Most of the information about thermal underwear we get from the mouths and words of various travelers, on whose rich experience are based almost all articles about the choice, rules of operation and models of this useful and practical clothing. Today we will try to talk about the view of thermal underwear from the position of a fisherman, especially since companies producing various fishing gear, often produce clothes for fishing. This means that there is still a certain specificity in our favorite hobby, because of which not only the outerwear for fishing can differ from what goes for different kinds of tourism, mountaineering, or hunting, but also thermal underwear.
Explain today, what is thermal underwear, probably no one needs, although a certain part of the population can really be dormant and not understand these things and do not even know about them at all. But such individuals are unlikely to honor their presence fishing forums and Internet sites such as ours, so let’s not be sad and dare to say that the basics of what is thermal underwear, we all know more or less here. That is, it is a complex of different kinds of underwear or, if you want, underwear, thanks to the combination of which we can achieve a certain comfort for our body in different weather and for different conditions of movement.
Fishing in the cold season
Since we are in the late fall, followed soon by winter, it is probably most appropriate to start with warm clothes. Fishing in this cold season everyone can be different, so there can not be a common best set of thermal underwear for all. Someone prefers walking fishing with spinning or fly fishing, someone will catch bottom tackle until the ice, someone on the float jigs, and with the first ice activate and real “penguins”-winter – lovers of fishing from the ice. And for each type of fishing selection of thermal underwear will be different, as well as for each fisherman separately, taking into account different personal parameters and feelings.
But there are some general points that should be considered by everyone who goes fishing in the cold season. It does not matter how active will be your movements and physical exertion on the proposed fishing, but you need to understand that in any case it is a trip in the open air, where the temperature of the air is low, which means that you need not only just dress warmly, but try to dress so that this warmth you did not leave either during movement or in a static position. And if we are always warm when moving, then after we came to the place of fishing, but still somehow settled there, perhaps drilled holes or performed some other work and then started fishing, then here is where our thermal underwear and will show how correctly we picked it up to these conditions.
In other words, if the thermal underwear has poorly removed all our hot vapors from the body to the upper layers of breathable clothing and then outside, then wet back, legs and possibly other parts of the body will soon show us how and how wrong we were in the choice of our thermal underwear, when we start to freeze and feel discomfort from it. If we have done everything right, then soon we will no longer be hot, but only warm and comfortable, that is, all moisture will quickly evaporate from the surface of our skin and from the fabric of thermal underwear, and dry warm clothes will warm us.
Is natural material so good?
The main mistake when choosing thermal underwear for the cold season lies most often in a drowsy delusion about some mythical beneficial health properties of such a natural material as cotton. So, the first thing to do, choosing underwear and socks for cold weather, it is to exclude from the choice of all options containing in its composition this malignant material. It is good only for walks in warm summer sunny weather. In spring, fall and winter, no cotton in the composition of thermal underwear and thermal socks should not be! Otherwise, moisture from perspiration will always be concentrated in cotton threads, which are very difficult to dry even in the open ventilated space, not to mention closed clothing. And wet underwear and socks lead to rapid cooling of the body and consequences in the form of colds. And even in summer, if you are going to fish, standing in boots in the cold water of a mountain or forest river, then in no case do not put on cotton socks, going on such a fishing trip.
In general, of the natural fibers in thermal clothing (underwear + socks) in the cold season are welcome only woolen. But their quantitative content should be selected by trial method for different conditions, because the body of all of us works differently, and that for one is just right, for another will be too hot, or on the contrary, not warm enough. Wool, unlike cotton, even when wet, continues to keep us warm. And in combination with synthetic fibers wool threads dry faster and such thermal underwear from a combination of wool and synthetics, after active walking or physical work quickly removes moisture, while continuing to warm our body.
For an active hike, it is better to use thin synthetic underwear as the first layer
If fishing in the cold season involves a minimum or a little movement, then you can put wool-insulated thermal underwear and socks directly on the body, and over it the next layer (or layers) of warm clothing.
