Patagonia Sol Patrol Shirt for Men and Women : Thinner than Wafer Thin, With Full Sun Protection

Despite my natural instinct to get as naked as publicly acceptable when t's hot and sunny, I wanted a long-sleeved shirt for my month-long trip to Minnesota this summer.

To be honest, I wasn't as concerned with sun protection as much as having a barrier against bugs (if you've never been there - the mosquitoes are killers) and a shirt that could keep me comfortable outdoors and in frigidly cold air conditioned stores and restaurants.

Patagonia's Sol Patrol shirt turned out to be the perfect shirt for me. It's made out of super lightweight polyester that's rip stop strong and UPF 30 rated. The material looks really cool with it's grid pattern weave. It's actually see through. I can't read my computer screen while looking through it, but I can see the screen. So, it works well for travel when space is limited and when I need to cover up for my own good. Of course, it's super quick drying.

I should add here that I tested the women's version, and I'm going to tell you all about the girly details now. For you guys reading this - there's a men's style, too, made out of the same material. And it's very manly.

For an outdoor shirt, the Sol Patrol is quite fashionable. With princess seams and a slanted front yoke, it's form-fitting and shape flattering without being snug. Normally this style doesn't look good on me because I'm 5'11" and have a big chest. The Sol Patrol shirt has enough room, and torso length, to make it work for me. Yea.

I ended up wearing it out to dinner a few times and to a couple of business meetings. I also wore it it on a cool summer night to my friends' daughter's softball game.

I love the narrow collar (that snaps to the shirt - a fancy detail) and cuffs. I also like the small, discreet zippered chest pocket; it's just the size for a credit card (which is all I really need after sleep, food, water, and love). Everything about the Sol Patrol is thin and tapered. Love that. (The men's Sol Patrol has two snap-flap chest pockets.)

As a rule, I don't like plastic in my clothes, but I like the tiny snaps used in place of buttons. They look smart, work well, and make entry and exit very fast.

Available in women's sizes 2-14, and in four colors. Men's shirt S-XXL, in four colors. Men's also available in a short-sleeved version.

Bottom Line :  The ideal shirt for travel and adventure. It'll work for fishing, hiking, and any outdoor activity where you need more than sunscreen but an actual fabric barrier. It's also a snappy little top that goes well with skirts and with manly jeans or khakis.--E.D. (June 09)

Price : $75 women's, $80 men's. On sale at and at .

Manufacturer's Site: www.patagonia.com

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