One of the biggest benefits of the hoodie versus a traditional shirt is
the ability to flip the hood up on really sunny days, helping shield your
neck and head from the heat and UV rays. I found that the Sam2 hoodie design provided
excellent protection but was so light that it often flapped around in the wind
or came down over the front of my head. The answer is simply donning a cap with
a bill, and when you combine the hoodie with a cap it rests on the lid
perfectly, even when casting and fighting fish.
While the shirt it great for
fishing it is also excellent for general use when enjoying the outdoors
There isn’t much structure to this
shirt so it feels light when making quick
movements, and casting in this hoodie is comfortable as there is nothing that
impedes motion. The additional stretch provided by the use of spandex is
definitely
noticeable.
I really appreciated the short
when hiking in Kauai
Price & Applications: The Aftco Samurai 2 Hoodie retails for $38.99, which
actually is a dollar cheaper than the original, and is very reasonably priced
for a technical garment of this quality. I found that the materials used
throughout the garment, as well as the construction, to be excellent overall.
Fish slime? No problem. The shirt
resists stains and odor very well
This garment was so comfortable while fishing I expanded the usage far beyond
boat duty, and have used it for shore fishing, hiking, and off-roading in the warmer
and more humid environments. These shirts are exceptionally breathable, and I
love how light they feel, and even when you are sweating during a hike or on a
long day fishing the Sam2 never clings, and dries very quickly.
The Samurai 2 is ideal for warm
and humid conditions and breathes easily and dries quickly
Throughout a season of use the Aftco Same shirts
have held up very well, and even though I've had a few snags with hooks the
shorts haven't opened up, or become more damaged over many washes. The surface
of the garments also resists stains well, and fish slime and blood wash away
easily.
I have employed the shirt in muddy
environments, off-roading, and it has kept me comfortable, protected, and
cleaned up well
Compared with competing technical fishing shirts
from Columbia, HUK, Simms, Under Armor, and Salty Crew the Aftco Sam2 is
actually on the more affordable side of the spectrum, with most competing hooded
sunshirts retailing from $40 all the way up to $75 dollars.
The sleeves roll up quickly when
you need to dip your hands or release fish thanks to the stretchable fabric
Ratings: (We've re-calibrated our ratings standard for 2008 and have included a key at the bottom of the following matrix as a guide)
|
Aftco Samurai 2
Sun Protection Hooded Shirt
Ratings
(?/10) |
| Construction/Quality |
A very nicely constructed
shirt that makes use of technical materials to improve breath-ability,
durability, and comfort |
9 |
| Performance |
Great for fishing in warm
weather and general use enjoying the outdoors wherever and whenever it is
hot outside. The stain protection and odor fighting features work as
advertised |
9.5 |
| Price |
This is one of the most
reasonably priced sun-protective shirts on the market |
9.5 |
| Features |
UPF 50 sun protection,
moisture wicking fabric, antimicrobial treatment, and stain resistance...
this shirt delivers in all the areas that warm water anglers need. Some
anglers may want more style, more aggressive patterns like camo, rather than
the more traditional grey, blue, and green options that the short is offered
in |
8.5 |
| Design
(Ergonomics) |
The cut is true to size. I
am 5'10 with an average build and the medium fit well for me. Overall I
loved the way the shirt felt and the excellent mobility that it offered.
This garment is best suited for warm weather environments and colder
conditions require layering or a garment with insulation |
8.5 |
| Application |
Versatile enough to be
worn outside of just fishing |
9 |
|
Total Score |
9.0 |
Ratings Key: 1 = terrible : 2 = poor : 3 = lacking : 4 = sub par : 5 = mediocre : 6 = fair : 7 = good : 8 = great : 9 = excellent : 10 = unbelievable!
For More
Details
of the
updated
rating
system
visit
our
explanation
here |
Pluses and Minuses:
|
Plus
Minus |
|
+ Excellent materials,
clean construction |
- Modern fit is great but
keep in mind it is very true to size when ordering |
|
+ UPF 50 protection |
- Best suited for fishing
in warm weather |
|
+ Modern cut, great
ergonomics |
- Color options are all
pretty traditional. No camo patterns. |
|
+ Breathes nicely, Dries
quickly |
|
|
+
Stain resistance,
Antimicrobial features for odor control |
|
|
+
Great price, Great value |
|
