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When hitting the trail, one of the most important things to do is choose proper clothing. Not only does the right apparel keep you protected, but it also makes sure that you stay dry and comfortable. A high-quality shirt is probably the centerpiece here, as it can really make a difference between a great hike and a miserable one.
As you certainly know, a trekking shirt comes in direct contact with your body. Because of this, it needs to feel nice, allow your skin to breathe, wick sweat away, and dry off quickly. Of course, it’s a big plus if the walking shirt you choose looks stylish too.
In this article, we’ll present some of the best hiking shirts that meet the requirements we’ve previously listed. In addition, we’ll also take a look at all the factors that go into making good outdoor shirts so you can easily choose the right garment for your next hike.
- What Makes This Shirt Stand Out
- Airvent fabric wicks sweat away and allows the skin to breathe
- Raglan sleeve style significantly improves the arm mobility
- Cuffs fold over so the sleeves stay in place while you’re active
- Hood provides additional protection to the neck and head
- Flatlock seam design prevents chafing and discomfort while moving
Best For: Comfort and Breathability
Material(s): AirVent (100% Polyester)
Style: Hoodie
Fit: Trim
Sleeve Length: Long
Hood: Yes
UPF Rating: 15
Gender: Men’s
EDITORS CHOICE
REI Co-op Sahara Button-Up Long-Sleeve Hiking Shirt
- What Makes This Shirt Stand Out
- UPF 35 synthetic fabric provides protection on sunny days
- LAVA XL treatment prevents odors and keeps the shirt fresh
- Spandex in the fabric makes the shirt very elastic
- Two snap chest pockets for stashing small items
- Roll-up sleeves with buttons to secure them in place
Best For: Female Hikers
Material(s): 95% Nylon, 5% Spandex
Style: Button-Up
Fit: Regular
Sleeve Length: Long
Hood: No
UPF Rating: 35
Gender: Women’s
BEST VALUE
Hanes Long Sleeve Cool Dri UPF 50+ Hiking Shirt
- What Makes This Shirt Stand Out
- Moisture-wicking Cool Dri material keeps you comfortable
- Fabric features UPF 50+ for reliable sun protection
- Large number of color options to choose from
- Incredibly lightweight construction (only 4 ounces per shirt)
- Two polyester shirts included so you can quickly change on the go
Best For: All-day Hikes
Material(s): Cool Dri (100% Polyester)
Style: Long Sleeve
Fit: Regular
Sleeve Length: Long
Hood: No
UPF Rating: 50+
Gender: Men’s
Baleaf Long Sleeve UPF 50+ Hiking Shirt
- What Makes This Shirt Stand Out
- Dri Fit polyester shirt fabric for keeping you cool and dry
- 4-way stretch design allows full freedom of movement
- Flatlock seams prevent skin irritation and chafing
- More than 40 great hiking shirt colors to choose from
- Completely safe for washing and drying in a machine
Best For: Sweat Elimination
Material(s): Dri Fit (100% Polyester)
Style: Long Sleeve
Fit: Comfortable
Sleeve Length: Long
Hood: No
UPF Rating: 50+
Gender: Men’s
Amazon Essentials Slim-Fit Quick-Dry Hiking Shirt
- What Makes This Shirt Stand Out
- Comfortable polo shirt with a button-down collar
- Slim fit design is ideal for slim and slender people
- Moisture-wicking fabric helps to keep you dry on your hike
- Open bottom hem allows air to circulate and cool you
- Fabric protects you from UV rays (UPF depends on the color)
Best For: Quick Drying
Material(s): 100% Polyester
Style: Polo
Fit: Slim
Sleeve Length: Short
Hood: No
UPF Rating: 20 to 40 (Depends On The Color)
Gender: Men’s
- What Makes This Shirt Stand Out
- Quick-drying polyester fabric feels great on the hike
- Ultra-soft feeling on the skin without irritation
- Breathable material feels great in hot weather
- Treated with an antimicrobial agent to prevent odors
- Best hiking T-shirts for people who are tall and large
Best For: Tall and Large Hikers
Material(s): 100% Polyester
Style: T-Shirt
Fit: Loose
Sleeve Length: Short
Hood: No
UPF Rating: Yes
Gender: Men’s
- What Makes This Shirt Stand Out
- Vented back design prevents sweating and overheating
- Collar flips up to give you additional protection from the sun
- Polyester fabric with 50+ UPF blocks harmful UVA and UVB rays
- Button-up design promotes breathability and ventilation
- Chest pocket for keeping small items at hand’s reach
Best For: Hiking and Casual Wearing
Material(s): 100% Polyester
Style: Button-Up
Fit: Regular
Sleeve Length: Short
Hood: No
UPF Rating: 50
Gender: Men’s
- What Makes This Shirt Stand Out
- Lightweight and comfortable design for all-day wearing
- Capilene Cool Daily fabric feels great in high temperatures
- Best hiking long sleeve shirt for neck, head, and face protection
- Polygyene anti-odor treatment keeps the shirt smelling fresh
- Minimal seaming prevents chafing or any wearing discomfort
Best For: Sun Protection
Material(s): 100% Recycled Polyester
Style: Hoodie
Fit: Regular
Sleeve Length: Long
Hood: Yes
UPF Rating: 50+
Gender: Men’s
- What Makes This Shirt Stand Out
- Underarm gussets greatly improve the breathability
- Polartec Power Dry material keeps you dry all day
- Treated with anti-odor agents to prevent bad smell
- 50+ UV protection against the harmful sun rays
- Vertical Motion Technology for easier arm movement
Best For: Freedom Of Movement
Material(s): Polartec Power Dry
Style: T-Shirt
Fit: Athletic
Sleeve Length: Short
Hood: No
UPF Rating: 50+
Gender: Men’s
- What Makes This Shirt Stand Out
- Omni-Wick performance fabric easily eliminates sweat
- Omni-Shade UPF 40 protection for blocking UV rays
- Two convenient covered pockets placed on the chest
- Vents on the back allow your skin to breathe better
- Roll-up sleeve tabs for keeping sleeves out of the way
Best For: Odor Protection
Material(s): Omni-Wick (Polyester)
Style: Button-Up
Fit: Relaxed
Sleeve Length: Long
Hood: No
UPF Rating: 40
Gender: Men’s
Which shirt is right for you? Start by considering typical weather at your usual hiking destinations. In hot weather the ideal shirt is quick-drying and wicking, with full coverage and a UPF rating to protect you from the sun. Some lightweight shirts are even impregnated with insect repellent.
