Can I trust you with a secret? On short hikes, hiking t-shirts and workout shirts are interchangeable.
What physically separates hiking shirts — making them a must for long hikes — are subtle physical differences. Hiking shirts are loose-fitting, not tight or compression-style. They use synthetic materials, avoiding cotton. And hiking shirts are thoughtfully stitched to make carrying a backpack more comfortable when trekking for hours.
Can you wear a shirt you have, or should you buy a hiking shirt? Don’t overcomplicate what to wear on hikes. If it’s an easy hike, any shirt you’ve worn on runs or hard workouts will perform on the trail.
Just consider that hikes are typically longer than runs. Increased sun exposure demands better protection qualities that many workout shirts don’t offer.
This article walks you through the distinctive features of hiking shirts across each season, along with top-rated examples. By the end, you’ll feel confident knowing if you should buy a hiking shirt or can make do with the shirts you have.
Do you need a hiking shirt?
Choosing the right shirt on a hike is as important as good boots. A shirt needs to protect the body from direct sunlight while handling the inevitable sweat that follows.
After all, the job description of a hiking shirt is to:
- Protect from harmful UV rays
- Wick moisture away from the body
- Allow breathability to cool
- Dry quickly
- Provide comfort for hours
A hiking shirt is designed thoughtfully with the trail in mind. The stitching is offset from the shoulder to prevent rubbing from a backpack strap. And materials are chosen to fulfill the job requirements.
Buying a good hiking shirt is worth it.
Frequently asked hiking shirt questions.
Before diving into styles of hiking shirts, here are some frequently asked questions:
- Should a hiking shirt be loose or tight? Hiking shirts need to fit loose on the body to allow the evaporative cooling of sweat. Too tight, and even the best moisture-wicking fabric can become waterlogged, leaving you hot in the summer or risking hypothermia in the cold.
- What color shirt is best for hiking? According to The Skin Cancer Foundation, dark or bright colors are the best skin protection against UV rays. Since black shirts absorb heat, brightly colored shirts like yellow or orange are best.
- Are cotton shirts suitable for hiking? Cotton is an absorbent material that neither wicks moisture nor dries quickly. Furthermore, a white cotton t-shirt only has an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of about 5. A minimum UPF rating is 15, while an excellent rating is 50 or higher.
- How much do hiking shirts cost? T-shirt style hiking shirts should cost between $30 and $60. Button-up hiking shirts are typically more expensive, $50 to $90.
Hiking shirt buyers guide
An excellent hiking shirt keeps you dry and protected from the elements. It’s lightweight, durable, and breathable. Though, what constitutes a hiking shirt, especially for warm weather gear, is often a blurred line between fitness and running shirts.
Since seasonality makes a noticeable impact on the style and significance of hiking shirts, this buyer’s guide compares hiking shirts across each weather condition.
Hot weather hiking shirts
Hiking in the summer heat risks heat-related illnesses. Hiking shirts are designed to assist in cooling with breathable fabrics that wick sweat away while protecting from the harsh sun.
Here’s a look at popular summer hiking shirts from big-brand outdoor companies.
Patagonia Capilene® Cool Trail Shirt in Men’s $45 and Women’s $49.
Features
- 100% polyester
- Set-in sleeve construction for comfort and range of motion
- Tagless
- Odor control
- Lightweight
- 17-45 UPF
Why we like this shirt
Hikers were front of mind when this shirt was designed. The underarm gussets prevent chafing, and the polyester material is moisture-wicking and quick-drying.
Negatives
Patagonia’s Capilene line was initially sold claiming a 50 UPF rating. It was corrected with a voluntary recall to reflect a 17 to 45 UPF rating in tests. Furthermore, it’s an expensive shirt at $45 versus REI Sahara at $30.
REI Sahara T-shirt in Men’s and Women’s, both $29.95.
Features
- 92% polyester/8% spandex
- UPF 30 sun protection
- Forward rolled shoulder seams to prevent backpack chafing
- Quick-drying
- Odor control
Why we like this shirt
Another thoughtfully designed shirt with hikers in mind. The stitching to avoid chafing provides comfort on long hikes when wearing a backpack, and the 8% spandex delivers added flexibility to the moisture-wicking polyester.
