Short Sleeve Performance Tops

Featured review by Twig

A Purple Rain Adventure Dress is a nearly perfect hiking garment, especially for hot, muggy, and shaded conditions such as those found on the Appalachian Trail. I wore mine continuously for my AT thru-hike. I prized it for its supreme ventilation, simplicity, functionality, durability, comfort, and quick-drying materials. The side-pockets were perfect for carrying my phone, snacks, toiletries, and a myriad of other things. I never thought I'd find a more comfortable piece of clothing than a Purple Rain Adventure Skirt, but the dress design is my new favorite.

  The most classic of AT scenes atop McAfee Knob The Purple Rain Adventure Dress in Shenandoah National Park My Background & Experience with hiking skirts and dresses: In 2017, I began a series of adventures that would eventually lead to a career, of sorts, in thru-hiking. I started with several section hikes of the Appalachian Trail, as well as a thru-hike of the Colorado Trail. These were my first trails wearing a Purple Rain Adventure Skirt, for which I published a review of my very positive experiences at the time.  Southern Terminus of the CDT, in my favorite Purple Rain Adventure Skirt (worn on the PCT, CDT, and AZT)  and a merino T-shirt.

Read more: Purple Rain Adventure Dress reviews (2)

Reviewed by Twig

The Trew Superlight NuYarn Wool Pocket T is an exemplary garment for layering or as a stand-alone summer T-shirt. It is one of the most comfortable and functional garments that I have ever worn. I am impressed by its continuous-wear abilities, which meet merino wool class performance, and may even exceed certain standards given the shirt’s lightweight and quick drying properties. The only problem it suffered from is some pilling in high-abrasion areas, which is common to merino wool fabrics. On my short-list of clothes that I would bring along for extended travel and/or a thru-hike, this shirt makes the trip, and that is the best endorsement I can give.

Product Description and Claims: The NuYarn Wool Pocket T is the layering equivalent of a smartphone—you didn’t know you needed one until you owned one, and now you can’t imagine the world without it. Our NuYarn Merino Wool has a smooth, silky surface, and is the quickest drying and toughest merino wool around.  38.9% LOFTIER, 25% WARMER, 35% STRETCHIER, 5x FASTER DRYING, 16% STRONGER FEATURES/SPECS 125 Superfine NuYarn Merino, 17.5 micron fine fibers 85% merino wool / 15% nylon Laminated stretch woven pocket Heat transfer interior labeling 4.9 oz.

Read more: Trew Lightweight Nuyarn Merino Pocket T review (1)

Reviewed by Daniel Oates

The Vargo Slag is a lightweight, short-sleeve tee which works well as an all-purpose shirt, though it does have a trim fit design. The biggest claim for this shirt is its TiFusion (fabric infused with Titanium) technology which allows the fabric to dry quickly and reduce that classic “trail stench.” I’ve found that the Slag meets my expectations of being quick drying and also smelling fresher longer than my other (both similar and different fabric types) shirts. If you’re active and prefer slim fit shirts, it’s hard to go wrong with the Vargo Slag.

Vargo's Slag short-sleeve shirt has piqued my interest in Vargo. The Slag is a lightweight shirt (though Vargo describes it as midweight) which I have been able to use for numerous activities from disc golf to trail running. The slim fit design makes it best for any type of  physical activity with high mobility, though the tighter fit may not suit all body types. The quick dry time and odor fighting fabric also makes it easy to choose the Slag when you need only one shirt for multiple days while at the same time being very durable.

Read more: Vargo Slag Short-Sleeve Shirt review (1)

Reviewed by Jake W

The Smartwool Merino 150 Pocket Tee is an active wear, base layer made up of 87% merino wool and 13% polyester. The high wool content maximizes one of nature's greatest insulator's ability to regulate temperature, ward off the multi-day stink, and manage moisture, while the polyester content adds durability and comfort. A lightweight wool tee allows for an endless amount of uses—from a thin sun shirt on hot summer days, to an excellent next to skin layer as part of a clothing system in winter. I've worn this from the trail, to the crag, to the pub, to the lake, to chasing the kids around the yard; it is really just that versatile. The fit is a little baggier than I would like, but that one constructive criticism is more than offset by the comfort, function, and versatility of this tee.

  First off, a disclaimer—I am an unabashed wool fan. It's amazing to me that man has made so many "revolutionary" fabrics designed to do, well...exactly what wool does. Mother Nature has shown us the exact fibre to be using for years. Our ancestors knew it, most experts that make a living outdoors know it, walk through the Scottish Highlands/Canadian North/Siberia, and see what their clothes are made off- natural materials.  Wool is, by nature, "scratchy" to some people. It has come a long way from the ragg wool of past, and high quality, low micron wool, like the kind used in this tee, are a lot softer.

