Best Hiking Shirts for Men of 2024
Quick-dry, lightweight t-shirts, long-sleeves, and sun hoodies
Home > Gear Reviews > Hiking
July 15th, 2024
To find the best men’s hiking shirts of 2024, I took 15 hiking shirts on journeys up and down the East Coast from Virginia to Maine. In weather ranging from still, muggy 90º-100º in New York City to brisk 50º mornings in the White Mountains of Maine, these shirts came with me through deli lines and boulder piles respectively. We went on many adventures together – hiking the Appalachian Trail, power-washing a driveway, rockhounding, and more – all to find the quickest-drying, softest-wearing, most versatile hiking shirts out there right now.
Most of the shirts covered in this guide are best suited for warmer weather exploration, just in time for the next heat wave. They come in various lightweight materials, from synthetic fibers like recycled polyester to natural fibers like cotton, merino wool, and even bamboo. Whether you’re looking for long sleeves, a hoodie, a button-down shirt with a collar, or even something with all three or none of the above, there’s a hiking shirt out there for you.
Here’s what I discovered in my time with these shirts.
Looking for women’s hiking shirts? Check our Best Women’s Hiking Shirts guide.
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Comparison table
| MEN'S HIKING SHIRT | TREELINE AWARD | MATERIAL | WEIGHT | AVAILABLE SIZES | MSRP* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jolly Gear Triple Crown Button Down | Best overall Read why |
86% Polyester, 14% Spandex | 8.5 oz | S-XXL | 95 |
| Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoodie | Best long sleeve Read why |
Recycled polyester jersey (bluesign®-approved) | 6.3 oz | XS-XXXL | 65 |
| Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Graphic T-Shirt | Best T-shirt Read why |
Recycled polyester jersey | 4.5 oz | XS-XXXL | 55 |
| Free Fly Shade Hoodie | Best sun hoodie Read why |
68% viscose from bamboo/29% polyester/3% spandex | 12.8 oz | S-XXL | 75 |
| Outdoor Research Echo Hoodie | Best lightweight Read why |
Recycled polyester (bluesign® approved) | 4 oz | S-XXXL | 75 |
| Columbia PFG Tamiami II Shirt | Best affordable Read why |
Ripstop polyester | 6.4 oz | S-XXL Tall | 45 |
| Icebreaker Merino 125 Cool-Lite Sphere III T-Shirt | Best merino Read why |
60% lyocell/40% merino wool | 4.65 oz | S-XXL | 75 |
The winners
Best overall men’s hiking shirt: Jolly Gear Triple Crown Button Down Sun Hoodie
Material: 86% Polyester, 14% Spandex
Weight: 8.5 oz
Available sizes: S-XXL
Price: $ 95
What we liked: Fun colors, great fit, great to hike in, adjustable hood, comfortable thumb holes, spacious pockets, dries quickly… the list goes on.
What we didn’t like: I cannot yet fault this shirt in any way, though it appears it tends to acquire an odor once it’s got more miles on it. Also, there seems to exist a short-sleeved version with a removable hood – this one does not have that, but it would sure be nifty.
I wholeheartedly love this shirt. If I had to pick one shirt to hike in for any given hike, it would hands-down be this one. While testing the other shirts in this guide, my excursions and hikes usually involved cycling through multiple shirts throughout the day. It was always a slightly different rotation, but every day I found myself compelled to take the Jolly Gear Triple Crown sun hoodie along for the hike back down, and by the end of the day I’d be genuinely excited to get to wear it again.
View the Jolly Gear Triple Crown Button Down Sun Hoodie
Giving this sun hoodie a double thumbs up thus far.
Comfort and Fit
Like all button-down hiking shirts, the Jolly Gear Triple Crown allows great ventilation control. In temperatures above 90º, I unbuttoned a few buttons and was grateful for the generous fit in my ever-constant struggle to avoid overheating. The sleeves are long enough to not apply pressure, so the thumb holes stay comfortable when worn and sweated in for hours. If you’ve ever experienced hand chafing from thumb holes, you know how huge this is.
The fit of this sun hoodie is generous, breezy, and relaxed without having excess or bunchy fabric that creates friction while you move. I usually wear a men’s large to have this relaxed fit in shirts, but found it just right in a men’s medium here.
Materials and Features
On the Road by Jack Kerouac? No! On the road by a farm, in the Jolly Gear Triple Crown Button Down Sun Hoodie!
As if that wasn’t good enough, the fabric of this hoodie is the perfect thickness to be a substantial layer between you and the friction of your pack while remaining comfortable. Its hood has ample room for a baseball cap, large sunglasses, and hair. And, the hood itself has an integrated drawstring for easy adjustment, and no strings to get in the way of your pack, earbuds, or hair.
This sun hoodie has two very spacious chest pockets with zipper closures for pocket fiends like myself. At one point, a single pocket fit a bulky iPhone 14, wallet, car keys, chapstick, earbuds, a collapsible dog water bowl, and a medium-sized tin of Tiger Balm. The other held a whole 16-oz Nalgene water bottle. While carrying this much in the chest pockets wasn’t comfortable, per se, as the contents bounced while I moved, it was certainly possible.
The Jolly Gear Triple Crown Button Down sun hoodie’s hood is unobtrusive, even when not in use.
Conclusion
I tend to run hot and am usually wary of long-sleeved shirts in hot weather, especially ones with hoods. With the Jolly Gear Triple Crown Button Down Sun Hoodie, I didn’t have to worry about overheating or sunburn at all – on hot days, it feels like wearing a shady spot.
