Do high tec shirts really work?

[vicrev]

Hi all, I have two high tec walking shirts,I seem to sweat more in them than normal light cotton or linen shirts. Has anyone else had this problem?....Cheers Vicr

 

[KiwiNomad06]

I found that wicking t-shirts did work for me, but a cheap version was just as good as a more expensive one.
Something to think about with linen or cotton is that they generally weigh more and take longer to dry when washed - both things that can matter on the Camino. And if cotton gets wet while wearing it in very wet weather, it can leave you feeling quite cold.
Margaret

 

[Al the optimist]

They work for me. And I agree with the comment about drying quickly, that's quite important on the Camino.
allan

 

[mikevasey]

Hi i have kinda gone full circle on it, i had cotton polo shirts on my 1st camino which were heavy and took longer to dry, but felt good to wear. on the next camino i wore merino wool baselayers which were excellent in every possible way, but too hot for any other season than the one i was walking in. On the next one i took hiking technical t-shirts they were lighter and dried very quickly, but i did not like the feel of them and as to the wicking properties they were neglible in comparison to a non hiking cotton polo shirt, and last but not least synthetic material (even when treated) has a tendency to really stink when used over a multiple week walk even with it being washed after every use. On my last camino i wore poly/cotton shirts, they did the job that was asked of them. i feel for me natural fibre is the way ahead, if it has wicking properties.

mike

 

[Kitsambler]

I must confess: my very favorite trekking and traveling shirt (it has made every single Europe walk so far and is slated for this next one as well) is a tropical weight poly-cotton blend. Reliably dries overnight, looks great, exceedingly comfortable. (http://www.travelsmith.com) Also my favorite traveling trousers (http://www.Tilley.com). Especially in hot weather (France in Sept) they are a good component of my kit. So, altogether I use 3 shirts (1 is worn): short sleeved poly-cotton, long-sleeved synthetic, and merino wool T-shirt.

 

[AJ]

Superfine merino for me. Singlet or T shirt. Doesn't stick when you sweat, isn't cold when wet.

 

[Diogo92]

Well, first of all, guilty in here, I use them for trekking but also in a normal day.

But I got to be honest with you: sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t. The problem with the so called High Tec shirt’s it’s not the fabric, but for example, the way that the shirt it’s made.

Some of them are only t-shirts as the usual ones, made with fiber so they can be fresh and could evaporate fast your sweat and dry. This one’s could be very good for small trekking’s for one day or something like that (or to use in a normal day, going to work, as I use them). The problem is that they tend to get wet with your backpack.

Then you have other type of t-shirts with some sort of net under your arm pit and back, wish I think that are the best High Tec shirts, because these are very fresh and they don’t tend to get wet on your back.
They are “making” some of them for trekker’s, but if you find them very expensive, check the Cycling area, usually the material it’s the same, and it works in the same conditions. It was what I’ve done, and I spared almost 50% of the value.

P.S: I don’t know why, probably it’s the fiber, but with the first ones I tend to have my nipples sored sometimes :?

Diogo

 

[vicrev]

Went for a 8k walk,temperature 36c yesterday ,wore a light cotton shirt,hardly sweated,cant say the same about a Hi Tec shirt .Beginning to think this so called wicking is urban (or I should say walking ) myth , put out by the multi billion dollar outdoor clothing industry.All my overpriced,Hi Tec gear will be going down to the local charity shop!!!......Vicr

 

[grayland]

Went for a 8k walk,temperature 36c yesterday ,wore a light cotton shirt,hardly sweated,cant say the same about a Hi Tec shirt .Beginning to think this so called wicking is urban (or I should say walking ) myth , put out by the multi billion dollar outdoor clothing industry.All my overpriced,Hi Tec gear will be going down to the local charity shop!!!......Vicr

The main advantage of the tech shirts over cotton..is the quick drying.
Cotton just will not get dry overnight usually.
Easier to care for. I have never had a problem of any type with tech material.

 

[na2than]

used old led zep t shirts last year in august...sweated like a dog...washed them each night...no probs
this summer taking hi tech to compare...mainly because they dry quicker, but for this i would stick to super fine(washed to death) cotton.

 

[KiwiNomad06]

but for this i would stick to super fine(washed to death) cotton.

lol I had just such a well worn cotton shirt to wear at nights for my Chemin last year. But it turned out to be too well worn, and almost as soon as I started wearing it, it started going into holes. It didn't matter too much on the Cluny route where I was mostly the only person in a gite each night, but from Le Puy south it was a bit more embarrassing. I was rescued in Moissac by my good friend Aideen from Ultreia gite who took me shopping to buy a new one!
Margaret

 

[na2than]

my son wore the same t shirt to walk in every day...it ended up full of holes and shreaded...it is now framed on his wall with the compestella and credential from 2012

 

[jpflavin1]

Vicrev:

The value of Hi-tec clothing is that it weighs less and dries faster. Especially in the Spring months where the weather is much more inclement.

Ultreya,
Joe