FIELD LOCATIONS & WEATHER

I have worn this shirt no less than 4 days a week since receiving it. I have also worn it on my thrice weekly bike training rides. In addition I have worn it on a 5 day backpack  on South Padre Island on the Texas Gulf Coast. Weather conditions varied from lows of 80 F to highs of 95 F (27 C to 35 C). Humidity averaged 90%. All bike rides and hikes were on flat terrain. Pack weight for my hike at South Padre Island was less than 10 lbs (5 kg). I have not worn the shirt in the rain, and experienced no rainfall on my South Padre Island hike.

FIELD PERFORMANCE

The high temperatures and humidity in my area has certainly put this Perth Tee to a test. It has done a decent job of wicking sweat away from my body. It is very absorbent, and after just a short, active time outdoors in my area it is soaking wet. It is a tad clingy when this wet. I also notice that in my high humidity and temperature conditions, it does not dry out as quickly as I would like while on my body.  My outdoor weather is much like a steam sauna so I am sure that plays into its ability to dry. When I have removed the Tee and hung it to dry with a decent air flow, such as on my South Padre Island hike, it dried fairly quickly.  The shirt gets a bit rank after so much sweat but freshens up well in the laundry.

As for the fit, I feel the shirt has grown in size a bit since receiving it new. The shoulders hang a little lower than when the shirt was new, and the fit around my neck is slightly larger also. The fabric is a little stretchy, so for a knit type product this should probably be expected. It still fits and is very comfortable to wear.

Very small segment showing fuzzballs and picks. The fuzzballs are widespread over the fabric, the picks are  not so numerous.

I have laundered this shirt a lot, no less than 4 times per week, sometimes more, following the laundry instructions. So far the color has held fast.  The shirt dries very quickly when hung to dry in my home or on my porch when even a light breeze is blowing. I am seeing some little fuzzballs on the shirt. There are a few little picks but they have not developed into anything. So far the Tee has aged fairly well and has stood up to the wear and tear and repeated washings that I have put it through.

SUMMARY

So far I am pleased with this shirt. It is comfortable to wear, and has done a decent job of doing what it is advertised to do.  It does a really good job of wicking moisture from me, but the downside is it becomes a little more clingy than I prefer.  It dries quickly when wet if hung on a line or tree limb. I am a little concerned about the fabric since I am seeing so many little fuzzballs on the shirt. The shirt has performed well to keep my back and other covered places from sunburn.

TESTING STRATEGY'S

My plan is  to continue to wear this Tee as much as possible, using it for my short dayhikes, when on my bike and for longer hikes.

This concludes my Field Report. The Long Term Report will be amended to this report in approximately two months from the date of this report. Please check back then for further information.


FIELD LOCATIONS & WEATHER

I have worn this shirt no less than 4 times per week for a minimum of 4 to 5 hours per day around my home while working outside, where temperatures have ranged from a low of 87 to a high of 98 F, (31 to 36 C).  In addition to this, I joined other members of one of my hiking clubs for a 7 day outing in the Pecos Wilderness in New Mexico. Temperatures ranged from a low of 65 to a high of  85 F, (18 to 29 C), elevations for our day hikes ranged from 6000 to 8000 Ft, (1830 to 2430 m). All of my hikes were day hikes, pack weights averaged 10 lbs, (5 kg). I also used this shirt for my weekly bike rides around my hometown, which consist of a loop of 36 miles on hardtop roads.

LONG TERM PERFORMANCE

The shirt has performed well for me for my outdoor chores, my hike in the Pecos Wilderness, and bike rides. In spite of the small picks and fuzzballs mentioned on my Field Report, the shirt has held up well, considering I have laundered it at least 4 to 5 days a week since receiving it. On my day hikes in New Mexico, the shirt performed much better than around my home where the humidity averages 90% or better. The cooler air on these hikes allowed the shirt to dry very quickly, and it soon became my favorite shirt to wear on the trail. The shirt was not as clingy as I reported in my Field Report, I think due to the lower humidities in the Pecos Wilderness. The shirt continues to be very comfortable, launders well, dries quickly and has held up to everything I have put it through.

SUMMARY

The White Sierra Tee has proven itself under the conditions I have tested it in. I like the thickness of the fabric, the wicking properties, the comfort level and its overall durability. It is a bit stretchy, but this has not in any way affected its field performance. I think due to all of the washings I have put it through, the size has enlarged a bit, but not enough to be a problem. It clings a bit in my high humidity area where I live, but when using it in areas with less humidity it has performed admirably.  Unless something else comes along that is better, I plan on continuing to wear this tee for most of my hikes and bike training rides.

Special thanks to White Sierra and Backpackgeartest for this opportunity.

Russell Curry