The Best Hiking Shirts of 2024 – Short-Sleeve

Hiking, mountaineering, and trekking are physically demanding activities that require high-performance clothing to keep you comfortable, regardless of the conditions. A hiking shirt, being in direct contact with your skin, is one of the most crucial pieces of gear. It should be breathable, moisture-wicking, and quick-drying to maintain comfort during long stretches on the trail. For those extended adventures, the benefit of a hiking shirt made from antimicrobial material cannot be overstated—it prevents the growth of odor-causing microorganisms, ensuring you feel fresh longer.

In this review, we’re excited to share our selection of the top five short-sleeved hiking shirts currently on the market. After thorough review, we’ve chosen these shirts because they embody the best in breathability, quick-drying capability, odor resistance, and moisture-wicking properties. Whether worn alone or as a base layer beneath mid-layer garments, like a fleece jacket, they stand up to the test.

For those in search of a hiking shirt with long sleeves, consider checking out our review of the Best Merino Wool Base Layers instead. We’ve crafted this guide to make your buying decision a bit easier, sharing our personal experiences and findings to ensure you have the information you need to choose the best hiking shirt for your adventures.

1. Our Hiking Shirt Picks

1. Icebreaker Tech Lite II Shirt
2. Arcteryx Cormac T-Shirt
3. Columbia Zero Rules Shirt
4. Outdoor Research Echo Duo Tee
5. SmartWool Merino 150

2. Comparison of Hiking Shirts for Men

Feature/Product	Icebreaker Tech Lite II Shirt	Arcteryx Cormac T-Shirt	Columbia Zero Rules Shirt	Outdoor Research Echo Duo Tee	SmartWool Merino 150
Material	100% Merino Wool	100% Polyester	100% Polyester	100% Polyester	87% Merino wool, 13% Nylon
Fit	Regular	Regular	Regular	Regular	Slim
Antimicrobial	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Washing	Machine Wash	Machine Wash	Machine Wash	Machine Wash	Machine Wash
UV Protection	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

3. The Selection

1. Icebreaker Tech Lite II Shirt

Suitable for:

• Hiking
• Mountaineering
• Trekking
• Backpacking
• Climbing
• Running
• Everyday use

The Icebreaker Tech Lite II t-shirt is a perfect match for hiking, mountaineering, and a variety of other outdoor activities. Constructed from 100% Merino wool, with a fabric weight of 150 g/m2, it’s versatile enough to be a year-round garment. The ultra-fine nature of its fibers, approximately 18.9 microns in diameter, ensures the material feels exceptionally soft against the skin, eliminating any risk of irritation. What sets the Icebreaker apart is its outstanding functionality. It’s breathable, great at controlling odors, and efficiently wicks away moisture. Designed with the outdoor enthusiasts in mind, its shoulder seams are offset to avoid chafing when you’re carrying a backpack. The fit is just right—not too tight, not too loose—offering unhindered movement to navigate through your adventures comfortably. For those of us who value personal expression, the Icebreaker Tech Lite II doesn’t disappoint. Available in an array of colors and seasonal graphic prints, it offers a chance to showcase individual style while exploring the great outdoors. This t-shirt is a top pick for anyone seeking a blend of comfort, functionality, and style in their adventure gear.

Women's Version: Available - Icebreaker Women's Tech Lite II

Note: Women's version might slightly differ from the men's version.

 

2. Arcteryx Cormac T-Shirt

Suitable for:

• Hiking
• Mountaineering
• Trekking
• Backpacking
• Climbing
• Running

The Arcteryx Cormac Crew t-shirt with short sleeves is made of Ostria fabric, which is 100% polyester, it features a lightweight gridded stretch knit that excels in moisture-wicking performance and air permeability. This ensures you stay dry and comfortable, whether you’re scaling a mountain or navigating through a dense forest. To combat the challenge of odor, the fabric undergoes a durable anti-odor treatment using silver salts, a smart approach to keeping you fresh throughout your journey. Sun protection is paramount in outdoor apparel, and the Arc’teryx Cormac Crew doesn’t skimp on this feature. Featuring a UPF50+ rating, it offers one of the highest levels of protection against harmful UV rays found in hiking t-shirts within this selection. The thoughtful construction includes flatlock seams and gusseted underarms, enhancing comfort by preventing chafing and improving mobility. Moreover, reflective details are incorporated for increased visibility during low-light conditions. For those of us who also consider aesthetics alongside functionality, the Arc’teryx Cormac is available in a Logo version. This variant features a striking large print of the Archaeopteryx fossil across the chest, marrying style with the spirit of adventure. This t-shirt is a compelling choice for anyone seeking a high-performing, stylish, and protective layer for their outdoor excursions.

