REI Co-op  Sahara Shade T-Shirt - Women's

I received this product for free from the REI Trailblazers sampling program in exchange for my honest review. Pros: ​ The fabric is amazing, stretchy in all directions, substantial, soft and feels good on the skin. The sleeves are “long” for a women’s short sleeved t-shirt which I love! They offer a little more sun protection and prevent your arms from rubbing on the pack/straps. I love a regular crew neck for a backpacking shirt. Not only does a higher crew give more sun protection but it also protects your shoulders from pack straps. I really don’t like scoop neck shirts for hiking/backpacking so I’m happy to see a regular crew neck on this shirt. Cons: Runs large As much as I love the feel of the fabric, I’m not sure it allows sufficient air to pass through for wearing on very hot days. Another point on fabric. I would not consider this shirt quick drying. After wearing it on a hike with a full backpack on, I hung it to dry in partial sun/shade to mimic backcountry conditions and a few hours later, it was not dry. Impressions: I really like this shirt, mostly because of the comfort, the longish sleeves, and the crew neck. I wore it on a hilly neighborhood walk on a cool and breezy day and I felt comfortable. I like the flatlock seams and the “seamless” panel that runs down the side from the sleeve, under the arm and down to the hem. Next, I wore this shirt with a fully loaded backpack and went for a steep hike. The day was sunny and about 73 degrees F. There was sufficient airflow through the shirt and I was comfortable. When I took the pack off, I could really feel the wet of shirt – meaning where I was very sweaty from the pack, I could really feel the cold, wet shirt. That might not be a huge deal but it’s my observation during use. The flat seams were great under the pack straps and waist belt. If I could give this shirt a 4.5, I would. It’s not a five-star shirt for me because for a sun shirt, I would expect to feel more airflow and have it dry a bit faster. In summary, I really love the fabric despite the cons I’ve already mentioned. I would buy this shirt and it would definitely make it into my rotation of hiking/workouts shirts.

Stretchy and soft, this shirt first really well and is comfortable for working out in. It’s light and breaths well. I have two of these, and they are my go-to shirts. I have an apple shape, and broad shoulders so it’s very hard to find shirts that fit and are flattering and this one does the trick. I also use it for yoga, and the shirt stayed close when upside-down.

The REI Sahara Shade T-Shirt is a great option for days when I don't want to wear full coverage but still want to make sure I have decent sun protection. The neck is higher and the sleeves are longer than a typical short sleeve t-shirt, adding extra coverage and sun protection compared to other options. The fabric, like all REI shade shirts, is super soft and comfortable, and it does a great job wicking moisture and cooling. The green color is very pretty, and I always appreciate women's options that aren't just pink or purple. The fit is pretty relaxed, which is helpful for layering (and made this shirt an option I could grab just a few weeks postpartum when I was ready to get back to spending time outdoors). I love all my REI shade shirts and am happy to have a short-sleeve option in the mix.

I ended up liking this t-shirt more than I was expecting at first glance. This is a lightweight t-shirt that's cut generously for comfort and movement. The fabric is light but substantial enough that it's not see through or flimsy. I took an XS, my usual size, and it fits comfortably with room to move. I know I'll get good use of this on hikes as the weather warms up. It's also a great shirt for working out/yoga/Pilates. The sage color isn't my favorite but I plan on purchasing this in another color.

I received the REI CO-op Sahara Shade T-Shirt as a gift in exchange for an honest review. The shirt has a basic and traditional T-shirt style of which I am not a big fan. A bit too boxy for me and I would prefer a lower neckline. So not very flattering and more utilitarian. The fabric is almost identical to the REI CO-OP Active Pursuits T-Shirt that I purchased last year. This fabric is comfortable and fine for high 60s to low 70s temps but I found that it overheats me in temps any higher and did not do a great job of wicking. I ordered size medium and feel it runs a tad large but that might make it more tolerable in hotter temps but I will not be able to determine that until this summer.

It runs a bit large, I ordered a medium and it fits pretty loosely, with sleeves longer than I prefer. The material is great, though: very lightweight, perfect for hot days or intense workouts. It has a slightly boxy shape, but it’s extremely comfortable. I’d recommend it for casual wear,/workouts especially if you’re a fan of green

I got the sage one and like the color. This one ran a bit large on me, but I kept it because I like a loose fit. It will be good for layering with a long sleeve sun shirt as well.

These shirts are super soft and comfortable. I use them for outdoors for hiking and walking and sometimes while traveling. I do wish they had brighter colors