Backpacker 10/07 Midweight Crew LS

“Wearing this Marmot crew on a sweaty hike is like using a towel to dry off when you step out of the shower,” said one tester after a hard uphill backpack in the Grand Canyon. The stellar wicking action comes from an interior waffle pattern that disperses sweat, and a superfine polyester-Cocona fabric blend.

Cocona, made with activated carbon fibers from the insides of discarded coconut shells, has innate wicking abilities that we’ve found to work better than many synthetics. Its makers claim that it also has natural odor-fighting properties, but our jury is still out.

We put this shirt through the handful of washings that marmot says is required to activate the carbon’s antimicrobial action, then did some sniffing. Some testers gave it the thumbs-up; others said it was unusually stinky. It does provide good insulation for its weight, yet generally stays cool and dry under a shell. Testers liked the way the brushed fabric felt against their skin and how the smooth exterior slid easily under layers, but flagged it for excessive pilling.