Have you ever had a hiking experience where everything was adorable, but you regretted wearing an uncomfortable shirt? It happened to me when I once had a bad experience wearing a shirt that did not suit my condition.
But don’t worry because I learned from my experience and am here to share my research. In this blog post, I will share some of the best hiking shirts that you need for your hiking. I will guide you on what to consider and which type of shirts you can wear before stepping on the tail.
Consider Before Choosing a Shirt for Hiking:
- It is vital to consider the material of the cloth. Make sure that the material is durable so you don’t have to invest in buying repeatedly. Secondly, the material should be breathable and non-absorbent. It must have the ability to evaporate your perspiration quickly. Polyester is an excellent material with similar properties.
- Apart from the suitable material, it is essential to wear the shirt for your fitness. A comfortable shirt will not just give you comfort and freedom but will also help you enjoy the hike experience.
- You can also opt for shirts made of materials with UPF ratings. It will give you sun protection while you enjoy your hike.
types of Shirts Available in Market for Hiking:
The market has a variety of shirts to offer. Ranging from short to long sleeves, bottom-up to T-shirts. Decide the type of shirt depending on the weather conditions of your hike. Wear short-sleeved shirts for warm-weather hikes, which will help you stay cool. Go for long sleeves for the sake of protection.
If your hike has more sun exposure, branches, thorns, and mosquitoes, then long-sleeved shirts will give you an extra layer of protection. If you are on a technical hike, the temperature and sun exposure vary, so opt for bottom-up shirts.
They offer versatility as you can wear it open or can button. For more protection, you can roll down the sleeves, and for airflow, you can open the shirt. T-shirts, however, are best for being lightweight and easy to pack. They also offer more moisture-wicking properties but lack ample protection from sun, mosquitoes, twigs, and branches.
The Best Hiking Shirts
I have researched some of the brands and their shirts that serve as an excellent choice for hiking. This list contains articles for almost all seasons, along with the price tags.
Smartwool Anchor Line
If you want to have a shirt that is warm, comfortable, water and odor-resistant and has resistivity to flames, check out shirts made of Merino wool. An excellent choice for hiking and camping in winter. This shirt is available in long sleeves only. It costs 200 dollars with 3 lb 5 oz / 1502g weight.
It is tailored only for men and comes in Merino, nylon, wool and cotton material. If you are the kind of a person who doesn’t like the touch of wool on their skin, then you must not let your hands off this shirt because it has a smooth lining of elastane, polyester and cotton.
It is an outstanding choice for winter, but the pockets are small in depth, which makes it incapable of holding a phone. This shirt is my favourite choice when I hike in the Indiana Dunes National Park. Find out more about the best hiking spots in Indiana, read this article.
Patagonia Capilene Cool Lightweight Shirt
For hot weather, I recommend you check out this T-shirt for just 49 dollars on Patagonia. This lightweight shirt weighs just 2.6 ounces. The material used is polyester which is an excellent moisture-wicking material thus, will keep you cool.
If you want a long-sleeve shirt, then Patagonia also makes it, but if women are wondering if they can put their hand on such a soft, comfortable shirt, then yes, they can, as they have a women’s version as well.
Foehn Keats Merino Tee
What if your trail has a moderate temperature ranging from slightly cold to moderately warm. We then, in such conditions, Foehn Keats has a solution. As discussed earlier, Merino is a warm material with good water and odor resistance.
Now, you must be wondering what makes it suitable for warm weather; well, it has nylon reinforcement, which makes it suitable for both conditions. Women can also cherish the blessings offered by Foehn Keats Merino Tee for just 95 dollars.
Patagonia Self-Guided Hiking Shirt
Another on the list of best shirts for hiking is this airy shirt. Its material is thin and is made of purely recycled ripstop polyester. The shirt feels fresh due to the vents at the back that allow the heat to escape and cool air to creep in.
This shirt is also good at giving UV protection. It also dries out quickly and has impressive wicking capabilities. This shirt is best for trails that need protection from sunlight, insects and twigs. It costs around 89 dollars and is available for both men and women.
If you want to enjoy the features of the shirt but do not want long sleeves, then let me share. I loved this shirt so much that I bought it with short sleeves for my day-to-day wearing as well.
Royal Robbins Amp Lite
Just 122 grams and with a bluesign approval! Yes, I know you appreciate products that are manufactured ethically. In fact, the brand’s founders were also advocates of the environment; thus, it is an eco-conscience brand. It is made of polyester, which makes it comfortable to wear.
It is breathable and has impressive moisture-wicking properties. Thus, it is a good choice for warm weather. Both men and women can put their hands on this shirt for 55 dollars only.
In gaining optimum hiking experience, one must wear the right clothes to immerse in the hiking experience and not be bothered by conditions like weather, protection and odor. This blog post summarises the best hiking shirts for you.
It has shirts for hot, cold and moderate weather. It also has shirts with UV protection, moisture-wicking, weight and fire resistance. The material ranges from Merino wool to polyester and nylon. Thus, it is vital to invest in a fitting shirt that suits your hiking trail.