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Reviews > Clothing > Base Layers and Undies > Patagonia Mens Capilene 1 T-Shirt > Owner Review by Chad G Poindexter

PATAGONIA MEN'S CAPILENE 1 T-SHIRT
BY CHAD POINDEXTER
OWNER REVIEW

May 01, 2010

TESTER INFORMATION

NAME: Chad Poindexter
EMAIL: stick1377 (AT) gmail (DOT) com
AGE: 32
LOCATION: Corinth, Alcorn County, Mississippi, USA
GENDER: M
HEIGHT: 5' 10" (1.78 m)
WEIGHT: 200 lb (90.70 kg)

I am a fairly new hiker and have hiked in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia, and at a few state parks in Mississippi, Tennessee, and Alabama. I initially obtained slightly heavy gear, however, I am currently making efforts to go lighter. I love my tent and appreciate a warm drink in the morning, as well as a warm meal at night. So far my distance has averaged around 10 mi (16 km) per day, depending on terrain. My wife or my son typically tag along with me on my hikes.

PRODUCT SPECS / INFORMATION

IMAGE 1
Courtesy of Patagonia

Manufacturer: Patagonia
Year of Purchase: 2009
Manufacturer's Website: www.patagonia.com
MSRP: (US) $ 39.00
Listed Weight: 4.6 oz (130 g)
Measured Weight: 5.1 oz (145 g)
Size: Large (Also Available in: XS, S, M, XL, and XXL)
Color: Classic Navy (Also Available in White, Black,
Wild Wood, Real Red, Geeko Green & Feather Gray)
Materials: 3.7 oz (105 g) 100% Recycled Polyester
Extra Features: Fast-Drying, Highly-Breathable Silky-Soft Capilene 1,
Gladiodor natural odor control, 15-UPF Sun Protection,
Rib-Knit Collar, Long-Cut Hem, Set-In Sleeves & is
100% Recyclable through the Common Threads Recycling Program.
Patagonia Ironclad Guarantee: "Your satisfaction is guaranteed.
We make returns and repairs easy and full refunds are available
for returned items that are unwashed and unworn."
This shirt is "Made in the USA."

The sleek, smooth, silky-soft Patagonia Men's Capilene 1 T-Shirt (hereafter referred to as the "shirt") is made to stay dry and cool while offering minimal sun protection in the hottest of weather. Patagonia uses their lightest weight fabric to produce this ideal technical piece, and even adds in a 15-UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) sun protection with a Gladiodor natural odor protection to the shirt. The shirt has a slim fit which enables the shirt to comfortably be worn as a base layer with layers over the shirt, or as the sole outer layer. A long hem allows the shirt to be tucked in comfortably if so desired, or simply left out to let the air circulate through.

THIS IS WHERE I HAVE USED IT

IMAGE 4
On the trail at BHPSP

I have worn this shirt about twelve times while at Big Hill Pond State Park (BHPSP) on day hikes as well as some overnight trips. I have worn the shirt while at the state park in a variety of conditions, ranging from wet and rainy to cool and windy and even sunny and hot. The temperatures have been as low as 45 F (7 C) and as high as 95 F (35 C), depending on the time of the year, as well as the day. Average elevation here at the park is 500 ft (152 m). The picture to the left is while on a day hike with my wife at BHPSP.

Also, I have worn this shirt five straight days while on the Appalachian Trail (AT) last September while on a 40 mile (64 km) hike from Amicalola Falls State Park Visitor Center to Neel's Gap. I even wore the shirt to sleep in for a few of those nights. The temperatures reached highs of 85 F (29 C) during the days and as low as 61 F (16 C) through the night. The conditions were mostly sunny and nice, however two of the days were overcast with occasional small rain showers, which resulted in some fairly humid days. We began our hike at an elevation of 1,770 ft (539 m) behind the Amicalola Falls State Park Visitor Center and reached elevations as high as 4,450 ft (1,356 m) where we made camp atop Blood Mountain for our last night out.

