Backpacker Magazine – September 2008

Extreme Layering: Hot-Weather Clothing

From the Grand Canyon to sunshine-pounded Colorado peaks, stay cool and comfortable with this ultralight system.

by: Annette McGivney, Photos by Sethhughes.com

SHIRT

Mountain Hardwear Advance Short Sleeve Crew
"I was surprised by how cool this shirt felt–even under a heavy pack," reported one tester after a sizzling hike to the Grand Canyon's Havasu Falls. The polyester fabric has ribbed channels that wick sweat away and increase airflow next to the skin; they shone when temps soared into the 90s along the Colorado River. Flat-lock seams were comfortable under pack straps, and the fabric showed no snagging or pilling after several months of backpacking and climbing. As for stink, the Chitosan antimicrobial treatment (made from crustacean shells) proved equal to other treatments–but not as effective as wool–during a sweaty four-day hike. (Look for a head-to-head test of odor-fighting fabrics in our November issue.) Available in various styles (from $28-$45). $35; men's S-XXL; 4 oz.; mountainhardwear.com. Reader service #107

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