Top 5 Highest Quality Men’s Hiking T-Shirts 2024!

Regarding hiking t-shirts, we want rugged, durable shirts. That is a given. But they also have to wick moisture away from our skin to keep us comfortable and resist odors. People sweat when they go hiking.

I went hiking one time wearing a t-shirt made out of a nylon fabric that must not have been woven very well because that shirt did not breathe. As a result, I felt too warm, and it caused me to sweat more than I usually would have. It was uncomfortable. However, it did a decent job of wicking moisture away from my skin, which helped.

So, the fabric a t-shirt is made of is essential, depending on your intended purpose. We want them to be comfortable, breathable, and wick moisture away. Depending on the time of year, you may want it to also hold in body heat.

This article lists my top 5 picks for the highest-quality men’s hiking t-shirts. Even though I numbered this list, I did not list these shirts in any particular order. I think the best route is to weigh out the pros and cons of each to see what fits your preferences best. See also my related articles: “Top 5 Highest Quality Women’s Hiking T-Shirts!” and “Top 5 Highest Quality Men’s Hiking Boots 2024!“

1. Smartwool Men’s Merino Short Sleeve Tee

I put this one, the Smartwool Men’s Merino Short Sleeve Tee, first on my list because I enjoy wearing Merino Wool t-shirts when hiking. And this one by Smartwool is a high-quality one. Smartwool wraps the Merino Wool fibers around nylon fibers for added durability.

Merino Wool fabrics are nice and thin now, so they are not too warm to wear in the spring and summer. Merino Wool is excellent at wicking moisture away from your skin and doesn’t hold odors.

Being a natural fiber, Merino Wool is very breathable. It is not uncomfortable like regular wool. The fibers are finer and very comfortable. Merino Wool has a UPF rating of 30+.

Merino Wool is very durable but not invincible. It holds up well when washed in a washing machine, but you wouldn’t want to dry it in a dryer. Moth larvae love to eat Merino wool as well.

2. Ibex Men’s 24 Hour Short Sleeve Crew

This is another high-quality men’s T-shirt that is an excellent choice for hiking. The Ibex Men’s 24-Hour Short Sleeve Crew is 100% Merino wool, rather than 84% like the Smartwool shirt above. But this shirt is still durable even without the 16% nylon mixed into the fabric. Merino Wool is naturally durable. Merino Wool has a UPF rating of 30+.

Remember, however, being a natural fiber Merino Wool is not invincible. You can machine wash it. I would suggest doing it on the delicate cycle. Also, you don’t want to dry Merino Wool in a dryer. And keep it away from moths as moth larvae love to eat Merino Wool.

Merino Wool is a finer, softer fiber than regular wool, so it is very comfortable to wear. They can also make thinner fabrics from Merino Wool that are great to wear even in the summer heat, such as this T-shirt. Merino Wool is breathable, wicks moisture away from the skin, and doesn’t hold odors.

3. Rhrone Reign Short Sleeve Soft Sweat-Wicking T-Shirt

The Rhrone Reign Short Sleeve Soft Sweat-Wicking T-shirt is a high-end workout shirt designed to wick moisture away from your skin. It is excellent for hiking. The fabric is made from 56% Nylon, 33% Polyester, and 11% Elastane. This shirt won’t hold moisture, so it will keep you dry even when working hard.

The fabric is also designed to be breathable, even though it is made from synthetic nylon and polyester. It is machine washable, and you can dry it in the dryer. I wouldn’t use high heat. You don’t have to worry about moth larvae wanting to eat this shirt.

One interesting thing about this T-shirt is it has a UPF rating of 50+, rather than the 30+ of Merino Wool. The synthetic materials used in this fabric traditionally hold odors. However, this shirt does not.

In my research to find out why Rhone was very vague on this. They say the fabric is technically designed not to hold odors, which means it was most likely treated with something to prevent it from retaining odors. Either way, this high-quality T-shirt is a great one to wear when hiking.

4. Ten Thousand Men’s Versatile T-shirt

Ten Thousand’s Mens Versatile T-shirt is another high-quality shirt that would be great for hiking. It is designed for physical activity such as working out.

These shirts are made to last. Ten Thousand says, “Every shirt has been tested to withstand over 100 pounds of pressure per square inch to ensure they can be pushed, pulled, and beaten and still come back for more.”

Ten Thousand’s Versatile T-shirt has strategic perforations for high breathability and passed testing for over 20,000 anti-abrasion rubs, so the shirt is durable.

These shirts are made from 84% Polyester and 16% Spandex. Polyester and Spandex are highly moisture-wicking and fast-drying. This shirt is treated with a permanent silver ion anti-odor treatment to ensure they don’t hold odors. And they are made using anti-chafe flatlock seams.

5. On Men’s Active T-shirt

The On Men’s Active T-shirt is another high-quality shirt that would be great for hiking. It is made from 55% cotton, 37% Modal Rayon, and 8% Elastane. I know what you’re thinking right now, “cotton?” That is what I would be thinking.

But with this shirt being made from almost Modal Rayon and Elastane, it wicks moisture away from your skin. It won’t wick as well as if it were 100% Modal Rayon and Elastane, but the cotton will aid in the shirt’s breathability.

This blended cotton Modal Rayon fabric is very soft and comfortable to wear. It is also an extremely durable fabric. Also, the blend used in this shirt will resist holding odors better than a standard cotton shirt, but not as well as a 100% Modal Rayon shirt.

The bottom line is you could wear this hiking shirt, and it would last a very long time. It would be comfortable to wear and do a reasonably good job of wicking away the moisture and regulating your temperature.

Final Thoughts

When you are looking for quality shirts to wear hiking, the main thing you are looking for is the materials they are made from. You want fabrics with the desired characteristics, such as comfort, breathability, durability, odor resistance, and the ability to wick away moisture. Hopefully, this article gives you some quality shirts to get you moving in the right direction.

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