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If you spend more than a few days on the water each season, then you know that quality fly fishing apparel is begrudgingly well worth the oftentimes high price tag. Quick-dry fabrics, UPF protection, a streamlined yet stretchy fit, and other purpose-built fishing features can make a real difference in your comfort and performance on the water. That being said, many fishing garments in the average angler’s wardrobe don’t see the light of day unless there’s a planned day of fishing ahead. Truth be told, there are loads of both aesthetically sharp and performance-driven fishing garments on the market that can be worn directly from the boat to the bar, so don’t be fooled into thinking your fishing apparel is excluded from a lunch date, beach hang, or a night out on the town.
We want to introduce you to some of our favorite on-the-water garments that offer top-tier functionality and a cool look. While our style preferences may be different from yours, the idea of this roundup is to highlight some fishy apparel that’s almost as dapper as it is capable on the water, without blatantly screaming “I just got back from fishing”. Whether you’re trying to pick up a bull red from a school, a rising trout from a riffle, or a cute chick from the local dive, our list of boat-to-bar apparel is here to support you!
Tops
Marsh Wear Buxton Tech Hoodie: $49
I’ve worn countless brands and models of hooded sunshirts, and the Buxton Tech Hoodie is one of the few I don’t hesitate to wear out on the town. From the nicely tailored hood that’s not too tight nor loose, to the cut and overall flattering fit, this casting shirt has a far less dorky aesthetic off the water than most. While it’s not terribly functional, I personally love the look of the chest pocket and feel that it takes the vibe of the garment in a slightly different direction. Built from a silky soft 65% polyester, 35% rayon blend and equipped with thumb loops, UPF 40 protection, and stain resistance, the Buxton Tech Hoodie will also exceed your expectations while wet wading or casting from the bow – and at a very reasonable price point, mind you. If you’re looking for some less performance-driven, cool graphic tees, don’t sleep on Marsh Wear’s lineup – they’ve got some seriously rad fishy threads worth checking out.
Orvis DriCast™ Long-Sleeve Crew: $69
I’ve been a huge fan of Orvis’s drirelease® shirts for coming up on a decade now, and the brand has gone ahead and created a new and improved version of the crowd-favorite fabric. The DriCast™ lineup dries even faster and weighs less than the previous generation of drirelease® garments. These shirts offer UPF 50+ protection, OutSmart® Fresh odor control, and an active fit for unrestricted casting—making them a killer sun shirt. They’re also super breathable and truly do dry in a jiff, so the whole DriCast™ lineup is most definitely wet-wading approved. Beyond performance, I also wear these shirts as cozy pajamas and on long travel days because of their silky-smooth softness. The fit and available colorways are flattering, so I don’t hesitate to wear these shirts out on the town either. With a simple, clean, neutral aesthetic, Orvis has you covered with a do-everything shirt thanks to their DriCast™ tech.
Duck Camp Coastal Seersucker Shirt Short Sleeve: $79
Ya love to see a sharp seersucker shirt. This short sleeve from Duck Camp has a put-together, yet casual aesthetic that’s just as suitable for a backyard barbecue as it is for a wedding rehearsal (ok, maybe that’s pushing it…). Known for its lightweight breathability, seersucker fabric is a great choice for hot and muggy climates, so this is a solid fishing shirt for the tropics and hot summertime sessions. A single, center-back pleat goes on to add mobility through upper back movement for unrestricted casting, while a microfiber sunglasses chammy is located at the hem for keeping your shades on point.
Howler Bros Gaucho Snapshirt: $119
Howler Bros has somehow created a classy vintage western shirt here that also wears wonderfully as a piece of technical fishing apparel. Built from a lightweight, quick-drying poly-cotton blend and equipped with a cooling, mesh-lined vented back yoke, the Gaucho Snapshirt is perfect for hot days on the water or at the brewery. Pleated chest pockets and a sunglass-cleaning microfiber at the hem boost this garment’s functional fishy stats, while the relaxed fit and cool selection of custom-embroidered critters at the chest give this shirt a unique, head-turning aesthetic. Oh yeah—the pearl snaps are freakin’ sick. Be sure to check out Howler Bro’s full lineup of pearl snap shirts, polos, tech shirts, and tees—the brand has loads of aesthetically sharp, performance-driven tops with a whole lotta’ character!
Pants + Shorts
Free Fly Passage 5 Pocket Pant: $118
This somewhat technical pant from Free Fly is built with travel applications in mind, but I find myself wearing them in the rowboat and at the bar as well. Designed with an ample degree of stretch, UPF 50 sun protection, water resistance, and a classic 5-pocket silhouette for stashing all your essentials, the Passage Pant is just downright functional and stylish on all fronts. They also look great when worn barefoot or in sandals, sneakers, or boots, so this is an all-season pant in my opinion.
