We all know that new products come along on what seems like a monthly basis. How often though, does a product appear that truly changes or improves the way we proceed to accomplish a task? Not as often. We have found a new product that we believe to be a gamechanger in our sport. Let me be the first to introduce you to Gotcha Covered Apparel, the company behind the GC “Gotcha” head and neck gaiter.
Now wait. Before you say “not another gaiter,” listen to me when I say this gaiter has no equal on the market! What makes this gaiter different and better than all the others? Before I answer that question, let me ask you this one, what are the biggest complaints with standard gaiters and buffs currently on the market? The complaints I have are my glasses fog up, the material is often itchy or uncomfortable and when I find myself in windy situations or when the gaiter is wet, I struggle to hear my guide. The GC “Gotcha” eliminates all of those issues.
It is a patent pending head and neck gaiter made of sustainable natural moisture wicking bamboo and polyester mesh covering the mouth and ears. The gaiters have been independently tested and block 94.37-96.47 of UVB rays – the rays that cause cancer. The gaiter’s contour design allows you to wear it over or under your cap. The revolutionary mesh feature over the mouth, combined with the ear mesh, allows cross ventilation through the gaiter that improves hearing and offers superior breathability.
How big of a difference does the mesh over the ears make? For me the difference is monumental. I am an avid saltwater angler and when you are on the front end of a skiff, you must be able to communicate clearly with your guide. In the past I have found myself during windy situations pulling my gaiter off of my ears to make sure I hear the guide clearly. Nothing is more important than hearing your guide.
If you spend $5000 plus to go on a saltwater fly-fishing trip and you miss a shot at any fish due to not being able to hear your guide, you begin looking for remedies to that situation immediately. The GC “Gotcha” eliminates that issue altogether.
What about on days when it is not windy and humid? The GC “Gotcha”, with its breathability and cross flow of air keeps you cooler. Another issue with gaiters that bother me is the fact that if you get them wet while wading or riding through a rain storm, they essentially turn into wet socks over your ears and nose. eliminating most of your ability to hear or breathe unless you like the sensation of being waterboarded. The GC “Gotcha” is the answer to those issues.
The GC “Gotcha” has been endorsed by leading audiologists as “well designed, innovative solution for hearing aid users and non-users alike.” Designed in the United States at the company headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama and responsibly manufactured in Peru, the GC “Gotcha” retails at $34.95 and comes in multiple colors, including camouflage.
Having only been available for a short time, the GC “Gotcha” is receiving ringing endorsements from some of the leading guides and lodge managers in the world including the likes of the famed Pinder Brothers in the Bahamas and Craig Hayes, the owner/operator of Turneffe Flats in Belize.
I have been thankful to call the owner of Gotcha Covered Apparel a friend for more than seven years, and he is one of the most giving and smart individuals I have ever met. His passion for giving continues with Gotcha Covered Apparel as they are a proud supporter of several sustainability efforts in our sport, among which are the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute, Bonefish & Tarpon Trust Bahamas Mangrove Restoration Project and the Turneffe Atoll Trust to name a few.