Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Shirt Review

If you had told me that a thin, breezy, 4.5-ounce shirt would last over 5,000 miles of constant hiking through all manner of gnarly conditions, I'd have told you to kick rocks. Eight months and two back-to-back thru-hikes later, however, and Patagonia's Capilene Cool Daily Graphic Shirt crossed the finish line entirely intact. To say I was impressed would be an understatement. All told, its moisture-wicking and odor-resistant fabric, cozy next-to-skin feel, and high-quality build make it one of the most competitive hiking shirts on the market—and my personal favorite. Below I break down my experiences with the legendary Capilene Cool Daily Shirt. To see how it stacks up to the competition, check out our article on the best men's hiking shirts.

Editor's note: We tested the Capilene Cool Daily Graphic Shirt for this review, which is identical to the flagship Capilene Cool Daily Shirt apart from styling and price (the solid colorways will save you $10). We've linked to the graphic version throughout our review below since it's the one we tested, but know that the two are essentially one and the same.
 

Table of Contents

• Materials
• Weight and Packed Size
• Durability
• Breathability and Moisture-Wicking
• Odor Resistance
• Features
• Fit and Sizing
• What We Like/What We Don't
• Comparison Table
• The Competition

Performance

It's rare that a hiking shirt ticks all the boxes. Manufacturers have the difficult task of crafting these shirts to be ultralight, breathable, moisture-wicking, and odor-resistant—all in a durable and comfortable package. That's no small feat, but we think Patagonia nailed it with their Capilene Cool Daily Graphic Shirt. I've worn this shirt for just about every backpacking trip I can think of for the better part of a decade—and still have the first model I bought back in 2017 for a thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Subsequent iterations haven't skimped on durability, which can't be said of many modern competitors. In 2021, I set off on back-to-back thru-hikes of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) and Appalachian Trail (AT), an eight-month journey of over 5,000 miles. A single Capilene Cool Daily Shirt accompanied me the entire way. By the time I wandered down the endless stairs in Georgia's Amicalola Falls State Park, it was still going strong apart from expected discoloration and a few holes from months of hiking with a pack.
 

Materials

For me, the headliner with any hiking shirt is its fabric. How well does it regulate moisture, how heavy is it, and how does it feel against your skin? Patagonia's Capilene Cool Daily Shirt is made with a 100%-polyester jersey material that's soft, lightweight, and supremely breathable. As sweat builds up, it immediately pulls the moisture from your skin, pushing it to the outside to evaporate. This isn't groundbreaking by any means, but I feel that the Capilene fabric accomplishes it better than most (more in "Breathability and Moisture-Wicking" below) while retaining excellent all-around comfort.

First conceived by Yvon Chouinard himself in 1984, Capilene was Patagonia's take on the moisture-wicking, etched fabric popularized by a leading sporting goods company at the time. This represented an important shift for the company, opening up new doors for functional hiking apparel that managed moisture like athletes' clothing. More than 40 years later, the Capilene fabric remains a cherished material for outdoor enthusiasts of all disciplines.
 

The start of my CDT thru-hike had me trudging through brutal heat in southern New Mexico as the trail wound through harsh, arid desert. Despite soaring temps, profuse sweat was never an issue for me. The Capilene Cool's fabric was protective enough to prevent sunburn (though it isn't UPF rated, which I cover below) and felt incredibly cool on even the hottest of days. Some shirts are so good at "cooling" that they can cause a chill when temperatures drop, even if worn underneath a fleece jacket or other insulating layer. The Capilene Cool doesn't have this issue, allowing me to stay comfortable even on chilly evening hikes. It's quick to dry, too—whether it was sweat or rain that had soaked through the fabric, the Capilene didn't stay wet for long. In fact, I was drenched to the bone by freak thunderstorms on several occasions, and each time my shirt dried in about 20 minutes or so. All in all, it was truly the perfect match for every climate I wandered through that summer.
 

Weight and Packed Size

I'm writing this review from the perspective of a long-distance thru-hiker, so my opinion is admittedly skewed toward the ultralight crowd. With this in mind, the Capilene Cool's small packed size and low scale reading are a boon for weight-conscious backpackers. However, that's not to say you won't see the Capilene Cool Daily Shirt on mountain bikers, climbers, and other adventurers getting after it in the wild—it's a one-size-fits-all solution for outdoor athletes of all kinds. Easily cramming down to the size of a baseball and tipping the scales at a scant 4.5 ounces, the shirt disappears in a pack and feels non-existent when worn. Importantly, it's also highly durable, which isn't always the case with ultralight gear.
 

All that said, the Capilene Cool Daily isn't the absolute lightest hiking shirt on the market. For instance, popular alternatives like the Arc'teryx Cormac Crew Neck Shirt and Black Diamond Distance Tech Tee undercut the Capilene by 0.6 and 1.4 ounces, respectively, but I feel the Capilene fabric does a better job balancing breathability, weight, and next-to-skin comfort. I've even found myself throwing multiple Capilene shirts into my luggage on trips away from home given the diminutive packed size and undeniable coziness.
 

