MidCurrent Tested and Trusted: Simms SolarFlex Sun Gloves
Protection from the elements isn’t always high on a fly fisher’s priorities list, even when it should be. We may patch the holes in our waders in winter, and maybe we’ll carry some sunblock and bug spray because our mothers told us to. This lack of concern for our own well-being isn’t because we consider ourselves to be tough or because we have some sort of death wish; it’s simply because we’re usually too focused on the fishing to worry about anything else. However, if there’s one thing we really should be worried about protecting—it’s our hands.
Your hands are always going to be your most important fly fishing tool. We use them to cast, to tie knots, to grip oars, and of course to hold up our fish for those badass Instagram pics. Yet very few of us are concerned about the damage that years of angling wear and tear are doing to our most important appendages. In the same way you keep your fly rods, reels, and fly boxes in waterproof and sunproof cases, your hands should be protected when you’re on the water, and the best way that I’ve found to do it is with a pair of Simms SolarFlex® Sun Gloves.
With sun protection for the backs of your hands, and padding for both the palm and stripping fingers, these gloves solve several problems at once.
A Thousand Uses
There’s probably not a fly angler out there who hasn’t woken up the day after a few bright days fishing to find they have a pair of red, swollen leather mitts where their hands used to be. The Simms Solar Flex Sun Gloves prevent such things from happening, built from a dense polyester-and-spandex fabric with a 50+ UPF rating that prevents even the harshest UV rays from getting through. This makes them perfect for tropical flats fishing or extra-sunny days on the river. However, these gloves go above and beyond simple sun protection.
Simms Solar Flex Sun Gloves were designed with an active angler in mind. They aren’t restrictive, are lightweight, and protect your digits from almost everything you can put them through. They don’t restrict your knot-tying ability, are easy to cast with, and have extended protection against regular wear and tear. The tough material prevents blisters caused by being on the oars all day long, and built-in stripping guards mean that your fingers don’t feel like they’re going to fall off after a long day of ripping streamers. In short, they’ll hang with you for as long as you’re on the water and even extend your fishing time.
Worth the Price
The Simms SolarFlex Sungloves retail at only around $40 dollars, making them a fairly inexpensive investment, as they’ll last for years. Whether you fish every day or are just a weekend warrior, a small stream trout angler or a flats-hunting tarpon junkie, the Simms SolarFlex Sungloves will give you the protection you need, keeping you on the water for as long as you can last. Available in several colors and in a half-finger version.
