Reviews > Clothing > Shirts > Ex Officio Lite LS Shirt > Thomas Vickers > Field Report

Ex Officio BUZZ OFF Lite Long Sleeved Shirt- Field Test Report

July 4, 2004

Thomas Vickers
36 years old
Male
5 ft 11 in tall (1.8 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
redroach@pobox.com
Southeast Texas, Houston Area

Background: 
I grew up in the piney woods of southeast Texas. Camping was a quick trip into the mosquito-infested woods behind the house.  I started hiking in my college years and my style has evolved over the past 17 years - from my discovery, heavy gear period (internal frame packs, sleeping bags and tents) to - believe it or not - heavier, more expensive gear.  Over the last 3 or 4 years, I have begun to take a lighter weight approach to hiking gear (I still use sleeping bags and tents, just lighter versions) and I have rediscovered the pleasure that can be involved in being outdoors with your gear.  While I have flirted with lightweight hiking, I feel that I am more of a mid-weight hiker now. My philosophy is one of comfort, while carrying the lightest load possible

Manufacturer Details:
Website:www.exofficio.com
Year of Manufacture: 2004
Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL
Colors: Blue, Sand, Juniper
Weight: NA

Details from Tester: (all measurements are approximate)
Size: Medium
Color: Sand
Weight: 8.7 oz (247 g)
Arm Length (shoulder seam to cuff): 24 in (61 cm)
Collar Circumference: 17 in (43 cm)
Torso length (base of collar to tail of shirt): 29.75 in (76 cm)
Chest: 40 in (102 cm)

Additional Tester Measurements:
Arm length: 22 in (56 cm)
Chest: 38 in (97 cm)
Waist: 33 in (84 cm)
Neck: 16 in (41 cm)

Test Locations:
This item has been tested in two locations:

Southeast Texas - Little or no altitude. Nighttime temperatures ranged from 70 degrees F to 85 degrees F (21 degrees C to 29 degrees C). Daytime temperatures were 80 degrees F to 100 degrees F (27 degrees C to 38 degrees C).

Arkansas (Eagle Rock Loop Trail) - Altitudes of 500 - 2000 feet (152 meters to 610 meters). Nighttime temperatures ranged from 60 degrees F to 80 degrees F (16 degrees C to 27 degrees C). Daytime temperatures were 80 F to 90 F (27 C to 32 C).

These trips have been 1 to 3 days in length during the field test period.

Test Conditions:
The shirt has been worn during a variety of activities. So far I have day hiked, geocached, mowed the yard, and taken one extended hiking trip with the Ex Officio BUZZ OFF Lite long sleeved shirt.

Testing Impressions:
I should probably start off by saying that the most tender part of my torso is the inside of my elbows.  This area seems to be a haven for flying, biting, and blood sucking insects off all sorts.  If the Ex Officio BUZZ OFF Lite shirt can keep my tender parts bite free, then I am going to have to consider the test a success.

So far this has most definitely been the case. During on of my geocaching trips in the state forest near my home, it was mosquito season, and then some.  The little blood suckers were out in force and I knew the BUZZ OFF Lite shirt was going to be put to the test.   As I wondered through the woods trying to find the container, I had the shirt sleeves rolled up and buttoned. I just can't stand to be wearing long sleeves during a Texas summer.   

I noticed very quickly that the mosquitoes were not biting me on the inside of my elbow or on neck.   After some thought and a realization that my hands were getting bitten, I came to the conclusion that the BUZZ OFF Lite shirt was doing its job.  Not one single bite in the crook of my arm.  The closest bite I received was on the base of my thumb which was approximately 13 inches (33 centimeters) from the rolled up sleeve of the shirt.  Talk about being happy.

When I was hiking in Arkansas (I wore the shirt for 2.5 days without washing.) I noticed the same experience.  Bugs tended to get on my hands, but no where near the shirt.   The mosquitoes were mainly out in the evenings, but even then they were not zeroing in on my arms.  A few bites on my hands, but none on my arms or neck/ears. 

What I also liked was that despite being washed once (prior to leaving for Arkansas) and being completely soaked by sweat for most of each day, the BUZZ OFF protection has not seemed to have been reduced yet.  The next washing is coming up as I type and I will be able to further test the decline, if any, of the BUZZ OFF protection while I am on my next hiking trip in Colorado.  

The Ex Officio BUZZ OFF Lite shirt has also proven itself very well in several other areas that I wanted to test.  When day hiking or any other activity that doesn't require a backpack, the Ex Officio fabric not only wicks moisture very well, but the BUZZ OFF Lite shirt also dries very quickly, even when on my body.  The cape vent helps keep me very cool, no matter what the temperature is or what activity I am participating in.   The comfort and coolness of this shirt really surprised me, especially since   it so 'stylish' as compared to my normal hiking shirts. 

When I was in Arkansas, the Ex Officio BUZZ OFF Lite shirt spent every day soaked with my sweat. It was wet and dripping by the time I took it off at the end of the day.   Every night I would hang it over a branch, crawl in the tent, and in the morning the shirt was dry. I really liked this.  I also discovered on this trip that the shirt is comfortable to wear while wearing a pack, but the benefits of the cape vent are completely lost.  This is no real surprise since it is covered by my pack, but I had already grown used to having a nice cool back in this shirt.

Most importantly, I didn't overheat while wearing the shirt and a pack.  I kept the sleeves rolled up the entire trip and despite spending most of my day with a pack on, I never felt that I was any hotter than usual.  The fabric of the shirt is light and so far has proven to be very durable. I haven't found any rips or snags after my last trip.   The buttons are still firmly attached and there are no visible signs of wear or damage.  So far, so good. 

I have also noticed that stains of all sorts wash out very easily.  Everything from blood, food, grass and dirt stains have washed out of the shirt without any special treatments.  This is something that I really like, mainly because I am the master of staining clothing and gear.

One last item to report on so far is the lack of odor in/on the shirt.  After Arkansas the shirt smelled foul. No worse than any of my other hiking clothes, but still not something I would want to smell for a long period of time.  I let the shirt sit for a  couple of weeks before I tossed it in the washer.  Once quick sniff told me that the shirt had shed a lot of the nasty smell that it had originally picked up.   I really like the fact that it seemed to air out on its own after smelling so bad.   In my next report I will see if all the odor is gone after the washing.

Final Impressions:
So far I am very happy with the Ex Officio BUZZ OFF Lite shirt.  The insect repellant properties that the shirt advertises seem to work very well and the shirt is comfortable to wear on and off the trail.  It is also nice to be able to wear my trail clothes on the way to a hiking trip without looking like some sort of trail bum.  Durable, comfortable, and good looking; I can't ask for much more in a shirt.

Reviews > Clothing > Shirts > Ex Officio Lite LS Shirt > Thomas Vickers > Field Report