You know that feeling when you’ve found an article of clothing and you just want to buy it in every single colour it comes in? Yeah, that’s how I felt about Columbia Sportswear’s Silver Ridge Long Sleeve Shirt. The guys at Columbia sent me this shirt for my trip to Tanzania and Kilimanjaro climb and it was love at first wear.
About the Silver Ridge Long Sleeve Shirt from the folks at Columbia:
Designed to keep you dry, protected and comfortable during long active days in the sun, this Columbia classic features quick-wicking material, strategic venting, stretch construction and built-in UPF 40 blocking power.
My Impressions
When I travel in hot climates, I tend to wear tank tops or short-sleeved shirts. But I knew I’d be travelling through dusty areas in Tanzania and exposed to the sun for long periods of time on Kilimanjaro. Being protected and covered up was going to be important on this particular trip.
The Silver Ridge long sleeve shirt was very comfortable from the moment I put it on. The elastane Flex stretch that’s woven into the fabric allowed me to move freely without feeling the pull of the material, perfect for our days of hiking and being able film it all. It rolled up tightly in my suitcase and came out wrinkle free. The Omni-Shade UPF 40 material was an added bonus, a feature I’ve never considered when buying clothing.
It’s tailored in all the right places, including across the chest where many button-up shirts tend to gape open (you know what I mean ladies!). The adjustable sleeves mean I can roll them up to elbow length and secure them with a hidden button so I don’t have to keep fidgeting or pulling them back up. There’s also vented back-panels to allow extra breathability and a collar that can be popped up to give extra sun protection on the back of your neck. There is one zippered pocked on the chest but I choose not to use it do to its placement, ie: making my chest look wonky in photos if I had something in it.
The moisture-wicking material was definitely needed on our hot days visiting a Masaai Village and hiking through Kilimanjaro’s rainforests. It also performed very well in the ‘anti-stink’ department, meaning I was able to wear it for a few days while climbing and didn’t have to worry about offending my fellow hiker’s olfactory systems.
Summary
Pros
- Lightweight
- Breatheable
- Stylish
- Well constructed
- Versatile
- Adjustable sleeve-lengths
- UPF protection
- Washes easily & wrinkle free
Cons
- There was honestly nothing about this shirt that I didn’t like
Overall Thoughts
The Silver Ridge long sleeve shirt is one of Columbia Sportswear’s bestsellers, and I can see why. Lightweight, breatheable, and fashionable, it checked off all the right boxes for me. What I love most about this shirt is that it doesn’t scream ‘travel clothing!’ I could easily wear this shirt meeting up with friends or enjoying a day in my hometown. It comes in 6 additional colours and I now want them all!
SeeYouSoon Score: 5 out of 5
Thank you to Columbia Sportswear for providing me with the Silver Ridge Long Sleeve Shirt. Opinions and views remain my own.