Camping

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Alright, Keep Your Shirt On . . .

What do you look for in a hiking shirt? Well, if you’re like me you’ll look for exactly the same details in your hiking shirt as you do in the rest of your hiking gear . . . a hiking shirt has gotta’ be practical, functional, quick drying, lightweight, comfortable, stylish . . . . get the picture? A summer hiking shirt has gotta’ keep you cool, a winter hiking shirt has gotta’ keep you warm, and an in-between hiking shirt has gotta’ . . . . do everything in between.

A hiking shirt might not actually be top of your list of “must have hiking gear” . . . . I know it’ll be way down below hiking boots, hiking jacket, backpack, fanny bag, trekking poles, hiking pants . . . . but a good hiking shirt really can make a positive difference to your back country experience. A good hiking shirt can help to protect you from the heat of the summer (hot work you know, hiking in the summer), but when you go to the outdoor store to buy your hiking shirt you need to take a few things into account.

• Hiking shirt fabric – you might think that cotton is the most favored summer fabric, but cotton shirts actually absorb the moisture which keeps it on your back. Some of the more modern polyester and other synthetic materials drive the moisture to the surface so that it can evaporate in the sun. Maybe a polyester hiking shirt would be your best option!
• Hiking shirt fit – you might think that looser is cooler (in the sense of keeping you cool, not looking cool) but that ain’t actually the case. You might actually find a good-fitting hiking shirt to be more comfortable.
• Hiking shirt style – this is all down to personal preference really, and what type of hiking or other outdoor activity you’re going to be getting up to in your hiking shirt. Long sleeves, short sleeves, lots of pockets, sleeveless, button up shirts, t-shirt type hiking shirts, running shirts, pullover shirts . . . the choice is yours.

and what about that hat!!