Fishing is a beloved hobby for many, but spending extended hours out on the water under the intense sun can harm your skin. Skin cancer is the most prevalent cancer in the United States, with over 5 million cases diagnosed annually. For avid anglers, protecting yourself from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays is crucial. Fortunately, there have been exciting innovations in sun-protective clothing designed specifically for fishing.
The Benefits of Wearing Sun Protective Clothing When Fishing
Sun-protective fishing clothes offer several advantages over regular clothing and sunscreen when you spend long days on the water.
Effective Sun Protection
First, this specialized clothing is designed to block up to 98% of the sun’s harmful UV rays, providing excellent protection without the need to constantly reapply sunscreen every few hours.
This saves you both time and money, as you won’t need to repeatedly purchase and carry sunscreen bottles every time you go fishing. The tight weave and specialized fabrics used in sun-protective fishing wear are far more effective at blocking UV rays than regular clothing.
Reusable and Durable
Sun-protective fishing wear is also reusable, so you can get a lot of wear out of it before needing to replace it. Over the years, this can add up to big savings compared to continually purchasing bottles of sunscreen.
The clothing doesn’t have an expiration date like sunscreen, so you don’t need to worry about it losing effectiveness over time. This durable wear means your fishing clothes will protect you from the sun’s harmful effects trip after trip.
Eco-Friendly
Additionally, sun-protective clothes are eco-friendly since you aren’t constantly throwing away and buying plastic sunscreen bottles. By using reusable fishing apparel, you avoid contributing to plastic waste and pollution.
Prevents Sunburn and Skin Cancer
The clothing helps prevent sunburns, which reduces your risk of developing skin cancer down the line. The UV protection built into the fabric shields your skin trip after trip, helping keep you burn-free over many seasons of fishing.
Avoid Sunscreen Grease
You’ll also avoid getting greasy sunscreen all over your hands and fishing gear. The oily residue from sunscreen can be frustrating when you’re trying to grip a fishing rod or handle fish. Sun-protective clothing protects without the mess.
What to Look for in Sun Protective Fishing Clothes
When you’re out on the water reflecting sunlight for hours at a time, regular clothes simply do not provide adequate UV protection. This is why having quality sun protection clothing designed for fishing is so important.
The key specification to look for when choosing effective sun protection fishing wear is the UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) rating. This measures how much UV radiation can penetrate through the fabric to reach your skin. A high UPF rating is essential for fishing clothes to properly safeguard your skin during long days of exposure to harsh rays.
Sun protection clothing made specifically for fishing provides crucial defense against UV radiation that regular clothes lack. By wearing fishing apparel with a high UPF rating, anglers can enjoy their time on the water without worrying about sunburn or exposure to skin cancer-causing rays.
UPF 50+ Rating
An outstanding UPF rating for fishing clothing is 50+. This indicates that only 1/50th of the sun’s UV radiation can penetrate the material and reach your skin (approximately 2%).
Comparatively, a typical white t-shirt has a UPF rating of only 5-10, allowing much more UV radiation through. Therefore, when choosing sun-protective fishing attire, ensure that you choose items with a UPF rating of 50+ such as shirts, pants, hats, and gloves.
Breathable and Lightweight Fabrics
In addition to a high UPF rating, here are other factors to consider when selecting sun-protective fishing attire:
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Breathability – Good fishing clothes keep you cool and dry by wicking moisture away from the skin. Look for lightweight, breathable fabrics like polyester or nylon blends designed for athletic and water sports. These will be comfortable even in the heat of the sun.
Durable Construction
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Durability – Fishing clothing takes a beating from getting tangled in vegetation, abrasion from rods and gear, and exposure to the elements. Durable synthetic fiber blends hold up best to the demands of fishing. Look for reinforced seams and snag-resistant fabrics.
Full Sun Coverage
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Coverage – Hats, buffs, gloves, and sunglasses help protect vulnerable areas like your scalp, ears, neck, hands, and eyes from sun exposure. Look for wide-brimmed hats and clothing with a tighter weave and UPF 50+ rating to fully cover exposed skin.
Freedom of Movement
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Comfort – The best sun protection clothing for fishing allows you to move freely and stay cool. Seek out activewear styles made with stretchy athletic fabrics that don’t restrict motion.
Insect Protection
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Insect protection – Some clothes also add built-in insect repellent for extra protection from biting bugs out on the water. Insect Shield technology can provide effective bug protection for up to 70 washes.
Affordability
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Affordability – While high-end options are available, you can also find highly affordable sun-protective shirts, pants, hats, and gloves from major outdoor brands. Look for sales on last year’s fishing wear.
By considering these factors, you can discover UV-protective fishing clothing that will effectively shield you from the sun during long days on the water, enduring the rigors of fishing.
New Innovations in Sun Protective Fishing Clothes
Brands are responding to the demand for improved sun protection by creating cutting-edge clothing that incorporates the latest fabrics and features.
Cooling Technology
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Cooling technology – Brands like Columbia are using innovative designs like omni-freeze sweat-activated cooling fabric to keep anglers comfortable under the sun. The fabric helps dissipate heat and sweat to prevent overheating.
Quick-Drying Fabrics
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Quick-dry fabrics – Moisture-wicking synthetics like polyester and nylon dry 3-5 times faster than cotton, keeping you drier. This keeps you from getting chilled if a splash of water or rain soaks your clothes.
Stretch and Mobility
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Stretch and mobility – New athletic and active styles made with elastane provide freedom of movement for casting, paddling, and hiking to your fishing spot. The four-way stretch allows clothes to flex with your body.
Built-In Insect Repellent
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Insect protection – Lightweight hoodies and shirts made with Insect Shield technology repel bugs using built-in bug repellent that lasts through 70 washes. Keep bugs at bay without spraying yourself with chemical repellents.
Lightweight, Packable Hats
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Versatile hats – Wide-brimmed hats made from lightweight nylon are easier to pack while still providing excellent sun coverage with UPF 50+ protection. The openings can accommodate ponytails to keep your neck covered. These crushable hats take up little room in a pack.
Sun Protection for Hands
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Sun gloves – Fingerless or half-fingered fishing gloves allow flexibility while protecting vulnerable hands from sun exposure. Some provide UPF 50+ protection on the backs of hands prone to burning. Open fingers help control fishing rods.
Adjustable Face Shields
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Face shields – Neck gaiters or face shields made with lightweight, breathable fabric provide adjustable coverage from the sun for exposed areas like cheeks and neck. Cover up or ventilate these areas as needed.
Protective Polarized Eyewear
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UV protective eyewear – Polarized fishing sunglasses reduce glare, enabling better visibility into the water while blocking 100% of UVA/UVB rays. Wrap-around styles protect sensitive eye areas prone to sun damage.
Conclusion
With skin cancer on the rise, it’s important to protect yourself from sun exposure when fishing. Advancements in fabric and clothing technology now offer anglers comfortable sun-protective choices to shield themselves from harmful UV rays. Brands continue to develop new sun-protective fabrics, features, and styles to meet angler’s needs. Stay safe while enjoying fishing with the latest high-tech sun-protective fishing apparel.