Don’t mix the hiking shirts with regular shirts. Hiking shirts are different from regular shirts and they have special properties and characteristics which make sure you have an excellent hiking experience. You can wear normal shirts for hiking but most of the professional, regular, and experienced hikers make sure to wear comfortable shirts to keep themselves safe from the elements and insects.
Most of the hiking shirts available in the market have few technical similarities. So it may be hard for you to choose the best hiking shirt from thousands of options. Therefore we have picked few best hiking shirts for men and women. There is also a buying guide below, so you will understand how you can choose the proper hiking shirt that best suits you. Let’s dig into the details!
Top 5 Hiking Shirts for Men in 2021
In a hurry? Check the bestseller top Hiking Shirts for Men from Amazon. Just check the product link, the details and price.
Best Hiking Shirts for Men
- Columbia Men’s Silver Ridge Long-Sleeve Shirt
- ExOfficio Men’s BugsAway Chas’r Long Sleeve Shirt
- Mountain Hardwear Men’s Wicked LS Tee
- Columbia Sportswear Men’s Trek Short Sleeve Shirt
- Craghoppers Men’s Kiwi Short-Sleeve Shirt
1. Columbia Men’s Silver Ridge Long-Sleeve Shirt
This is a cotton button-up Men’s hiking shirt with sleeve retainers. Shirts made of polyester are usually more comfortable and soft compared to shirts made of nylon. Moreover, polyester type shirts are better at wicking. Though this shirt isn’t windproof and can struggle to keep out bugs as well as the emphatic nylon ingredients. However, this shirt has an excellent build design and provides strong protection against the weather. The cuffs of this shirt are slightly longer on top; therefore, you will get a bit of extra coverage.
Columbia is famous for making some of the best hiking shirts available in the market at a reasonable price. You will have a great experience wearing this shirt in warm sunny weather as polyester allows better airflow to keep you cool. This shirt also wicks and dries a bit faster than nylon. This shirt is made of Columbia’s signature wicking fabric that pulls moisture away from the body. So the sweat will evaporate quickly. This is a casual shirt and perfect for everyday wear.
Features at a Glance
- Sleeves: Long
- Fabric: Cotton
- Design: Button up
- Insect Repellent: No
2.ExOfficio Men’s BugsAway Chas’r Long Sleeve Shirt
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If you are looking to wear something uncommon to make yourself stand out among others, then consider buying ExOfficio Men’s BugsAway Chas’r Long Sleeve Shirt. This shirt is made from cotton and it can retain more moisture and stays wet longer than other materials. It has fragrance-free insect shield apparel that resists biting and disease-carrying insects. This protection will last 70 washings. The fragrance-free finish will control smell causing bacteria.
This shirt has quick-drying and moisture-wicking clothing that ensures maximum comfort. It also has sun guard 30+ to protect you from harmful UV rays. Moreover, the polyester allows better airflow, so this shirt will keep you cool on a hot sunny day. This is a casual shirt so you can wear it anywhere you want.
Features at a Glance
- Sleeves: Long
- Fabric: Cotton
- Design: Pull over
- Insect Repellent: Yes
3.Mountain Hardwear Men’s Wicked LS Tee
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If you are looking for a long sleeve version of the hiking t-shirts, then Mountain Hardwear Men’s Wicked LS Tee will be the ideal choice for you. Mountain Hardwear is a very renowned company and over the years, they have produced some of the best man’s hiking t-shirts available in the market. This shirt is made of soft polyester and it will stand up to years of hiking. This shirt disperses moisture; therefore, it evaporates more quickly.
Mountain Hardwear put in some reflective piping around the cuffs and collar, which makes the t-shirt very stylish. The Wick. Q moisture-wicking will keep you cool during the hot sunny day and the Dry. Q quick-dry fabric will keep you warm in cold days. It has antimicrobial treatment in the fabric so you will have protection against the biting and disease-carrying insects. This shirt has Wick. Q EVAP, which is industry-leading wicking technology. This shirt is best for adventure racers, runners, or night athletes.
Features at a Glance
- Sleeves: Long
- Fabric: Polyester
- Design: Pull over
- Insect Repellent: Yes
4.Columbia Sportswear Men’s Trek Short Sleeve Shirt
Columbia is very popular among the hikers, and they are renowned for producing best-hiking shirts at a great price. Moreover, they produce most lightweight hiking shirts at an affordable price. This shirt is made of a poly blend. It has 88% polyester and 12% elastin. This short-sleeve shirt is ideal for summer hiking or layering a clothing system from. As usually, Columbia uses its signature wicking fabric and it pulls moisture away from the body. Therefore, sweat will evaporate quickly. It also has UPF 50 sun protection.
This shirt has Columbia’s signature logo at the chest, which makes it very stylish. While wearing this shirt, you will love the total airflow and breathability as well as instant wicking. The stretch fabrics of this shirt ensure comfortable movement during any activity. It has a casual fit, makes it perfect for everyday wear. This shirt has OMNI-WICK, which is the ultimate moisture management technology for outdoor activities. So this shirt will keep you cool and dry in any kind of situation.
