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Blending Technical and Lifestyle Apparel Seamlessly - FAT
BASS Performance Shirts and Neck Gaiters
(continued)
 
The team at FAT
BASS are still a husband-and-wife brand, and the touches that Micky and his wife
put into not only the garments, but the buying experience demonstrate the
passion they have for their young brand. As an example, when customers receive
their orders there is often a small thank you note as well as a branded decal,
it all feels very much like the experience when ordering from custom lure
makers.
When it comes to hooded shirts the
Aftco Samurai is still my favorite but the Fat Bass Neck Gaiters are no my go-to
sun masks
Pricewise the
most feature rich “Lily Camo” shirt retails for $65 dollars while the “Origins”
Shirt retails for $45 dollars. While the Lily Camo shirt is visually stunning my
preference between the two is still the simpler Origins shirt. I like the fit
and overall straightforward layout of the Origins shirt and the printing on the
arm and the addition of a pocket gives the shirt just the right amount
character. Price and features considered my recommendation between the two is
the Origins shirt. When it comes to hooded shirts the Aftco Samurai Series is
hard to beat at only $39 dollars.
Employing the neck gaiter while
Snook fishing in Florida after ICAST
The FAT BASS
neck gaiters retail for $25 dollars each which is comparable to offerings from
branded competitors. These gaiters not only feel and perform great feature
designs and short run productions that make them limited, and even collectible.
I own two of the gaiters and plan to get some more as they are some of the most
comfortable and high-quality tubular facemasks I’ve ever fished in.
Up or down the neck gaiter is
comfortable and stylish
So what is next
for FAT BASS? Micky has a vision of where he wants to take the brand and their
product offerings, is just as much about a sense of community as it does the
design of the garments themselves. “This community the bass fishing community is
the best community in the world. It doesn’t matter where you are from what
language you speak. Something about the love of bass unites people in a way I’ve
never experienced with anything in my life. I played sports on a collegiate
level, I’ve acted on stage in movies, but nothing compares to the love and
camaraderie you find within this community, states Micky. “This is the sole
purpose of FAT BASS, we want to make nice clothing for people who share a common
love of what we love.”
Fat Bass garments are designed
with fun and passion for fishing in mind. These first few garments are a great
start for the young brand and we look forward to seeing what they come up with
next
While the FAT
BASS current offering consists of the shirts we mentioned, neck gaiters, and
headwear the company is looking to branch out significantly in the coming
seasons. The team has four new hats in production now, new polo shirts, a
technical rain suit in the works, and even ties! There is a lot on the FAT BASS
roadmap so anglers can expect more styles to be added to the portfolio in the
coming seasons, and it certainly helps drive brand exposure when high-profile
anglers like Taku Ito are repping the brand and winning blue trophies on the big
stage.
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)
|
Fat Bass Origins Shirt
Ratings
(?/10) |
| Construction/Quality |
Well constructed shirt
with excellent materials and design |
9 |
| Performance |
Very comfortable in warm
weather and never feels heavy. Breathable fabric dries quickly and the
spandex adds some extra stretch that is great for all day casting |
9 |
| Price |
$45 dollars is a
reasonable price and on par with competitive offerings but with the style
and unique look of this shirt anglers stand out from the crowd |
8.5 |
| Features |
UPF 50 sun protection,
extra stretch, and elements like a pocket and woven label on the
bottom help this shirt blur the lines between technical and lifestyle
apparel. There are competitors that offer more technical features at this
price point including antimicrobial and stain resistance and even though
this shirt is not marketed with these features it has held up very well
through heavy use |
8 |
| Design
(Ergonomics) |
The cut is true to size
and I am 5"10" and 160lbs. and the medium fits perfectly. The hooded lily
pad shirt fit much more snug than this short and I'd recommend sizing one
size up on that one. The Origins shirt was very comfortable and has easily
become one of my favorite non-hooded fishing shirts |
9 |
| Application |
Great from the boat to the
bar this shirt looks great and has plenty of character. I just wish there
were some other colors to select from to mix things up |
8.5 |
|
Total Score |
8.66 |
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
design and construction |
- Active fit is great but
keep in mind it is very true to size when ordering |
|
+ UPF 50 protection |
-
No antimicrobial materials |
|
+ Active cut, very
comfortable all day |
- Only one pattern
available |
|
+ Breathes nicely, Dries
quickly |
|
|
+ Blurs the line between
technical and lifestyle apparel |
|
Catching a few fat bass... this is
what it is all about
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)
|
Fatbass "TI" and
"Bass Mania"
Neck Gaiter
Ratings
(?/10) |
| Construction/Quality |
Top notch construction that holds up well over
time. Materials look and feel very premium |
9 |
| Performance |
From the second I put the gaiter on I liked
the feel and after fishing with it in bright sun and during 100 degree plus
hot days these gaiters have become a staple in my fishing apparel lineup.
They do a great job blocking out the sun while keeping anglers shielded from
dust and wind at the same time |
9 |
| Price |
25 dollars is on par with other branded masks
and a reasonable price to pay for a gaiter of this quality |
8.5 |
| Features |
Natural elasticity, breathability, and
moisture wicking on the technical side, and very attractive in-house art
designs give these garments more character |
9.5 |
| Design
(Ergonomics) |
Extremely comfortable to wear all day long and
they also dry very quickly. Easy to take care of and can be washed like any
other garment |
9 |
| Application |
Great for anglers but can be employed by any
outdoor enthusiast that enjoys being out in the sun |
9 |
|
Total Score |
9.00 |
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 build quality |
- Some great patterns but
wish there were even more |
|
+
Extremely comfortable and
easy to wear all day |
-
Not as light as some
competitors that are made from recycled materials |
|
+ UPF 50 protection |
|
|
+ Attractive in-house art
designs |
|
|
+ Very breathable |
|
|
+ Reasonable price |
|
Conclusion: Just like a
pro inspired rod, or signature bait, each garment from FAT BASS comes with a
unique background story. Design elements in these garments are more than just
attractive visuals, they are a product of experiences, and often have deeper
meaning. It is easter-eggs like this that add to the allure of boutique apparel
in general and helps give FAT BASS garments that additional sauce.
Often with
performance-oriented garments the apparel can skew heavily on the technical
side, sacrificing style or personality. FAT BASS does an excellent job balancing
performance and style and has created garments that look just as good as they
perform.
Fat Bass does a great job creating
highly functional and fun garments that blur the lines between technical and
lifestyle fishing apparel. The neck gaiters in particular are exceptional
In the current
collection the Origins Shirt and Neck Gaiters stand out to me as the best
designed, and must-have, pieces. Both garments earn our recommendations but the
neck gaiters in particular wins our Editor’s Choice Award, and will continue to
be in my technical apparel rotation when targeting bass, or simply enjoying the
outdoors in sunny weather. While these garments are an excellent foray into the
market for FAT
BASS we know that there is much more to come from this young brand. FAT BASS
aspires to grow into a clothing company that anglers will want to wear even when
they are off the water. A polo or tie with some of the brand’s signature green
tablecloth print or a Taku inspired T.I. Elite pattern? I’d certainly rock it.
Looking for FAT BASS Technical Shirts and Neck Gaiters?
Try the FAT BASS Website
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