and fabric blends. Polyester clothing is easy to take care of because it’s resistant to fading, wrinkles, and shrinking. It’s also ideal for jackets and outdoor clothing because it’s resilient to heat and ultraviolet radiation. Overall, polyester is a strong fabric choice that can withstand the elements.
Cotton is another popular fabric used in our clothing. Cotton maintains its shape over time and is machine washable. Another benefit is that cotton is soft and breathable, making it ideal for fishing shirts. Cotton helps ensure clothing does not stick or cling to you.
Many AFTCO fishing shirts also feature a fabric blend. We mainly use a 60/40 cotton and polyester combo that results in soft and durable fishing shirts. Our top styles, like the Samurai and Air-O Mesh, are made with a polyester spandex blend to protect anglers from the elements. There are many other types of fabric blends out there and material choice makes a significant difference in breathability, comfort, stain resistance, and stretch.
What Type of Fishing Shirt Should You Choose?
Having the proper fishing clothing is essential. We have designed a fishing shirt to meet each angler’s needs on or off the water. From performance fishing styles to casual lifestyle pieces, there is an AFTCO fishing shirt for every occasion.
Performance Fishing Shirts
Performance fishing shirts are designed for protection from the elements. When spending long days in the sun, it is crucial to stay covered up to prevent skin cancer. Choosing a performance fishing shirt is a great option as they contain additional UPF-rated treatments. They also typically have moisture wicking and stain resistant properties.
Adapt Performance
The Adapt Tactical and Adapt Hoodie both offer UPF 50 sun protection and feature advanced Phase Change technology, which automatically adjusts to your body’s temperature to keep you cool on the hottest summer days. The Adapt lineup has a vented hood and facemask for additional protection and thumb holes on the sleeve for maximum coverage.
Samurai Performance
Our best-selling Samurai Performance Shirt is a top performer equipped with everything anglers need to endure a full day on the water. With hooded, long sleeve, and short sleeve options available, the Samurai collection has something for everyone. The Samurai Performance Hood features UPF 50 sun protection and an antimicrobial treatment for odor control.
Air-O Mesh Performance
Another excellent lineup of fishing shirts is the Air-O Mesh Performance collection. With the lightweight and breathable Air-O Mesh fabric, this collection is the go-to for humid summer days. Like the Samurai collection, this group of styles is available in a hooded, long sleeve, and short sleeve style. The Air-O Mesh Hood and Air-O Mesh Crew have thumb loops to keep the sleeves in place and feature UPF 50 Sun Protection, stain resistance, and quick dry, moisture wicking fabrics.
Vented Fishing Shirts
This collection features classic button-down fishing shirts to keep anglers cool and comfortable. These vented fishing shirts have mesh panels at the back and underarm areas for increased breathability and airflow. Rangle comes in a long and short sleeve style and has an advanced stain-resistant finish. As an angler, you can dress this style up or down, whether hitting the docks or a night on the town.
Lifestyle Shirts: Fishing Polos & Fishing T-Shirts
These lifestyle shirts are for anglers who want to stay comfortable on the water, at the office, or local watering hole. AFTCO's fishing polos and t-shirts come in various styles and colors to suit each angler. The Air-O Mesh polo is a staple. It dries fast, offers UPF 50 sun protection, and has a DWR stain resistant finish.
AFTCO’s most casual shirts are our fishing t-shirts, which are available in many different colorways and feature killer designs of your favorite species, including bass, bluefin, and redfish.
These AFTCO fishing polos and t-shirts will keep you comfortable and are built to last.
Key Tips for Sun Protection
When it comes to sun protection, there are a few important things to consider. Applying sunscreen, wearing a fishing hat and sunglasses, and staying as covered as possible between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. (when UV rays are the strongest) are good rules of thumb to follow. One of the easiest ways to protect yourself is wearing a long-sleeved or hooded fishing shirt. To take sun protection to the next level, you may also consider a fishing shirt with a built in neck gaiter. Short sleeve fishing shirts are an option for anglers who aren't fans of long sleeves.
We also recommend that you get yourself a good, lightweight pair of fishing pants.
For more info on staying protected, check out the CDC recommendations for protecting yourself from the sun. Fishing Tackle Retailer has also put together a great piece explaining sun protection clothing that we suggest you check out.
A Fishing Brand That Reflects Your Values
At AFTCO, we are committed to reducing the environmental impact on the oceans, rivers, lakes, and land that support our fisheries. AFTCO and the Shedd family contribute at least 10% of company profits towards organizations and causes working to conserve our oceans, waterways, and fish populations while protecting angler rights and public access to these resources.
