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Super Speedy Review Summary
This is the shirt for those sweaty humid days when its hot.Think of this as a jungle shirt. It has a super lightweight breathable fabric and special mesh vents worked into the back and sides ( via the pockets) that allows you to keep cool. The shirt also has an impressive DWR waterproof coating on it that means water literally rolls of it. The pockets on the front have zips for storage and the sides of the shirt have large ‘hand pockets’ you could easily miss that sort of make this a great ‘field shirt as well’.
Full in Depth Review
People in New England keep telling me that the high humidity Summer last year ‘wasn’t normal’. Last year in late Summer I spent a very hot humid weekend on the Appalachian Trail and this would have been the perfect shirt for it. This shirt is best suited for says when you are going to be sweaty and hot and want to keep cool.
Size and fit wise there are no surprises compared to the other tops in the Topo range but as a top tip depending on whether you think you would use this shirt more for fashion or more for humid hiking days I would suggest you consider opting for one size larger and the slate color to give you a more billowing and heat reflective shirt that will help you keep cooler.
Tech Fabric
The high tech rip stop nylon has a mechanical stretch to it that makes it more comfortable, its super lightweight and very very breathable. I wore it with a Backpack when testing and I was amazed how quickly the shirt dried when I got sweaty.
If you were out on a backpacking holiday this is the kind of shirt you could hand wash and it be dry in under an hour.
Wash and Care
Its sensible if you wash this garment on low temperatures WITHOUT detergent. Its why I try pick all my technical gear in black if possible. It hides the dirt and stains. I strongly suggest using a mild soap based cleaner instead or a specialist tec gear wash such as Nik Wax tec wash. If you do this and leave the garment to hang dry you will massively increase its lifetime of breathability and water repellency. I also suggest using Nik Wax waterproof spray on it from time to time to keep the garment beading properly.
Pocketyness
There are two obvious pockets on the chest with the signature ‘Topo Red’ flair on the zip pulls. There is plenty of room in them for phone or wallet and other items too. The bigger surprise is the ‘hidden’ pockets at the side for your hands . Not only are they huge but they also have a mesh inside that means when you aren’t putting your hands or stuff in them they help ventilate the shirt to keep you cool.
Ventilation
As well as the pocket ventilation the rear of the shirt also has this mesh system to help you vent heat off the top of your back too.
POPPERS
The arms have multiple poppers to help you roll the sleeves up to help you regulate your temperature. If you keep the arms rolled down and the collar up you can help keep biting insects off you in the summer.
Gripes
I’m actually not a huge fan of the poppers instead of button. They are quite small and fiddly and need a lot of pushing to engage.
Verdict
This ‘air con’ shirt is for those sweaty humid days when its hot.Think of this as a jungle shirt. It has a super lightweight breathable fabric and special mesh vents worked into the back and sides ( via the pockets) that allows you to keep cool. The shirt also has an impressive DWR waterproof coating on it that means water literally rolls off it. The pockets on the front have zips for storage and the sides of the shirt have large ‘hand pockets’ you could easily miss that sort of make this a great ‘field shirt as well’. Smart enough for wearing in town or in a bar and cool enough for the trails I will probably be wearing this a lot this Summer.
Closest Competitor
I’ve reviewed the Vollebak Planet Earth Shirt which is very similar and equally as impressive but double the price of the Topo Tech Shirt ( and currently sold out !).
Features
- Straight fit
- 100% lightweight nylon ripstop
- Quick-drying stretch fabric
- Stretch woven detailing at chest pockets, shoulders and back yoke with water repellent finish
- Colors – Black, Khaki or Slate
- Back yoke with set in mesh vent
- Snap closure front and cuffs
- Dual taped chest pockets with welted zippers with micro paracord pulls
- Side seam pockets
Specs
Materials: 100% nylon ripstop with mechanical stretch and a water repellent finish
Fit Style: Straight fit
About Topo Designs
Jedd Rose and Mark Hansen had always been interested in not only spending time outside, but also in the gear needed to get out. They found themselves wishing there was a company offering a lineup a bit more like the gear they grew up using—classic styling, functionality, durability and a clear connection with the brand behind the product. So in 2008, Jedd bought a sewing machine and began concepting, designing, and sewing packs in his Fort Collins basement, while Mark set out around Denver and the front range looking for resources and partners needed to build those designs.
They were lucky enough to find local Colorado folks that were just getting started like them and were willing to build companies together, and worked with them to produce Topo Designs’ initial offering of products, continuing to work with them to this day.
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