Patagonia Sun Tech or Sunshade?

I wore the sun tech shirt this year on the PCT through California and Oregon. (I swapped it out for something warmer in Washington.)

It's one of the few sun shirts I found which wasn't cut excessively loose (it uses Patagonia's "Contoured Fit"). The simplicity of the button closures on the chest pockets meant that it was simple to do and undo the buttons with one hand (in comparison, on some baggier shirts with velcro closures I found it necessary to use two hands to open and close the pockets). However, it also meant that some items would slide out if I leaned over. The collar stands up well and provides reasonable neck protection. The nylon body of the shirt provides good insect protection, however the knit capilene-like side panels are no deterrence at all to mosquitoes.

I found the shirt quite comfortable and it's held up surprisingly well. I still have the shirt so if you have any particular questions I can assist with please ask.

Warning: If the khaki shirt is paired with khaki pants you may be mistaken for a park ranger.

I was actually looking for a shirt that is a bit loose fitting that I could use in 80F+ degree weather and that would fit my 6'5" frame and it looks like the XXL will do that. I am thinking about getting the white as I really don't like to be hot. I was also looking for something that could keep out the bugs for the most part. How well does it breathe and handle the heat and humidity?

As we're entering into highly subjective territory now, please take this as one man's opinion.

I found the fit to be similar to other Patagonia products marked as having a "Contoured Fit". I would describe the cut as being athletic. It's far more fitted than the REI Mojave Tech and Sahara Tech shirts or the Mountain Hardwear Canyon shirt.

The breathable stretch side panels provide no mosquito protection anywhere that the material rests directly against the skin. My experience was that the shoulder blades are a particular vulnerability. Perhaps a squirt of DEET would help (I never experimented with that) otherwise I might choose either a permethrin treatment, lightweight windshirt (though while hiking I did sometimes have to choose between being too warm or being bitten), or a philosophical detachment in areas of heavy mosquito pressure. I'm not sure if there is a particular type of bug you are concerned with but as a side note, I also found that ants would sometimes end up inside my shirt while cowboy camping.

Unfortunately, I have not used the shirt in hot and humid conditions. In the low humidity desert (with temps often warmer than 80 degrees F occasionally up to 100 degrees plus), breathability was such that I felt cooler while wearing it the with long sleeves down and the collar up rather than in short sleeve mode. With regards to your intended usage, I did find the shirt to be not unpleasant to wear when it was soaked with sweat (more comfortable at least than wearing a sweat soaked capilene 1/silkweight t-shirt which I would describe as slightly unpleasant). That being said, I wanted something that would maximize sun protection in the heat. Presumably you are looking at this shirt for the same reasons, but if sun protection is not important, there may be cooler options.

In short, I think this is a great desert shirt (high heat low humidity, no mosquitoes). If I was going to take it someplace with malaria, I would be sure to treat with permethrin.

Well, it is one of the few shirts that is big enough to it me. I am getting the XXL not for the girth but the length so hopefully those panels will not have to be used so much. It is either this or the Sunshade from Patagonia with the whole shirt being made out of that panel material. Railriders and the BPL Thorofare are just too small. I am assuming the regular fabric can take some abuse and if need be I can always replace the panels with noseeum. It was either this or wear a Cap 1 LS in white which will not cool me down that much. I don't mind a few bites as long as the majority of them do not get through and I don't cowboy camp much so I don't see it as an issue. I ordered one from Travel Country as they had the XXL on closeout for $40.

So evidently the store was out of them but still managed to keep the link up. I don't think I really want to pay $75+ for a sun shirt. Maybe I can find something in all bug mesh.

Sorry to hear it. Good luck on your search.

And the Patagonia outlet store in Dillon, MT just put them on sale today for $37.50 so I ordered one.