Best men’s long sleeve hiking shirt: Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoody
Material: Recycled polyester jersey (bluesign®-approved)
Weight: 6.3 oz
Available sizes: XS-XXXL
Price: $ 65
What we liked: Comfortable and generous fit, available in fun patterns
What we didn’t like: No thumb holes or pockets
All that is true for its short-sleeved, non-hooded, t-shirt counterpart – the Capilene Cool Daily T-Shirt, which was featured in both our Best Running Shirts for Men and Women guides – remains true for the Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoody. It’s a soft, lightweight, breathable, comfortable, all-around fantastic quick-drying hiking hoodie, offering the same great features found in the t-shirt with even more coverage. At 6.3 oz, it’s just under 2 oz heavier than the t-shirt while providing full arm coverage and a hood for protection from bugs and the sun.
While it doesn’t have the thumb holes of a classic sun hoodie, it still functions well to protect from the sun and has comfortable sleeves of a reasonable length – but for hand coverage, you’ll need sun gloves as well. Even so, the amount of coverage provided by the sleeves is great and if a lack of thumb holes isn’t a dealbreaker for you, this shirt could be your new best friend. I usually don’t use the thumb holes on sun shirts and hoodies anyway – they cover up my watch – so that won’t stop this hoodie from becoming a wardrobe staple.
Compare prices of the Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoody
Even with an 8L fanny pack full of sharp rocks, the Patagonia Capilene Cool Hoody is still comfortable all day.
The fit of the Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoody is regular and true-to-size, with ample room for easy mobility. Lightweight and quick-drying, this shirt is ideal for time spent outdoors and in the sun where you’ll want the option of a sun hood and long sleeves for protection from bugs as well as UV rays. That said, the Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoody lacks pockets, and if you like more control over how much ventilation you’re getting, it may not be the right shirt for you since it’s not a button-down.
Land-surfing in the Patagonia Capilene Cool Hoody.
The sun hood is generous and unobtrusive with room for a baseball hat and sunglasses, without obstructing peripheral vision. As far as hooded hiking shirts go, the Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoody is a top-tier choice. It’s comfortable, lightweight, quick-drying, and it packs down small while giving more sun coverage than its t-shirt counterpart. It’s a great long-sleeve hiking shirt.
Best men’s hiking t-shirt: Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily T-Shirt
Material: Recycled polyester jersey
Weight: 4.5 oz
Available sizes: XS-XXXL
Price: $ 55
What we liked: Just about everything, especially the bird design. Great fit, super comfortable, lightweight.
What we didn’t like: …?
I don’t usually hike in t-shirts – if I’m hiking in short sleeves, I’d rather it be a button-down. But the Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Graphic T-Shirt bucks the trend. Soft, breathable, and smooth, comfortable to the point that it’s almost unnoticeable – it’s all that I feel a hiking t-shirt ought to be. Weighing only 4.5 oz, it’s super lightweight, and it dries quickly to pack down to almost nothing, so it’s easy to throw it into a bag and have it ready for anything.
The fit is true-to-size and drapes well – it’s neither overly slim nor does it have excess or bunchy fabric. On top of this, I experienced miraculously minimal chafing when I wore it for several summer weeks on the Appalachian Trail with a 40+ pound pack. Though I eventually switched to the button-down Columbia Tamiami II short-sleeved shirt for more ventilation, the Capilene Cool t-shirt never lost its place in my heart.
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Staring non-threateningly across the backseat in the Patagonia Capilene Cool T-Shirt.
Additionally, its odor control is great. After several days of regular wear and hot, humid hiking followed by a several-hour drive in a non-air-conditioned car, the Capilene Cool T-Shirt didn’t stink due to Patagonia’s antimicrobial HeiQ® textile treatment. I can’t say my original one didn’t have a distinct odor after its time on the Appalachian Trail, but the smell fully came out after a few admittedly hardcore rounds in the wash.
Classic short-sleeve shirt fit with unparalleled softness.
The Patagonia Capilene Cool T-Shirt is an all-around great synthetic t-shirt to wear outdoors in hot and humid weather, whether hiking or just going about your business. It’s lightweight, comfy, made with recycled fabric, and it even comes in fun patterns. I tested the one that has a bird on it, and I think we can all agree the bird is pretty awesome. 10/10, recommend.
Best men’s sun shirt for hiking: Free Fly Bamboo Shade Hoodie
Material: 68% viscose from bamboo/29% polyester/3% spandex
Weight: 12.8 oz
Available sizes: S-XXL
Price: $ 75
What we liked: I could live in this, it’s so soft.
What we didn’t like: Narrower in the shoulders than ideal, and (at least this colors) shows sweat stains very visibly at first
The first impression that the Free Fly Shade sun hoodie gave me was that it is so, so, so soft. It’s so soft, it’s truly almost slippery. The description on the tag describes the texture as “buttery” and I’m quite inclined to agree.
The Free Fly Shade hoodie’s thumb holes don’t irritate my thumbs, even after wearing them for hours. Though it was one of a few shirts with non-irksome thumb holes, it has by far the softest. The fit is pretty standard – true to size, nice and breezy, and its hood doesn’t restrict peripheral vision with ample room for hair and a cap. The hood is secure in mild and moderate wind, and blew off in stronger gusts until I used a Buff to keep it on, so keep this in mind if you’re planning to be out in windy conditions.
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POV: I’ve just wiped out and want to let you know I’m all good with a thumbs up that strategically shows off the soft thumb holes of my Free Fly Bamboo Shade Hoodie.
In terms of sun protection, this shirt can’t be beat. You don’t have to worry about getting sunburnt wearing it since its UPF rating is 50+. On top of that, it consistently kept me cool in the direct sun. I did not overheat wearing this while trying to master David Byrne’s “Life During Wartime” dance in my driveway – even on concrete in warm weather and direct sunlight. Nor did I overheat hiking in it in the White Mountains. This shirt is ready for anything. It dries quickly from sweat and precipitation – within about 15 minutes on a dry, hot day.
