Best Shirts For Hiking(Women) in India - Reviews and Comparison 2021

While hiking, we challenge our body against the forces of nature. And a comfortable garment is your best armour for that. As you progress along in your escapades, the sun starts to scorch, or the rain batters and cold winds begin to pierce your skin. This can cause skin rashes to develop or potentially cause rubbing and chafing. A good hiking shirt is the one that you won’t have to pay cautious attention to in your long hike. It will feel like the part of your own body and not some extra bit of burden you are carrying on yourself. So comfort has to be your number one priority!

Getting the perfect size of t-shirts is also a way of achieving comfort. You can measure the shirt size by checking if the shoulder seam is in line with your shoulder. If the length of that seam line is the same as your shoulder joint length from the neck, then it is the size for you! If the seams go below your shoulder line on the arm, then the shirt is oversized. If they are before your shoulder line, then the sweater is too small. You should also measure the bust and chest size. If the shoulder seam in the right, but it is tighter on the figure, buy a bigger size

Different fabrics have a different feel as well as other pros and cons! This is where comparing different materials becomes a necessity! Here is what we compared!

• Cotton: Cotton is a natural fibre and also the most commonly used material for making t-shirts. It is very soft, economical and breathable, which makes it the perfect choice for sportswear. The only drawback of cotton is that it shrinks after the first wash. It may also get heavy after getting soaked in water.

• Polyester: It is a synthetic fibre that is also one popular choice is sportswear. It dries quickly and does not lose its shape after wash. It does not offer comfort as equal to cotton but is a more popular choice for athletic wear.

• Rayon: This is one economical alternative to silk. It is very soft and smooth, which makes it an excellent choice for sportswear. It’s very light but not very long-lasting and also prone to wrinkles!

• Poly/Cotton Blend: The blended material is a mix of 50/50 - cotton and polyester. The material is viral for its softness and price as compared to cotton.

The parts where the fabrics are stitched together are super essential and more so in hiking and outdoor wear! A well-stitched seam offers you more durability as it keeps the material together even after being prone to rubs and friction on the same spots.

The t-shirt’s ability to allow ventilation is how we can say the material is breathable. This is necessary so that the sweat won’t get trapped against the skin and cause burn or irritation. The material should feel comfortable on your skin and allow the skin to breathe.

How fast the shirt dries after it absorbs moisture determines its drying speed. This is very important especially in moisture-rich conditions so that the wet cloth won’t add to your cold.

You may have seen shirts having reflective strips or sun protection. This is a personalized selection for everyone. If you are someone who hikes more often in the tropics, a sun-protective shirt should be your best pick. Likewise, if you are a night hiker, reflective straps are a great aid to see your location. Many hikers have been rescued because their reflective straps helped the rescuers to locate them. Other characteristics may also involve shirts having odour-protection.

The functionality of the shirt has to be good. By this, we mean that a hiking shirt brought for hiking, may not always be used for it. You should be able to utilize it for other activities as well, like running or cycling. The more multiple usages it offers, the better!

This is a very personalized choice. People have individual colour choices that they love to fill their closet with. Hiking shirts also come in a variety of colour choices. You can choose according to your looks. However, keep in mind that black colour attracts immense heat, and the whites get dirty very soon.
Our Recommendation: Pick a colour that will last longer. Neutral colours are the best!

There are many options when it comes to making the right design. Stand colour, round, and V-neck are some of the most common ones. When it comes to sleeves, you will find short sleeves in the majority! The other designs are A-line or straight cut that you can pick. If you have a curvy figure, then A-line will surely enhance your looks!

If you are going on a backpacking tour, you can pick shirts that are light coloured and also feel light. You don’t need to carry any heavy, unique requirement shirts since you can stop and change if they get dirty. Dry-fits won’t be an excellent choice to take on backpacking, since the dry-fits cling to the body. Cotton would be the best choice of material.

Tough conditions demand rigid materials. A dry-fit or polyester shirt will be best. Check if the shirts have tear-resistance and sun protection. You can also check for colour shades of mid to darker tones since they are bound to get dirty!

You surely need a dry-fit and quick-dry shirt for monsoon hikes. Wearing a cotton shirt in the rain will make it bulky. So go for materials like lycra or rayon. These don’t bulk up after absorbing water and will keep you feeling lightweight even if the clothes get wet!

Dry-fit shirts are great for monsoon and tough hiking seasons! But for cold or summer climates, you can get better options.

Not all hiking shirts are tear-free. You should specifically check for this feature while purchasing it.

It entirely depends on your comfort.

Materials like cotton are excellent at retaining warmth.

• If your shirt is made of delicate material and specifies to hand-wash, do not attempt to clean it in a machine.

• Do not use harsh detergents.

• If you can, use a cloth softener after washing.

• You can only press cotton t-shirts directly.

• If you are having a shirt made of polyester or rayon, do not use irons that have extremely high-temperature settings.

• Steam irons are the best picks in this case.

• Why?

  • This is a regular fit t-shirt. So you don’t have to worry about your shape and figure while imagining how it will fit.

  • The fabric is pure polyester.

  • The best choice for a variety of climates.

  • The material quickly dries, so perfect for monsoon hikes.

  • The round neck makes it cosy to wear.

  • There are 20+ colour shades you can choose from!

  • However, it won’t be an ideal selection for extreme climates.

• Why?

  • Regular fitting makes it comfortable for any body shape.

  • It has long sleeves, so very ideal for wearing when hiking in cold spots.

  • It has a poly-cotton blend, which lets it trap body heat.

  • The rib seam at the bottom makes it a great choice on cold nights!

  • There are various colours and sizes to choose from!

  • It is hand wash only, so you will need extra efforts to clean it!

• Why?

  • It is designed with unique mesh material making it very breathable.

  • It hugs the body and offers a slim-fit.

  • The T-back design is very comfortable.

  • Ideal for summer hikes and can be used as an inner layer of clothing in winters!

  • It is enhanced with anti-odour technology and flatlock seam. You would never have to doubt its durability!

  • However, there is only a single colour to choose from.

• Why?

  • It is made of 100% pure cotton and is a great winter selection!

  • Designed with a high neck and a zipper, this one will keep you warm on cold night hikes!

  • It is, however, not ideal for monsoon hikes as cotton does not dry fast.

  • But it's a pure cotton garment that ensures maximum comfort.

• Why?

  • The material is exceptionally stretchable and breathable.

  • It also has a fast dry capacity making it great for the rainy season.

  • There is a variety of printed designs to select.

  • It has sun protection with SPF30+. This makes it an ideal summer hike champ!

• Why?

  • It has an appearance and fit of a classic sports t-shirt.

  • Material is a blend of poly-rayon, making it a quick dry winner!

  • Best to use for average conditions and small summer hikes.

  • The logo has reflective properties which are placed on the front and back, making it great for night hikes or cycling.

  • Not ideal for cold climates.

• Why?

  • The t-shirt appears very stylish through design and look.

  • The material is polyester and gives a great classic fit.

  • The fabric is breathable and makes it wearing effortless.

  • Suitable for the average everyday climate. Checkout reviews and comparison of best trekking backpacks in India.