The market for fishing clothing and sunglasses is highly competitive. Each year at the ICAST fishing-tackle trade show in Orlando, Sport Fishing editors see dozens of new tech shirts and performance shorts as well as foul-weather gear and sunglass innovations. Here are 16 new products that highlight the latest technology, including quite a few respectably technical ladies’ lines for serious women anglers.
Columbia Terminal and Tidal Deflector Zero Shirts
This Columbia second-generation sun-deflector technology offers a softer feel and Omni-Zero cooling technology in technical-tee styles for men and women that include crew necks, hoodies and hoodies with face masks. The long-sleeve shirts deliver optimal sun protection and quick-drying features. They are available in a variety of colors and cost $65 to $75.
Columbia Women’s Tidal Leggings, Tidal Deflector Hoodie, Dorado PFG Shoes
Columbia established a technical women’s line of clothing before most other fishing-apparel companies. This year, Columbia has added the Tidal Leggings to that collection. The leggings come in a 7/8 Capri length and offer UPF 50 sun protection and a stash pocket. They come in Hyper Blue and Hyper Blue Fishscale and cost $60.
AFTCO Cortez Shorts
AFTCO’s men’s Cortez fishing shorts feature two-way stretch fabric, four large pockets and a plier pocket. They cost $69.
AFTCO Ladies Samurai Hoodie
AFTCO’s newly introduced women’s technical fishing clothing line includes this Samurai Hoodie ($40) in coral, and in XS through XL. It features UPF 40+ sun protection and moisture-wicking, stain-resistant fabric.
Costa Cape and Montauk
Costa’s Cape and Montauk extra-large wrap-style frames, launched earlier this year, come with the company’s sweat management system in the sidepieces. The system’s ventilation ducting allows air to flow through the end piece of the frame, which reduces lens fogging and works in conjunction with the sweat-management temple channels. Available with a variety of Costa 580 lenses, the Cape and Montauk styles cost $179 to $259.
Xtratuf Camo Print Deck Boots
Xtratuf’s lightweight 6-inch deck boots now come in new camo patterns from Realtree and Mossy Oak. Available in whole sizes from 7 to 14, they cost $100.
Bluefin USA Ladies’ Solar Tee
Bluefin’s Ladies’ Solar tech tee is made from microfiber and spandex with mesh under the arms. It’s quick-drying and carries SPF 50+ protection. The shirts are dye sublimated and can be fully customized. Available in sizes S-XL, Solars cost $45.
Frogg Toggs Pilot Pro
Challenged to improve on its Pilot II Guide gear, Frogg Toggs created the new Pilot Pro all-weather jacket and bibs. The outer layer is Teflon DWR-coated polyester and the inner layer is a nylon taffeta. The middle layer features DriPore technology with a performance film that takes water holdout to more than 15,0000 mm and breathability to more than 20,000 MVTR. The jacket and bib each come in sizes S to 3X and each cost $269.99.
Pelagic Pursuit Sunglasses
Pelagic’s Pursuit frames come with blue-mirror lenses made from polarized mineral glass. Pictured are black matte, green dorado and helix blue colors. They cost $269.
Pelagic Pinacol Elite Boardshort
Pelagic Pinacol Elite boardshorts are made from a cotton/nylon/poly/spandex blend fabric that stretches four ways. They feature a 20-inch outseam, a hydro-repel coating, welded seams and zippers, and a tool pocket. Available in sizes 30 to 40, they cost $150.
Huk Leviathan Foul-Weather Gear
Huk’s Leviathan foul-weather gear comes with Reflectek reflective technology, which brightens when exposed to a light source. The waterproof fabric includes polyester and spandex, which gives it some stretch. Available in sizes S through 3XL, the jacket and bib cost $380 each.
Huk Women’s Crop Legging
Huk’s women’s crop legging is made from 92 percent polyester and 8 percent elastane. It features sun protection and anti-microbial properties. Available in sizes XS to XL and in two colors — glacier (pictured) and shallows (aqua camo) — the leggings cost $50.
Mojo Wireman Aqua Camo
Mojo’s Wireman technical tee comes in two colors of aqua camo. The shirt is available in sizes XS through 2XL and costs $39.95.
Oakley Split Shot
Oakley has introduced the brand’s first-ever watersport-specific frame with the Split Shot. The frames feature an integrated retainer system and are hat compatible (with a slightly curved temple tip to avoid hat crashes and a modified brow). Split Shots come with deep- or shallow-water polarized Prizm lenses and cost $163 to $213.
Simms TriComp Cool Shirt
Simms’ new TriComp Cool shirt is made from three different fabric blends in the body, sleeves and side panels, and pockets, and features Coolcore fabric technology to deliver up to 30 percent lower surface temperature when wet. Available in sizes S through 2XL and in two colors (mist pictured), it costs $149.95.
Smith Freespool MAG
Available with Smith’s ChromaPop lens technology, the new Freespool MAG also comes with two sets of interchangeable temples — a wider temple for greater coverage while fishing and a thinner one for everyday use. The medium-size frames come with hydrophilic megol temple and nose pads and cost $249.