Features at a Glance
- Sleeves: Short
- Fabric: Poly blend
- Design: Pull over
- Insect Repellent: No
5.Craghoppers Men’s Kiwi Short-Sleeve Shirt
This shirt has a combination of polyester and cotton, which is paired with the typical button-up crocodile hunter-style shirt. It has 65% polyester and 35% cotton. This shirt has some amazing features including the wash and wears technology and the solar shield. It is made from Kiwi quick-drying and features a cooling collar which is perfect for layering. This shirt is best for using in fall hiking and short day hiking.
Craghoppers Men’s Kiwi Short-Sleeve Shirt is machine washed. The solar shield helps deliver an important defense against harmful ultraviolet sun rays. This shirt has NosiDefence. So you will get protection from insects like mosquitoes. It has three pockets with one hidden security passport pocket. This short-sleeve shirt is lightweight and it weighs only 195g. It is an easy-care shirt so it requires little or no attention.
Features at a Glance
- Sleeves: Short
- Fabric: Polyester/ Cotton
- Design: Button up
- Insect Repellent: No
Top 5 Hiking Shirts for Women In 2021
In a hurry? Check the bestseller top Hiking Shirts for Women from Amazon. Just check the product link, the details and price.
Best Hiking Shirts for Women
- Miss Fortune Women’s Workout T-Shirt
- Columbia Sportswear Womens Tamiami Long Sleeve Shirt
- Columbia Women’s Trail Flash Half Zip Shirt
- WoolX Brooke-Women’s Merino Wool Shirt
- ExOfficio Women’s BugsAway Breez’r Long Sleeve Shirt
1.Miss Fortune Women’s Workout T-Shirt
If you are looking for a hiking shirt for women, which is best for both hot and cold weather, then the Miss Fortune Women’s Workout T-Shirt will be the ideal choice for you. This is not a hiking shirt, but it is the #1 bestseller in women’s hiking shirts on Amazon. This shirt is made from 95% polyester and 5% spandex. This workout t-shirt is very flexible and dries first. The design of this shirt is very stylish especially the block design improves its appeal. This shirt is available in both short and long sleeves.
You have to remember that this shirt is not a hiking shirt, it’s meant for any type of exercise that leads to a lot of sweating. Therefore, this shirt is more suitable for casual hikers than the hiking enthusiasts. The high mobility and quick-drying feature make this shirt very popular among the hikers. This shirt is machine washable. It is perfect for activities like yoga, running, hiking, jogging, fitness, and any type of sports & outdoor activities.
Features at a Glance
- Sleeves: Short/Long
- Fabric: Poly blend
- Design: Pull over
- Insect Repellent: No
2.Columbia Sportswear Women Tamiami Long Sleeve Shirt
This is another long sleeve convertible polyester shirt from a trustworthy Columbia brand. This shirt has some amazing features, Wicking fabric and sun protection are two of them. This shirt is made of 100% polyester. It has 3″ high and 16″ wide. The best part of this shirt is; it has vented in the back. So it will keep you cool in hot sunny weather. This Tamiami long sleeve shirt has Omni-Shade UPF 40 sun protection which protects against harmful ultraviolet sun rays.
This shirt has OMNI-WICK Advanced Evaporation, which is the ultimate moisture management technology for the shirt. So this shirt will keep you cool and dry in any kind of situation. It has Antimicrobial so you will have protection from the biting and disease-carrying insects. This Columbia t-shirt has a rod holder on the chest for convenient storage.
Features at a Glance
- Sleeves: Long
- Fabric: Polyester
- Design: Button up
- Insect Repellent: Yes
3.Columbia Women’s Trail Flash Half Zip Shirt
This half-zip shirt is made from a poly blend. It has 85% polyester and 15% elastin. This shirt is stretch so you will have comfortable movement during any activity. You can easily use this shirt as an integral part of many seasonal layering systems. The Flatlock sewn seams make this shirt one of the best women’s hiking shirts available in the market. The best part of this shirt is Zipper closure so you can easily pull off this shirt. You can expect comfort and convenience because of Zipper closure.
This shirt is machine washable. It has Omni-Shade UPF 50 sun protection, which provides safeguard against harmful ultraviolet sun rays. Like other Colombia shirts, this shirt has Omni-Wick Advanced Evaporation. So it will keep you dry and cool in any kind of circumstance. It comes with Thumb Holes and Omni-Wick hoodie which makes it very stylish. The four-way stretch ensures an improved range of motion while doing outdoor activities.
Features at a Glance
- Sleeves: Long
- Fabric: Poly blend
- Design: Pull over with 1/2 zipper
- Insect Repellent: No
4.WoolX Brooke-Women’s Merino Wool Shirt
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Are you looking for a women’s hiking shirt? The WoolX Brooke-Women’s Merino Wool Shirt is one of the best hiking shirts available for cool or cold weather. This shirt will keep you nice and warm at all times. It is made of 100% merino wool which is imported from Australia. It is a perfect hiking shirt for a cool autumn day or a winter snowstorm. Moreover, this shirt will prevent smelly bacteria and keep you safe. Like other hiking shirts, WoolX Brooke-Women’s Merino Wool Shirt will suck up sweat and provide comfort while doing outdoor activities.
