Gear comparative review
74 The Great Outdoors July 2019
Haglöfs
Salo LS
£70 210g (L)stud-fastened roomy pockets,
bluesign approved fabric,
quite lightcosts slightly more than
alternativesFabric: Climatic 93% polyamide/7% elastane
Front closure: buttons
Pockets: 2 stud-fastened chest
Cuffs: buttons
Vent s: mesh liner across back, holes under arms
Sizes: men S-X XL
haglofs.comHaglöfs’ Salo shirt has big roomy pockets
that swallow smartphones and GPS units.
They’re stud-fastened and so easy to use.
I really like them. The bluesign-approved
fabric has a silky feel and is treated with
a PFC-free wicking treatment. On warm
days I’ve found it comfortable. There are
tiny ventilation holes under the arms. I
don’t think these make any significant
difference: work hard and I still get sweaty
armpits. The fabric does dry quickly,
though, which I think is more important.
There’s a long vent in the back with a
mesh panel under it. This is flattened by a
rucksack so it’s only of any use – and that’s
not much – when you’re not carrying one.
There are inner straps for keeping the
sleeves in place when you roll them up.
The fabric is quite stretchy, so the shirt
moves easily with you.
The Salo shirt is quite light but it’s
a little more expensive than some
alternatives. However, it does have some
of the best pockets.Craghoppers
NL Adventure II LS
£65 290g (L)anti-insect treatment, map-sized
pocketsmall pocketsFabric: polyamide
Front closure: buttons
Pockets: 1 zipped chest, 2 button chest, 1 hidden
zip’n’clip RFID security, 1 stud-fastened sleeve
Cuffs: buttons
Vent s: none
Sizes: men S-X X X XL, women 8-20
craghoppers.comThis shirt has anti-insect and antimicrobial
treatments plus a UPF of 50+. The fabric
has a pleasant cotton-like feel and some
wind resistance. There’s a vent in the back
with a mesh lining , but it is covered by a
rucksack and so not actually much use
when walking with one. The collar has an
inner flap, so it can be turned up to cover
your neck better than most. Out of five
pockets only one is roomy: a vertical-
zipped one that is big enough for a map.
A tiny sleeve pocket closes with a stud
and so is easy to access but it holds hardly
anything. Two chest pockets have small,
fiddly buttons and are not big enough
to close over a smartphone. A zipped
security pocket is okay for some cash or
cards but not big enough for a passport.
The shirt is comfy, wicks well on hot
days, and dries quickly. The sleeves are
easy to roll up; tabs to hold them in place.
The anti-insect treatment works quite
well. The shirt weighs a little more than
alternatives. The price is about average.
Given bigger pockets with easier-to-use
fastenings it would be a really good shirt.
As it is, there are better alternatives.Columbia
Silver Ridge II
£50 240g (L)Velcro-closed pockets, costpockets could be a little biggerFabric: nylon
Front closure: buttons
Pockets: 2 Velcro-closed chest
Cuffs: buttons
Vent s: mesh liner across upper back
Sizes: men XS-X XL
columbiasportswear.co.uk
The Silver Ridge is a shirt that’s hard to fault
and it has a lower price than similar ones,
making it excellent value for money. The
fabric is quite thin and surprisingly wind
resistant. It feels pleasant next to the skin.
It has a UPF 50 sun protection rating and
Columbia’s Omni-Wick treatment for good
breathability. When damp it dries quickly.
There are two chest pockets. They close
with Velcro patches rather than fiddly
buttons and therefore are easy to use.
They’re quite roomy. My smartphone will
just fit inside with the flap closed. A little
more space would be nice, but they are
more useful than the pockets on most of the
shirts reviewed.
There are tabs for keeping the sleeve in
place when rolled up. The back has vents at
the sides rather than across it, with a mesh
panel inside. This is more effective than
a vent completely covered by a rucksack
though it still doesn’t make much difference.
The collar has a flap inside so it can be turned
up higher for extra sun protection.
I think the Silver Ridge is an excellent
hiking shirt.
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