In cold weather, wool and (non-cotton) fleece shirts do a great job of keeping you warm -- even if they get wet from sweat, rain, or melted snow. Make sure to stay away from cotton, which loses its insulating value when wet.
A shirt's a shirt, right? Yes, but the ideal hiking shirt won't ride up, won't bind across the shoulders (even when you reach forward with both arms), and doesn't have seams that'll rub or chafe beneath the straps of a backpack.
Hiking Expert
How To Choose A Shirt For Hiking – Buying Guide
Materials
To give you the right balance between comfort and protection, most hiking shirts use synthetic fabrics. Polyester is the most common choice here, but other additions like merino fabric, nylon, or spandex can also be found. We advise that you always pay attention to this because the method of fabrication and additional material treating can be the difference-maker between the best backpacking shirts and less durable models.
Size
Sizing the shirt properly will have a huge impact on its performance on the trail. Luckily, all of the top-rated hiking shirts come in many different sizes so this shouldn’t be too much of an issue for most hikers. Of course, always be sure to check the sizing guide because some models might run smaller or larger than usual.
Design
Just because the most excellent hiking shirts focus on functionality and performance doesn’t mean that the style isn’t also a factor. Almost all of the models we’ve featured have several color options to choose from. Furthermore, you’ll be happy to see that the best men’s hiking shirts are designed according to the latest activewear trends.
UVA Protection
Whether you’re hiking in the middle of the summer or going to higher altitudes, sun protection is a must unless you want to end up with nasty sunburns. Because of this, all the models we’ve picked come with a degree of built-in sun protection (UPF). If this is very important to you, look for walking shirts that are rated UPF 50+.
Sleeves
To have or not to have sleeves: that is the question. Paraphrasing aside, if you have a hard time deciding on the issue of sleeves, consider this. If you want a casual and versatile walking shirt, go for a T-shirt. On the other hand, if you enjoy different types of hiking (high altitudes for example) you should opt for a long-sleeve outdoor shirt, as it can get chilly once you climb up a mountain.
Weight
Generally speaking, synthetic materials are very lightweight so the weight of your trekking shirt won’t be an issue regardless if you have it on or carry it in your backpack. Of course, if you are particularly weight-conscious, all the shirts for hiking list their weight on their product pages.
Antimicrobial Properties
A few of the items in our list above pride themselves on their antimicrobial properties. This means that the fabric is specially treated to eliminate bacteria which, in turn, reduces the nasty odors. So, even if you sweat profusely, you won’t start to smell.
Comfort
All types of polyester fabrics found in the most excellent hiking shirts generally rank very high when it comes to comfort. Because of this, you can count on all of the models we listed to feel nice on the skin. On the other hand, we advise that you stay away from cotton shirts when hiking because they can be very uncomfortable when you get sweaty.
Seam Construction
If you’re worried your new trekking shirt might disintegrate at the seams, look for an extra sturdy one with double-needle sewing. On the other hand, if you’re focus is more on comfort, the best shirt for hiking needs to have flat seams to prevent chafing.
FAQs
Q:Â What Is The Difference Between A Regular Shirt And Hiking Shirt?
Regular shirts that are designed for casual wearing comfort and focus more on style rather than functionality. On the other hand, a hiking shirt needs to be lightweight, provide good body temperature regulation (neither too hot nor cold), wick sweat away, and dry as fast as possible.
Q:Â How to Wash My Hiking Shirts?
Most synthetic shirts are pretty easy to wash and don’t require any special washing regime. Of course, always make sure you read the label and check for the product care instructions. As long as you don’t exceed the recommended temperature that is indicated on your trekking shirt, you shouldn’t have any unpleasant surprises.
Q: Why Do I Need A Special Hiking Shirt? Can’t I Just Wear My Gym Shirt?
While gym shirts can also be designed to keep moisture away, that’s probably the only aspect in which they are similar to hiking shirts. First of all, the best backpacking shirts (as well as hiking pants and hiking clothing in general) are designed to withstand a longer active time than your average gym session. In addition, T-shirts for hiking come with built-in sun protection to shield you from the harmful sun UV rays that you’re exposed to outdoors.
Globo Surf Overview
Going on a hiking trip is a delightful experience but, to make the most out of it, you’ll need to prepare properly. With the right clothing, you’ll be able to weather everything that the journey throws at you. Hopefully, our guide and product selection helped you find the best lightweight shirt that will provide reliable protection and comfort on all your hiking and backpacking trips.
More Backpacking/Hiking Reviews:
- Winter Hiking Boots
- Rain Pants
- Garmin Watch
- Survival Kit
- Hiking Baby Carriers
- Survival Books
- Bug Out Bag
- Gore Tex Jacket
- Drone For Gopro
- Lightweight Backpack
Do you have a bad experience using a regular gym shirt instead of a reliable shirt for hiking? Any funny stories to share about hiking and proper apparel? What’s your favorite brand of shirts you’ve owned so far? Have fun and let us know what your favorite shirt is, in the comment section below!