Solarflex shirt/apparel

[Gregorym38]

Anyone have any experience with simms solarflex shirts or anything similar? Looking for a relatively inexpensive shirt/hoody to protect from sun and bugs while still keeping cool in the middle of the summer. Am i looking at the right product? Any good experiences? Let me know

Another question, if it iz good to keep cool how is it in the cold?? I assume bad. 

[Glenn]

I have several solorflex shirts, including the ones with the bugshield.  They work as advertised.  Comfortable, keeps the sweat wicked away, and keep you cool.  The bugshield versions are a bit warmer, but do keep the bugs away.

[Columbia Craw]

I wish Simms made a top that would keep jet skiers away.

[Bankc]

I don't sweat much, so they're not very good by themselves, for keeping me cool.  I avoided them for a long time, due to them making me too hot, and just used sunscreen.  Without water in the fabric to evaporate, they do a pretty bad job at keeping you cool.  But eventually I got tired of constantly reapplying sunscreen, so I decided to come back and give them another shot.  This time around, I've discovered if I keep a bottle of water, and keep the shirt wet, it actually does a decent job of keeping me cool.  Maybe not as good as bare skin and sunscreen, but good enough, and a lot less messy.  So I now bring a second water bottle to periodically spray myself down.  It works out alright that way.  

 

You're right, they won't do much for keeping you warm.  But anything that keeps you warm, is probably going to be thick enough to protect you from UV rays anyway.  

[RichF]

I have a couple Under Armour ones with the Iso Chill fabric.  The old one I have from about 6-7 years ago is awesome.  The fabric always feels very cool.  I bought 2 hooded ones a couple years ago and they aren't as good.  The fabric definitely doesn't get as cool as the old one.

[Bass Junke]

I have the Sims Solarflex, AFTCO samurai, HUK iconX, Columbia PFG terminal tackle, and a bunch of NRS silk weights. All are rated UPF50. 

Sims- expensive around 50$, made in China, constructed slightly different, has extra side panels for range of motion. Many colors.

AFTCO- cheaper 35$, made in Taiwan, many colors.

HUK- 35$, made in Guatemala, many colors, half of this shirt is mesh. 

Colombia- 35$, made in Guatemala I think but def S. America, many colors.

NRS- expensive 45-65$, made in Cambodia, many different styles, very few color options, these shirts are constructed different (built for paddlers) and the material is unlike anything I have ever worn. 

 

In my opinion the Sims, AFTCO, and Columbia are pretty much the same. The HUK shirt is a little cooler, the mesh makes a difference. My only problem with the HUK shirt is all the branding. Do we really need HUK fishing on the front, back and sleeve? 

 

Now the NRS shirts are my favorite, I have several and when it is hot, they are the only ones I wear. Almost feels like you aren't wearing anything. There are several different styles also, ones with hoods, quarter zips. 

 

[flyfisher]

I have a bunch of different brands from Simms, Shimano, Under Armor etc....they all work decent and some are definitley heavier than others but they all do their job.  I haven't found them to be any better wet or dry as some have mentioned.  They are sythetic so any oisture will evaporate pretty quickly by design as the synthetic fibers cannot hold much moisture so t wicks away across a larger section of material and evaporates quickly.

[Glenn]

Not all Simms garments are manufactured overseas.  Many Simms products are made in their factory in Idaho.

 

Also, this may be helpful:

 

 

[Gregorym38]

So overall the simms are pretty good if im hearing right??? I also get really agitated with the bugs so anything with uv protection and the bug screen is essential. But i will also be fishing in summer and in cold, so in cold i can just always bundle up. Heating up is easier than cooling down, so that to me is more important. Coming from someone who has owned many pairs of these types of shirts, what would you recommend if you were in my situation?

[michaelb]

I was gifted a sims hoody with bug protection and yes i think it is very nice 

[Glenn]

I like their hoodies.  The solarflex, solarvent, and bugstopper hoodies are my favorites.  And they have mid-weight hoodies for cool mornings. You can see I'm wearing a variety of them in these videos (my wife likes Simms clothing too, which are also in these videos):

 

This video was shot in 100 degree weather.

 

 

This was in 80 degree days:

 

 

[GreenPig]

On 6/15/2022 at 12:05 AM, Columbia Craw said:

I wish Simms made a top that would keep jet skiers away.

Look at SIG Sauer.?