Gear Review: Ibex Ace/Ciara Button-down Shirt

This collared button-down looks so spiffy, our tester was reluctant to wear it in the wild. But after giving it a beating in Colorado’s Gore Range, he declared it his “all-time favorite for both dinner dates and overnight hikes.” The 18.5-micron merino wool doesn’t itch or stink—testers wore it for five days straight without discernible odor. The stretchy knit (made from fiber loops, rather than the grid pattern found in many woven fabrics) gives it ample freedom of movement.

Although it dries slower than most synthetics, the wool wicks sweat and kept testers comfortable on chilly summits and sunny trails. “I love that I can turn the collar up for extra sun protection and unbutton the front for cooling,” says one tester. The women’s Ciara ($110; 6 oz.; XS-L) has three-quarter-length sleeves and no pockets. Says our gear editor, “Finally, a button-down that doesn’t make me look like a zookeeper.” Downside? Price. $110; 7.8 oz. (m’s L); S-XL; ibex.com