Other than these times I have worn the shirt many other times while on day hikes at some of the other local state parks near my home, while walking the walking trail at the local city park and just in general around the house. I even carried the shirt with me this past January for a three day / two night hike in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park for use as a sleep shirt, or a back-up hiking shirt. I have worn the shirt in temperatures as high as 102 F (39 C) on an extremely warm day, and a few other times at temperatures just below that. Again, I have worn the shirt in everything from rainy to sunny conditions.

WHAT I THINK ABOUT IT

This was the first technical shirt that I bought when I began backpacking last year. I have worn this shirt at least thirty times and washed it probably as many as twenty times. I was drawn to the shirt because of its silky feel, and the promise of quality of the Patagonia products. I must say that overall I have not been let down, and the promise has definitely shown itself true in this shirt, as well as other shirts that I have by Patagonia.

This shirt is silky smooth and very comfortable against my skin. I have used the shirt to sleep in a number of times for this very reason. Even during the cold months I carry this shirt for a sleep shirt because of its light-weight and its level of comfort, as well as having a back-up shirt to hike in. The shirt even stretches a bit when needed, and then bounces right back to the way it was. Also, this shirt breathes very well and wicks great. The shirt immediately soaks up any perspiration and using the combined heat generated from my body and any wind at all (even if it's just from walking), the shirt begins to dry out, quickly. Also, I have used the shirt as a base layer and layered over it a few times and I must say that this shirt is quite comfy when other shirts are layered over it. Thanks to the shirt's silky-smooth Capilene 1 fabric, an over-shirt will glide right over this shirt, and the shirts have never bunched up together. However, I have come to prefer a long sleeve shirt as a base layer to actually layer over as opposed to a short sleeve shirt.

The shirt has held up very well over the last year. The color is still the same despite the many washings or exposure to the sun, and there are no worn spots anywhere on the shirt. I have even treated the shirt with both the permethrin spray as well as the soak on three different occasions, and it has not resulted in any changes to the shirt (other than it kept the ticks and bugs at bay pretty well). I was expecting at least some wear on the shirt from where the hip belt and the shoulder strap rest on the shirt, but none has been made. The silky smooth texture is still the same as the day that I bought it as well. Overall, this shirt has definitely been a winner. This is one of the shirts that, despite the high price, I would replace if anything were to happen to the shirt. If I got another shirt I would probably get a different color for use in hotter temperatures though, such as white (which I probably will end up doing anyway).

The only real downfall of the shirt is the smell. It definitely has the synthetic smell after only one good days use, let alone multiple days of use. The Capilene 1 T-shirt incorporates Patagonia's own Gladiodor natural odor control, which prides itself on not having to rely on metals or antimicrobials (which the bacterias can grow a resistance to) for the actual odor control. However, in all of my Capilene shirts, the odor is not controlled, and this shirt makes no exception. Also, on another less than positive note, the price is rather high. Regardless though, I will pay it for this shirt, since this shirt has more than proven it's worth, in my opinion.

IMAGE 3
Intersection of Appalachian Trail and Benton MacKaye Trail


Patagonia also makes note on their website that they are exploring new ways to increase the UPF rating on the shirt without sacrificing the performance or comfort of the Capilene 1 fabric.

THINGS THEY DID RIGHT

1. The silky-smooth texture against my skin defines comfort.
2. The overall durability of the shirt is super.
3. The ability of the shirt to be used in many different situations.

THINGS I WISH THEY WOULD CHANGE

1. The smell.
2. The price.

WHO I AM

IMAGE 5
Chad Poindexter
"Stick"

This report was created with the BackpackGearTest.org Report Writer Version 1.5 Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Read more gear reviews by Chad G Poindexter

Reviews > Clothing > Base Layers and Undies > Patagonia Mens Capilene 1 T-Shirt > Owner Review by Chad G Poindexter



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