Marsh Wear Escape Pant: $79
Arguably the most worn pair of pants across my entire wardrobe, the Escape Pant by Marsh Wear comes with me on every trip near and far, and sees a lot of wear during my summer guide season. Highly packable, water-resistant, stretchy, and equipped with a secure zippered side pocket, these are honestly the ultimate travel pants. I wet-wade in my Escape Pants all summer long while leading kayak excursions, and they dry quickly and remain comfortable even when salty. All the hardware has also held up through a few seasons despite constant salt submersion. These pants came backpacking across Europe with me before they transitioned to my boat pants for two weeks of tuna fishing – trust me when I say they can do it all! Featuring cinch ankle cuffs that create a bit of a tapered aesthetic and available in a nice array of sharp colors, I wear these pants virtually anywhere and everywhere.
Howler Bros Shoalwater Tech Shorts: $89
Built from a quick-drying, four-way stretch, 85% nylon, 15% spandex blend, the Shoalwater Tech Shorts are an unassuming, feature-rich garment for their simple and straightforward look. Featuring front panels with a hidden utility pocket, a zippered side seam pocket, and a reinforced pliers pocket on top of the standard front and back pockets, there is a plethora of space to stash all your essentials (and then some). Howler Bros has somehow managed to deck these shorts out with discrete fishy features while simultaneously engineering a garment that you’ll reach for all summer long.
Patagonia R2® TechFace Pants: $179
Designed as a cool-weather underwader pant, the R2 TechFace Pants are supremely cozy without looking like a pair of pajamas. Built with a grid-fleece interior for boosted warmth and a nice, comfy feel, Patagonia has also equipped these pants with abrasion-resistant overlays and a water-shedding DWR finish in order to handle the regular abuse of a day of fishing. The tapered ankle cuffs also help to trap your body heat while simultaneously giving these fleece-lined pants a more put-together look. The R2’s are certainly not classy enough for date night, but you won’t hesitate to peel out of your waders and head straight to the town watering hole in these bad boys.
Outerwear
Duck Camp Reversible Sherpa Jacket: $199
Here’s a vintage-style sherpa fleece from Duck Camp that’s cozy, loaded with pockets, and fully reversible. Built with 100% Polyester Fleece on one side and 30D 100% Polyester on the other, this garment blocks wind, traps heat, and looks good doing it. Maybe I’m just a sucker for a tasteful, accented chest pocket, but I find the aesthetic here to be both subtle and head-turning. Great as a mid-layer or shell, you’ll no doubt find all sorts of applications for this classic-looking fleece both on and off the water.
Marsh Wear Sullivan ¼ Zip: $69
Built with a quilted baffle construction, this versatile pullover from Marsh Wear offers breathable warmth with a lightweight filament fill. Equally perfect as an outer layer on those brisk days as it is a mid-layer when the mercury truly drops, the Sullivan ¼ Zip is a true chameleon in terms of where it excels best. Available in a few different handsome colorways, this is a solid layer for fireside hangs, chilly runs offshore, beers with the fellas, and everything in between.
Free Fly Gridback Fleece Jacket: $168
It’s crazy cozy, offers ample warmth and weather resistance, and is sharp as a tack for casual to semi-formal wear – the Gridback Fleece from Free Fly is a winner on all fronts. Designed with a wildly soft high-pile fleece interior that traps and retains heat throughout gridded channels, this zip-up provides a higher degree of insulation than you might think at a glance. The bonded, stretch-weave shell goes on to provide excellent wind resistance and holds up to rain quite well without wetting out for a fleece. It’s the perfect piece of outerwear for those fall and spring sessions on the river, and layers nice and streamlined as a midlayer underneath a shell or down jacket for those winter outings. Check out the Gridback Fleece Snap Pullover if you like the look and performance of this layer, but aren’t stoked on the zip-up.
Mountain Hardwear Stretchdown™ Light Jacket: $280
Here’s a somewhat unique and handsome down jacket option from Mountain Hardwear. The brand’s Stretchdown™ garments weave pockets of down insulation from a single stretch fabric, creating an improved range of motion. Translation: you won’t feel restricted while casting in this lightweight but toasty jacket. Designed with 700-fill RDS®-certified down, this jacket wears fairly slim while still providing ample insulation, so it’s stellar as both a midlayer and outer layer. Complete with two zippered hand pockets and elastic binding on the cuffs to seal in warmth, the Stretchdown Light Jacket has a dapper aesthetic that you’ll pull from your closet for all sorts of occasions.