Durability

Durability is where this shirt truly shines. Before leaving for my 5,000-plus-mile trek up and down the country, I stocked up on five Capilene shirts in anticipation of the journey ahead, fully expecting to blow through each one. However, to my (very pleasant) surprise, a single shirt lasted the entire way. Shockingly few holes, tears, and areas of pilling surfaced, and I still have—and occasionally wear—that shirt to this day. Considering its feathery weight and impressively small packed size, this level of durability is downright remarkable. We've heard similar stories from friends and other avid outdoor-goers who have had Capilene shirts last years or even decades. It's worth noting that I did keep rugged, off-trail travel to a minimum on my trek, and the shirt may not have fared as well had I done significant bushwhacking. But overall, this is a time-tested design that should last several seasons of demanding use.
 

To be fair, my cherished thru-hiking shirt didn't emerge fully unscathed. The stitching on the shoulders began unraveling by the end of the CDT, and by the time I had finished the AT, the shoulders were stippled with tiny holes (and two large ones that are shown below). Considering these seams were being perpetually abraded by my backpack's shoulder straps for eight months straight, I'd say it's an impressive outcome. The fabric on the back is also noticeably thinner than the front. This didn't sacrifice the integrity of the shirt, however, and caused me zero discomfort—even with a fully loaded pack. Had I worn a heavier, sturdier design, I'm not convinced it would have performed much better. In fact, a cotton-polyester blend hiking tank I wore on the PCT (before I swapped to the Capilene) only lasted me around 1,000 miles before falling apart.
 

Breathability and Moisture-Wicking

As I mentioned above, Patagonia’s Capilene fabric is hard to beat when it comes to moisture-wicking capabilities. In climbing temperatures or when picking up the pace, the material is quick to swipe sweat away from my skin, transferring it out the outside of the shirt to be evaporated. For reference, I’ve clocked serious miles in a wide range of hiking shirts, and the Capilene Cool Daily tops them all. It’s also very quick to dry, whether you’re hiking through a surprise rainstorm or taking a mid-day break to cool off in a trailside lake. Importantly, the shirt doesn’t chafe or grow overly heavy when wet, either, and the looser fit (which I cover below) makes for a very breezy, well-ventilated experience on the trail.
 

Odor Resistance

Odor buildup is a given after prolonged exertion, so we appreciate when brands bake some odor-resistant technology into their fabrics. While we don't think the Capilene Cool Daily Shirt is the absolute best in this department, it does an adequate job stifling stench as the miles rack up. The secret sauce is the HeiQ Mint odor control, which is a plant-based finish developed in collaboration with HeiQ. It’s worth noting that synthetics inherently do a worse job fending off odor compared to merino wool alternatives, but as I mentioned, the Capilene isn’t a terrible performer and stacks up reasonably well among other polyester designs.
 

Sun Protection

While I have yet to experience sunburn while wearing the Capilene Cool Daily Graphic Shirt, not all damage is readily apparent. To combat harmful rays, some shirts boast a UPF rating, which is a measurement of how much ultraviolet (UV) radiation the fabric blocks. A bigger number correlates with more UV protection, with 50+ being the highest rating achievable (fabrics with this rating block more than 98% of the sun’s rays and allow less than 2%—or 1/50th—to penetrate). Patagonia no longer advertises a UPF rating for their Capilene collection following a voluntary recall, so it’s impossible to know exactly how effective the material is at blocking harmful rays, although they estimate it’s somewhere between 17 and 45. Regardless, those worried about sun protection should consider opting for a long-sleeve design. During all-day exposure, I’m quick to slip on a sun hoody for the added arm and head coverage.
 

Features

This is a basic t-shirt—two arm holes and a tag. Aside from that, there aren't many features to speak of. If you want to get granular, Patagonia incorporated details like minimal stitching and seams to reduce chafing underneath pack straps, set-in sleeves designed to maximize mobility, the HeiQ Mint odor control treatment mentioned above, a low-profile logo on the bottom hem, and a thin webbing loop at the back of the neck for hanging the shirt to dry. All in all, it's a simple but thoughtfully built piece and clearly made with outdoor use in mind.
 

Fit and Sizing

The Capilene is a bit baggy, especially around the bottom hem, and doesn't have the style-forward, tapered cut of many modern competitors. This is largely a matter of personal preference: While I prefer a tighter fit, many hikers and backpackers lean toward a looser silhouette for increased ventilation, which the Capilene offers in spades. However, I don't like the Capilene's tendency to bunch up underneath the hipbelt of a backpacking pack (which can lead to uncomfortable pressure points), and the excess fabric tends to flap around in driving wind. I also feel that the shirt would be even better at wicking moisture if it had a closer fit. All in all, it's not my favorite fit—and I'm not particularly fond of wearing the Capilene casually for this reason alone—but again, this won't be the case for everyone. And I do appreciate that Patagonia offers the shirt in a healthy size range, from XS to 3XL for men and XXS to XXL for women.
 