The comfort of the Free Fly Bamboo Shade Hoodie leaves you free to do… whatever this is.
The Free Fly Shade sun hoodie is the first shirt I’ve worn that’s partly made from bamboo, and it’s also likely one of the softest shirts I’ve ever worn. It feels nice to wear on hot and cool days. Weighing 12.8 oz, it’s breathable and lightweight enough for hot and sunny afternoons, but still substantial enough to be a great base layer in the evenings. The Free Fly Shade hoodie dries quickly and is great for all-day wear. Its set-forward shoulder seams keep backpack straps from rubbing or causing chafing so it can be comfortably worn with or without a pack.
If you run hot, the Free Fly Shade hoodie might be the sun shirt for you – it’ll keep you from getting sunburnt with its high UPF rating, and is soft and quick-drying enough to wear all day, whether you’re out hiking or just messing around outside.
Best lightweight men’s hiking shirt: Outdoor Research Echo Hoodie
Material: Recycled polyester (bluesign® approved)
Weight: 4 oz
Available sizes: S-XXXL
Price: $ 75
What we liked: Full coverage, super lightweight, dries quickly, fun colors
What we didn’t like: Not quite as soft as other options
If you’re looking for the lightest possible hiking hoodie out there that doesn’t sacrifice comfort to save weight, the Outdoor Research Echo Hoodie is probably the most comfortable and lightweight hiking hoodie out there. It’s super light – only 4 oz – but tough enough to survive a thru-hike more-or-less intact. It’s breathable, too – perfect for whether you’re thru-hiking, day hiking, looking for rocks, or out and about, hanging around.
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Blending into the bushes in the Outdoor Research Echo Hoodie.
As the weather turned cold on my June-December Appalachian Trail thru-hike, I added this to my clothing system – at first to sleep with more coverage than the t-shirt I’d been using, but then as an additional layer under my Columbia PFG Tamiami II long-sleeve shirt during the day. It wasn’t the softest shirt I’d ever worn, but it was certainly soft enough to wear against the skin all day, every day and softened significantly over the course of the thru-hike. During the few weeks I wore the Outdoor Research Echo Hoodie alone, I didn’t get sunburnt once. It held up well over the whole thru-hike too. What did it in was the permanent funk it acquired by the end. But I got my money’s worth and then some from this shirt – I would highly recommend it.
Yeah, yeah, the shirt is exquisitely light and fits well as a standalone shirt and a base layer, but check out this rock!
As far as ultralight shirts go, this is an outstanding option – both comfortable and breathable. The Outdoor Research Echo Hoodie doesn’t cause chafing and dries in 5-10 minutes on a breezy sunny day. It’s got full coverage long sleeves – complete with thumb holes – to keep the bugs and sun off you while you’re out.
With thumb holes for easy rock gripping!
For a hiking hoodie as light as this one, it’s quite comfortable. I sometimes find that especially ultralight clothing fabric irritates my skin after a few hours, but did not experience that in my months with the Echo hoodie. The Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoodie is softer but has a weight penalty of 2.3 oz. Plus, the Echo has thumb holes where the Capilene Cool does not, saving further weight by eliminating the need for sun gloves. The Capilene Cool is more comfortable overall, but if you’re looking for a lighter but still comfortable sun hoodie, look no further. The Outdoor Research Echo Hoodie may be what you’ve sought.
Best affordable men’s hiking shirt: Columbia PFG Tamiami II Shirt
Material: Ripstop polyester
Weight: 6.4 oz
Available sizes: S-XXL Tall
Price: $ 45
What we liked: Classic, well-made, lightweight button-down hiking shirt, tons of pocket space makes it easy to keep track of things
What we didn’t like: Less of a dislike, more of a note– this shirt runs a full size large, if not larger. (For reference, all other shirts tested are a men’s size large– except the Jolly Gear Triple Crown Button Down Sun Hoodie and the long-sleeve Columbia PFG Tamiami Shirt, which are both men’s size medium.)
A great budget option for a hiking shirt is the Columbia PFG Tamiami II shirt. In fact, I wore the short-sleeved and then the long-sleeved Columbia PFG Tamiami II shirt for almost all of my 2023 Appalachian Trail thru-hike.
As far as short-sleeve button-down shirts go, this one is a true classic. It wicks moisture well, has a ventilating back panel for those of us prone to overheating, and has a ridiculous amount of options for pockets. It dries fully in the sun after about fifteen minutes and overnight in a chilly motel after sink laundry. And speaking of the sun, the Columbia Tamiami II has UPF 40 sun protection. It’s also antimicrobial, lightweight, and quite breathable in addition to the ventilation provided by its mesh back panel and button-down closure.
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Not even the Columbia PFG Tamiami II Short-Sleeve Shirt can prevent you from making peculiar faces while being photographed.
The Columbia Tamiami II shirt can often be found in outfitters with hiking gear as well as stores geared towards fishing and golf. Once I started wearing them, I began to notice them everywhere. I elect to take this as a sign of how solidly the Columbia PFG Tamiami II shirt performs in all kinds of outdoor situations, not just hiking. It also comes in a bunch of fun colors!
After realizing my admittedly strong year-round preference for button-down hiking shirts while on the Appalachian Trail, I got a hitch to the world’s largest Cabela’s in Hamburg, PA and purchased the short-sleeve Columbia PFG Tamiami II shirt one. I hiked in that one for a few states, then took the long-sleeve version of the PFG Tamiami II the rest of the way. Whatever your sleeve length or button-up preference, this shirt is a great, reliable budget choice.
