Cool Kiwi Clobber!
THERE are any number of specialist fishing shirts available these days. The prerequisites of a decent shirt are that it protect you from the sun and dry quickly. Ideally, it should also be comfortable, practical and look good – well, as good as is possible with the average fisho!
NZ clothing brand Ridgeline is well known in the outdoors market for its comprehensive range of specialist clothing, hats, bags and accessories. The brand was launched in 1993 and has become
very popular with the hunting market. Hunting is serious business in NZ with long treks in high alpine regions targeting chamois, tahr and other game species requiring performance outerwear to protect the wearer from extreme conditions and also to provide camouflage from the wary beasts.
While it’s best known for its hunting kit, Ridgeline has in recent years branched out to the general outdoors market, including fishing clothing. Ridgeline has recently launched a range of attractive outdoors shirts that bridge the gap between fishing and fashion. There are two products in the Ridgeline range that will be of most interest to Aussie anglers. The Tacklure is your classic fishing shirt – long sleeved, high collar, big pockets and vents for airflow.
These shirts are ideal for active fishing – they feature an SPF 50 rating, dry really quickly and are soft and comfortable to wear. I wore a “Sand” coloured Tacklure shirt during a recent canoe trip targeting Murray cod. The shirt provided excellent sun protection during long and very hot days on the water, dried quickly following a few swims to cool off and proved extremely comfortable. The material Ridgeline uses for its shirts is much softer than in other, more expensive fishing shirts I’ve worn. This material would, I reckon, greatly reduce the chance of chafing or irritation, especially if you sweat a lot.
Ridgeline also produces the Trekker Check Shirt which is a short-sleeved garment ideal for casual wear or socialising. I’m not known for my sartorial elegance but I’d reckon one of these shirts would appeal to the average bloke heading out to the pub with friends or having a BBQ. These shirts, which are available in Beige, Navy and Sand check patterns, also feature SPF 50 sun protection and the same anti-wicking properties as the Tacklure – meaning they are ideal for use in the hot Aussie climate. Both shirts retail at sensible prices – $62.95 for the Tacklure and $52.50 for the Trekker – and a variety of sizes to cater for all fishos, large or small.
Check out the Ridgeline range at www.ridgelineclothing.com.au where you can purchase online and view the company’s extensive range of clothing and accessories.
