Hot as F**k shirt for hike in and pack out

[307]

The problem with cotton though is when it gets wet it's like wearing a straight jacket. You can't even move freely because it's stuck to you and now heavy with all that absorbed sweat. That evaporation process could take 2-3 days for a soaked shirt. Otherwise it's just sitting there wet.

I'm always amazed when people say they are coming out to go elk hunting and will be wearing all cotton. I always ask them to go outside and have someone hose them down in those clothes and then report back on how they can hunt like that. I never hear back from them.

If a damp t shirt presents that degree of physical challenge, perhaps some strength training would be necessary.

The OP didn't ask about general use, he asked about a very specific use under very specific conditions.

 

[5MilesBack]

If a damp t shirt presents that degree of physical challenge, perhaps some strength training would be necessary.

The OP didn't ask about general use, he asked about a very specific use under very specific conditions.

A soaking wet cotton shirt has absolutely nothing to do with strength. I'll ask you the same thing......throw on some jeans and have someone soak you with a hose. See how that works out for you......and strength doesn't come into play at all.

And the OP asked about HOT packouts or hikes in. That cotton shirt will be soaking wet with sweat in cold temps, let alone hot temps.

 

[307]

The problem with cotton though is when it gets wet it's like wearing a straight jacket. You can't even move freely because it's stuck to you and now heavy with all that absorbed sweat. That evaporation process could take 2-3 days for a soaked shirt. Otherwise it's just sitting there wet.

You certainly made it sound like a damp shirt is quite a physical challenge. Your words, not mine. I thought the sarcasm was easier to recognize, my mistake.

 

[307]

A soaking wet cotton shirt has absolutely nothing to do with strength. I'll ask you the same thing......throw on some jeans and have someone soak you with a hose. See how that works out for you......and strength doesn't come into play at all.

And the OP asked about HOT packouts or hikes in. That cotton shirt will be soaking wet with sweat in cold temps, let alone hot temps.

You have completely missed the point, on several occasions during this thread.

A wet shirt is superior for cooling, if cooling is what you are wanting. A shirt that keeps you dry, will not be as good for keeping you cool. Wicking fabrics prevent evaporation from the skin surface, thus reducing cooling capacity.

Of course cotton wouldn't be the recommendation for general wear when sweating AND cooler temps are a possibility (nobody has made that recommendation in this thread), but that was not, and never was the question.

 

[5MilesBack]

You have completely missed the point, on several occasions during this thread.

As have you. Just wear whatever you feel like. I'll stay comfortable without cotton.

 

[MrSunday]

I have been using the REI Sahara shirts and plan on picking up a few more. Also have a Patagonia that is more of a mesh fabric that breathes very well.

 

[idcuda]

I have been using the REI Sahara shirts and plan on picking up a few more. Also have a Patagonia that is more of a mesh fabric that breathes very well.

I'm going to try out the Sahara shirts from Rei. Looks like a good early season shirt.

 

[Carlin59]

I know the OP asked about shirts for hot weather, but I wanted to mention that pant choice makes a huge difference in hot weather as well. For summer backpacking or early season mountain hunts, when I'm barreling in on or out on a defined trail, I usually forgo pants altogether and wear running shorts with the built in liner. They weigh basically nothing, obviously very light and breathable, and are super comfortable under a packbelt. Then when I get to camp, I can put on clean, dry, not-soaked-in-sweat underwear and pants to start the hunt (or for sitting around camp at night if it is a backpacking trip). Also, since most stream crossings tend to be on the approach hike (for me at least) and not when i'm actually hunting, it is nice to not worry about rolling up your pants, gaiters, etc. They might not work in every scenario, but for warm weather hiking when you don't need to bust brush, I'm really loving running shorts with built in liners.

 

[Domestique]

My understanding is that the body cools through evaporation, not through sweating. Thus, I don't want to stay dry when I want to stay cool. I don't use synthetics in the heat for this reason.