Read more: Smartwool Merino 150 Pocket Tee review (1)

Reviewed by PhilNC

Patagonia's Capilene Cool Trail Shirt is a great T-shirt for backpacking, hiking, and running in warmer seasons, and even in shoulder seasons for folks with a high metabolism. It is very comfortable, dries quickly, and doesn’t stink after a few days. In addition, this Patagonia Capilene fabric shirt is Fair Trade Certified and meets Bluesign sustainability criteria, and is now on the top of my T-shirt pile for hiking and other activities. The lightweight construction may wear faster than heavier t-shirts, and the trim fit means take care with the sizing.

I like to wear T-shirts most of the year until it really dips consistently below freezing. For me they are a good base layer top for everything but deep winter, as I generate heat really quickly and prefer only my torso to have full layers leaving the arms with less layers for additional venting. The Patagonia Capilene Cool Trail Shirt is now one of my go-to's after several months of use. Fit: The Patagonia sizing chart was quite accurate. They call this a "Regular" fit. Their Large size fit me (6'0"/183 cm, 170 lbs/77 kg) perfectly.

Read more: Patagonia Capilene Cool Trail Shirt review (1)

Reviewed by Sean Van Cleve

Ibex's 24 Hour all-merino wool crew has all the benefits of sustainable, natural construction paired with excellent design. The light/medium weight short-sleeve top is designed for both casual use and as a next-to-skin layer for active outdoor activities such as hiking in cold to warm temperatures. Initial testing has shown that although not ideal for hot temperatures, this crew is well suited for all other temperature ranges.

The world’s opinion isn’t objective. On the outside, gear companies often boast having the "first," the "best," or the "original." Sometimes people can peer through the gimmick, through the subjective "opinions" that appear in headlines. Fortunately, there are resources consumers can utilize to educate themselves about what may be best, or what may be best for them.  Since Ibex’s revival in 2018, the company has been incorporating both old and new designs to keep them separated from the rest of the "merino wool herd." Although not too much changes with a crew shirt, the 24 Hour Short Sleeve Crew pairs the benefits of merino wool with high quality construction to create a versatile product worth considering.

Read more: Ibex 24 Hour Short Sleeve Crew review (1)

Reviewed by Clint & Beth Beadles

This shirt is super flattering, comfortable, functional, and perfect for all types of physical activity throughout pregnancy. It’s long enough that it won’t ride up or expose the back or belly, and is designed to expand with you as your baby develops and grows. The fabric is flattering and wicks moisture. This product is best for physical activity in moderate temperatures, such as jogging, hiking, yardwork, Pilates, barre, etc. I would recommend it for all pregnant mothers that want to stay active throughout their pregnancy.

Conditions: I’ve tested the Arctic Lynx Maternity Activewear Midweight T-shirt for a few months now and find myself wearing it often for both housework and exercise. A typical week for me consists of two several mile runs, and 2-3 Barre workouts that are about 40 minutes in length. I also ran a 5K at 21 weeks pregnant while wearing the shirt and I am happy to report it was super comfortable throughout the entire run, wicked moisture, didn’t cause chafing, and didn’t ride up while jogging.

Read more: Arctic Lynx Maternity Activewear Midweight T-shirt review (1)

Reviewed by Jake W

The Montane Dart is a short-sleeved, synthetic shirt that is an ideal year-round base layer (a long sleeved, quarter zip is also available). It wicks moisture away from the body very quickly, is exceptionally tailored, and protects the skin with a high UPF factor. If you’re looking to start your kit from skin out, I’d highly recommend it.

(Short sleeve tee on the right, quarter zip long sleeve on the left) FIT AND COMFORT The Dart fits exactly as I would design an active base layer to fit. Slim, without being restrictive, and with a little extra length in the hem. I am 6 foot, 170lbs and the size large fits perfectly. This is one of the main selling points to me, compared to a cheaper competitor's synthetic shirt. There is no extra baggy fabric around the stomach and chest to bunch up and the extra length keeps it tucked in under a waist belt or harness.

Read more: Montane Dart T-Shirt review (1)

Reviewed by David Link

Super comfortable across a variety of conditions.

I have several merino hiking shirts which are now pushing ten years old, and looking a bit ragged, so I decided it was time to update my wardrobe.  Though my usual shirt size is XL, I found that the XXL was a more comfortable fit for me. It is cut reasonably long for my longish torso, so my gut isn't hanging out when reaching high. This shirt is made of Icebreaker's new "Cool-Lite" Merino blend, which includes 20% plant-based Tencel threads, plus 15% nylon. They market it as being "40% cooler" than their regular Merino fabric.

Read more: Icebreaker Sphere Short Sleeve Crewe review (1)

Reviewed by D Mizelle

One of my recent purchases that I wish I'd bought two of them.

Not sure where to start. I've used this outside, inside, all around in the past two months since the REI sale. I love it so much that I'm sure at some point my wife will ask why I am wearing it yet again. In this summer's heat it has been my go-to shirt if it's not in the laundry. The ability to shed odor has been good because I've had a couple of days of being outdoors where I didn't get to change before doing other stuff and I didn't stink. This alone is awesome, but the heat management combines to make this an outstanding garment.

Read more: Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Graphic Shirt review (1)