Over the last few years, a number of good products

royboy

Sealiner
Over the last few years, a number of good products with SPF ratings +50 have been available, and well adopted by the saltwater fly-fishing community. They are quick-dry and well ventilated with mesh underarms and back-flaps. Watch any of the shows such as Spanish Fly or WildFly and you will see these guys well protected from the sun. It seems that some of this gear is now evolving from Form and Function, to Form, Function and Fashion.

In my family, Skin Cancer is a huge issue with my dad and my sister having treatment for it. Like them, I too have spent lots of time in the sun through my life, and at times have been hammered. So far, I have been spared............but I am becoming Extra careful with what I wear in the sun (hat that covers my ears, Water-resistant high SPF cream on face, back of legs etc.)

When fishing, I generally wear my Reef "Rashie" (Rash Vest that surfers wear with SPF 50 rating), and this has always worked well (also multifunctional - as you can grab fins and mask and go for a snorkel, get out of the water and throw a line.). The negative is that they are form fitting ( I have a beer boep that I am cultivating, so no 6 pack....mine is a keg) and sometimes become slightly uncomfortable after a few hours in the sun due to sweating in tropical climes, so my next bit of research has been for some of these shirts that protect me from the sun, don't cost the earth and look presentable. ie without multi-coloured panels, loud tackle branding and logos etc.

There are a number of American products available locally, and 1 local manufacturer that I am aware of. As far as possible, I do try and support "local is lekker", so this is not a Product Pitch in any way, rather a quest to validate my purchase.......

The local product is from Senqu, and they have the Saltwater Technical range of clothing. I have purchased one of these shirts (granted - in a cammo print to accomodate the "fashion" aspect mentioned above) and would like to know from other Sealiners who may have used this product what their opinions of it are? It is priced pretty much in the middle of what the imported American shirts cost, so it can be classified as "reasonable".

This thread could also go as far as to explore things like hats, gloves etc.

Cheers, royboy

 

 
 

Nepptune

Sealiner
Roy - I used both the Senqu and First Ascent brands of shirts in the Seychelles.... both are local brands, and I can tell you that the flats of Cosmoledo and Farquhar are a pretty gnarly testing ground!

Bear in mind these shirts were bought in 2005 so the models and materials may have been upgraded since then...

The shirts worked well, very well, but were not of the same air wicking and light weight and quick drying quality of some of the bigger and more established US brands such as Columbia and Simms.
That being said, they certainly did the trick for me, and I enjoyed supporting the local companies.

I use mine for everything from Saltwater to flyfishing the cape streams, and on my Kayak, and they have lasted fantastically! They are a little heavy compared to the US stuff, but these are old models and I'm sure the newer versions have lighter materials...

But I would also advise you to check out Cape Storms new Zanzibar Fishing shirt.
http://www.capestorm.co.za/products/product_details.jsp?category_id=2823&prodCat=2828&prodDisplay_id=9432

and the Refuge:
http://www.capestorm.co.za/products/product_details.jsp?category_id=2823&prodCat=2828&prodDisplay_id=7040

In my opinion these are the best fishing shirts on our local market. SPF 50, quick drying, light weight, clever design and features.....

Regarding gloves and hats...

Hat - Depends... usually I'm rocking my Tilley hat... no better hat in my opinion... But again Cape Storm has some good alternatives... otherise I'm wearing a beat up straw stetson or my "Super Cock" Trucker Cap ( Tralier Trash Punk that I am!!! :)

Gloves - When flyfishing, I usually wear sungloves by Mangrove... I have a history of skin cancer in my famuily, so I try not to take too many chances.... They are light, comfy, and keep the back of your hands protected....

Thats my 2 cents...
 

Nepptune

Sealiner
Oh, and one other thing.... Get yourself some Island Tribe sunscreen for your face, lips, and ears... its designed for surfers, and is the only stuff I have found that gives true 8 hour protection for fair skinned folk like me... completely waterproof, sweatproof the works... its like grease, but it WORKS!
Similarly, get hold of some Techniblock Spray sunscreen, or SP20 Brand in the spray bottle version.. the spray applicators and the lightness of both of these products mak applying it much easier, leaves no residue on your hands, and for when you are on your own, because you can spray it, you can apply it to all those hard to reach places... and if you are a hairy bugger like me, at least you don't end up pasting your self with thick creme like with the old sunscreens....

Hope this helps, I'm a bit of a sunscreen freak....
 

GL

Senior Member
Roy, agree with Nepptune on Senqu. have some of their long sleeve shirts.

basil manning gave me 2 assassin quick dry shirts about 2 weeks ago that look well ventialted and should dry quick. no idea if there is SPF protection,

can anyone advise if assassin shirts have spf protection?
 

royboy

Sealiner
Nepps, thanks for the advice. You must have a few interesting stories around the Seychelles Island Groups.......was looking at a Seychelles trip a few years ago through John Yelland at Upstream in CTN, but emigrated to the UK instead (the things we do to get away from the ex-wife). And now I'm back in SA - YES!!!!

The Angling Africa guys in Centurion are waiting for a shipment of Columbia shirts (rebranded for the local market) and they expect them to retail below R300..... which will be good for those of us who don't have big piles of loot to throw at these things.....

By the way, the Senqu range has been co-developed by Richard Schumann in Durbs, and I see that Mark Yelland and MC and the guys were wearing them on the Wildfly Farquhar trip which seems a pretty good endorsement. Will check the others out.

Island Tribe is on my List with immediate effect....cheers, Later.
 

Freakazoid

Senior Member
I've been fishing with an old model Cape Storm long sleeve shirt for probably 5 years now. It has been the ONLY shirt I've worn on a boat or along the side. It has seen its fair share of bait and harsh conditions. It has not even lost a button yet. Unfortunatley like all good things, they get removed from the market and replaced by something else.

I must say Cape Storm have a no issue repair policy. I have quite a few items repaired at no charge, even a fleece I stupidly welded in and melted.

Go local, at least you can get it fixed.
 

Freakazoid

Senior Member
By the way, I have a darker short sleeve as well, it is too hot. Try and go for the lightest colour, these shirts can get damn hot, even with all the ventilation built in.
 

royboy

Sealiner
Hi Freakazoid, thanks for the advice. Have got the tan "cammo" shirt....it is very light in colour, and the material and stitching quality is excellent. Should last a long time.
 

REC

Member
Phone Media worx in Benoni

They make flipping good quality UV shirts, They make for most TV fishing programs including ASFN. They also supply alot of the boat shops who offer custom branded shirts. Zero 11 Four 22 Five 280.

They are also avid anglers themselves!!!
 

royboy

Sealiner
Whew - this was my original post over 5yrs ago! Wow - how times have changed!

Always remember, it's not the "branding" on the shirt that is the most important factor here, well in this thread at least.

New fabrics are available to manufacturers (yes - you DO get what you pay for) in all sorts of Polyester "Honeycombs" and Cotton fabrics with specific SPF / UPF treatments. Varying degrees of effectiveness....... based on quality.

I am not a boffin with this stuff..... but I spend enough time in tropical sun for 12hrs per day for pretty long periods and am still "lilly white" when the shirt comes off while the face, neck, hands, knees etc (well protected by top-end sunscreens, caps etc.) are a healthy coffee color....... now to me.... THAT is measurable!

Only bummer is that they cost almost R500 per shirt.

Cheers, RB
 
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