Negatives
The Sahara line has been around for decades and has changed recently. More spandex was added, changing the fit from previous years. This will only be disappointing if you’ve previously owned a Sahara t-shirt.
Fall and Spring hiking shirts
Summer and Winter hiking shirts are much more straightforward than balancing what to wear on a mildly cold day on the trail.
One popular option is wearing a lightweight jacket over a short-sleeve shirt. This method provides warmth when you first reach the trail but flexibility to shed the layer when you inevitably heat up.
Your next option is the traditional long sleeve hiking shirt route. One benefit of a long-sleeve is you can wear it year-round as a base layer in the winter and for sun protection in summer.
Columbia Silver Ridge™ Long Sleeve Shirt in Men’s $60 and Women’s $55.
Features
- Omni-Shade™ UPF 50 sun protection
- Omni-Wick™ material for moisture-wicking
- Vented
- Roll-up sleeves with tab holders
Why we like this shirt
This long sleeve button-up hiking shirt is the swiss army knife of shirts. It’s perfect in the summer, with back venting, roll-up sleeves, and sun protection, while flexible enough to wear in cooler weather and early morning hikes.
Negatives
Long-sleeve shirts are uncomfortable to layer, eliminating them for very cold hikes.
Columbia Tech Trail™ Quarter Zip Pullover Shirt in Men’s $45 & Women’s Bliss Ascent™ Half Zip Shirt $85
Features
- Omni-Wick™ material for moisture-wicking
- Omni-Shade™ UPF 50 sun protection (Men’s)
- Polyester and Elastane fabric
Why we like these shirts
A quarter zip is often more comfortable than button-up shirts and still provides good ventilation through the zipper function.
Negatives
Both shirts are new to the Columbia line, so durability hasn’t been tested. However, Columbia is a trusted brand and makes excellent hiking shirts.
Winter hiking shirts: Base layer
A hiking shirt would be utilized as a base layer during the winter. Like an undershirt, its purpose is to keep you dry and comfortable.
While hiking in the heat risks heat-related illness, sweating in the winter risks hypothermia. Due to this danger, moisture-wicking is as vital in cold weather as hot. Enter the base layer.
The base layer is what touches your body when layering for winter. And when choosing synthetic fabrics, moisture travels to the outside of the shirt, keeping you dry and safe.
Merino wool is a popular material for winter wear due to its natural moisture-wicking abilities.
REI Co-op Sahara Long-Sleeve T-Shirt in Men’s $34.95
Features
- 92% polyester/8% spandex
- UPF 30 sun protection
- A forward rolled shoulder seams to prevent backpack chafing
- Quick-drying
- Odor control
Why we like this shirt
Just like the short-sleeved version, the Sahara long-sleeve is designed for hikers. The stitching to avoid chafing allows long hikes with a backpack, and the 8% spandex provides added flexibility to the moisture-wicking polyester.
Negatives
If you’ve previously owned a Sahara shirt, the material has changed, making some unhappy. Otherwise, the only common complaint is sizing, so check the sizing chart before buying.
Patagonia Capilene Cool Trail Long-Sleeve Shirt – Women’s $55.00
Features
- 100% polyester
- Set-in sleeve construction for comfort and range of motion
- Tagless
- Odor control
- Lightweight
- 17-45 UPF
Why we like this shirt
The full-polyester construction provides excellent moisture-wicking properties along with quick drying and comfort. Added comfort was thoughtfully added in the sleeve construction to prevent chafing.
Negatives
The material is very light and can be seen through, leaving its use as purely an undershirt.
Final thoughts
Weather and distance are the two most significant factors to consider when planning your hiking outfit.
A short, easy hike on a beautiful day won’t demand a specialized shirt. But once you surpass a 3-mile hike or elevation gains of over 500 feet, every clothing decision significantly impacts comfort and safety.
Hiking forces us to mentally and physically push up that hill, then power through to the next. All while ignoring a small pebble rolling around and poking random places on your foot with each step.
Comfort is everything.
Wearing the proper clothes on hikes removes the struggle of uncomfortableness. And mentally pushing yourself up a hill is easier when you aren’t chafing and sweaty.
Happy hiking!
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