The ventilated back panel of the Columbia PFG Tamiami II keeps you cool while you rifle through your backpack full of shirts.
Of course, no rose is without its thorns. Just kidding. It’s not a big deal, but it is something to be aware of: the Columbia PFG Tamiami II shirts – both long and short-sleeved – run a full size large, if not more. It is wise to order a size down.
I wear this shirt all the time now – both the short and long-sleeved versions, depending on the weather – because they’re just such versatile shirts. However, they don’t have thumb holes or a hood, and while their pocket choices are plentiful, none zip shut. Thus, the Columbia PFG Tamiami II shirt is no longer my number one choice for hiking as I tend to get sunburnt on my neck, hands, and ears and lose small items like chapsticks and car keys from unsecured pockets. Don’t get me wrong, though– it’s a fantastic shirt. I’m wearing one as I write this. For out and about, travel, fishing, or just about anything being done in hot weather, the Columbia PFG Tamiami II shirt cannot be beat.
Best merino wool men’s hiking shirt: Icebreaker Merino 125 Cool-Lite Sphere III T-Shirt
Material: 60% lyocell/40% merino wool
Weight: 4.65 oz
Available sizes: S-XXL
Price: $ 75
What we liked: The wool blend fabric remains itch-free after hours of wear, quick-drying
What we didn’t like: Runs small with limited sizing
Of all the wool or wool-blend shirts I tried out for this guide, this was my favorite by far. And fortunately, unlike the Icebreaker Merino 260 Tech Long-Sleeve Half-Zip Thermal Top, I was able to wear this one for hours at a time and really hike in it without experiencing any itching. The Icebreaker Merino 125 Cool-Lite Sphere III T-Shirt is super comfortable – the fit is slim but not restrictive, and the fabric is soft and breathable. It kept me cool and dried quickly on unseasonably hot and humid days in Maine.
Even with the heat and humidity I didn’t experience any friction or pack rub in this shirt, and it dried quickly, too – within ten minutes on a dry, sunny day, and in under half an hour on a humid one. Merino wool naturally resists odor by not being a good breeding ground for odor-causing bacteria. This shirt is a merino wool and synthetic blend and does a fine job of drying quickly and resisting odor – a “best of both worlds” situation for enjoying the benefits of wool and synthetic.
Compare prices of the Icebreaker Merino 125 Cool-Lite Sphere III T-Shirt
Though this shirt doesn’t give you any inherent powers over ferns, it doesn’t hurt to try.
Fit-wise, the Icebreaker Merino 125 Cool-Lite Sphere III t-shirt is one of the slimmest of the ones I tested, whether wool or synthetic. It runs small, and the men’s large feels much more like a slim-fit men’s medium, so keep this in mind if you prefer a more generous fit in your t-shirts as I do. Unfortunately, the sizing tops out at XXL.
Running away from the cameraman has never been easier than in the Icebreaker Merino 125 Cool-Lite T-Shirt.
That said, the slim-cut nature of this shirt doesn’t inhibit its flexibility or the mobility of the wearer. It’s still quite stretchy and allows for a full range of motion for activities from gardening to bouldering. As far as wool hiking shirts go, this one is a great bet. If you prefer a looser fit, as I do, it’s wise to order a size or two up.
Other men’s hiking shirts we tested
Flylow Royal Shirt
Material: 85% polyester/15% spandex
Weight: not stated
Available sizes: S-XXL
Price: $ 90
What we liked: Has in-town look with on-trail features
What we didn’t like: Too long for my (allegedly) short torso
If you’re more vertically gifted than I am (I am 5’9”) – the Flylow Royal Shirt would be a great choice.
From an aesthetic standpoint, this shirt is triumphant. My dad said it looks “just like a regular shirt!” with great excitement upon seeing it for the first time.
Its fabric is breathable, comfortable, and soft. It’s also lightweight and smooth to wear while quickly drying, especially in the sun – it dried within 10 minutes on a hot, breezy day in the White Mountains.
The snap-button closure makes it easy and quick to get this shirt on and off, while still allowing you the ventilation control of a classic button-up hiking shirt.
The interior seams are soft and non-scratchy, and they don’t rub or chafe with the motion of a pack while hiking. Coupled with the smooth nature of the fabric and how quickly it dries, it feels almost unnoticeable and I ended a day of hiking on a hot day in this shirt with no chafing anywhere.
View the Flylow Royal Shirt
Preparing to be drawn like one of your French girls à la Titanic in the Flylow Royal Shirt.
However, this shirt and I had one fundamental incompatibility. It’s far too long on me, which proved to be a hassle as it repeatedly rolled up while I hiked. If you’re taller or have a torso that is average or longer than mine (I am not especially tall and my torso is disproportionately short, as I have been so informed while shopping for packs at numerous outfitters) this shirt could be perfect for you. However, I could not make it work. It wasn’t the shirt, it was me.
Material: Ripstop polyester
Weight: 9.6 oz
Available sizes: S-XXL Tall
Price: $ 55
What we liked: Lightweight, breathable, great ventilation options, great pockets. Superb button loop that keeps the sleeves rolled up when you’re in motion
What we didn’t like: Like the short-sleeved edition, this too runs a full size large. It is wise to order a size down from what you normally get.
I truly adore the Columbia PFG Tamiami II long-sleeve shirt as much as I do the short-sleeve Columbia PFG Tamiami II shirt. It has the same pocket space, the same quick-drying fabric and mesh ventilation panel on the back, and the same variety of great color choices.
