SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019
BACKPACKER.COM 53BEST LONG SLEEVE
- Title Nine Grace Long Sleeve Top
This top is so soft on skin, our tester actually preferred to sleep in it
even after long days on the trail. “It’s like a pajama shirt turned tech-
nical,” she says. “And because it has a proprietary anti-stink treat-
ment, I never worried about going to bed smelly.” The Grace’s blend of
brushed polyester and spandex wicked well on hikes up to 75°F, and
its thumbholes and waist-long cut meant it never rode up while we
were wearing a pack. A side-seam pocket can hold car keys or a credit
card. $64; 7.1 oz. (w’s M); w’s XS-XL; titlenine.com
MOST VERSATILE TOP
- Columbia Northern Comfort Midlayer Shirt
Think of this piece as a techy sweatshirt: It’s f leecy on the inside
and fits like an oversized T-shirt, but it’s made of polyester and
uses Columbia’s Omni-Wick technolog y. It was a snuggly option at
ca mp in Colorado’s India n Pea ks, a nd a lso ser ved a s a n outer layer
on brisk morning hikes. Since it doesn’t have a hood, it slides nicely
under a shell for ski touring. A longer-than-usual drop-tail hem kept
our bottoms covered on a reachy scramble up Colorado’s Pawnee
Pass Trail. Nice touch: Like your old sweatshirt, it has a large kanga-
roo pocket t hat f its ha nds, a map, or snacks you wa nt to keep close.
$60; 9 oz. (w’s M); w’s XS-XL; columbia.comBEST LEGGINGS- Marmot Women’s Trail Bender Tights
Style and durability blend seamlessly in the Trail Benders, which
bolster their f lattering fit and attractive colors with reinforced
nylon fabric at the knees and ankles and quick-wicking, UPF 50
polyester everywhere else. The gusseted knees let us high-step up
boulders in Colorado’s Golden Gate State Park, and the high waist
band is comfy under a pack. Ding: no cell phone pocket. $90; 9.7 oz.
(w’s M); w’s XS-XL; marmot.com675