I am constantly searching for new fishing shirts, pants, jackets and shoes. Watching the myriad fishing shows available I kept seeing a new, recurring shirt. Not covered with patches, glitter, sponsors and zippers like most of the fishing show gear, it looked pretty plain but if that many people are wearing it there had to be something about it. I ordered a blue one because I have an apparent affection for the color blue, and have been putting it through the paces for the last month.
The Good Stuff
The HUK ICON is lightweight but packed with features. I have probably 20 long sleeve performance fishing shirts from a few different brands. The ICON is lighter than any of them that I have yet maintains all of the SPF the others have. Not only is the lighter fabric better for us sweaty backed folks but so is the breathable mesh panel that makes up half of the back of the shirt. The mesh panel is also carried over to the bottom of the sleeves which allows the breeze in on those warmer days when you need some ventilation without sacrificing your skin to the sun. HUK has added a dash of spandex as well so the shirt will flex as it needs to. Most competing shirts use 100% polyester. The HUK mix is 90% polyester and 10% spandex everywhere except the mesh panels which are 100% polyester. That means the shirt doesn’t just hang on you but moves with you.
Points for Improvement
The seams on the back of the neckline are covered with additional fabric. Throughout the rest of the shirt it is not. I understand the thinking behind it but I’d really like to see all of the seams covered with additional poly/spandex mix. The raised seams can irritate if you order a tight fitting shirt and fish in the heat quite a bit. The undergarment industry has moved away from seams and while this isn’t yet possible for these mixed fabric shirts, covered seams would be a step in the right direction. I’d also be interested in seeing a version of the HUK ICON with a poly/spandex hood with drawstring and some thumb holes in the sleeves. Hoodies and polos are offered but are a much thicker fabric.
Final Thoughts
This is an excellent fishing shirt. I’ll be adding more to my collection for spring and summer fishing, probably in different shades of blue. If blue isn’t really your thing, the ICON comes in several different colors including camo options.
If you’d like to check it out you can check it out here.
Also, don’t forget to check out HUK and other great selections in the Winter Edition of the Kayak Bass Fishing Magazine Gear Guide due out December 1.