Sporty shirts fight effects of sun and sweat

By Hugo Martín

April 22, 2007

You love the outdoors, and you do it all: hike, bike, fish, kayak ... and sweat. With you in mind, athletic clothing companies churn out performance shirts made from synthetic materials that they promise will keep you dry and comfortable even when your sweat glands kick into overdrive. A few manufacturers claim their shirts not only wick away sweat but also repel outside moisture and block the sun's harmful UV rays. We tested three shirts while fishing, hiking and — the ultimate test — chaperoning four kids through an amusement park.

— Hugo Martín

First look: Under Armour has made a name for itself, particularly in the NBA and NFL, for producing padded stretch pants and vests that protect athletes from minor bumps and bruises. The company now markets Flats Guide, a shirt that uses "bamboo carbon odor control" to prevent smelliness. In addition, the shirt — designed specifically for anglers — has an ultraviolet protection factor of 50.

Likes and yikes: The people who manufacture bamboo carbon claim the material will keep everything from food to feet smelling fresh for days. Maybe there is something to these claims because after we fished for two days in warm weather, this shirt smelled relatively fresh. It also worked as a lightweight windbreaker. However, with its thin collar and oddly shaped breast pockets, the shirt looks too much like, well, a fishing shirt. If it resembled a casual dress shirt, we'd wear it everywhere.

The 411: $70; available at (888) 727-6687, www.underarmour.com, and most major sporting goods stores.

First look: North Face is known for high-end cold weather accessories, such as snow jackets, tents and backpacks. And now it is selling long-sleeve crew shirts made with VaporWick fabric, which the company claims draws perspiration to the exterior, where it evaporates quickly. North Face says the fabric does this through the use of millions of "hydrophobic" fibers. We don't know what a hydrophobic fiber is, but it sounds impressive.

Likes and yikes: This shirt is lightweight and worked well as a first layer under a jacket or windbreaker but may be too thin to be worn by itself on cold, windy days. On the positive side, the material doesn't feel slick and cold like other synthetic fabric; it almost feels like cotton.

The 411: $38 at (866) 715-3223, www.thenorthface.com, and most major sporting goods stores.

First look: The Offshore Long-Sleeve Tee, by World Wide Sportsman, is made of polyester/spandex, but the manufacturer claims it has the ability to stop bacteria from forming in the fiber — thus reducing odors — and can block harmful UV rays. In addition, the label claims the "high-twisted yarn" keeps you cool at all times.

Likes and yikes: The shirt did a pretty good job of staying cool and comfortable under hot outdoor conditions. (It must be that "high-twisted yarn.") We liked that it cost about $13 less than the other shirts. The drawback: We found it offered in only bright, Day-Glo colors that are sure to scare fish away.

The 411: $25 at (800) 227-7776, www.basspro.com, and Bass Pro shops.