If fishing in cold weather involves first an active trip to the fishing grounds, and then already static in place, the first layer is better to use thin synthetic underwear, actively diverting perspiration, and over it the second layer to put on wool-insulated thermal underwear. Warm sweater or sweatshirt in general is better to carry to the place of fishing in a backpack and upon arrival put on top of layers of thermal underwear under the jacket.
If fishing in the cold season we are going to be walking, for example, with spinning, then here we either put on first a layer of thin synthetic thermal underwear, and over a layer of insulated and warm jacket, or immediately a layer of insulated wool underwear, and over a sweatshirt made of polyester and a light jacket, but here it all depends on the weather, personal characteristics and the degree of activity of movement.
As for the cut, any underwear for cold weather should be chosen with a high collar, so the neck will be both warm and protected from dirt and debris from the collar of outerwear. It is better to choose sleeves with elastic cuffs for better heat preservation. From such thermal clothing I can advise you to pay attention to the products of Simms, Norfin, Alaskan, Graff.
Fishing in hot weather
And now a little about thermal underwear for summer fishing. Here, it would seem, everything is simple and clear, and in general, why in summer there is still some thermal underwear, when it is hot outside – a T-shirt, jeans and go! You can, of course, and so, especially if you are not far from home or car. But if you want to walk along a forest or mountain river, or even just along the city river, but not one kilometer, you should think about thermal underwear.
In summer the main enemy for us on fishing is the sun. It tries to heat us up to heat stroke infrared rays and irradiates us with ultraviolet radiation. That is, in addition to thin pants, wide-brimmed hat or cap with a long visor, glasses with polarization is very good to have in your fishing closet a couple or two light and thin T-shirts like “Jersey” with long sleeves, created specifically for fishermen and have sun-protective properties. These clothes are designed to protect us from excessive harmful solar radiation, because we can be out fishing all day long.
In addition, this thermal underwear perfectly copes with the removal of our vapors, while instantly drying, and its layer facing the body has the property to “cool” the skin, that is, gives a sense of coolness even in the heat. Many models of such clothes are equipped with a hood, which can be covered from the scorching rays of the whole head and neck, which is especially useful for those who fish in absolutely clear spaces, without the slightest shadow, such as in a boat on the lake or a large river, or protect yourself with a hood from mosquitoes and gnats in the morning and evening. The sleeves can be equipped with thumb loops, so that they do not scuff up, exposing your hands to both the sun and insects. Most of the models are equipped with sleeves without cuffs, so that you can easily and quickly roll up the sleeves if you need to get something out of the water. As successful variants I can name such clothes from O.S.P., Relax, Crazy Fish, Fishycat.
In the heat the most important thing is protection from the sun
In addition, there is some of these clothes, whose manufacturers have also arranged in it additional protection from blood-sucking insects, which in summer are full. It is expressed in a special impregnation of fabric, which does not harm our body and does not weathered for a long time, withstanding several dozens of washings. For example, Simms company has quite a wide choice of such light protective clothing with the word Bugstopper in its name.
Special impregnation protects from insects
In general, there is nothing particularly difficult in choosing the right thermal underwear for fishing, the main thing before choosing to clearly define the conditions in which you will fish, and proceed to a conscious search for the most suitable things. Take care of your health, it is much more expensive than the cost of buying good thermal underwear.
There is nothing difficult in the choice, if you determine the conditions of fishing
Autor: Mgr: Bob Nudd je rybářský odborník s více než dvacetiletou praxí a vítěz mnoha soutěží.
Man, thermal underwear is a game changer for fishing trips! I remember freezing my butt off on a winter morning until I got some good base layers. Now I stay warm, and my fishing game has seriously improved. Can’t go wrong with the right gear!
As an angler, I’ve learned that good thermal underwear is a game changer. Last winter, I froze my butt off until I switched to high-quality layers. They keep you cozy while out on the water, allowing you to focus on reeling in that big catch without shivering!
As an angler, I can’t stress enough how essential thermal underwear is! I remember a chilly morning on the lake; I stayed warm and cozy the whole time. It really made a difference in my fishing experience. Great tips in this article to keep us comfy!