Summer hiking doesn’t need to be synonymous with sweat-soaked excursions on lung-busting climbs and long, winding trails. The Mountain Hardwear CoolHiker Long Sleeve T offers field tested technology in an ultra-soft shirt that will keep you cool and comfortable on the trail ahead.
On Performance and Design…
For the record, long sleeve hiking shirts aren’t typically our style. When summer hiking season sets in on the Sierra, our standard operating procedure is a lightweight short sleeve shirt. Needless to say when Mountain Hardwear sent out what they proclaim as “literally the coolest technical hiking tee on the market,” we were intrigued.
Let’s be honest, there are plenty of technically savvy hiking shirts available on the market. And while it’s one thing to offer outdoor specific features, it’s quite another to be a technical wunderkind while at the same time offering comfort that’s off the charts. This lightweight, stretchy, wicking shirt features a Poly/Spandex blend that’s not only incredibly lightweight, but soft as silk against the skin. Add in a UPF 25-rated level of protection and you can head out at high altitudes without worries.
Like its cousin, the CoolRunner T Shirt, the magic of the CoolHiker LongSleeve T is the Cool.Q™ ZERO technology. Incorporated on the back and sides of the shirt, the Cool.Q technology actually lowers the temperature of the fabric when you start to perspire. Trust us, when you’re in the middle of a speed hiking excursion and the sun breaks out above the treeline, the Cool.Q technology offers a refreshing sensation any outdoor enthusiast will appreciate.
Flat-locked seams offer increased comfort, and a tag-free neckline eliminates irritation whether you’re knocking out a summit, running, or chasing a Frisbee around basecamp with the kids. For an added bonus? The CoolHiker Long Sleeve rings in at a price much less ($50) than merino wool or other similar techy hiking shirts.
Bottom Line…
Simply put, the Mountain Hardwear CoolHiker Long Sleeve T has changed our perspective on warm weather hiking attire. This is one shirt that’s ready and willing to keep you cool and comfortable in hot and sticky conditions.
*The CoolHikiker T is also available in a short sleeve version for both men and women.
*Gumption Gear Review received the items featured in this review from Mountain Hardware at no cost and receives no monetary compensation for this or any related review. The items featured were provided solely in return for our honest views and opinions.