Compare prices of the Columbia PFG Tamiami II Long-Sleeve Shirt
Another rock to look at, found in the Columbia PFG Tamiami II Long-Sleeve Shirt.
In comparison to the short-sleeved Columbia PFG Tamiami II shirt, it’s identical in every regard except the sleeve length. The long-sleeved shirt’s long sleeves have button loops to keep the sleeves rolled up when you’re out and about – a delightfully useful touch.
On the Appalachian Trail last year, I switched out my trusty Columbia PFG Tamiami II short-sleeved shirt for its long-sleeved companion. It’s a classic, consistent shirt. For a hike with as much tree cover as the majority of the Appalachian Trail, the lack of hood was fine.
However, it is a hiking shirt with no thumb holes and no hood, so if you’re expecting to spend a lot of time in the sun, it might be wise to consider a sun hoodie or pair this shirt with a wide-brimmed hat and a lot of sunscreen. And like its short-sleeved pal, it lacks zippered pockets, so fellow clumsy owners of small, frequently-mislaid objects like chapstick and earbuds should keep this in mind.
Material: bluesign-approved 85% recycled nylon/15% spandex
Weight: 5.4 oz
Available sizes: S-XL
Price: $ 99
What we liked: Pocket
What we didn’t like: Feeling of fabric, cuffs, overall fit
The Outdoor Research Astroman Air Sun Hoodie is very lightweight, but it’s not as comfortable as other sun hoodies tested and its relatively low UPF protection (UPF 30) resulted in it not being my sun hoodie of choice.
Weighing 5.4 oz, the Astroman Air Sun Hoodie is 1.4 oz heavier than the Outdoor Research Echo Hoodie. In exchange for this 1.4 oz, one gets a zippered pocket – just big enough for a phone and a wallet – and a half-zip closure.
Compare prices of the Outdoor Research Astroman Air Sun Hoodie
Lurking about in the Astroman Air.
Unfortunately, it is also less comfortable to wear than the Echo. The feel of the fabric is different. It’s not as smooth as the Echo hoodie, feels rough against the skin once it’s been sweated in, and is clammy right from the get-go on humid days.
In addition, this sun hoodie lacks the thumb holes of the Echo, with cuffs that irritated my skin after a couple of hours in their place. The Astroman Air sun hoodie also fit me strangely – it was snug in areas I didn’t want it to be, and roomy in areas I hoped would be tighter.
Overall, the Outdoor Research Astroman Air sun hoodie was not as comfortable as other sun hoodies out there. But it’s still quite light for a sun hoodie with a pocket, and while it is less comfortable than others it certainly wasn’t uncomfortable. In sum, it was not my favorite, but it was far from my least favorite!
Material: Merino/nylon core-spun jersey: 87% RWS wool/13% nylon
Weight: not stated
Available sizes: S-XXL
Price: $ 90
What we liked: Soft, quick-drying, non-itchy fabric
|What we didn’t like: Sheer once sweaty, and too long for me.
The Arc’teryx Ionia Merino Wool Base Layer Top is a reasonably comfortable short-sleeved hiking shirt. Made of 87% merino wool and 13% nylon, this t-shirt is soft and breathable but not itchy.
Regarding the fit, the Ionia top has longer sleeves for a short-sleeved shirt, so it covers enough of your upper arm to avoid friction with your pack straps. The offset shoulder seams also help to prevent chafing from the friction with skin and the seams of the pack as you move, which I found helpful as my pack weight increased throughout the day. The location and design of the seams make it so that the backpack straps don’t rub the seams into your shoulders while wearing it.
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Cradling a rock like a baby animal in the Arc’teryx Ionia T-Shirt.
Left untucked, the long torso makes for a peculiar fit. If tucked in while hiking, you lose a good bit of ventilation. But out on the town where that extra ventilation isn’t necessary, this Ionia top has a regular fit when tucked in and the excess length becomes a non-issue.
The other thing with the Ionia shirt is that once the temperature rose and I began to sweat, the shirt became quite sheer. It dried quickly and I didn’t have issues with itching or overheating on hot days scampering around rock piles in the White Mountains. It’s a good shirt, but for hiking, I think it would be best on someone taller and more comfortable with sheerness than I.
Material: Merino wool
Weight: not stated
Available sizes: S-XXL
Price: $ 135
What we liked: The fit was sleek, the fabric felt soft to the touch, but…|
What we didn’t like: The itching…
The Icebreaker Merino 260 Tech Long-Sleeve Half-Zip Thermal Top is one of the few merino wool shirts that I’ve had a strong reaction to – and by reaction, I, unfortunately, mean itching. The shirt has a lot of potential for those with no sensitivities to wool, rather than low sensitivity like me. It’s got a UPF 35 sun protection rating and is made of 100% soft merino wool with a nice, sleek fit.
Compare prices of the Icebreaker Merino 260 Tech Long-Sleeve Half-Zip Thermal Top
Unfortunately, my skin didn’t get the memo that merino wool isn’t supposed to itch. Despite this, I hiked in this shirt for a while on a ~75º day in the White Mountains, and found it breathable and moisture-wicking enough to prevent overheating. But the longer I wore it, the more it itched. It didn’t take long for me to cave and peel it off. I tried, I really did.
Were it not for the itching, I could have liked this shirt a lot – it’s soft to the touch, the fit is slim but not overly so, it’s breathable, and the zipper lets you dump heat easily without snagging. There’s a lot to like about the Icebreaker Merino 260 Tech Long-Sleeve Half-Zip Thermal Top, but if you have any historical sensitivity to wool, this one may not be the right move. It could be paired with a synthetic shirt underneath to avoid this. On a cooler evening, I wore it with the Outdoor Research Echo Hoodie underneath and it was quite warm – even comfortable! As a standalone hiking shirt, though, it did not agree with me.
