Pelagic Gear
Pelagic Gear is a US-based private direct-to-consumer performance fishing apparel company selling technical shirts, shorts, outerwear, polarized sunglasses, and accessories through pelagicgear.com to serious anglers and water-sports enthusiasts in approximately 35 countries, with proprietary UPF 50+, PFAS-free DWR, and 20K waterproof fabric technologies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersCosta Mesa, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Pelagic Gear does
Pelagic Gear (legal name: Pelagic Inc) is a US-based private direct-to-consumer performance fishing apparel company that designs, markets, and sells technical clothing, outerwear, eyewear, and accessories built specifically for saltwater anglers. The company operates a Shopify-based e-commerce storefront at pelagicgear.com with international shipping to approximately 35 countries, supplemented by an unbranded retail partner network accessed via a store locator; corporate headquarters are in Costa Mesa, California, with a shipping and returns facility in Duluth, Georgia. Product lines are organized around proprietary fabric technologies including UPF 50+ sun protection (blocking 98% of UV rays), PFAS-free C0 DWR water repellency, 20K-rated waterproof outerwear, quick-dry materials, and 4-way stretch, with sub-brands such as Exo-Tech (360-degree integrated face mask), Vaportek (ultralight quick-dry), Aquatek (soft 100% nylon with pit ventilation), and Freespool (recycled 4-way stretch) covering distinct use cases from commercial offshore to crossover lifestyle.
The company serves three primary customer personas: serious and professional anglers requiring commercial-grade sun protection and foul-weather gear, outdoor and water sports enthusiasts who need versatile apparel for boating, surfing, and diving, and youth and family anglers. Its go-to-market combines direct e-commerce with event-driven brand-building through the Pelagic Triple Crown of Fishing tournament series (177 anglers, 35 teams, $334,400 prize purse) and a sponsored Pro Team and ambassador program, supported by content marketing on YouTube, Instagram, email, and SMS. Pelagic monetizes entirely through one-time product purchases priced from approximately $30 to $180 across a catalog of 266 men's, 145 women's, youth, headwear, accessories, and polarized sunglasses SKUs, with e-gift cards ($10-$500) as a secondary stream. The company is independently and privately owned, with no disclosed institutional funding, parent company, parent-subsidiary relationships, or named executive team in the public record.
Pelagic Gear firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pelagic Gear
- Legal name
- Pelagic Inc
- Website
- https://pelagicgear.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Pelagic Gear is a US-based private direct-to-consumer performance fishing apparel company selling technical shirts, shorts, outerwear, polarized sunglasses, and accessories through pelagicgear.com to serious anglers and water-sports enthusiasts in approximately 35 countries, with proprietary UPF 50+, PFAS-free DWR, and 20K waterproof fabric technologies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pelagic Gear industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Performance Fishing Apparel
- NAICS
- Sporting Goods Retailers (45911), Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers (458110), Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers (459)
- SIC
- Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600), Women's, Misses', And Juniors Outerwear (2330)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Waders, Apparel & Footwear for Fishing Retail (CRAMALAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Saltwater & Offshore Fishing Specialty Retail (CRAMALAC), Marine Apparel & Footwear Retail (Wetsuits, Rash Guards, Deck Shoes) (CRAMAIAJ)
Keywords
Where Pelagic Gear is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Costa Mesa
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Pelagic Gear business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Product Sales (E-commerce): Direct-to-consumer sales of performance fishing clothing and accessories through owned e-commerce storefront. One-time purchase model with products ranging from $20-$220+.
- Gift Cards: E-gift cards sold online in denominations from $10 to $500, redeemable only at pelagicgear.com
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Men's fishing clothing - various product categories |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | E-Gift Cards |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Women's fishing clothing - various product categories |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Pelagic Gear product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Pelagic Gear designs, manufactures (via contract manufacturing), and sells performance fishing apparel and accessories directly to consumers through its pelagicgear.com Shopify storefront. The product portfolio includes men's, women's, and youth performance fishing shirts (Exo-Tech, Vaportek, Aquatek, Freespool lines), shorts and boardshorts, foul weather jackets and bibs (up to 20K waterproof), fishing footwear, polarized sunglasses, hats, gloves, and accessories.
