Outdoor Research Echo vs. Patagonia Cap Lightweight

I have both. I like the zip of the OR Echo, a lot. I wear them interchangeably. Not sure there is as much difference in them practically. UPF 15-24 is supposed to block 93.3 – 95.9% of UV. For UPF 25-39 that is supposed to be 96.0 – 97.4% of UV.

Go with OR for the warranty

I hear good things about the Cap order control treatment, should be even better now that it's supposedly a permanent treatment. I use wool for order, personally.

When you read between the lines more deeply in Polygiene's and Patagonia's literature about the silver salt treatment, it says that it's been tested and rated for 100 wash cycles. I don't know if that is a conservative estimate or not. Either way, i don't think it can be called truly permanent in the sense that wool, alpaca, or linen is (tencel also has pretty decent odor reduction properties). Theoretically, if you only washed a garment with the treatment once in a great while, it could last the life of the garment, but i'm of the opinion that microbial growth and action is not the only source of smell in clothes. I think it's possible that skin oil buildup, which is an issue with all synthetics being oil based AND hydrophobic, can also contribute over time to odor, though not to the degree or immediacy of microbial growth. It is quite durable though, and a definite improvement over some of the older tech. Through talking with a Polygiene rep, i learned that the silver chloride is added during the dyeing/coloring process of the fabric. Presumably, when the dye bonds to the outside of the fibers, it also bonds the silver chloride particles and ions to the outside via the dye bond. I've experimented with replicating the process in a DIY way. It is easy to make silver chloride with a electrolysis process (requires silver, salt, distilled water, DC current electricity and some time), and then dye a synthetic garment after with the aqueous siliver chloride suspension. It did make a difference in odor with the shirts treated and tested, but i don't how if it's as durable or effective as the manufacturer process that Polygiene has come up with. I would be a bit surprised if it was as durable and efficient.

I noticed the same similarities when looking at the description and fabric weights- I have a couple of OR Echo long sleeves- one crew and one zip, the zip is handy (and decently long). It's good stuff and I'm sure the same could be said for the new Lightweight from Patagonia. it seems like OR stuff is a little easier to find on sale than Patagonia, but owning plenty of stuff from both- you probably can't wrong with either I would sweat the upf ratings at all, I've never got burned in my Echo shirts- this is in full sun on snow

I recently did a 10 day trip with a friend. I wore a new OR Echo and he had the new lightweight Paty They look and feel very similar. After a few days, we both stunk My funk was maybe a little worse than his but we'll within the variances of our bodies. The OR Echo had a funk treatment too. We both liked the light fabric.

The fabric in both is great, the anti stink in both does not work. So choose for fit/price

Thanks for the input guys. I'm liking the long zipneck of the echo, so I'll probably just stick with that. For anyone who likes this fabric, I picked up a buff made of it on the OR sale page for $10, I think they call it the echo ubertube.