The Great Outdoors – July 2019

76 The Great Outdoors July 2019

Kathmandu

buzzGUARD Kangsar

£65 190g (M)

lightweight, insect-repellent,

Velcro-closed pockets

nothing

Fabric: nylon

Front closure: buttons

Pockets: 2 Velcro-closed chest

Cuffs: buttons

Vent s: mesh liner across upper back

Sizes: men S-X XL

kathmandu.co.uk

One of the lightest shirts tested the

Kangsar is also one of the only two with

an insect-repellent treatment. The fabric

has a wicking treatment too. It’s quite

thin and comfortable to wear. In warm

weather it does let moisture through

quickly and dries fast when damp.

The design is good. The pockets are

big enough for a smartphone and close

with Velcro tabs. There’s only one tab

per pocket, though, which isn’t quite as

secure as the double tabs found on other

shirts. There’s an extra flap inside the

collar so it can be turned up high for good

sun protection. There are big vents either

side of the upper back, with a mesh panel

inside. These do let some damp air out

as they aren’t completely blocked by a

rucksack. Tabs in the sleeves keep these

in place when rolled up.

The Kangsar is pleasant to wear

and it does everything I require from a

hiking shirt.

Jack Wolfskin

Hilltop Trail

£75 240g (men‘s M)

stud fastenings

only one pocket, cost

Fabric: 84% polyester/16% elastane

Front closure: studs

Pockets: 1 zipped chest

Cuffs: studs

Vent s: none

Sizes: men S-X X XL, women XS-X XL

jack-wolfskin.co.uk

This shirt is extremely stretchy. The

fabric clings to the body but moves easily

when you do. If you like close-fitting

shirts it could be ideal. I prefer looser

ones and dislike the feeling of stretch

fabrics moving over the skin – it feels like

something’s crawling over me! But that’s

just me. The fabric is quite soft and has

UPF 40+ sun protection and an anti-

microbial treatment to stop it smelling.

Like other thin synthetic shirt fabrics, it

moves moisture fast and dries quickly.

The fabric is a bit less wind-resistant than

some of those reviewed.

Rather than buttons the Hilltop Trail

has studs, which I really like as they’re

much easier to use. The single pocket

has a vertical zip. It’s big enough for a

smartphone but the stretchy fabric means

it sags if you put anything that heavy in it.

The Hilltop Trail performs fine. It’s a bit

more expensive than alternatives though.

Berghaus

Explorer LS 3.0
£60 250g (L)

Eco fabric, cost

buttons, small pockets

Fabric: polyamide
Front closure: buttons
Pockets: 2 button chest
Cuffs: buttons
Vent s: none
Sizes: men S-X XL
berghaus.com

Berghaus’s Explorer shirt is soft and
comfortable. It is made from ColourKind
Eco, a woven fabric that is kinder to the
environment as it goes through fewer
dyeing stages, using 89% less water, 63%
less chemicals, and 60% reduced CO 2
emissions in its production than standard
fabrics. It also means the fabric's colour
will not fade with washing. The shirt
is treated with Berghaus’s Argentium
technology to wick moisture away quickly
and resist odours.
The Explorer has two pockets, one
with a zipped security pocket inside.
They aren’t that big and won’t close
over a smartphone. They’re closed with
little buttons that are a bit fiddly to use.
The fabric has a UPF 50 rating. It’s not
as wind-resistant as some but it is very
breathable and comfy in hot weather.
The cost is lower than most shirts.
For sunny weather the Explorer is fine
as long as you don’t mind the limited
pocket size and the fiddly buttons.

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