What Are the Best Hiking Shirts for Hot Weather?
(Trail-tested advice from summer family hikes)
If you’d asked me a few years ago what the best hiking shirts for hot weather were, I probably would’ve shrugged and said, “Whatever feels comfy.”
Like many beginner hikers, I didn’t think much about hiking shirt materials, breathability, or how a shirt behaves once conditions change. A T-shirt was just a T-shirt.
That mindset changed after one seemingly easy summer hike.
A quick story from the trail (66°F that felt way hotter)
It was a summer family hike, a light route through a valley with no technical sections. The temperature? About 66°F (around 19°C). Sounds perfect, right?
Zero humidity, a bit cloudy but not stuffy, gentle terrain.
And yet, the heat was annoying.
Not dangerous. Not extreme. Just constant. Enough that sweating was unavoidable. And once you start sweating, everything else follows: more water breaks, higher water consumption… and yes, we started running low on water on the way back.
That’s when it clicked:
hot-weather hiking isn’t about extreme heat; it’s about heat exposure over time.
And your shirt plays a much bigger role than most people think.
What “hot weather hiking” really means (at least to me)
For me, hot weather hiking starts around 20°C (68°F) with full sun exposure.
It doesn’t have to be desert heat. If the sun is beating down and there’s little shade, your body is working overtime to cool itself, especially on family hikes where the pace is steady, not fast.
In those conditions, the best hiking shirt for hot weather needs to do three things really well:
- Allow airflow
- Help manage sweat
-
Offer basic sun protection
If one of those fails, you’ll feel it quickly.
The real enemy: sun + sweat + time
Here’s something many beginners underestimate:
You can’t avoid sweating in summer.
And you shouldn’t try.
Sweat is how your body cools itself. The problem starts when:
- fabric traps heat
- moisture stays on your skin too long
-
wind hits you after you’re soaked
That’s how you go from “a bit warm” to “why am I suddenly freezing?”
I’ve seen this happen more than once, especially toward the end of a hike when the sun drops or a breeze picks up.
Cotton vs technical fabrics, an honest take
You’ll often hear, “Never hike in cotton.”
That’s marketing shorthand, not the full story.
Where technical hiking shirts shine
Synthetic performance shirts are great at:
- fast drying
- extreme moisture management
-
high-output activities
They absolutely have their place.
Where casual cotton-blend hiking shirts win
But for summer family hikes, casual trails, and moderate pace?
A cotton blend hiking T-shirt (around 52/48) can be a surprisingly solid choice:
- more breathable than people expect
- softer on skin (huge on longer sunny hikes)
- doesn’t feel plasticky in the heat
-
comfortable enough to wear before and after the hike
A friend of mine swears by ultra-technical shirts. He loves how fast they dry, but he also admits they can feel like wearing a thin plastic bag under direct sun.
That’s the tradeoff.
There is no single “best hiking shirt material,” only the best material for how you hike.
What I, personally, prioritize in hot weather
If I had to rank it:
1. Sun protection
If I overheat or get sunburned, I’ll feel it for days.
And mountain sun is sneaky; it doesn’t feel as aggressive as the beach, but it burns just as fast.
That’s why:
- breathable fabric matters
-
coverage matters
-
sunscreen is non-negotiable
Always apply UV protection before the hike.
2. Airflow
A shirt that allows air to move across your skin keeps sweat working with your body, not against it.
3. Comfort over theory
If a shirt looks good on paper but feels wrong after an hour, it’s the wrong shirt.
How I pack differently for hot hikes
When it’s warm out:
- less food
- more water
- lighter pack
-
no winter extras like headlamps or crampons
But two things always come with me:
✔ A spare T-shirt
Because at some point, the one you’re wearing might go from cooling you… to chilling you.
If you start feeling cold, shivery, or uncomfortable, change your shirt.
It’s a simple move that can prevent real discomfort.
✔ A lightweight hoodie or sweatshirt
Tie it around your waist or stash it in your pack.
Late afternoon returns, wind in the valley, shaded forest sections. This layer can be a game changer.
Common mistakes I see beginners make
Let’s keep it real:
- Trusting marketing over experience
- Ignoring sweat reality
- Assuming “technical” automatically means “better”
-
Not bringing a backup layer or shirt
Hot-weather hiking is about managing transitions, not avoiding sweat altogether.
So… what are the best hiking shirts for hot weather?
Here’s the honest answer:
The best hiking shirt for hot weather is one that:
- breathes well
- handles sweat realistically
- protects you from sun
- fits your hiking style
-
keeps you comfortable after the hike, not just during it
For summer family hikes and casual trails, a well-designed cotton-blend hiking T-shirt can be just as effective, and often more comfortable, than overly technical options.
No hype. No dogma. Just trail-tested balance.
If you want to hike longer, feel better, and enjoy the trail instead of fighting your clothes, choose your shirt like you choose your water supply:
practically, honestly, and based on real conditions.
See you out there!