Material: Recycled polyester
Weight: 6.35
Available sizes: XS-XXL
Price: $ 95
What we liked: Lightweight and dries quickly
What we didn’t like: Texture uncomfortable, neck hole too small
There are several things about the Fjallraven Abisko sun hoodie that I liked. It’s one of the lightest shirts in this guide at only 6.35 oz, and it’s super breathable, drying in between five and ten minutes in my tests. It’s got a roomy fit and comfortable thumb holes. Once it’s on, the hood is roomy enough for a hat and sunglasses. In super hot climates, the lightweight and breathable nature of this could make it a good choice.
Compare prices of the Fjallraven Abisko Sun Hoodie
Thumbs up because the softness improved with washing!
But in the humid climates of the east coast of the U.S., I found that as I hiked, it continued to get stickier and clung to the skin with sweat, which caused minor chafing from the pack. This made the overall textural experience of the shirt unpleasant, but I could almost overlook it since it dried so quickly.
However, personal preferences about fabric texture aside, this sun hoodie had one fatal flaw for me. The neck hole is too small. It has improved with time – during my first attempt to put on the shirt, the seam tore and I briefly considered giving up. And after surveying family and close friends, I have determined that my head is really not especially large. Average, at the biggest. Though it has expanded with wash and wear, it is still the only shirt of all I tested that has been a struggle to get on and off.
Take from this what you will - if you’re ultralight or hiking in a hotter, drier climate, and your head is smaller than mine seems to be, this shirt could work well for you.
Material: 52% recycled polyester/35% organic cotton/13% polyester
Weight: 11.5
Available sizes: XS-XXL
Price: $ 120
What we liked: Substantial, practical pockets, snap closure
What we didn’t like: Stiff, not-especially-breathable fabric
The Fjallraven Abisko Long-Sleeve Trail Shirt is a very sturdy-feeling, traditional-looking hiking shirt. However, for the hot-weather hiking I was testing it in, it was not my shirt of choice.
Boasting a lightweight blend of fabrics consisting of recycled polyester and organic cotton, I expected this shirt to be more breathable than I found it to be. It has a texture not unlike a light windbreaker or rain jacket. Even after a few washes and quite a bit of wear, the original stiffness of the fabric has improved but has not yet gone away.
Compare prices of the Fjallraven Abisko Long-Sleeve Trail Shirt
Secret secrets are no fun… unless they’re the pockets of the Fjallraven Abisko Long-Sleeve Trail Shirt.
The Abisko Long-Sleeve Trail Shirt is somewhat moisture-wicking, but not nearly to the degree of the other hiking shirts like the Columbia PFG Tamiami II Long-Sleeve Shirt or the Flylow Royal Shirt. In a similar sense, it is a breathable shirt but not as breathable as the others, making it better suited for colder-weather hiking with a lighter pack. The fabric caused chafing when my pack weight went above roughly twenty pounds.
That said, the Abisko Long-Sleeve Trail Shirt has some features I enjoy – it’s got two spacious chest pockets with storm-flap-covered zippers. The shirt also has a snap-button closure, which I find much more efficient than traditional buttons. But these are overshadowed by the fabric being uncomfortable to hike in and its stiff, Indiana Jones-style appearance.
Material: Torrent™ 190 with Polygiene®- 84% polyester, 16% elastane
Weight: 9.3 oz
Available sizes: S-XXL
Price: $ 130
What we liked: Full coverage hood, reasonably sized zippered chest pocket, soft fabric. Great base layer for cooler weather or crisp summer nights
What we didn’t like: This shirt is too good at retaining heat for warm-to-hot weather hiking.
As far as cooler weather base layers go, the Arc’teryx Rho LT Base Layer Hoodie has to be one of the most comfortable and warm ones out there. The fabric is thick without feeling stifling in cooler weather– and it’s exceptionally soft.
It has an unobtrusive chest pocket that’s best for storing smaller objects such as a thin wallet, chapstick, a Snickers bar, and a key fob, to name a few. While it can fit an iPhone 14 with a bulky case, it is not comfortable while moving.
Compare prices of the Arc'teryx Rho LT Base Layer Hoodie
The face of a man who is loving how soft the Arc’teryx Rho LT Hoodie is, but regretting wearing it on such a warm day.
The fabric, though thick, is still breathable while the slim fit allows for good heat retention and minimal breeze. The hood covers all but the eyes, which is fantastic for keeping ears warm on chilly mornings and results in a fun turtleneck-esque situation when the hood is not in use.
The sleeves of the Arc’Teryx Rho LT Base Layer Hoodie keep your arms fully covered, with thumb holes that remain comfortable and non-pulling when worn for hours at a time. The fabric remains thick throughout the sleeve to keep the hands warm as well. But these features are beneficial for cooler weather, so on the warm late spring and early summer days I wore this, it became excessively warm once the sun was out in the morning.
In brief, as a person who runs hot, the shirt was too insulating for strenuous physical activity in temperatures above 50º. During the summer season, it would likely be best as a shirt for cool mountain nights, but for colder weather hiking, skiing, or other outdoor activities this base layer would be fantastic for retaining heat.
Why do you need a hiking shirt?
The author is hiking in the Astroman Air hoodie.
Hiking shirts are designed to keep you dry, comfortable, and mobile while you hike. They’re also a fantastic choice for general or outdoor activities, especially in hot or humid weather. While testing these products, I didn’t just use them for hiking – I walked my dog, power washed a driveway, took a road trip from lower New York to Maine in a car without AC, canoed, and more.
