group fishing trip for tarpon, snook, redfish and sharks in the Florida Keys in May 2022

Normally I would bring Half Past First Cast branded stuff with me on a fishing excursion, but on our recent trip to Islamorada, Florida, I tested out a bunch of non-HPFC-specific apparel from one of my new favorite outdoor clothing companies, Gill.

I’m always looking for good quality, out of the ordinary patterns and colors. I’m particularly interested f they have a good female fit in their collection. Finally, it never hurts if there’s something that will WOW Pete to get him from wearing the same thing all the time.

Gill’s new XPEL Tec line of shirts combine all the above. The various tops in this lineup feature Gill’s plant-based XPEL finish and high UV (50+) protection. The shirts are lightweight, wick moisture away from the skin and have flat locked seams for comfort. The XPEL finish consists of water repellency, stain resistance and odor control.

Still, I wanted not just my opinion but those of everyone in our group of seven, so I got one for everyone. Our crew looked terrific in their shirts. We picked both hooded and crewneck in Pool Camo (blue/green), Twilight (blue), Shadow Camo (gray), PEW01 (plain gray) and Spicy Red. women’s sizes run from 4 to 14 and men’s from XS to 4XL. We were told that they run a little bit small so go a size up if you’re in doubt. Many of the styles have built in hoodies which are nice if you don’t want to wear a buff and a shirt.

Jennifer Combs chose to get a men’s XPEL Tec hoodie, in Pool Camo FG501, and she particularly liked the fact that the hood stayed up on her neck when she didn’t have it pulled over her head. This meant she didn’t have to wear a buff and she also didn’t have to wear the hood all day long, yet remained comfortable ad protected from the sun. She mentioned she would like this shirt more in the fall than the summer as she felt it was a bit thicker than some of her ultralight sun shirts but she did like the different, smooth-yet-solid feel of the material.

Jennifer Combs with the first permit in Islamorada Florida

Pete wore a hoodie in Shadow Camo and was very happy to find that the sleeves had thumb holes, which he normally finds annoying. He forgot to put sunblock on the tops of his hands and they started to get sunburned. He placed his thumbs through the holes and the fabric covered the blossoming redness. Unlike some other shirts with thumb holes, these weren’t abrasive so he was able to still reel in his next fish with ease.

Bill Roberts, who prefers button downs and therefore initially rejected the shirt, chose am XPEL Tec hoodie in twilight (blue is his favorite color – he’s had at least 10 bass boats in that color) and ended up wearing it all day long. Based on 27 years of friendship, we knew that since we heard no complaints this meant he liked it.

I chose Spicy Red – no surprise. It’s a completely different color than all of my other fishing tops. The fabric is “slippery,” which I thought for sure would mean it wouldn’t breathe but I was wrong. I normally take my long-sleeved shirt off during the day as I get really hot (get your mind out of the gutter, I have a tank top underneath). This shirt was really breathable and I ended up keeping it on all day long. Thank goodness as that Florida sun was really strong (Geez. I sound like an old lady).

Hanna Robbins with a throwback mangrove snapper in the Florida Keys

Since I know that in Florida it often just rains out of nowhere, I threw my Gill Pro Tournament 3-layer rain jacket (FG100JGXL) in my luggage and then in my boat bag. I hate being wet and my old rain jacket crapped out so it was time to put the Gill jacket to the test. I chose the men’s jacket over the women’s because of the 3-layer versus the 2-layer fabric construction and its breathability. Additionally, the jacket has fully taped seams and a water repellent finish. The Vortex hood technology is designed to keep the hood in place when traveling at high speeds.

On the second day of fishing we were hit with one of those random but powerful storms and I wore my jacket with the hood pulled up for the unavoidably wet boat ride back to the dock. The jacket was breathable, lightweight (thank goodness, as it was really hot out), and the zippers didn’t let water get in. Finally, I’ve had some issues with chafing and leakage on rainsuit cuffs in the past. These Velcro cuffs were adjustable, didn’t rub uncomfortably on my hands and no water got up the sleeves. Water just beads up and rolls off the material. Our guide was wearing another very well-known and expensive brand jacket and let’s just say he wasn’t nearly as dry as I was once the rain cleared up.

There’s no question that all of the Gill products are made for the most demanding conditions and are of the highest quality. I do wish they made some more feminine pants and shorts because I know that I’d wear them all of the time if they complemented my short figure and 53 year old legs a little bit more. That’s a small “ask,” though. This gear is built to perform and I can rely on it in heat and rain (and my puffy orange jacket handles the fall chill exceptionally well).