Women's Version: Not available

 

3. Columbia Zero Rules Shirt

Suitable for:

• Hiking
• Mountaineering
• Trekking
• Backpacking
• Climbing
• Running
• Everyday use

The Columbia Zero Rules shirt is a great option for hiking, mountaineering and trekking in warm weather. It is made of 100% zero interlock polyester and features Omni-Wick, Omni-Shade and Omni-Freeze technologies. Omni-Wick technology acts as a moisture transport system, quickly moving sweat away from the skin to the fabric’s exterior, where it evaporates swiftly, keeping you dry. Omni-Shade blocks harmful UV rays, safeguarding your skin against sunburns and contributing to your overall sun safety. Meanwhile, Omni-Freeze technology works to lower the fabric’s temperature, providing a cooling effect that is especially appreciated in warm conditions. To further enhance comfort, the shirt has been treated with an antimicrobial agent to prevent the growth of odor-causing bacteria, ensuring freshness throughout your journey. Additionally, its design includes a printed label to avoid chafing and flatlock seams for added comfort. Available in 9 different colors and featuring a relaxed fit, the Columbia Zero Rules shirt is an excellent pick for adventurers seeking to stay cool and protected in very warm climates.

Women's Version: Available - Columbia Women's Zero Rules

Note: Women's version might slightly differ from the men's version.

 

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4. Outdoor Research Echo Tee

Suitable for:

• Hiking
• Mountaineering
• Trekking
• Backpacking
• Climbing
• Running
• Everyday use

The Outdoor Research Echo Tee shirt is another great option for hiking and mountaineering in very warm weather. The shirt is made of the AirVent polyester fabric which is very light and porous. Therefore, it provides great breathability and dries very fast. To combat the challenge of odor that often accompanies vigorous outdoor pursuits, the fabric is infused with Polygiene antimicrobial agent, ensuring you remain fresh throughout your journey. The Echo Tee is thoughtfully designed with raglan sleeves and flatlock seams, prioritizing comfort and reducing the potential for irritation, even with continuous movement. Although its UPF rating of 15 may seem modest, it’s a natural trade-off for the fabric’s exceptional porosity and the garment’s overall lightweight feel. Available in a variety of colors and sporting a regular fit, the Outdoor Research Echo Tee is tailor-made for adventurers who prioritize lightness and ventilation on their hikes in very warm conditions.

Women's Version: Available - Outdoor Research Women's Echo

Note: Women's version might slightly differ from the men's version.

 

5. SmartWool Merino 150

Suitable for:

• Hiking
• Mountaineering
• Trekking
• Backpacking
• Climbing
• Running
• Everyday use

The SmartWool Merino 150 blends Merino wool and nylon, combining durability with the wool’s natural qualities: breathability, moisture-wicking, and odor resistance. At a 150 g/m2 density, it’s adaptable to any season. Comfort-focused with a crew neck and flatlock seams to minimize chafing, its snug fit still allows for ample movement. Offered in three colors, it’s a solid choice for extensive hikes, ensuring comfort and odor control.

Women's Version: Available - Smartwool 150 Women's

Note: Women's version might slightly differ from the men's version.

 

4. Hiking Shirt Buying Advice – What is important?

Material:

Hiking shirts are typically made either of polyester or Merino wool because these two materials are quick-drying, moisture-wicking and breathable. Hikers, mountaineers and trekkers often face a dilemma whether to buy a Merino shirt or a polyester shirt. Both materials have advantages and disadvantages. In this review we listed two Merino shirts and three polyester shirts (see the table above).

Polyester Shirts:

Polyester dries faster than Merino wool and absorbs less moisture (sweat). However, polyester shirts do not match Merino shirts when it comes to breathability and odor resistance. Some polyester shirts are treated with antimicrobial agents to be odor-resistant, but these agents sometimes wash out. Polyester shirts are also less comfortable to the touch.

Merino Shirts:

Merino shirts are super soft to the touch and provide great breathability and odor resistance. Note that Merino wool is naturally antimicrobial. However, they are pricier than polyester shirts and less durable. Nevertheless, manufacturers often add nylon fibers (up to 15%) to the fabric to improve the durability of Merino garments. Merino shirts are, in contrary to common belief, also suitable for warm summer days because Merino wool can be knit into very thin fabrics (150 g/m²) and the fibers also protect against UV-radiation.

Sun protection

The UPF-rating of a garment indicates how much UV-radiation it can protect against; a shirt with a UPF20 blocks all but 1/20 (≈5%) of UV-rays. The UPF-rating is dependent on various factors such as tightness of weave (think denim versus loose knits), fiber type (wool, polyester, cotton etc.), amount of stretch, dyes, treatments and condition of the garment (brand-new or worn-out). Read more in our article Sun Protective Clothing for Hiking.

Comfortable seams:

The seams on a shirt should not cause any rubbing or chafing. Manufacturers usually use flatlock seams to prevent seam chafing. Flatlock seams do not have any layers to the underside and are therefore very comfortable.

Antimicrobial properties:

It is a great benefit if a shirt is antimicrobial. This means that it will stay fresh after days of use. Merino wool is naturally antimicrobial while polyester can be treated to provide odor-control. This anti-odor treatment will eventually wash out.

Durability:

A hiking shirt should be machine-washable. It should also maintain its properties after regular washing.