Its main function is to keep you cool and dry outdoors, so hiking shirts are made breathable enough to allow the breeze to get through. The ideal hiking shirt will have comfortable fabric to wear with or without a backpack, be easy to move in, and protect you from the sun – beneficial features for many activities.
Unlike a classic cotton t-shirt, the fabric of hiking shirts wicks moisture away and dries within minutes. This keeps you dry during activities and helps keep moisture and odor-causing bacteria from building up in your shirt and making it stink.
The quick-drying fabric also helps avoid the uncomfortable clammy sensation accompanying sweat-saturated cotton. Hiking shirts and their ability to manage moisture also help regulate temperature– a non-drenched shirt is more comfortable, warmer, and less susceptible to the effects of wind chill.
Since you’ll likely be wearing hiking shirts outside, many are constructed of UPF-rated fabric that helps protect you from the sun. If you’re hiking in an area without a ton of tree cover, such as in the White Mountains where I tested many of these shirts, a shirt with built-in sun protection means getting sunburnt is one less thing to worry about.
Comfort and mobility are an integral aspect of the design of hiking shirts. A hiking shirt should be comfortable and easy to move around in – an asset, rather than a hindrance, to you and your outdoor activities.
Ideally, the shirt's fabric will be soft enough not to be noticeable while wearing it. I like a looser fit in a hiking shirt because it’s breezier and I run hot. A looser shirt also has more give and doesn’t restrict mobility, which is a must in a hiking shirt– not just for ventilation but for scrambling, using poles, climbing over or ducking under blowdowns as well.
What to look for in a hiking shirt
Arc'teryx Rho hoodie
Moisture-wicking fabric
Moisture-wicking fabric keeps you dry by moving sweat away from your skin on contact. While you’re hiking or just outdoors overall, this not only will help keep you more comfortable but also prevent moisture-related issues such as chafing and odor buildup.
Breathability and ventilation
Patagonia Capilene Cool Hoodie
Similarly, breathable fabric and adequate ventilation will further help keep you dry. The fabric used in hiking shirts is woven in breathable patterns to allow airflow through the shirt to reach you during physical activity, and looking for a hiking shirt with a generous fit or button-down closure will allow for maximum ventilation.
Sun protection (UPF rating)
Not getting sunburnt while power washing your grandparents’ driveway has never been easier.
If you’re going outside, chances are the sun will be there too. One way to avoid getting sunburned – and having to reapply sunscreen all the time – is to wear a full-coverage hiking shirt with UPF-rated material that blocks UV rays from getting to you and cursing you to days of sunburn wince.
Bug protection
A hiking shirt that keeps you covered and has a looser fit will serve the added purpose of keeping bugs off of you. Even if they land on your shirt, a looser fit means they can’t bite through it directly to your skin. Additionally, you can always permethrin your hiking clothes before you set out – something we’d highly recommend doing if you’re expecting to be in an area with biting flies, ticks, mosquitoes, or worse.
Comfortable and functional fit
Your hiking shirt should do anything but get in your way while you’re out and about moving around in it. A comfortable, adequately roomy fit and feel lets you achieve full freedom of motion without any feeling of restriction or tug from your shirt. Features like pockets, thumb holes, buttons, and drawstrings on a hiking shirt can further improve the functionality of a hiking shirt – and none of these should get in the way either.
Durability and material quality
Hiking shirts, like other outdoor-geared gear, can be expensive. That’s one of the reasons why it’s important to select a shirt with durable, high-quality, long-lasting materials. You won’t have to replace it as soon, and one fewer product will end up in a landfill. More than this, though, a high-quality shirt will withstand the rigors of your outdoor adventures so you can focus on everything but a steadily unraveling seam or non-functional zipper.
Odor resistance
Hiking and other outdoor pursuits can get odiferous. Thankfully, the quick-drying and breathable nature of the fabrics slows odor buildup by refusing odor-causing bacteria a good breeding ground. Many are also constructed with added odor-control measures such as antimicrobial fabric treatment so you can wear them for longer without coming home smelling like you’ve rolled around in bogs all day. Further, fibers like merino wool naturally resist odor by absorbing moisture, moving it away from the skin, and letting it evaporate. Then, the moisture still within the fabric is locked into the fiber and released when washed or aired out.
Quick-drying
The Columbia PFG Tamiami II Short-Sleeve Shirt.
Hiking shirts’ moisture-wicking and quick-drying properties lend themselves well to a fast-drying process. Some of the shirts tested, especially the lightest ones, can fully dry in only fifteen minutes on a dry and sunny day – and while others may take somewhat longer, just about every hiking shirt on the market will dry faster than a cotton one. To see how quickly these shirts dried, I left them outside in partial to full sun on hot days, with minimal breeze.
Versatility for layering
Sleeves rolled or unrolled, the Flylow Royal Shirt is ready for you.
While a generous enough fit is important for freedom of movement and ventilation, it’s often wise to avoid having too generous a fit. This way, you can still incorporate your hiking shirt into your layering system to adapt to changing temperatures. As you search for the right hiking shirt, consider whether you’ll layer another shirt underneath it. A hiking shirt that you can wear as a standalone shirt or with another layer over or under it is a versatile one. For example, I sometimes wear a base layer underneath shirts with zippers like the Outdoor Research Astroman Air or with buttons like the Columbia PFG Tamiami II Long-Sleeve Shirt. I used my Outdoor Research Echo Hoodie under one on the winter stretch of my 2023 Appalachian Trail thru-hike. T-shirts or sun hoodies, on the other hand, can be easily layered over with a fleece, rain jacket, or windbreaker to keep you warm and dry.