Hats
Outdoor Research Swift Lite Tech Cap: $40
Built for high-energy pursuits on the trail and in the alpine, the Swift Lite Tech Cap is perfectly at home on the water while also featuring a suave aesthetic depending on who you are. Designed with a water-resistant DWR finish, side panel perforations for enhanced breathability, and built-in UPF 30 sun protection, this cap is absolutely approved for wet and wild wear. Available in a few different solid colors, you can furthermore select your preferred look.
Jigalode Keep ‘Em Wet Trucker: $30
I’m a huge fan of just about everything from Jigalode. The brand makes some seriously cool graphic tees, casting shirts, and hats for wear both on and off the water, so make sure to check out their ever-changing lineup of fishy threads. This trucker has a rad conservation message we can all get behind, but all of the brand’s caps are equally sick. Whether you’re shopping for a mesh, unstructured, flat brim, or curved style, all of Jigalode’s hats are designed with a performance mesh lining for all-day comfort, as well as a black underbrim to dampen the sun’s glare.
Tilley LTM6 Airflo Sun Hat: $99
Once you’ve donned a Tilley Hat, you’ll instantly see why folks rave about the brand. Built for a lifetime of wear, Tilley builds truly high-quality, adventure-ready hats. Featuring mesh ventilation and an oval-shaped brim for full sun coverage, the LTM6 Airflo Sun Hat is unsurprisingly one of Tilley’s most popular models. Designed with a hidden pocket in the crown, a DWR coating, and a tuck-away wind cord, this hat is a fantastic companion on the flats, river, or lake. It’s also inherently buoyant in the event it goes overboard. Dress it up, dress it down, the LTM6 Airflo can do it all!
Simms Everyday Waffle Knit Beanie: $40
A simple acrylic waffle knit beanie available in a few solid colors. It’s nice and toasty and styles great with virtually any winter wardrobe – viola!
Footwear
Olukai ‘Ohana Sandal: $80
The ‘Ohanas will undoubtedly exceed your expectations for how a flip-flop should perform on all fronts. There is no contest when it comes to comfort, aesthetics, and durability with these water-friendly sandals from Olukai. Providing excellent support and rebound for a sandal, you can truly walk all day long (or balance on the bow) in these bad boys without foot fatigue. Built with water-resistant materials and featuring a non-marking rubber outsole for enhanced grip on wet surfaces, the ‘Ohanas are absolutely approved for the boat, rock-hopping sessions, casting from jetties, and happy hour at the local watering hole. Available in a huge array of colors, you can furthermore personalize these do-everything flip-flops to your preferred look.
Forsake Rogue Sandal: $85
If you’re on the market for a do-everything sandal that you can trek into the backcountry and wet-wade the river with before hiking out and hitting the bar, you’ve gotta check out the unisex Rogues by Forsake. Comparable to the popularly worn Chaco and Teva model sandals, the Rogues offer a slightly more rugged and less dorky look in my opinion. The brand’s Peak-to-Pavement® rubber and BLOOM Algae siped outsole are designed to maximize traction and support over varied terrain, so these kicks are off-road and free-stone approved. The recycled air mesh linings furthermore feature an anti-odor treatment, so these sandals won’t get nasty on you even after repeated submersions. Forsake has furthermore designed these go–anywhere, ultralight stompers to float, so you won’t lose them to the depths if they go off the side of the raft or boat.
Huk Rogue Wave Boots: $110
Wearing deck boots to the bar is a bit of a personal style preference that works for some, but not all of us. One thing that I love about my Huk Rogue Boots is that they feature a more streamlined and subtle aesthetic than most other deck boots. This goes double if you’re wearing pants rather than shorts that cover up the commercial-grade webbing pull straps. The 8mm molded EVA footbed provides excellent cushion and rebound whether you’re sighting fish from the bow or bar-hopping through city streets. Our top pick for best deck boot overall, Huk has engineered these stompers with high performance and a seriously long lifespan in mind. Available in a plethora of solid colors and pattern options, you can also personalize the look of these boots to match your preferred aesthetic.
Astral Loyaks: $110
The Loyaks are a supremely lightweight and versatile amphibious shoe that is fantastic for wear on the raft, in the river, or at the pub. Built from 100% rPET canvas and equipped with a removable, 45C closed-cell EVA foam footbed, these wade shoes both dry quickly and feel comfy underfoot. Weighing in at just 7.4 ounces and able to compress to essentially the profile of just the sole, the Loyaks are also insanely packable, so I bring them along on any trip where I might need a casual pair of sneakers. Being able to wear them with or without socks, and in or out of the water without issue, is also a game-changer.