Button up shirt vs thin base layer for sun

FWIW, OR Echo has offered me far better sun protection than I expected.

I was wearing the REI Co-Op long sleeve tech shirt  , pretty much a base layer.

It’s pretty comfortable and versatile, but only rated at 20 UPF from what I remember.  The sleeves are also a bit short on me, exposing wrists and backs of hands.  And no neck protection.

I want more sun protection.  I’ve got two spots of skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma) to get removed, I surf regularly, I’m on the ocean a lot (terrible glare), and hike the desert regularly.  I can’t F around with the sun anymore.  The more coverage, the better.

I just bought the Columbia Silver Ridge.  I think in the long run it’s much better coverage- collar, longer sleeves that shield the back of my hands, and the ability to vent the chest by unbuttoning.  It’s also rated higher UPF (30) than what I had.

I might be bringing a light t-shirt for sleeping. Worn over it and completely buttoned down it pretty much acts as a windshirt so all I need in addition is an insulated jacket (Montbell Thermawrap)  and a rain shell (OR Helium II).

I was also looking at the REI Sahara Tech long sleeve T. 

I’ll probably pick it up as well.

I don’t think the cut or look are as good as the Columbia Silver Ridge, but it is more comfortable and higher UPF (50).  The fabric feels a touch cooler, it’s got more venting, and I liked the built in stretch.  It just has a bit of a frumpy, safari-like feel to it whereas the Silver Ridge you could wear to work or out to dinner and not look like a hiker.

Unfortunately, the Patagonia store in my area is so fashion-minded that they’re rolling out their fall styles already and not stocking any of their button down sun shirts (namely Sun Stretch Shirt) to try on.

I wore an REI Sahara button down on the JMT and hated by about 1/3 of the trip. Scratchy and hot. If you do a button down, polyester is probably the way to go. I now wear polyester knits when hiking although I got a lesson in how poorly knits protect from mosquitos a couple weeks ago in Sabrina Basin…

I got a lesson in how poorly knits protect from mosquitos a couple weeks ago in Sabrina Basin…

That’s what I would be worried about if you expect any amount of bugs. I wear a silver ridge in the buggy season here. I got hammered good last year on  a trip by mosquitos and faired very well. Only problem I had was the little buggers got through the gap in the sleeves at the point the cuff buttons. Wont make that mistake again.  Man I hate them damn things and now we have Zika to deal with here.

Knit shirts are much more breathable than woven shirts and they are warmer/more comfortable when they get wet. There are thin knit shirts with a high UPF rating. The difference between UPF 50 and UPF 30 is 98% UV protection and 96.6% UV protection.

Just saw that REI has a silver ridge “lite” version of the Columbia shirt. https://www.rei.com/product/895032/columbia-silver-ridge-lite-shirt-mens

Just saw that REI has a silver ridge “lite” version of the Columbia shirt. https://www.rei.com/product/895032/columbia-silver-ridge-lite-shirt-mens

I used this shirt from the desert into the Sierra earlier this summer and thought it was an excellent button shirt despite no underarm vents.  The fabric is little thinner and has a softer feel.  Already have a hole where the hipbelt caught like a baselayer, but that may be me really cinching the hipbelt.  Other retailers have a wider variety of colors.

I’ve tried button shirts but by far prefer my Motus and similar Ts.

I have used both; mostly now I prefer the base layer sort, as my experience has been that they are cooler. However, the button-up woven fabric shirts kick butt when it comes to skeeters, as the little devils go right through my base layer shirts.

What got me started with the base layer types is that I used to have a base layer shirt and a button-up, and to go from a warmer setup to a cooler I would have to take off both shirts then put the button-up back on. I prefer a layering system that works without having to go forward to go back, if you get my meaning.

For decades I wore a base layer for hiking, but they just can’t match the sun and skeeter protection of a nylon uv shirt. The latter may be a scootch warmer to wear–although that’s debatable given the looser fit and air circulation–but the other two considerations outweigh everything imo.

It’s true that once in camp I have to take off the shirt in order to put on my camp base layer, then the shirt over that if warranted for cold–but to me it’s worth it. I see that it would be more of a drag if you needed to begin hiking in the morning in layers, then change down as Paul says.

Wear one and send the other to the first resupply stop you have that lets you mail out. That way if the one you chose isn’t working for you or if you want to test the other one, you can swap it for the other one. Otherwise, just send it back home.

For most hotter summer hiking (that is, meaning not 3-seaon) I have always used a button-down shirt. I agree that they are a bit of a puzzle regarding how they fit into a “clothing system.” I guess windshirt? Or bug shirt? I see the positives as good adjustable venting and bug-proofness. Getting one with tabs to secure the sleeves when rolled-up allows even more utility. My go-to are the RailRiders products, which they offer with an anti-insect treatment that I find works very well. You could certainly find some made of better-wicking materials if you tried, but they’d have to be tightly fitted for that to really be useful, which I would say defeats the point. They should fit loosely.
I save my baselayer top for my “sleeping clothes” and emergency use, in summer. In the shoulder seasons obviously this does not apply.

