If there’s one piece of fishing apparel no angler is ever without, it’s a hooded sweatshirt. Typically adorned with some fishing company logo, most of us have at least a few to rotate in between heavy washings to rid the fabric from fish slime.
Thing is, not all fishing hoodies are created equal. For starters, most aren’t DWR treated and get waterlogged in rain and foul weather. For years I wore an old Carhartt sweatshirt, which has been retired since trying out Whitewater’s Buoy™ HD Hoodie, which is DWR treated to keep water from soaking in.
The other thing I really like is the stretchy fabric, that most fishing hoodies don’t offer. Whitewater employs a 4-way stretch fabric for easy movement and extension in all the right places (my gut). Their specs list the material as a “heavy-duty 13-ounce cotton/polyester blend.” Most hoodies are just cotton.
And for anglers who put style high on the list, there’s a color for everybody, including Breaker Blue; Charcoal; and Buoy Red.
Other cool features include an adjustable shock cord and locks for hood adjustments, zip closure kangaroo pouch pocket, rib knit cuff and waist for great fit, and front & back shoulder reflective tape for visibility in low light. The reflective tape is a smart design feature as many of us fish before and after dark.
Plus, the Buoy Hoodie just looks cool, with a simple, small Whitewater logo on the upper chest to avoid looking like a walking billboard.
Lastly, kudos to Whitewater for offering the Buoy in sizes to fit everyone from kids to those of us on the plus size. The hoodie is available in small to 3XL to outfit the entire family, even our fishing buddy “Big Mike”. That’s pretty cool.
As far as cost, the Whitewater Buoy Hoodie will run you $100, and it’s worth every penny.
