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Fishing in the Amazon

Jack Ip, also known as JIP, is the Senior Editor of Tackle and Tour, an online source of tackle news and reviews, and he makes it his business to seek some of the best fishing in the world. Last November, he traveled outside his hometown near the shores of Lake Sonoma in California, to the Amazon to fish for one of the world’s toughest freshwater species — Peacock bass. While carefully thought-out bait was essential to the success of the trip, tackle wasn’t the only thing he brought with him to the treacherous waters of Barcelos, Brazil.

“This was my first trip to the Amazon and my first time catching Peacock bass. As much as the tackle is important on a trip like this, keeping yourself in tip-top shape and providing yourself protection is just as critical … Wearing protective gear to keep the sun exposure to a bare minimum is important if you’re fishing 6 days straight for 10+ hours per day.

“Coolibar has been producing sun protective clothing since 2001 and today all their apparel are rated UPF 50+, the highest rating you can have in clothes. So the Coolibar Sunblock Fishing Shirt was a must have for my trip to the Amazon. There was no way the harmful UV rays, even the harsh ones in Brazil, would penetrate the Sunblock fishing shirt. I received no sunburns or evening a darkening of my skin during the entire trip in South America.

“Due to venting it provided coolness while fishing all day. The Sunblock shirt, when wet, also dries quickly especially if you’re running the boat. The fishing shirt has many features designed just for anglers such as a collar that you can unfold to provide neck protection or the Velcro pole tip holder just to name a few. Overall a good fishing shirt that’s UPF 50+ rated and useful features that any angler would welcome.

“Fly thousands of miles away, you won’t want to leave home with just mediocre tackle as this is mostly a once in a life time trip for many anglers … And apparel, it must provide good protection or you’ll come back lobster red and hurting. UPF rated, 40+ or 50+ is recommended. Plus a hat to cover up is almost a must have.”

JIP in Coolibar Fish Shirt Casting Off
JIP casting off in Coolibar Fish Shirt

To view details about the Sunblock Fishing Shirt JIP used during his Amazon fishing excursion, see the Sunblock Fishing Shirt made from Coolibar’s dri SUNTECT® fabric.

To view details about Coolibar’s New and Improved Fishing Shirt, see the Fishing Shirt cut from Coolibar’s 3D dri SUNTECT®, a new lighter weight, moisture-wicking fabric that offers superior sun protection and comfort. This shirt still contains all of the original technical features you love including: Velcro pole tip holders, roll-up sleeves, a protective collar flap, bellowed breast pockets and 6” vertical Napoleon zipper pockets.

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Equipped to Walk the Great Wall of China

Robert Loken Walking the Great Wall

Stephen Robert Loken of Norway, 42, recently spent 601 days hiking the entire Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) Great Wall, which spans approximately 3,728 miles (6000km). To do so, he had to overcome extreme temperatures, ranging from a scorching 109oF (43oC) to a frigid -9oF (-23oC), face poisonous scorpions, venomous snakes, ferocious dogs and trudge through desert, forest and tundra.

While many people have walked the Ming Dynasty Great Wall, Loken was the first person in the world to complete the entire route from Jiayuguan, in Gansu Province, to Dandong, in Liaoning Province. Loken claimed all others have stopped at Shanhaiguan, in Hebei Province, missing the route’s last quarter.

Walking this route had been a dream of his since age 19, after walking Hadrian’s Wall in Northern England. At a youth hostel, he spotted six pictures of the Great Wall of China with the text: “The other wall”. To him, this aspiration was worth selling his house and belongings, quitting his job as an IT-consultant, and leaving his hometown for nearly two years.

Loken spent a hefty amount of time preparing for the trip, training and gathering the proper equipment to aid him through the entire walk. During his quest for items, Loken came across the Coolibar Travel Shirt, which he wore every single day throughout his journey. He also utilized a Coolibar sun hat and pants. “What stood out to me is how long [the apparel] lasted,” said Loken. “I used the shirt every day of the entire walk, and the only damage it got was from the thorns and bushes when I crept through jungle like terrain close to Beijing and in Hebei province.”

Robert Loken walked on top of the Great Wall as sand had almost engulfed it completely
Robert Loken walked on top of the Great Wall as sand had almost engulfed it completely

Coolibar clothing also helped Loken get through the Gobi desert without suffering heat stroke. “At the warmest, it was 43oC (109oF), and that was in the shade,” said Loken. “The problem however is that there is no shade in the Gobi desert apart from the one you bring along with you. The clothes were only hand washed for the entire trip, and they dried incredibly quickly. I ordered more shirts upon returning and am looking forward to using a new Coolibar shirt after all the battering the last one got.”

Home in Oslo, Norway, Loken reflected on his achievement of not only completing this walk, but raising research funds for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Regarding the journey, Loken said, “The most important thing is not about being the first person in the world [to walk the entire Great Wall], it’s about following my dreams. It was a life’s ambition. I lived up to it.”

Read more about Robert’s journey on his blog The Great Walker.

Shop Coolibar Sun Protective Clothing.

Robert Loken's Great Wall Route
Robert Loken’s Great Wall Route
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