We all say, "cotton kills", because it stays wet, and in the mountains, temps can drop and that wet shirt can mean hypothermia, due to, certainly not sweating, but evaporation... "Wicking" fabrics pull sweat from the skin before it has a chance to evaporate and cause cooling (a really good thing in cold conditions). This doesn't seem like a good idea in situations where cooling is the only priority. Fabrics which wick effectively, will help you stay dry, but that's not going to help stay cooler.

When it's hot, give me thin cotton, preferably with a looser weave and some airflow. But as soon as the hot activity stops, back to merino for me.

This times 100. Cotton kills because it actually dries a lot faster than wool and will cool you too fast. That is why wool feels warm even when wet it is evaporating slower.

Evan Hill did a great video on their clothing choices for the mountains and why they have given up wool. I still perfer wool for multiple day trips where the odor control is very beneficial.

Hill People Gear Presents Longhouse : Clothing System - Soldier Systems Daily

On a side note. I tried a Krptek merino half-zip this winter, and it reeked after one day. Has anyone else experienced this?

 

[efnm]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks merino reeks. I'm sure it's not true for all brands but it was for my icebreaker shirts. At one point I was asking my buddy if he smelled something like sewage crossed with wet dog and then I realized it was me...

 

[sr80]

Id get a sitka core light t shirt or a kuiu peloton 130 t shirt. LLano is a hot shirt in my opinion.

 

[Clarktar]

I generally hike in wearing one of the sleeveless Rokslide workout shirts.

 

[excaliber]

I get super hot on the way up and I wear a cheap Champion wickable T shirt I use for Mtn biking. I pick them up at Target. I wear them on the way up then take it off, dry off and put on my baselayer and whatever else I need.

 

[bobbyrowman]

Anyone know a t shirt of this type that has a zip to let off heat?

Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Tapatalk

 

[Carlin59]

Anyone know a t shirt of this type that has a zip to let off heat?

Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Tapatalk

If you are looking for a tshirt or sleeveless shirt with a zip, you might check out bike jerseys:
Access Denied

 

[Beendare]

What shirt are you guys wearing for those days in early September that it's hot as ****?? I guess we could call it our first layer?

Dayhunting/most of the time; I wear a 145wt merino long sleeve in camo....they dry fast.

On a pack in; I sometimes substitute a short sleeve syn shirt like the Nike Dryfit

 

[5MilesBack]

This times 100. Cotton kills because it actually dries a lot faster than wool and will cool you too fast.

It's comments like these why I ALWAYS go with what I actually experience over comments on the internet. This is absolutely the opposite of everything I've experienced. As a test, just throw some cotton shirts and merino shirts in the washer and drier together. See for yourself which ones dry the quickest. Same thing happens while wearing them. That soaked cotton shirt that I took off, will still be wet after hanging for a day. The merino shirt will be dry before I go to bed that night.

 

[406]

I've also ran some T's made by duofold that work pretty well.

They don't reek? Mine smell awful after half a day. No big deal skiing or rafting, honestly barely notice it. But hunting I smell and hear every single flaw in my gear

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

[Osprey]

It's comments like these why I ALWAYS go with what I actually experience over comments on the internet. This is absolutely the opposite of everything I've experienced. As a test, just throw some cotton shirts and merino shirts in the washer and drier together. See for yourself which ones dry the quickest. Same thing happens while wearing them. That soaked cotton shirt that I took off, will still be wet after hanging for a day. The merino shirt will be dry before I go to bed that night.

Agreed merino dries faster. I was amazed at how fast merino dried the first time I washed it, it even feels drier right out of the washer so maybe it retains less water IDK but I just know it works

 

[5MilesBack]

They don't reek? Mine smell awful after half a day.

Body odor comes from bacteria. Bacteria hardly even have a chance to start growing in only half a day. If they reek after only half a day, there's something else going on there.