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.

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.

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.

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.

I have several older Sahara tee shirts that are my favorite hiking shirts. I don’t care for this years version at all. The neckline is too high and the sleeves are too long. But worst of all is the fabric. Although it feels silky and comfortable at first I quickly started getting overheated, just wearing it around the house!

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.

I have used this shirt for some urban hikes and most recently during an early morning run when I got caught in an unexpected downpour. I like how it didn’t feel uncomfortable or chafe. I like how it doesn’t ride up and how it didn’t feel heavy, even wet. It is so comfortable that I wear it as a Tshirt, and will look for it in other colors.

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 love this t-shirt. The fabric is light and silky but stands up to all-day outdoor work. It’s comfortable in hot weather and layers well in cold. The fit runs large (got a small, 5’7” 122 lbs) but not oversized. The color (green heather) is flattering. I plan on getting more of these in different colors.

This is my favorite shirt of all time. It is made in Vietnam and they do a great job, always have. The sleeves are a perect length, the cut is female, a large fits me perfectlly. Washes and last forever!