Colorado-based company a good option for holiday gifts for outdoors lovers
Shopping for the outdoors lovers on your holiday gift list is easy because there are always innovations in gear and clothing that will help people have more success and more enjoyment, while also helping them look good whether they’re on the water or in the woods.
Start at the top with quality headwear that protects people from the sun. Plenty of fishermen I know wear ball caps, but those who spend a lot of time boating, kayaking and fishing should wear hats that offer much greater protection from the sun’s harmful rays.
Wallaroo Hat Company (www.wallaroohats.com) is a woman-owned Colorado business that specializes in hats for women, men and children made from sustainable materials with UPF 50+ sun protection. Many are ideal for those who hang out on the beach or at the pool, as well as hikers and golfers.
Those who fish or paddle will appreciate the Wallaroo Explorer. The soft, packable hat, which you can stick in a tackle bag on your way to the water, is made from microfiber that allows the hat to float. It has an adjustable chin strap to keep it on your head. The 3-inch brim protects your ears and nose from getting scorched by the sun. And there’s a Jr. Explorer hat for kids ages 5-12.
Wallaroo president and co-founder Stephanie Carter noted that her company’s UPF hats have earned the Skin Cancer Foundation’s Seal of Recommendation and Wallaroo works with the Colorado Melanoma Foundation.
“We are partnering with a lot of different organizations to make sure that we’re doing skin cancer research, prevention, and education,” Carter said. “What happens with a baseball cap is you sunburn your nose, you sunburn the tips of your ears, and eventually you end up getting skin cancer. You need to get a little bit smarter about what you do.”
Baseball caps have a place, but they’re just not appropriate for long days in the sun.
“We’re getting people to wear hats that are functional, but also stylish. When we design and create hats that have a little bit more of a style element to them, people are more inclined to wear them. We’re trying to always innovate with different fabrics. We want to come up with things that are easy for people to travel with. They can fold them up and put them in their suitcase or carry-on.”
The RUX 30L Waterproof Tote Bag keeps your gear dry, clean, and ready whether you’re on the water, the beach or a muddy hiking trail en route to a campsite. The fully welded, no-zipper bag can be used as an everyday, roomy tote bag. When the weather turns, it converts to a roll-top dry bag.
The bag, which is made from heavy duty coated nylon, stands open so it’s easy to pack and unpack. It comes with a removable shoulder strap and a lifetime warranty. The bags are available in three colors as well as 25L sizes at rux.life, which is having a Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale now through Dec. 1.
Miami-based Hook & Tackle has been a pioneer in fishing clothing since the company began in 1989, from UPF 50 sun protection in shirts, shorts, hats and pants for men, women and children to lightweight, perspiration-wicking materials.
The company’s popular men’s Beer Can Island shorts are now available in eye-catching blue and gray Dot Camo and Geo Camo patterns. The stretchy, comfortable, quick-drying shorts have deep front pockets, a zipper-secured rear pocket, a side pocket that can hold a cell phone or fishing pliers and the signature beer can pocket that can also hold fishing accessories. The shorts, which also look good on land, retail for $65 at www.hookandtackle.com . They can be matched with one of the company’s artistic long-sleeve performance fishing shirts and hoodies, which feature radial sleeves for a full range of movement whether you’re casting to a fish or reeling in one.
Reeling in big fish is easier for those who have one of Daiwa’s newest Saltiga spinning reels in sizes 8000 to 25000, which can be spooled with braided fishing line in strengths ranging from 40 pounds to 120 pounds. According to Daiwa’s Chris Martin, the reels were designed to battle tough fish such as marlin, tarpon, goliath grouper and yellowfin tuna.
The reels feature DRD drag washers, which are metal plates with eight metal rollers instead of traditional carbon washers. The durable DRD washers can handle repeated runs of big fish without wearing out or seizing, and without getting so hot that the drag force is reduced during a prolonged fight.
The Saltiga reels also have the new Powerdrive design that features a larger and thicker drive gear to help bring those big fish to the boat. And there is no resistance from the new oscillation system of the reels, which makes it easier to crank the handle and gain line. Visit www.daiwa.us.