You can either wear this shirt by itself or can use it as a base layer for more clothing. This shirt will maintain body warmth, so it is recommended to wear extra clothes while hiking in the cold. The design of this shirt makes it versatile so you can wear it for any activities. It has a zipper closure. So you can easily take off this shirt. This shirt is made of wool so it requires extra care to ensure its longevity.
Features at a Glance
- Sleeves: Long
- Fabric: Wool
- Design: Pull over with zipper
- Insect Repellent: No
5.ExOfficio Women’s BugsAway Breez’r Long Sleeve Shirt
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This shirt is best for hiking in warm and sunny places. It is made of nylon; therefore, this shirt is very lightweight. ExOfficio Long Sleeve Shirt will keep you safe from the sunlight and the insects. It has a sun guard rating of UPF 30+ and flow-thru ventilation. This shirt allows air movement from the front and back to keep women cool at all times. This shirt dries very quickly and can get rid of the nasty sweat that comes with hiking.
The best part of this hiking shirt is the insect guard. It has bug repellant permethrin to ensure it stays effective in the shirt’s life. Therefore, women who love to do hiking in the outdoor will be protected from biting and disease-carrying insects. It has a zippered security pocket and a locker loop for hanging the shirt up after the use.
Features at a Glance
- Sleeves: Long
- Fabric: Nylon
- Design: Button up
- Insect Repellent: Yes
How to Choose the Best Hiking Shirts
There are a few things that you have to consider before hitting the “add to cart” button. What type of hiking shirt best suits you mostly depends on what kind of hiking you do? Do you go out for hiking casually or you do it regular basis? Your answer to these questions decides what type of hiking shirt you should buy.
Fabric Selection
The first thing that you have to consider while buying the hiking shirt is the fabric. Hiking shirts are mostly available in three types of fabrics:
- Polyester
- Merino Wool
- Nylon
Polyester is a synthetic human-made fiber, very popular for sports garments because it is cheap, wicking, and effecting. It soaks up a sweat very well and dries quickly. The big problem of polyester is it becomes stinky more quickly than other fabrics. Therefore, you can wear polyester in the heat but in freezing weather, it can lead to hypothermia.
Merino Wool is selective wool, and its fibers have a water-hating shell and a water-loving core. This fabric sucks water and sweat away from the body through its cores and evaporates from the outside of the shirt. The problem with Merino Wool is; it is very expensive compared to other fabrics, and little less durable.
Nylon is used very rarely in hiking shirts. You will find nylon woven in a blend with other fibers to increase overall strength. Moreover, nylon is used for windproof and bug-proof applications.
Fabric Weight
There is no standard fabric weight to consider while choosing the best hiking shirt. So you have to consider other layers of garments you’ll be wearing and what time of the year you will be out hiking. For summer hiking, an ultra-thin long sleeve white polyester shirt is the best option. For warm but shady conditions, thin polyester t-shirts are the ideal choice. In the winter season, thick merino wool long sleeve zipper neck shirts are the right choice.
Seam Construction
Seam construction is a very important feature of a hiking shirt. You should pick a hiking shirt with flat-sewn seams because stick up seams can cause irritating, swellings, or even just rub your skin raw. There are few areas in a hiking shirt where it’s more important; the shirt is smooth, flat, and soft. These areas are hips, waist, arms, and shoulders. In these areas, any seams that might stick out will cause irritation and rubbing and it will hurt.
Zippers
Hiking shirts are available both ways, with zippers and without zippers. Zippers don’t have much impact on hiking shirts. Zippers provide a little bit of temperature control without having to change the shirt. Moreover, hiking shirts with zippers are easier to take off than shirts without zippers. So it’s totally up to you to decide whether you want the zipper on your hiking shirt or not.
Final Thoughts
For hiking, it’s important you have the right type of gear, and hiking shirts are the first pieces of clothing that come to the mind. Don’t wear the everyday shirt for a hiking trip. Make sure you wear the right type of hiking shirt that will provide comfort and protect you at the same time. I hope the buying guide will help you pick the best hiking shirt. The above mentioned hiking shirts are the best available for men and women. Pick the one that fits your needs.
Reference
- https://www.columbia.com/mens-silver-ridge-long-sleeve-shirt-AM7453.html
- https://www.exofficio.com/mens-bugsaway-tarka-long-sleeve-shirt/1111-2857.html
- https://www.mountainhardwear.com/mens-wicked-long-sleeve-t-1707901.html
- https://www.columbia.com/mens-tech-trek-short-sleeve-shirt-1586951.html
- https://www.craghoppers.com/kiwi-short-sleeved-shirt-dark-grey/
- https://www.columbia.com/womens-pfg-tamiami-ii-long-sleeve-shirt-FL7278.html
- https://www.columbia.com/womens-trail-flash-half-zip-shirt-1655001.html
- https://www.exofficio.com/womens-bugsaway-brisa-long-sleeve-shirt/2101-3152.html
Last update on 2023-05-31 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
