Orvis shirts

[Bob Marino]

Bob, I have looked at most of those brands and have some of each. Packed Simms for fishing in central PA this weekend. Heading there now via MA & CT (business).

The Orvis shirt is more traditional, has no Velcro, mesh, or extra silly pockets. Just 2 chest pockets with button flaps, one with zippered inside pocket, sunglasses loop and the lightest cotton I have found, like handkerchief or good sheets.

I did find a forgotten Filson in my closet while packing for this trip, lighter fabric than the one I just bought. My biggest complaint with their shirts is the single button on the sleeve cuff makes them to tight to roll up past my elbow. Otherwise they are the closest I have found.

I will be near Woolrich PA this weekend so I may swing by their outlet and see what they have.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions.

RMW

Also just realized that I have and Orvis "worlds lightest shirt" or some name like that and it is a hankerchief weight shirt; no mesh or Velcro. I  don't know if it still in their catalog; is that the one you were referring to, that you can't find anymore?

Bob

 

[Bob Marino]

I know I am anachronistic, but the high tech/poly blend shirts  never felt comfortable for me, BUT most other swear by them.

And some swear AT them.  Myself included.  Give me 100% cotton in the summer, then the wicking liner fabrics and wool in the winter. 

Funny! Lightweight linen is also very cool in the summer, as is hemp.
What type of wicking liner fabrics are you referring to?

Bob

Patagonia's Capilene is wonderful stuff when one is perspiring.  It wicks the sweat away from the body into the next layer for evaporation.  One stays dry and warm, as in comfortable.  I often wear Capilene undershirts in the summer, just for the wicking action, especially with the Mid-Atlantic humidity. 

Willy,

I'm curious why you like the Capilene shirts - which are a poly/synthetic blend, yet you stated that "some people swear at them."
In the last year, I was using the lightweight all wool undershirts by Ibex and some of my father's  50+ year long johns from a company called Duofold - I think these were a cotton or silk and wool blend.

Bob

 

[Sparktrician]

I know I am anachronistic, but the high tech/poly blend shirts  never felt comfortable for me, BUT most other swear by them.

And some swear AT them.  Myself included.  Give me 100% cotton in the summer, then the wicking liner fabrics and wool in the winter. 

Funny! Lightweight linen is also very cool in the summer, as is hemp.
What type of wicking liner fabrics are you referring to?

Bob

Patagonia's Capilene is wonderful stuff when one is perspiring.  It wicks the sweat away from the body into the next layer for evaporation.  One stays dry and warm, as in comfortable.  I often wear Capilene undershirts in the summer, just for the wicking action, especially with the Mid-Atlantic humidity. 

Willy,

I'm curious why you like the Capilene shirts - which are a poly/synthetic blend, yet you stated that "some people swear at them."
In the last year, I was using the lightweight all wool undershirts by Ibex and some of my father's  50+ year long johns from a company called Duofold - I think these were a cotton or silk and wool blend.

Bob

When I think of the original comment, I think of the kind of dress shirts I often have worn.  They were cotton/polyester blend, alleged to be "No-Iron" or something like that.  The focus of the design was to reduce wrinkling.  They turned out to be hot and uncomfortable because the blend wasn't hydrophylic (wicking) which held the perspiration next to the skin.  I haven't worn any blend shirts since coming to that discovery.  The Capilene line of polyester is hydrophylic which promotes wicking of moisture away from the skin.  There are others that do the same thing, but I've used the Capilene line.  You may remember the "Thermolactyl" line from Damart that used to advertise the slogan, "Laugh at the cold".  Their products kept (keep) people warm in the winter by wicking moisture away from the skin into an outer layer (such as wool) where it could evaporate without chilling the wearer.  I used to wear Thermolactyl under my outerwear when riding the motorcycle to work when it was in the 20s and 30s, and never got cold.  A silk balaclava under the helmet was quite nice, too.