I spend half my life in a hoodie. On a chilly fall morning, blazing hot summer afternoon, spring shower or winter snow squall, I wear a hoodie. When itโs cold, a hooded sweatshirt traps heat and blocks wind. In the rain, a hood prevents water from running down my neck. On the hottest days, a hooded sunshirt repels the sun and allows air to circulate. On a kayak, there is nowhere to hide from the weather and a hoodie is my first line of protection from the elements.
Wear A Life Jacket
- Everyone, even strong swimmers, needs to wear a life jacket at all times when on the water. It is extremely difficult to put a life jacket on once you fall into the water. Even a light wind can blow any paddlecraft away from you, faster than you can swim.
- Always wear a USCG-approved Level 70 or Type III life jacket designed for paddling.
Best overall fishing shirt
Columbia PFG Uncharted
MSRP: $60
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COLUMBIA AL’S AMAZON BACKCOUNTRY
Hooded sunshirts hit the water a few years ago and now they outnumber rainjackets and sweatshirts in my closet. Columbiaโs PFG Uncharted sunshirt incorporates the best moisture-wicking and UPF 40 fabric in a form-fitting shirt with a tight neck and thumb holes in the sleeves for complete coverage. For the best fit, the shirt comes in regular, big and tall sizes. My favorite feature is the color. The trick to sight fishing is seeing the fish before the fish sees me. I wear a Crushed Blue Uncharted for camouflage against the sky.
Best lightweight jacket
Mustang Ventus Hooded Windshell
MSRP: $179
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My favorite hood in my arsenal is a lightweight windbreaker. On a chilly summer morning or a warm fall afternoon, the Ventus Hooded Windshell offers enough protection to keep me warm without increasing weight or trapping heat. In the rain, the fold-away hood and water-resistant coating keep me dry. The jacket packs into the chest pocket so I take it everywhere.
Best hooded fishing shirt for hot days
Simms SolarFlex
MSRP: $99.95
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SIMMS FISHING AMAZON BACKCOUNTRY FISH USA
When the summer heat and humidity are at the worst, I wear a hooded sun shirt for maximum protection and comfort. Simms SolarFlex Cooling Hoodie is built from a special cooling fabric that reduces the temperature by hyper-evaporating moisture. The more I sweat, the cooler the fabric temperature. To increase skin coverage, the SolarFlex has a small button at the neck closure and sleeves with a thumb and middle finger loop. The shirt fits loosely to improve ventilation and the lightweight fabric feels like cotton.
Top womenโs sweatshirt for cold days
AFTCO Womenโs ArmorLoft Sweatshirt
MSRP: $129
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One challenge of dressing for cold weather is managing insulation with breathability. When Iโm fishing, I need thick insulation to keep me warm. When I paddle my kayak, I need to increase ventilation and release moisture. AFTCOโs ArmorLoft fleece has thick insulation crisscrossed with thinner material to improve airflow and breathability. The four-way stretch fabric, three-panel hood and water and stain-repellant fabric treatment allow the ArmorLoft to work as an outer or middle layer.
Dress For Immersion, Not Air Temperature
- Your body loses heat much faster when immersed in cold water than it does when dry.
- Avoid cotton clothing like t-shirts and jeans; they retain water and accelerate cooling when wet. Synthetic fabrics, or wool, are generally a better choice. If the water is very cold (60ยฐ fahrenheit or less), you should wear a wetsuit or drysuit.
Best jacket for the worst weather
Grundens Portal Gore-Tex
MSRP: $599
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In the worst possible weather conditions, I want the best possible protection. That starts with Gore-Tex breathable and waterproof fabric. Grundenโs Portal Gore-Tex wading jacket is my go-to winter fishing jacket. I like the low-profile chest pockets I can access when sitting in the kayak. To reach my wader pockets, the jacket has a pass-through pocket with a waterproof zipper. Neoprene cuffs on the sleeves keep cold water from dripping down my arms. The large hood packs away for storage and provides space to wear over a hat or sweatshirt hood.
Best fishing hoodie for cold days
Striker Barricade Hoodie
MSRP: $59.99
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Iโm lucky to live in sweatshirt country and the Striker Barricade Hoodie is a formidable outer layer. The heavy material is wind and water-resistant on the outside and fleecy on the inside. A fold-away facemask and hidden cinch strings make the hood impervious to cold. I like the zippered pocket to keep my phone secure.
Most comfortable hooded sun shirt
Orvis DriCast Hoodie
MSRP: $89
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The problem with performance clothing is texture. Synthetic fabrics dry quick and block UV rays, but they feel like plastic wrap against the skin. Somehow, Orvis figured out how to make a technical shirt out of eco-friendly material that feels as soft and light as an old cotton T-shirt. The DriCast Hoodie doesnโt sacrifice performance for comfort. The UPF 50+ fabric blocks 98 percent of harmful rays and dries fast to stay cool in the blazing sun. To cut down on plastic pollution, the DriCast Hoodie is made of recycled polyester material. The loose cut, Raglan sleeves and three-piece hood fit like an old T-shirt, too.
Check The Weather
- Plan for changing weather conditions. Prepare for the worst case.
- Donโt forget to check tide, currents, or river levels.
Hot or cold, sun or rain, we got you covered. | Feature photo: Dasha Burnley