Product overview
Pelagic Gear is a performance fishing apparel company offering a comprehensive product portfolio centered around technical fishing clothing and gear. The core offering consists of four main performance shirt technologies: Exo-Tech (360-degree sun protection with integrated face mask, UPF 50+, PFAS-free DWR), Vaportek (ultralight quick-dry with 4-way stretch), Aquatek (soft 100% nylon with UPF 50+ and pit ventilation), and Freespool (recycled 4-way stretch with moisture-wicking). Bottoms include the Mako Hybrid Shorts, Leaderman Boardshorts, Palomar Elastic Waist Shorts, Flyline Hybrid Shorts, and Madeira Cargo Shorts. Outerwear encompasses the Chubasco Jacket, Hurricane Jacket (20K/20K waterproof), Squall Jacket (10K/10K packable shell), and Torrent Jacket & Bib (commercial-grade). The company also offers fishing sunglasses with polarized mineral glass and poly lenses, fishing hats in multiple styles, fishing gloves, Pursuit fishing boots, women's fishing shirts and swimwear, youth clothing, and e-gift cards. Products are designed for both in-store and online purchase through their Shopify e-commerce platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Exo-Tech: Performance fishing shirts with integrated face mask for 360-degree coverage and UPF 50+ protection.
- Vaportek
- Aquatek
- Freespool
Products and services
- Exo-Tech Hooded Fishing Shirt Premium men's performance fishing shirt with integrated face mask, UPF 50+ rating, zippered pockets, strategic ventilation, and PFAS-free DWR finish; designed for serious anglers.
- Vaportek Fishing Shirt Ultralight, quick-dry men's performance fishing shirt with 4-way stretch, UPF 50+ protection, PFAS-free DWR finish, and strategic ventilation for hot weather.
- Aquatek Deluxe Fishing Shirt Comfort-focused men's fishing shirt made from ultra-soft 100% nylon with UPF 50+, 4-way stretch, pit ventilation, and PFAS-free DWR coating.
- Freespool Collection Lifestyle and performance apparel line for men and women made from ultra-soft recycled 4-way stretch fabric with UPF 50+ sun protection, moisture-wicking, and quick-dry technology.
- Mako Hybrid Shorts Men's performance chino hybrid shorts with quick-dry recycled 4-way stretch fabric, water and stain repellency, mesh-lined front pockets, and zip stash pocket.
- Leaderman Boardshorts Men's enhanced 18-inch boardshorts built for long fishing days with quick-dry recycled 4-way stretch fabric, water/stain repellency, reinforced snap plier pockets, and zip hand pockets.
- Flyline Hybrid Shorts Men's enhanced 19-inch hybrid shorts with quick-dry recycled 2-way stretch, water and stain repellency, reinforced plier pockets, mesh-lined hand pockets, and tightlines waistband.
- Madeira Cargo Hybrid Shorts Men's cargo hybrid shorts with quick-dry recycled fabric, water and stain repellency, reinforced plier pockets, mesh-lined hand pockets, cargo pockets, and fixed waist with drawcord.
- Chubasco Jacket Versatile men's rain jacket with PFAS-free DWR coating, 4-way stretch PU fabric, and adjustable closures for everyday fishing use.
- Hurricane Jacket Men's high-performance waterproof jacket with 20K/20K waterproof ratings and fleece lining for warmth in cold and foul offshore weather.
- Squall Jacket Men's packable lightweight shell jacket with 10K/10K waterproof ratings for versatile weather protection.
- Torrent Jacket & Bib Heavy-duty commercial-grade stretch PU rain gear set (jacket and bib) designed for demanding offshore fishing conditions.
- Pursuit 6 Inch Fishing Boots Men's 6-inch deck boots providing superior traction on wet and slippery surfaces with rugged construction for fishing environments.
- Polarized Fishing Sunglasses Fishing sunglasses featuring polarized lenses in mineral glass and XP 700 poly options with multiple tint choices (blue, gold, green, grey) for glare reduction on water.
- Fishing Hats Fishing headwear including Flexfit hats, trucker hats, rope hats, bucket hats, straw hats, visors, and beanies designed for comfort, breathability, and all-day wear on the water.
- Fishing Gloves Cold weather fishing gloves that block wind, repel water, and retain warmth while preserving grip and dexterity.
- Women's Fishing Shirts Women's performance fishing shirts with UPF 50+ sun protection, available as lightweight technical and stylish saltwater sun shirts in short and long sleeve versions with or without integrated hoods.
- Naples Reversible Swimsuit Reversible women's one-piece swimsuit designed for water adventures with quick-dry and water-resistant features.
- Women's Fishing Shorts Women's performance fishing shorts with water repellency and stain guard treatments, fish scale patterns, 4-way stretch fabrics, and quick-drying capabilities.
- Youth Fishing Clothing Performance fishing apparel for youth including fishing shirts, shorts, t-shirts, and kids 3T-5T sizes with UPF sun protection features.
