Using a non-windshirt as a windshirt?

I sometimes wear my Columbia Silver Ridge Lite shirt as a “windshirt” over a base layer. As Stephen pointed out in his recent article, it doesn’t take much to block wind.

It isn’t lighter than a real windshirt, and it does not block as much wind; although it breathes better. That plus AD or Airmesh is a nice autumn combo.

I think of it as more of a “convenient trick” rather than an intentional part of a packing list. I usually have an EE Copperfield and an emergency poncho with me anyway; together they handle a wide range of conditions for less than four ounces total.

EDIT: The Dooy Sun Shirt is another 2oz wonder for $20. It runs two sizes small, though.

I bought two of these last year and am happy with them in summer and winter. Winter is where the tight weave helps as a wind shirt. In summer I just don’t button it and always wear a t-shirt as a base layer. They have proven durable for off trail hiking in the thorn scrub Sonoran desert. They are not as breathable as some of the shirts I’ve worn in the past but I’m sticking with them for what they do well. They don’t replace my Houdinis but I can usually leave the Houdinis home now for the most part.

TACVASEN Men’s Quick Dry Long Sleeve Shirts Breathable Lightweight Sun Protection Hiking

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I do this – wear a button down long sleeve nylon shirt as kind of a wind-shirt layer over a merino wool T-shirt. When I first started backpacking I used a regular wind shirt (Arcteryx Squamish). I think I first used the button down LS shirt on a Northville-Placid trail thru-hike in 2014 and ever since I have typically had one along on virtually all of my trips. It doesn’t really stop the wind that well – but good enough most of the time, and if the wind is strong enough and cold enough then my rain shell does the job. It is really just an extra layering piece – in lieu of a thin fleece for early morning cold starts, keeps bugs at bay, blocks the sun, helps me feel dryer worn under a rain shell when hiking in cold hypothermic conditions, and keeps the chill of at camp when I haven’t pulled out the puffy yet. A wind-shirt can do many of those things too for less weight, but I prefer the button down LS shirt.

The shirt I usually bring backpacking is a 10 year old TNF shirt that I doubt is made any longer. It is vented in the back – although I am not sure that makes much difference. I have several others – a Gander Mountain house brand fishing shirt that I think is similar to the Columbia Silver Ridge shirt Bill mentions, and one from Rail Riders that I don’t wear very much because the material is too heavy and stiff. I am thinking about giving the REI Sahara LS button shirt a try – I looked one in the store and the material has a nice brushed feel to it.

I use my Silver Ridge Light as a sort of wind shirt in the 40s over a fleece worn next to skin.  Its pretty effective and notably warmer than fleece over Silver Ridge Light.  It has its limits though.  If temp drops and or wind picks up strongly, adding a Houdini on top is a notable improvement in warmth.

When its warmer and I’m moving, rolling up sleeves and unbuttoning take me into summer mid day temps so the wind block aspects have work arounds.  Not quite as effective as the thinnest short sleeve, but much more versatile.  It dries fast.  The Gino look is even culturally appropriate for me.

David brings up one advantage of a button-down over a windshirt, the ability to roll up the sleeves. Easier than holding open the cuff into the wind to vent a windshirt.