Since entering the freshwater bass scene, AFTCO has been everywhere. The quality products they make have quickly become one of the go-to brands for bass anglers, and they continue to evolve with clothing items that are both stylish and functional.
This year at ICAST, the team at AFTCO was awarded four product wins for new products. That award haul was a clean sweep, winning both the male and female categories for lifestyle apparel. They also won awards for the best new technical apparel for both cold weather and warm weather.
In addition to the four award-winning products, they included some new accessories, saltwater-focused items and made a big step towards using recycled materials in their clothing. The booth for the company was also built with recycled cardboard, showing that they are serious about their commitment to conservation and doing their part to reuse materials.
Rescue Regenerated Fishing Shorts
This new item won "Best of Category – Lifestyle Apparel for Men." They are a unique pair of shorts made from regenerated nylon called ECONYL. The material is made from fishing nets, industrial plastics, and fabric scraps. The push toward reusable materials is an important goal for AFTCO.
The shorts have a stain-resistant property, 4-way stretch, reinforced plier pocket and a 10" inseam. They will be available in the spring and offered in three colors: charcoal, aquifer, and khaki. Sizes offered include waists from 30-42, and they will retail for $89.
Women's Fields Utility Overall
Another Best of Category winner, these overalls, won the award for Lifestyle Apparel for women. These overalls are built with utility in mind, making them an excellent choice for water and land.
They feature ripstop fabric, stain resistance, 4-way stretch, and plenty of storage, including cell phone storage and chest, hand, and back pockets. They will be available in Spring 2022 in sizes ranging from XS-XL and will retail for $75.
Barricade Elite Waterproof Rain Suit
One more winner, this time for Technical Apparel – Cold Weather, the Barricade Elite is built to be highly waterproof yet breathable. The bib and jacket are 100% nylon with a sturdy 4-layer construction that will be great for harsh saltwater environments or frigid weather in freshwater environments.
The jacket will range in sizes from S-2X and will retail for $449. The bibs will come in the same dimensions and retail for $399. Both will be available this fall.
The Barricade Elite includes the SpeedVent hook to eliminate neck strain, double dry cuffs to keep you warm, a YKK AquaGuard zipper, ring for your kill switch, and reflective logos so you can be seen in all conditions.
Adapt Tactical Phase Change Hooded Shirt
This new shirt impressed buyers and media members enough to win the award at the annual ICAST show for warm weather technical apparel. The material used is a bio-based design that reacts to body temperature and can warm and cool you. This new "Phase Change" technology is unique and will be a hit for bass anglers who experience various air temperatures on a given day.
The hooded shirt includes UPF 50 sun protection, a SpeedVent hook with facemask with mesh ventilation. The vent allows you to run down the lake without worries about your hood coming down and causing you problems as you drive. The new shirt includes a unique digital camo print, both light gray and teal.
It will be available in the spring of 2022 and will be available in sizes ranging from S-3X. The retail cost is $85.
Accessories and Saltwater Fishing Gear
AFTCO does it all, fresh and salt, and added some new items that will be of interest to saltwater anglers. One such item is the Circuit Breaker Ike Jime Kit, a way to destroy a fish's spinal cord for a better-tasting fish. It is available in multiple gauges and lengths. Along those same lines, they also added fish fillet absorbent pads that keep your filets fresher and help to improve the taste.
The Saiko Pro Wind-On Leader is a new fluorocarbon line built for big fish. They are thin, strong, and quality Japanese fluorocarbon. They are available in 15-feet sizes from 40 to 80-pound test and 12-feet lengths in 100 to 300-pound sizes.
Another new product from AFTCO is the Urban Angler Backback, designed for bank anglers or co-anglers who want a quality backpack with plenty of features. It will be available this fall and will retail for $99.
The backpack was built around the popular 3600-size of tackle boxes. It also has five plastic storage sleeves for hooks, weights, plastics, and other small items. The material used for the backpack is 420D recycled polyester. It also features lumbar support, pliers and rod holder, and a 1.5L hydration pack with a magnetic tube holder.
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