- E-Gift Cards Digital gift cards available in $10, $25, $50, $100, $150, $200, $250, and $500 denominations, redeemable only online at pelagicgear.com.
Quantifiable outcome
- UPF 50+ protection blocks 98% of harmful UV rays
Companies that use Pelagic Gear
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Pelagic Gear technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Pelagic Gear partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Pelagic Gear competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Hook & Tackle: Hook & Tackle is a smaller specialty fishing apparel brand with similar UPF 50+ and performance-focused shirts, shorts, and accessories. Comparable niche positioning but with a smaller catalog and lower brand awareness than Pelagic.
Direct peers
- Salt Life: Salt Life is a saltwater lifestyle and fishing apparel brand selling shirts, hats, swimwear, and accessories. Overlaps with Pelagic's Freespool lifestyle line and women's swimwear, targeting a similar coastal angler consumer.
- Simms Fishing Products: Simms is a leading performance fishing apparel and waders brand owned by Vista Outdoor, directly competing with Pelagic across shirts, jackets, footwear, and foul-weather gear for serious anglers. Highly comparable in target customer and product category, with deeper wholesale and larger catalog.
- AFTCO: AFTCO is a long-established saltwater fishing apparel and tackle brand, competing directly with Pelagic in men's fishing shirts, boardshorts, outerwear, and offshore gear. Similar tournament sponsorship and ambassador-driven marketing approach.
- Huk Performance Fishing: Huk is a fast-growing fishing apparel brand offering shirts, shorts, footwear, and outerwear with similar UPF, quick-dry, and stretch technology claims. Directly competes in the same DTC and sporting-goods retail channels as Pelagic.
- Costa Del Mar: Costa is a leading polarized fishing sunglasses brand, directly overlapping with Pelagic's polarized Mineral Glass and Poly sunglass offering. Same core fishing customer and similar brand ambassador / tournament ecosystem.
- Grundens: Grundens specializes in commercial-grade foul weather fishing gear including rain jackets, bibs, and deck boots, overlapping with Pelagic's Torrent commercial-grade line. Comparable customer base of professional and hardcore offshore anglers.
Broad incumbents
- Orvis: Orvis is a broad outdoor and fly-fishing heritage brand with apparel, footwear, and accessories, plus its own retail stores. Comparable in fishing apparel but operates a much larger multi-category assortment and omnichannel footprint.
- Columbia PFG: Columbia Sportswear's PFG (Performance Fishing Gear) line is a broad incumbent offering fishing shirts, shorts, footwear, and accessories at scale with massive wholesale distribution. Competes with Pelagic on price and availability at sporting goods retailers.
Others
- Yeti Rambler / drinkware adjacent brands: While not a direct fishing apparel peer, YETI is an aspirational outdoor lifestyle brand that Pelagic accessories (drinkware, bags) compete against for share of wallet from the same angler consumer. Useful as a comparable premium-pricing DTC benchmark.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Pelagic Gear social profiles
Digital presencePelagic Gear financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pelagic Gear leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Pelagic Gear funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pelagic Gear M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Pelagic Gear
What does Pelagic Gear do?
Pelagic Gear designs, manufactures (via contract manufacturing), and sells performance fishing apparel and accessories directly to consumers through its pelagicgear.com Shopify storefront. The product portfolio includes men's, women's, and youth performance fishing shirts (Exo-Tech, Vaportek, Aquatek, Freespool lines), shorts and boardshorts, foul weather jackets and bibs (up to 20K waterproof), fishing footwear, polarized sunglasses, hats, gloves, and accessories.
Is Pelagic Gear a public or private company?
Pelagic Gear is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Pelagic Gear founded?
Pelagic Gear was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Pelagic Gear based?
Pelagic Gear is headquartered in Costa Mesa, United States, in the North America region.
How does Pelagic Gear make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Product Sales (E-commerce) is the primary driver. The others are gift Cards.
Who are Pelagic Gear's main competitors?
Hook & Tackle is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Salt Life, Simms Fishing Products, AFTCO, Huk Performance Fishing, Costa Del Mar and Grundens. Broad incumbents are Orvis and Columbia PFG. Yeti Rambler / drinkware adjacent brands is listed as an others.
Does Pelagic Gear have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pelagic Gear.
What industry is Pelagic Gear in?
Pelagic Gear's product category is Performance Fishing Apparel. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAMALAL, Waders, Apparel & Footwear for Fishing Retail, with a secondary code of CRAMALAC, Saltwater & Offshore Fishing Specialty Retail. Its NAICS code is 45911 and its SIC code is 5600.