10 Best Hiking Shirts In 2021

The Outdoor Research Echo hiking shirt is the ultralight sun protection that every hiker needs. It’s incredibly comfortable and breathable, feeling almost as if you had nothing on you. On the other hand, the attached hood and full-length sleeves make sure you avoid nasty sunburns even if you’re out in the middle of the day. All of this, along with the excellent fit, make it the best hiking shirt that you can get.

Materials and Comfort

The AirVent material used to make this shirt offers top-level performance – it’s soft, wicks moisture, and allows your skin to breathe. Even though the Echo synthetic shirts for hiking have long sleeves, they won’t feel too warm regardless of the outdoor temperature. Because of this, they will do a great job even on very demanding hikes.

Design and Functionality

One of the things that we really like about this lightweight hiking shirt is that it comes with raglan sleeves that significantly improve the mobility of your arms. In addition to this, it also features flat seams that prevent chafing, as well as fold-over cuffs that make sure the sleeves stay in place while you’re active.

Thanks to its great fit and even better performance, the REI Co-op Sahara ranks among the best hiking shirts for women. It’s breathable, comfortable, and allows you to move freely. In addition, the button-up design looks very stylish and you have nine great-looking colors to choose from.

Materials and Comfort

Unlike all the other models featured in our hiking shirt reviews, the REI Co-op Sahara women’s hiking shirt has a nylon core instead of polyester. This increases the strength and durability without compromising breathability and the overall performance. Furthermore, it also contains 5% spandex that makes it elastic and allows it to follow your every move.

Design and Functionality

The classic long-sleeve button shirt design makes it very versatile and allows you to wear it casually. The Sahara shirt also features buttons on sleeves to keep them in place, as well as two convenient chest pockets for small items. Lastly, the fabric is treated with Lava XL odor protection so it will remain fresh even after a whole day of wearing it.

If you’re looking for a high-quality walking shirt that feels great and doesn’t cost too much, check out the Hanes Cool Dri model. It’s made from a gentle material that feels great to wear on long hikes. At the same time, it has excellent moisture management so you can count on staying dry too. Because of this, the Hanes shirt is perhaps the best backpacking shirt in terms of value for your money.

Materials and Comfort

The Cool Dri material used to make this shirt is actually breathable polyester with excellent sun and sweat protection. Regardless of the color you choose, each shirt has UPF 50+ so the chance of getting sunburns is eliminated. In addition, the trekking shirt weighs only 4 ounces which ranks it as one of the lightest models that you’ll come across.

Design and Functionality

When talking about the design, we have to mention the great fit of the Hanes shirt. It isn’t too tight against the body, which improves both your movement and the overall comfort. Finally, you’ll get two of the same long-sleeve shirts with the purchase, so you’ll have a backup piece if the one you’re wearing gets smelly or dirty.

Owing to their soft and high-performing Dri Fit material, the Baleaf long-sleeve outdoor shirts are among the best shirts for hiking, backpacking, fishing, and even trail running. They are incredibly friendly to your skin and come with flat seams that completely prevent chafing. Furthermore, the Baleaf trekking shirt is available in more than 40 colors and 6 sizes so you have a lot of options when choosing.

Materials and Comfort

The mentioned Dri Fit material is polyester-based so you can expect top-level performance in every situation. The material eliminates sweat from your skin instantly and dries off so you can remain comfortable even in very high temperatures. In addition, the shirt is very lightweight even when wet and won’t cause any discomfort while hiking.

Design and Functionality

To improve arm protection, the Baleaf shirts come with full-length sleeves. Regardless of the color you choose, every option comes with a UPF 50+ which means that the fabric blocks almost 100% of UV rays and prevents sunburn. Even though it doesn’t have a hood or pockets, this shirt is still incredibly enjoyable to wear on the trail.

The sleek polo design of the Amazon Essentials walking shirt makes it an excellent choice for any occasion – hiking, camping, walking around town, and even going to work. The T-shirt has a slim fit to flatter your body, but the stretch fabric makes it very flexible and comfortable to be in. Additionally, these hiking T-shirts are available in 6 sizes and 21 color options so you’ll easily find what you like. 

Materials and Comfort

Made from high-quality polyester, this shirt provides all the comfort you need when out on the trail. It’s very lightweight, absorbs moisture, and dries in the air in a matter of minutes. The materials and colors are very durable so you can machine-wash the Amazon Essentials shirts countless times without problems.

Design and Functionality

As we’ve pointed out, the Amazon Essentials mens hiking shirt is designed as a classic polo T-shirt – with short sleeves and a button-down collar. Every shirt you buy also comes with UPF protection, but keep in mind that the amount of protection depends on the color and varies from 20 to 40 UPF.

