Posted: 4/10/2009 8:44:36 PM EDT
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Looking to get some new shirts for outdoor excursions. I want long sleeve, SPF/UV ratings, rear air flap, synthetic material, and button-down.
I like these ExOfficio ones at REI: http://www.rei.com/product/731444 I know, I know REI's expensive but I just to know if anyone has these or recommends another brand. Thanks. 
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Columbia Sportswear Silver Ridge long sleeve. Unlike most vented shirts it has side vents for your back (dont even see them in pics or in most normal wear... go try one on and you will see it though) that dont look stupid like a duster in back and looks rather normal for everyday wear... also a back pack wont set on top of the the vent and keep it shut like the duster style vent. The older shirts are identical to the newer ones and they cost much less on clearance. Also HALF the price of your ExOfficio at full retail but equal with both at discounts, looks better, and on sale its a bargain while being GREAT quality. Good tailored cut if you dont have a big gut with not a lot of loose materail around the waist if you want to tuck it in. I have tried both on and greatly prefer the Columbia Sportswear for a hot weather shirt. Decided to look into getting a shirt like this after a camping trip to Big Bend where it was 100+ in the desert every day. Their pants and shorts/pants combos are also excellent in the Silver Ridge line. Not too tight in the crotch like Royal Robbins, very lightweight, stuff into their pocket, not overly thin like TNF sythetic warm weather pants, etc.
 
Note the difference in back vent styles 
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The Ex Officio shirts are pretty good...I have a couple that I wear. One of my favorite outdoor long-sleeve shirts is actually the 5.11 nylon shirt. They have been on most of my outdoor adventures and backpacking trips. Very tough, dry quickly and decent features. The nylon is a little more robust feeling than then my Ex Officio shirts, but I've have no problems with either. The 7-button synthetic shirts are a great asset when you need to regulate body temperature for various activities.
ROCK6 |
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These are all good options so far. The Ex-O is a great looking and wearing shirt, but feels a bit fragile. They are impeccably made and the material is nice and light. I've been happy with mine.
Columbia has good offerings- I also like the Silver Ridge that someone else recommended. I have another Columbia (not sure of the style name) that is too short and too big around. I'm 6'4" 185, though, so most things are too short and too big around. I'm not sure how you're built. My favorite are Academy's house brand, Magellan. They are not quite as breathable, but very tough and very cheap. at 16.99, you can get one Ex-O or 4 of these. They are long and lean- they fit me beautifully. Check the shirt out here |
| They have a long version of the Silver Ridge shirt if you need it. I am 6'2" and 205 and dont. I have a fishing shirt made by Columbia Sportwear and it is rather huge in the waist vs length and I had to get an XL to get the chest and shoulders to fit vs a large. |
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Quoted:
I think I'll check out the Columbia Sportswear shirts. I like the side vents. I'm on the short side of 69" so I don't need any more length.  If you live near an REI they have them there for sizing/trying on. If you live near a Bass Pro shos I have found them there and a couple other places since you will want to figure out your size by trying them on before ordering via web. Campor.com has the shirts on sale for $19.95 in fossil (tan) sumac (green) and white and REI.com has the pants on sale for $34.83 but only in one color. If you have it delivered to a local REI you dont pay any shipping and just pick it up there. |
| Columbia > Ex Officio. The build quality and material quality are the same, but you pay less with Columbia. Someone above mentioned Magellan, Academy's house brand, and I'll give that one a thumbs up, too. I wear both Magellan and Columbia on the flats and the garments provide great protection from the sun, excellent pocket layout and breathable comfort in hot weather. Ex Officio is good, don't get me wrong, but you're paying a premium for them based on nothing more than their inability to sell at the scale Columbia does. |
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The Magellan brand at Academy Sports&Outdoors works great.
I also got a couple pairs of "fishing pants" with zip off legs that are great warm weather pants for $12 each. The only annoying thing about them is the swimsuit-type liner in them, but a couple minutes with the scissors fixed that. |
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Last thing on the Columbia shirts, I promise. There are two styles, Silver Ridge (from last year) and Silver Ridge II (current year).
