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Home → Blog → Resources → Long Sleeve Performance Fishing Shirts – Our Buyers’ Guide
If you are into fishing, you will know just how much specialist equipment and clothing there is out there. But for good reason. Performance fishing gear makes a significant difference to how much you enjoy your time on the water, how comfortable you feel, and how well you fish. Whether fly fishing on small streams, heading out on your boat for some deep-sea fun, or sitting by the lake for a few days, having clothing and equipment you can trust makes for a more confidence-inspiring and pleasurable experience.
One of the most important pieces of fishing clothing you can purchase is a long sleeve performance fishing shirt. When treated with Polygiene StayFresh™ antibacterial odor control technology, these shirts are invaluable. And we’re going to explain why.
There is a reason more and more angling enthusiasts are moving away from regular shirts when fishing – they just do not meet the performance needs of those wearing them. Regular cotton or polyester shirts fall short in the following ways:
While the sun is not always present on fishing trips, when it does emerge, you will spend a lot of time in it. If you are not careful, this can lead to sunburn, skin damage, and more serious health complications in the future. Regular shirts lack any serious UV protection, leaving you exposed to the sun’s rays for long periods.
When it starts to heat up, things get sweaty. And though it may involve stretches of inactivity, any passionate fisher will tell you that a day on the water is a pretty good workout. Normal shirts tend to trap sweat and soak it up, becoming heavy, damp and uncomfortable in the process.
As a normal shirt soaks up the sweat and odor-causing bacteria get to work, they can get pretty smelly. And that’s not great when you have a long car journey back home at the end of the day, or you are heading to the bar to boast about your beast of a bass catch. The last thing you want after a long day fishing is to feel self-conscious.
Casting, reeling in, managing equipment, and fighting fish all require a good deal of mobility. Regular shirts are often restrictive, especially when wet. They can impede your ability to move freely, result in you losing a fish, and, more generally, are just uncomfortable.
Performance fishing shirts are designed and manufactured to overcome many of the weaknesses associated with regular shirts. They primarily achieve this in three ways:
With this in mind, let’s examine some of the key benefits of performance fishing shirts and what they mean for the user and their comfort.
As our understanding of the potential dangers of prolonged exposure to the sun increases, UV-resistant fishing shirts are other UV-protection clothing items are becoming more and more popular. It is particularly crucial for people who spend significant stretches of time outdoors, such as anglers. Many long sleeve fishing shirts will be attributed a UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) rating. It lets you know how effectively the material blocks UV light. The higher the rating, the better the protection.
There is no evidence to suggest fish are particularly sensitive to odor or that your smell will alert them to your presence. So odor control technologies are not important for that aspect of fishing. However, they do play a significant role in keeping you confident and preventing you from being self-conscious. When you go out fishing, there is a good chance you will work up a sweat, and the smell of that will mix with all kinds of other odors, leaving your clothes pretty stinky at the end of the day. That’s not nice if you are heading out to eat afterward or are on a multi-day fishing trip. Antibacterial odor control technology like Polygiene StayFresh and Polygiene OdorCrunch keep shirts fresh and odor-free between washes, so you stay comfortable and do not have to worry about smelling.
Ideally, performance fishing shirts are made from lightweight, breathable fabrics that wick moisture away from the skin and allow air to circulate freely. This improved ventilation helps you regulate your body temperature more effectively, ensuring you stay cool and comfortable. It also facilitates more efficient sweat evaporation, denying odor-causing bacteria the environment it thrives in.
Fishing shirts tend to be long-sleeved because this design is more versatile and offers better protection. Unlike short-sleeved shirts, they do not leave your arms exposed to the sun’s harmful UV rays. They are also warmer when the sun is not out, providing better insulation if things are a little cold, and protecting you from insect bites. The ability to roll your sleeves up or down adds to the appeal, enabling you to adjust your shirt depending on the conditions and your preferences.
Fishing is tough on clothing. It takes you out into the wild and exposes you to the elements. It involves handling and managing gear and equipment that can easily damage clothing. And it requires you to be active all day. Consequently, you need apparel that can stand up to these challenges. Performance fishing shirts employ durable materials that are highly resistant to wear and tear, so you don’t have to worry about them falling apart and benefit from long-term use.
An innovative, industry-leading antibacterial additive technology, Polygiene StayFresh inhibits the growth of odor-causing bacteria to keep textiles smell-free and fresher for longer. Using silver chloride – a salt found naturally in soil and water – as its active ingredient, the solution prevents bacterial growth in three main ways.
Highly effective and easy to integrate into textiles during product manufacturing, it provides long-lasting, 24/7 protection that enables users to wash their apparel less frequently without it smelling. This results in many secondary benefits. Less frequent washing reduces a product’s overall environmental impact, as washing is a resource-intensive activity that consumes considerable water and energy. At the same time, it contributes to greater product longevity. As washing machines are tough on textiles and cause wear and tear over time, reducing the need for washing protects fibers and extends their lifespan.
In performance fishing shirts, these attributes offer several key benefits. Odor prevention means you feel comfortable throughout the day and after the fishing has finished. It also enables you to pack lighter for multi-day trips, as you can wear the shirt multiple times without worrying about unpleasant smells. Finally, it keeps your performance fishing gear in good condition for longer, so you get more value from your purchase.
As more and more customers recognize the advantages of antibacterial performance clothing, more fishing brands and outdoor clothing manufacturers are incorporating Polygiene technology into their products. This ensures you have a great range of shirts to choose from. Here, we highlight three of our favorite brands and Polygiene-treated fishing products to get you started.
SITKA
Born of a desire to solve the key challenges hunters and anglers face when out in the wild, SITKA develops technical gear that excels in all conditions. The brand focuses on producing apparel that improves hunter safety, comfort, and success, enabling customers to enjoy the time they spend out in the wild more.
FORLOH
US hunting and fishing specialist, FORLOH, is one of the country’s most respected outdoor brands and develops premium apparel for customers who want the best performance possible. Embedding its adventurous spirit in all its products, the brand emphasizes the importance of facilitating meaningful time outdoors and connecting with the natural world. 100% designed, sourced and manufactured in the USA, it aims to drive innovation in the sector and deliver cutting-edge hunting and fishing apparel.
The FORLOH range of fishing apparel features long sleeved shirts, pants and hoodies – all of which have been optimized to ensure peak performance on the water. As well as looking great, the products benefit from excellent UPF protection, moisture-wicking properties and temperature control.
Black Diamond
Perhaps best known for its climbing, ski and mountain gear, Black Diamond gear is multi-functional and often doubles as an excellent alternative for fishing adventures.
Another brand committed to delivering innovative products, Black Diamond equipment and clothing are trusted to perform in the most challenging conditions. If you are looking for high-quality performance fishing gear and do not mind shopping around non-fishing brands, it is a good place to start.
Other performance fishing apparel
Long sleeve shirts are not the only kind of performance fishing clothing you can buy. There is a whole range of performance-focused apparel out there. And, as manufacturers can apply Polygiene StayFresh to almost any textile, all of these can be further optimized with odor control technology.
When buying long-sleeved fishing shirts, we recommend considering the following factors.
At Polygiene, we believe our innovative anti-odor solutions are changing the way brands and consumers think about performance clothing. By ensuring your clothes stay smell-free and fresher for longer, our solutions guarantee improved comfort, greater longevity and a more environmentally friendly product.
Learn more about Polygiene StayFresh™.