The thing that sets the Under Armour Tech hiking shirt apart from the rest is the huge number of size and color options available. Because of this, you can easily find the perfect hiking shirt regardless of your body type. As a bonus, these top rated backpacking shirts are offered in tall sizes too. The shirt itself is comfy, lightweight, and incredibly breathable.

Materials and Comfort

The main material used for this shirt is high-quality polyester which can easily withstand the trials of outdoor use. Besides being very durable, the material is very lightweight and breathable so it feels great to wear on a day-long hike. Of course, like all other high-quality hiking shirts, it has exceptional moisture-wicking abilities and enables you to stay dry.

Design and Functionality

The design of this summer hiking shirt is pretty simple – it’s a classic-style T-shirt with short sleeves and a crew neck collar. However, the interesting thing about it is that it has a loose fit which is why you can enjoy your outdoor activities without any restrictions. Lastly, the hiking T-shirt is treated with an antimicrobial agent to prevent odors and unpleasant smells.

The Mountain Hardwear Canyon shirt is a great-looking model that works equally well for hiking and casual summer wear. It’s a short-sleeved T-shirt for hiking with a regular fit and feels very comfortable during the summer and warm weather. At the same time, the breathable and moisture-wicking materials guarantee that you’ll stay dry on the trail.

Materials and Comfort

To ensure all-day comfort, the Canyon hiking shirt is made entirely out of polyester. This material is known for its low weight, comfort, and ability to eliminate sweat and dry quickly. To further boost air circulation, the shirt also features a vented back. All of this makes it one of the best shirts for backpacking in terms of breathability.

Design and Functionality

Considering that it’s a hiking shirt, the design is very stylish. Because of this, you can get away with wearing it casually to work or around town. The front buttons make getting it on and off easy, while the chest pockets allow you to stash small items. On top of this, the collar can be unfolded for additional neck protection on sunny days.

If you’re after a blend of casual style and comfort, check out the Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily walking shirt. Its regular fit feels great on a longer hike, while the fabric keeps you dry and allows your skin to breathe. As you can see, this model comes with full-length sleeves and a hood so you can count on top-level protection on your outdoor adventures.

Materials and Comfort

One of the details that we really like about the Capilene long sleeve shirt for hiking is that it’s made from recycled polyester. It can match any other model in terms of comfort but is much more eco-friendly than its competition. In addition, the Capilene Cool Daily fabric keeps you comfortable and provides UPF 50+ to protect you on sunny days.

Design and Functionality

The entire shirt is made using the minimal seaming design so you can forget about chafing or irritation even when you’re very active. Furthermore, the material of this best lightweight long sleeve hiking shirt is elastic so you can move freely without restrictions. We also want to add that it features an anti-odor treatment that prevents nasty smells and keeps it fresh the entire hike.

The Mammut Moench trekking shirt is a lightweight and comfortable model that gives you full unrestricted freedom of movement. The great sleeve design combines with the unique underarm gussets to provide full movement without any chafing or discomfort. Due to this and its fast-drying properties, the Moench shirt makes a great choice for sports activities too. 

Materials and Comfort

One of the greatest things about the Mammut Moench shirt is the comfort level it gives you, making it one of the best hiking shirts for hot weather. Its Polartec Power Dry fabric is impressive at wicking moisture away, so you can count on staying dry even during very intense activities. In addition, the shirt base layer features completely flat seams so there won’t be any skin irritation.

Design and Functionality

Designed as a standard T-shirt, the Mammut Moench is excellent for hiking, sports, and casual wearing. It's a short-sleeve shirt so it works best in higher temperatures rather than cold weather. On the other hand, the material comes with UPF 50+ so your torso will be protected from sunburns when hiking. Finally, it’s treated with an anti-odor agent which allows the shirt to stay fresh without a problem throughout the day.

Stylish, lightweight, and comfy, the Columbia Silver Ridge hiking shirt is a fantastic choice if you’re after something more traditional. Its classic button-up shirt design will look great both on and off the trail, while the exceptional fabric keeps you protected and dry even after a full day outdoors. Furthermore, it’s available in five sizes and seven colors so it’s easy to find the version you like.

Materials and Comfort

The material quality and performance make this shirt an exceptional garment for all your outdoor adventures. It’s made from the special Omni-Wick polyester that not only feels great on the skin, but also makes it one of the best men's hiking shirts in terms of sweat elimination. In addition, the Omni-Share fabric treatment provides UPF 40 and protects your skin from UVA and UVB rays that cause sunburn.

Design and Functionality

As we’ve pointed out, the Columbia hiking shirt comes with a traditional button design. Many hikers would agree that this type of design offers the ideal balance between comfort and functionality, both of which you need when you’re out on the trail. Great design features include back vents for improved breathability, two chest pockets for small items, and roll-up button tabs keep the shirt sleeves in place.