Best Lightweight Long-Sleeve Hiking Shirt for Men & Women

Let’s cut straight to the chase: the Icebreaker 150 Zone does everything we could possibly ask a long-sleeve shirt to do. It’s lightweight, highly breathable, comfortable, and helps to regulate temperature by insulating when temps are cool and letting your body breathe when you’re working up a sweat. 

The 150 Zone shirt is made with a performance-primed combo of merino wool, nylon, and spandex, which together lend it a soft tough, ample toughness, and enough stretch for unrestricted freedom of movement. 

Despite its use of strategically located mesh vents that help to keep things cool when you’re hiking hard, the tighter, athletic fit on the 150 Zone means it doesn’t allow as much airflow as loose-fitting button-ups like the Silver Ridge or the ExOfficio Air Strip. However, it’s a more practical choice for high-output activities and fits more snugly under a mid-layer.

Specs

• Fabric: 83% Merino wool, 12% Nylon & 5% Spandex
• Weight: 8 oz.
• UPF: 20

Looking for a low-cost but high-performing alternative to all those merino and big-name-brand shirts that cost an arm and a leg? If so, the REI Co-op Lightweight long-sleeve hiking shirt is a great option. 

This crew-style shirt isn’t quite as breathable or soft against the skin as the Icebreaker Zone 150 or Smartwool 150 (below), but it also costs a fraction of the price, is made with a high-wicking and stretchy polyester-spandex blend, and packs enough in the way of performance for the needs of your average hiker. 

This shirt can also be worn as a standalone outer or a base layer, has a UPF rating of 50+, and uses underarm gussets to increase mobility.

Specs

• Fabric: 92% Polyester, 8% Spandex
• UPF: 50+

Made with 87% merino wool and 13% nylon, this is among the most durable lightweight merino shirts out there. The breathable, 150-weight fabric also makes it a solid option for standalone use or a base layer in a two- or three-layer system.

What we love most about this one is its “barely there” feel – weighing just 6 ounces, this is the lightest shirt in our review. 

Like the Icebreaker Zone 150, the Smartwool 150’s high merino content means it helps to regulate your body temperature while out on your hikes, making it a great option for year-round adventures. While a few ounces lighter than the Zone 150, the Smartwool 150’s lack of stretch means it offers a little less in the way of mobility.

Specs

• Fabric: 87% Merino Wool, 13% Nylon
• Weight: 6 oz.

Patagonia’s Cool Daily Hoodie is a great option for hikers who prefer clothing that provides a little more comfort without compromising on performance. 

This hoodie is made by Fair Trade Certified producers in Sri Lanka with Bluesign-approved fabric – namely, Patagonia’s proprietary Capilene, a form of polyester that’s high-wicking, quick-drying, stretchy, and imbued with an odor-resistant Polygiene treatment.

This one wins our award for comfort on account of its relaxed fit, cozy hood, and use of built-in miDori bioSoft fabric softener, a game-changing technology that gives the fabric peerless next-to-skin softness. 

While not a “technical hoodie” – i.e. one that prioritizes performance above all else – like the Icebreaker 150 Zone or Odlo Blackcomb, the Cool Daily’s a hands-down winner in the comfort stakes and offers more than enough in the way of performance for general hiking. 

Specs

• Fabric: 100% recycled polyester
• Weight: 6.3 oz.
• UPF: 50

This low-cost shirt is the ideal pick for hikers who want performance-oriented fabrics in a light, airy, and well-designed button-up. 

The Silver Ridge Lite is made with 100% polyester and uses Omni-wick technology to deliver above-average moisture management. While not as breathable as some of the other fabrics in our review, the loose-fitting design and hidden vents in the back mean this top provides ample airflow even when tucked into your pants. 

But how does it measure up to the other button-ups in our review? 

Compared to the ExOfficio Air Strip, the Silver Ridge packs a little more sun protection but also less breathability. Both, however, are solid options for summer hiking. Fjallraven Singi Trekking Shirt, on the other hand, is a different beast entirely, weighing 6.5 ounces more and using water-resistant fabric that makes it a better option for hiking in variable conditions.

Specs

• Fabric: 100% polyester
• Weight: 6.5 oz.
• UPF: 40

The ExOfficio Air Strip focuses on moisture and temperature management by using high-wicking, quick-dry fabric that enhances the shirt’s breathability. To help keep you cool in hot weather, it also employs an Airomesh ventilation system that includes a back yoke, a pair of side seams, and button-up sleeves.

Other endearing features in this shirt include two chest pockets with hook-and-loop closures, a zippered key pocket, a UPF of 30+, and an adjustable sun collar for added neck protection.

While pricier and heavier than the Columbia Silver Ridge, we found that the ExOfficio offers a little more breathability and its stretchier fabric provides more freedom of movement. 

Specs

• Fabric: 73% Nylon, 27% Polyester
• Weight: 8.2 oz.
• UPF: 30+

This wildcard entry on our list is one that’s sure to raise a few eyebrows. 

Compared to the other button-ups on our list, the Columbia Silver Ridge and ExOfficio Air Strip, the Singhi is a heavy shirt. It’s also a lot less breathable, takes longer to dry, and costs significantly more. 

Despite all of this, there are several reasons why this shirt is well worth considering. 

The Singhi is a one-of-a-kind adventure shirt. It’s made with Fjallraven’s signature fabric, G-1000, a poly-cotton blend sealed with Greenland wax to add both durability and water resistance. While this treatment makes it far heavier than any other shirt in our review, it also means the Singi is a great choice for hiking in light rain and high humidity.

The Singi is also the toughest shirt in our review, so is ideal if you’re the type of hiker who values longevity in their threads or typically exposes them to a fair amount of rough treatment.

Specs

• Fabric: 65% Polyester, 35% Cotton
• Weight: 13 oz.

Looking for the best lightweight long-sleeve hiking shirt to beat the summer heat or protect your skin on bluebird days? If so, the Marmot Windridge is well worth a place on your shortlist.

With a UPF rating of 50+, this crew-style shirt is the most protective on our list. It’s also highly breathable, quick-drying, and uses flat-locked seams to prevent chafing, and mesh panels that boost ventilation when you’re working up a sweat.

While a little heavier than other crews and long-sleeve T’s like the Icebreaker Zone 150 and Smartwool 150, that UPF rating makes it a better option for buyers with sun-sensitive skin or who plan on hiking in sunny climates or at altitude.

Specs

• Fabric: 100% Polyester Jersey and Mesh
• Weight: 10 oz.
• UPF: 50+

The Odlo Blackcomb has a slightly different design from the other shirts on our list. Instead of a button-up or crew neck design, it uses a zippered turtleneck that provides you with a little more control over ventilation. The Blackcomb also uses strategically-placed ventilation zones to manage moisture and body mapping for enhanced freedom of movement.

This shirt also scores highly as regards pong prevention thanks to its use of Odlo’s ZeroScent anti-odor technology, which uses silver ions to neutralize scent agents.

This shirt has a more athletic, figure-hugging fit than the crew-style shirts – the Icebreaker Zone 150, Smartwool 150, and REI Lightweight – listed above. As such, it’s a good option for trail running, technical hiking, and layering, but maybe not ideal for those who don’t want to place every inch of their anatomy on display to fellow hikers or simply prefer a little more leeway for movement.

Specs

• Fabric: 68% Polyester, 27% Polyamide, 5% Elastane