For most hotter summer hiking (that is, meaning not 3-seaon) I have always used a button-down shirt. I agree that they are a bit of a puzzle regarding how they fit into a “clothing system.” I guess windshirt? Or bug shirt? I see the positives as good adjustable venting and bug-proofness. Getting one with tabs to secure the sleeves when rolled-up allows even more utility. My go-to are the RailRiders products, which they offer with an anti-insect treatment that I find works very well. You could certainly find some made of better-wicking materials if you tried, but they’d have to be tightly fitted for that to really be useful, which I would say defeats the point. They should fit loosely.

This is spot on. Lot of flexibility in venting with various buttons that can be left open or closed. Collar can be put up or down depending on bugs and sun (the Silver Ridge has two folds for extra coverage when you need it). Various vents available from pits to pockets. And a full fit for added circulation.

I forgot that my sun shirt has vents running under the arms and down the sides–and they’re mosquito proof. Most shirts have vents on the back, but these aren’t very useful if you’re wearing a pack. I suppose that a wicking base layer manages sweat better. I will feel sweat dripping at times in a sun shirt. But I may actually sweat less in the sun shirt than in a base layer. hard to tell.

Oh and I like having a big zip pocket on the shirt.

+1 on the usefulness of a high collar.

Have tried two options…

1.  OR Echo Long Sleeve Zip-Tee that I sent out to the Insect Shield Folks for long term permethrin treatment.
2.   Rail Riders Journeyman Top with Insect Shield.

Both work well but I have to say that the OR Echo is cooler, more comfortable and just as protective as the Rail Riders though I love them both.

Agree on the Echo long sleeve zip. I soaked mine myself and had no problems with insects on the CT last year or a 500 mile section of the AT this spring. Plenty UV protection and cool in the sun at high altitudes here in CO. Much more comfortable than any of my woven shirts, and dried quickly even with the high humidity on the AT in the south.

I wore a buttoned shirt on one summer trip and I really didn’t like it. After a few days it felt really oily from my sweat and it smelled horribly. I don’t remember the exact material of fabrication type (woven/knit), though.

For my trip in the Sierra last August I went with a short-sleeved Icebreaker baselayer paired with Pearl Izumi Sun Protection sleeves when needed. IIRC Icebreaker stuff has pretty high UV ratings. Mine also features a half zip and a collar which is really nice in hot temps. The Merino wool is somewhat cooling once you sweated into the garment and the smell is totally okay. When I got the chance, I rinsed the shirt in a stream around noon and just let it dry on my skin afterwards which further mitigated the smell.

The sun sleeves were surprisingly cool, especially when I’d pour some water over them.

I’m a big fan of the OR Echo line, but I saw these and I’ve considered trying them out, assuming it’s hot enough.

https://www.exofficio.com/products/details/mens-sol-cool-long-sleeve-shirt-half-zip

I will say though that a good button up shirt has proven to be far more durable than an Echo shirt. My Echo has caught on twigs a few times and there are a few pull threads that I’m sure that will develop into problems eventually.

Wow that Sol Cool looks good to me.

They make a running-style short, too.

https://www.exofficio.com/products/details/mens-sol-cool-short

I admit, I’m pretty tempted. :) Shirt appears to have mesh sides. It has a nice collar so the need for anything other than a hat might generally be unnecessary. It has xylitol in it, which I’ve never tried, but it’d be fun to see how it performs.

Even comes in not-so-annoying colors.

By coincidence, the Sol Cool showed up on Massdrop today. Currently $37, with $35 as the price if it meets the target.

They’ve got it in a long sleeve T, and a half zip hoodie.

the only, final, question is–can mosquitoes bite through the fabric? if not, I’d buy this shirt because I hate buttons.

I’ve swapped to using button up shirts for hiking for several years.  I normally use Railroader shirts which have mesh down the underside of the arms and the side of the shirt for air flow.  They can come pretreated with permithrin which keeps the bugs off it.  I started doing so when I hiked the PCT and have ever since.  I usually do a few trips to the Sierra each year.

What I like about the buttons is I can undo a  few to allow more venting, making sure to not expose much skin if in  direct sunlight.  Opening the front completely up when in shade.

Layering is the same as any other shirt.  You wear your down, wind, rain jackets over it in that order.

If it’s going to be cold, I do add a light thermal baselayer under it in the earlymorning or night.  And yes, you do have to remove the shirt to add it.  But that is the same as pants, so what’s the big deal.  And in warmer weather, no such thing is required.

What I’ve noticed over the years, what some people mean by cooler is just less noticeable sweat which isn’t really the same thing.  You especially notice the difference between the two doing desert hiking in shorts vs lightweight long pants.  You are definitely drier in the shorts, but you skin is hotter.