Standard Silver Ridge used an extra panel that comes from inner arm and extended down the side of the shirt. Sometimes they reffered to this as an armpit gusset. The Silver Ridge II did away with that and its now just the front and the back sewn together like a traditional shirt... no 3" wide panel down the side... cheaper to make that way. The Silver Ridge had dual sewn style drain holes per breast pocket the Silver RIdge II has one each pocket. The Silver Ridge has a gusseted right breast pocket and a velcored secret pocket in the left side witht eh entire pocket ungusseted. Silver Ridge II is just two plain pockets, no gussets, no secret pockets. Silver Ridge has the collar attached to the shirt body by double stitching... single stitching on the Silver Ridge II collar. What does Silver Ridge II add? A nice embrodered logo on the back and nicer looking pull tabs on the front pockets. IMO the Silver Ridge from last year is a better made shirt. Campmor.com has them on closeout for $19.97 and the Siver Ridge II for $39.95 I just got another Fossil and Sumac today. But be sure to try one on for size before buying... they are tight in the chest relative to the other measurements. I had to get XL size. I am going to try the Magellan tomorrow. |
| I tried to check out he Magellan shirts. There was only one nylon version. The rest were polyester or cotton. No unvented version. The vented version had a yoke/duster style venting flap. Prices were from $15-17 and they all the fly velcro flap for holding a fishing rod. Are these the only Magellan shirts or are there others? They seem well made but I was not too find of the fishing shirt style and they are a much heavier material than the Columbia shirts which made for a heavier shirt overall. |
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Quoted:
Columbia > Ex Officio. The build quality and material quality are the same, but you pay less with Columbia. Someone above mentioned Magellan, Academy's house brand, and I'll give that one a thumbs up, too. I wear both Magellan and Columbia on the flats and the garments provide great protection from the sun, excellent pocket layout and breathable comfort in hot weather. Ex Officio is good, don't get me wrong, but you're paying a premium for them based on nothing more than their inability to sell at the scale Columbia does. I have one ex-ohhicio and several Columbia –– the Ex-officio may have a few more feature, but there is functionally no difference. I believe my Columbias are mostly sold as fishing shirts (Performance Fishing Gear PFC). With the right choice, these have nice flat front pockets. However, the identical shirt comes with really complex pockets for fly fishing. I have worn the snort out of these over several years and no problems (Slight fading of the vibrant colors on one, but not bad). At least one Columbia was Dicks end of season sale when they were trying to clear stuff out to put in the Fall camo and Carhardt. I like that you can tie the sleeves up if you want to wear the long sleeves as short sleeves. Either will do you well. 
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Quoted:
The Ex Officio shirts are pretty good...I have a couple that I wear. One of my favorite outdoor long-sleeve shirts is actually the 5.11 nylon shirt. They have been on most of my outdoor adventures and backpacking trips. Very tough, dry quickly and decent features. The nylon is a little more robust feeling than then my Ex Officio shirts, but I've have no problems with either. The 7-button synthetic shirts are a great asset when you need to regulate body temperature for various activities. ROCK6 I have a couple of the Ex Offico Air Strip shirts and they are awesome for hot weather! The material is very light and quick drying and the vents work great. My favorite shirt of this type is the Mountain Hardwear Canyon shirt. Similar to the Air Strip, only the side vents are about two inches wide and go all the way up both sides under the armpits. Watch the sales for these items on REI, Backcountry, Altrec etc. I have even seen the Air Strips on Steap and Cheap. You can find them for around $30 on sale. |
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i favor the columbia ones myself..but have found that even the redhead bas pro in store brand, and others similar hold up and work as well.
Sides that i layer alot when outdoors. so even under the longsleve ill wear a wicking layer as long as.its under 90f
sides that if your doing more than sitting in the shade you'll soak it wet with sweat and when that brezze flows past ya,through the vents..instant A/C
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