Fastest drying long sleeve baselayer

something like nike drifit or one of the cheaper copies …

you can find long sleeve running shirts at discounted prices at yr local outlet mall/store … shouldnt cost more than 10-20$ on clearance, and they are ALWAYS on clearance

I like your wife's innovative idea.

For me the looser woven, more mesh-like fabrics dry faster than the tighter compression style shirts.

Agree with Jason's comment.

The Patagonia Cap 2 is actually more breathable and faster drying than the Cap 1 due to it's more open weave. Directly from Patagonia "Its open-knit construction breathes, wicks moisture and clocks the fastest dry time of all our performance baselayer fabrics".

http://www.patagonia.com/us/product/patagonia-mens-capilene-2-lightweight-baselayer-crew?p=44811-0-920

Patagonia Cap 1 or 2 is one option.

A running shirt is another. I have several from a number of brands, and I've found Adidas to be above average. They're all fairly similar, and you won't know until you go for a run which is "better."

Both are made with arcteryx phasic fabric and dry faster than anything I've seen. Odor resistant as well.

Sorry just read the thread all the way through and I think I missed the original point. My bad ;)

Jason:
My wife's idea stems from the fact that since I won't be wearing a shirt I don't have to buy another new shirt. She's trying to be thrifty, but I will say she does make a valid point sometimes with her "leave it at home" approach to reducing pack weight.

This sounds stupid but I didn't even think about largely loose woven fabric like jerseys for running. I had some notion that it had to be a baslayer type (capiline series etc.). I think I'll try the Nike Outlet near my work for something.

Thanks!

I'd second Chris on the Arc'Teryx phase SL or motus. The phase fabric wicks like nothing I've ever experienced. I can soak the shirt, squeeze it out and in about 10 minutes it'll be mostly dry (granted here in the desert most things will dry pretty quickly). I would take a water bottle with you into and REI and do some side by side tests!

^^^^ i can do that with my 8$ mec shirt which ive used on climbs, the gym, snowshoeing, running for the last 3 years, and doesnt have a single hole or loose thread ;)

the one im abbrading against the granite here … i have a long sleeve version as well for around 8$

Almost any thin synthetic shirt / baselayer will do it. I wouldn't spend to much for it. It will get soakd in sweat and start to stink anyway, no synthetic fabric will keep up with this if you work really hard on a warm day.

I would avoid wool at all, unless it is cold.

@eric: are you climbing the Chief in that picture?

waderlust … its the lower pitches of the squamish chief … the lower apron …

+1 on the shirts with a more open weave. It's hard to make a recommendation as the big manufacturers seem to come out with a new version every season. I swear you need a micrometer and scale to tell some of the Capilene stuff apart. I have shirts from North Face, Mountain Hardwear, Patagonia and GoLite that all work, but aren't available. For that matter, I have found base layer shirts in thrift stores that were give-aways for running events that work just fine. Too bad they are plastered with advertising.

One tip: never use fabric softener or dryer sheets with your synthetics or rain gear. It messes up the wicking properties and breathable membrane.

Craft ZEROEXTREME. It is not very common, but it really works. I stopped care to be wet at all. And not heavy – 4-5oz (M-L-XL).

http://shop.craftsports.us/men/tops/mens-zero-extreme-long-sleeve.html

+1 for Patagonia Cap 1/2. I have the LS version and it dries very quickly.

I air-dry my baselayers (hung on hangers on shower curtain rod in mostly unused guest bathroom), to avoid the fabric softener sheets I use in the dryer (which impair the brethability of base layers). I did a comparison a year ago–results based on what I own:

Fastest: Capilene 2

A little slower: Capilene 3 and 4

A little slower yet: REI MTS midweight and Patagonia Merino 1 (actually 30% nylon)

Slowest: Smartwool equivalent of Capilene 2.

Interestingly, though, the Smartwool feels dryer even when still damp!

I also did a test of socks several years ago, Smartwool vs. Thorlo, same weight: The Smartwool were dry over an hour before the Thorlo. This really surprised me, based on my experience with other wool vs. synthetics. I gave up Thorlo after that, especially since the Smartwool for me are more comfortable and feel more comfortable even when wet. It also helps that the Smartwool socks have imperceptible seams over the top of the toes, which I need because of my hammertoes. I plan to check out a couple other brands of meriono wool socks which I understand wear longer, but a lot depends on how those toe seams are constructed.

Merino sheep are amazing animals! They used to be in minimal demand because their wrinkled skin makes them hard to shear, but their wool is #1!

Another one here for Patagonia Cap 2 – very fast drying. That's what I wear trail running on the wet coast. It's the fastest drying, most comfortable base layer I've found. Often, it'll be wet on the hike/approach and by the time I've got my camp set-up it's dry. It's a great piece and very light too. I've got a bunch of different brands on my shelf, but that's the one I reach for every time. Cap 1 is OK, but it takes longer to dry. Merino provides very lightweight warmth, but it stays wet f-o-r-e-v-e-r.

I tested all my garments many years ago. I ran them through the washer and spin cycle and then hung them to dry. The polypropolene (sp?) dried the fastest.

Apples to apples comparisons are hard, however. The weave and weight of the garments are also factors in drying times. Fiberfill enclosed in ripstop nylon, for example, dried quickly. Knitted polyester socks and loose weave nylon running shorts dried more slowly than I anticipated. Something about the weave seems to hold on to big water droplets.