Style and design options
Check out those cuffs, and the little band that holds them up as you hike! We love the Columbia PFG Tamiami II Long-Sleeve Shirt
The style and design choices of hiking shirts are plentiful. Whether you’re looking for something subtle enough to go straight from the trail to dinner in town or a pattern so wacky it’ll keep you visible to your tramily from miles away, there’s a hiking shirt out there for you. It’s about what you want from your hiking shirt – they come in just about all the styles, so you’re in luck whether you prefer button-downs, long or short sleeves, hoods, pockets, or otherwise.
Sustainability and ethical company
As enjoyers of Earth, ethical and sustainable companies are always good to look for in our purchasing processes. When looking for a hiking shirt, keep in mind practices and companies that bear this in mind, such as the sustainable wool farming of Arc’teryx or the recycled polyester fabric used by Patagonia and Outdoor Research, for example.
Minimal packaging
A way that brands reduce their environmental impact is by using packaging sparingly, such as using recycled plastic or cardboard packing materials. One brand that’s great on this front is Patagonia– they leave out unnecessary packaging in favor of all recyclable materials, made from post-consumer waste or already recycled materials. See more on their page here.
How to choose a hiking shirt
Luna likes it and you should too!
Selecting a good hiking shirt is important, but it doesn’t have to feel daunting. From the way a shirt fits to the way it feels or the features it might have, some shirts are better suited for certain conditions than others. Here are some worthwhile factors to remember while you’re looking for a hiking shirt.
Figure out your personal needs and preferences
A lot of choosing a hiking shirt is about personal preferences. For example, my tendency to run hot means that I gravitate towards shirts with more ventilation control, such as the looser fit and button-down closure of the Jolly Gear Triple Crown Button Down Sun Hoodie or the Columbia PFG Tamiami II short-sleeve shirt. These shirts also have lightweight, breathable, moisture-wicking and quick-drying fabric to keep you cool. If you run cold, though, a thicker or slimmer-fit shirt with greater coverage like the Arc’teryx Rho LT Base Layer Hoodie will let less breeze in and keep you warmer.
Keep your sensitivity to the sun in mind as well. Long-sleeved shirts with thumb holes keep your arms and the back of your hands from getting sunburnt when you’re outside on open ground. Fabric with good UPF protection and long sleeves with good thumb holes bear the potential of making sun gloves and frequent sunscreen reapplication unnecessary.
Related: read our review of Best Men’s Hiking Shorts.
Understand the terrain and climate
A major point to consider: when are you going to be out? The right shirt to hike in will vary depending on this.
Knowing the climate of where you’ll be is integral to understanding what to bring, including what shirt to hike in. You’ll likely want something lighter and breezier for warm climates to keep you cool. A heavier shirt with a body-hugging fit will help keep you warm in colder conditions. (Bonus: see more tips in our guide to hiking in warm weather!)
It’s also important to understand the terrain of where you’ll be so you can know how much sun exposure you’re likely to experience. If you’re in exposed conditions without much tree coverage, a hiking shirt with long sleeves, a hood, and UPF protection is an easy step to take to avoid sunburn. The extra coverage can also keep bugs off – something you’ll appreciate when testing t-shirts during black fly season in Maine, as I did.
Try on different styles and brands
As with any other kind of shirt, trying on different styles and brands is the key to figuring out which one will serve you best. Preferences for everything from pattern to cut to fabric texture are worth considering. You’ll want a comfortable, non-restrictive shirt that ideally doesn’t make you look like a doofus – and thankfully, plenty of options fit that bill.
Consider budget constraints
The items in this guide fall into a range of prices. And all across this range, you can find a high-quality hiking shirt that’ll serve the purpose you need it to – and maybe just become a wardrobe staple, like the Columbia PFG Tamiami II shirt did with me. Plus, many of the items in this guide can be found on sale from time to time, so keep an eye on sales from retailers like REI. Check our Deals page for instances when these Treeline Review vetted winners are on sale.
Care and maintenance tips
As with all outdoor gear, properly cleaning and caring for your hiking shirt will prolong its existence and maintain its intactness. Hiking shirts get as gross as other hiking gear just as quickly, if not even grosser and faster. But you don’t want to mess up the moisture-wicking nature of the fabric by using fabric softeners or bleach, nor do you want to throw a Merino wool shirt in the dryer and have it come out sizes smaller. It’s generally best to be gentle with your hiking shirts – they can handle a lot, but being kind to them keeps them going at their best for longer.
It’s important to know the material of your shirt for a few reasons. A huge one is because different materials need washing in distinct ways. Most shirts will have information on washing and drying on the tag, but if you don’t see it, double-check the product information to be sure you’re washing your shirt correctly. And regardless of material, shirts can pretty much always benefit from being washed in cold water and inside out to avoid snagging or pilling on the exterior of the shirt, and being kept out of high heat overall.
How we researched and tested
I tested these shirts over the last few months, hiking and backpacking in Virginia, New York, New Hampshire, and Maine in temperatures ranging from 50º to 100ºF. In sun, rain, clouds, or wind– these shirts and I hung out, took the dog on adventures, power washed a driveway, ran errands, climbed, rockhounded, birdwatched, and more. I also consulted customer reviews from multiple retailers to see what activities people wear their shirts during and to see any patterns about the shirts’ performance. Additionally, opinions– solicited and otherwise– were received from relatives on the aesthetic acceptability of the shirts.
About the Author / Why you should trust us
Elliot Koeppel is a graduate of Tufts University with a B.A. in History. He finished his flip-flop thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in December of 2023 and is aiming to thru-hike the Colorado Trail this summer. In his free time, he can be found making jewelry, birdwatching, and sauntering about looking for rocks.
To see all of Elliot's stories, check his author page.
