The Great Outdoors July 2019 75Vaude
Neshan LS III£70 280g (L)soft fabric, eco-friendlyonly one small pocketFabric: polyester
Front closure: buttons
Pockets: 1 button chest
Cuffs: buttons
Vent s: none
Sizes: men S-XXXL
vaude.comVaude is one of the outdoor clothing and
equipment companies that is genuinely
taking environmental considerations
seriously, and it shows with this shirt.
It’s made from recycled polyester, which
Vaude says saves up to 50% in energy
and CO 2 emissions as well as fossil raw
materials.
The resulting fabric is very soft and
comfortable. It’s a bit thicker and warmer
than some of those tested, and therefore
the shirt is slightly heavier, but it’s still
fine to wear on warm days.
The Neshan only has one small
pocket. This has a button closure but
no flap so it’s not as secure as pockets
with flaps.
The fit is fine, the sleeves roll up okay,
though there’s no tabs to keep them in
place. Overall this is a functional shirt, as
long as you’re not looking for much in the
way of pockets. Its big plus points are the
softness of the fabric and the fact that
it’s recycled.Mountain Warehouse
Trace Flannel LS£30 305g (L)low costcotton, small pockets, not that lightFabric: cotton
Front closure: buttons
Pockets: 2 button chest
Cuffs: buttons
Vent s: none
Sizes: men S-XXXL
mountainwarehouse.comTraditionally outdoor shirts were made of
wool for the cold and cotton for the heat.
The first is still effective; the second has
just about disappeared – because cotton
soaks up moisture quickly, dries slowly
and feels cold when damp. It doesn’t wick
that well when wet either. But there are
still a few cotton shirts designed for the
outdoors, the Trace being an example.
In really hot weather a wet cotton shirt
can help keep you cool; but much of the
time, especially in the UK, I think cotton
has more disadvantages than advantages,
especially in summer. Because it feels cold
when wet and dries so slowly, I’d always
wear a wicking base layer underneath or
carry one to put on if needed. Wearing this
shirt, I got quite damp with sweat after
just a few hours’ walking.
All this said, the Trace is soft and
comfortable to wear, and the cost is very
low. It has two chest pockets, but these
aren’t very big. The buttons that close
them are a bit larger than on most shirts
and so easier to use.
For casual wear and easy low-level
walks the Trace is fine. I wouldn’t wear it
in the hills though.Fjällräven
Singi Trekking
£105 395g (L)tough fabricheavy, expensiveFabric: G10 0 0 65% polyester/35% cotton
Front closure: buttons
Pockets: 2 button chest, 1 button sleeve
Cuffs: button
Vent s: mesh liner across back,
mesh underarm with flap
Sizes: men XS-XXXL
fjallraven.co.uk
If you want a tough, hard-wearing shirt
this is certainly one to consider. It’s made
from Fjällräven’s well-established G1000
polyester/cotton fabric as used in jackets
and trousers, though it’s not waxed. It’s
pre-washed for a soft feel, but I found it
so stiff as to be a bit uncomfortable, so I
washed it before wearing (the only shirt I
did this with). Once washed it was fine.
The fabric is quite wind-resistant,
but breathable. It dries fairly quickly but
not as fast as thinner 100% synthetics.
A vent in the back has mesh under it. It’s
covered by a rucksack but there are also
mesh inserts in the armpits that do help
to keep you cool and allow moisture out.
These are covered by buttoned flaps that
are a bit fiddly to operate.
The bellows chest pockets are quite
roomy but not deep enough to close over
a smartphone. The sleeve pocket is small;
I’m not sure what I’d use it for. Unlike
many shirts the buttons are big enough
for easy use. Tabs in the sleeves keep
them in place when rolled up.
For durability the Singi can’t be
beaten. However, it’s the heaviest shirt
reviewed and by far the most expensive.
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