Sustainability

As we’ve come to expect from Patagonia, the Capilene Cool Daily shirt is built with an eye toward sustainability—an increasingly important consideration for many outdoor-goers. Specifically, the shirt is made with at least 50% recycled polyester and made in a Fair Trade Certified Factory. This indicates that Patagonia put extra money into production to help ensure workers are compensated fairly and can fund community projects, healthcare programs, and more (check out Patagonia’s breakdown on the program here). 
 

Other Versions of the Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily

I tested the men’s Capilene Cool Daily Graphic Shirt for this review, and it’s also sold in a women’s version for the same price. As referenced above, the graphic version is largely identical to the standard Capilene Cool Daily Shirt, with the only differences being styling (patterns vs. solid colorways) and price (the graphic tee is $10 pricier). Zooming out to the wider Capilene Cool Daily collection, there are several long-sleeve options (both hooded and non-hooded) for men and women, along with tank tops for those looking for the most streamlined option. Finally, it's worth noting that the Capilene fabric is featured in a range of other designs, including baselayers of varying thicknesses.
 

What We Like

• The Capilene Cool Daily checks all the boxes we look for in a well-rounded hiking shirt: It’s comfortable, airy, and built to last.
• Despite being ultralight, a single shirt lasted me over 5,000 miles of thru-hiking and is still going strong.
• Capilene fabric wicks moisture better than many other synthetics we’ve tested, making it an excellent choice for long, hot days under the sun.
• Competitively lightweight at 4.5 ounces and packs down very small for stashing in a full pack or luggage for travel.
• Built with an eye toward sustainability, including recycled fabrics, a plant-based odor treatment, and certification to the Fair Trade standard.
• Offered in a wide range of sizes, colorways, and styles—including hooded and non-hooded long-sleeve shirts for those who want the added coverage.

What We Don't

• Loose, relaxed fit doesn’t wick moisture as well as trimmer-fitting designs, is prone to bunching underneath a hipbelt, and isn’t our favorite for wearing casually. 
• While the HeiQ Mint odor control treatment does a decent job managing stench, the Capilene Cool Daily isn’t a standout in stink prevention.
• While entirely subjective, I feel the latest patterns aren’t as fun or vibrant as past versions of the Capilene Cool Daily Graphic Shirt.
• You can go cheaper in the hiking shirt market, but expect sacrifices in areas like quality and next-to-skin comfort.
   

Comparison Table

*Editor's note: For the sake of comparison, the table above and paragraphs below reflect the standard Capilene Cool Daily Shirt, which is $10 cheaper than the graphic version we tested and available in solid colorways rather than patterns. 

The Competition

The Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily is a premium hiking shirt that offers impressive breathability, comfort, and durability in a lightweight and sustainably minded package. As such, it's become my go-to companion for all manner of outdoor adventures, but that's not to say there aren't solid alternatives available. Black Diamond has been churning out quality hiking apparel for years, and their Distance SS Tech Tee is another staple in our closet. However, while the two share similar constructions, the Distance's polyester fabric is less comfortable, not as adept at wicking moisture, and more prone to wear over time. It does get the clear edge in weight at just 3.1 ounces, but we don't feel that advantage is worth the $20 price increase.
 

For a budget-friendlier pick, we also like REI Co-op's Sahara Shirt. For just $35, the Sahara features a nice blend of polyester (92%) and spandex (8%) that's soft, stretchy, and highly breathable. However, the REI's construction is a step down in overall quality, and the Sahara isn't as capable at wicking moisture. You do get the assurance of UPF 30 protection (the Patagonia isn't UPF rated), but we think the Capilene is worth the added investment for those who get outside a lot and want their shirt to last.

At the other end of the price spectrum is Arc'teryx's Cormac Crew Neck Shirt, which is expensive for a synthetic design at $70 but comes with some notable upgrades over the Capilene. In addition to a UPF 50+ rating, which is the highest available, the Cormac is lighter than the Patagonia at 3.9 ounces and tacks on a reflective logo for visibility in low-light conditions. We're admittedly biased toward Patagonia's Capilene fabric, but the Cormac's Phasic LT construction is similarly comfortable, breathable, and effective at wicking moisture. In the end, it's up to you whether the Arc'teryx's UPF rating, reflective detailing, and lower weight are worth the $25 price increase, but we consider the Capilene to be the superior all-around value.
 

Last but not least is a merino wool alternative to consider: the Icebreaker Merino 125 Cool-Lite Sphere Shirt. There are several noteworthy benefits to going with wool over polyester: It’s ultra-soft against the skin, offers great temperature regulation, and resists odor far better than synthetic materials. However, thin designs like the Icebreaker aren't particularly durable, forming holes much quicker than synthetics like the Capilene. You can also expect to pay a bit of a premium, with the 125 Coo-Lite Sphere costing a significant $30 more than the Patagonia. In the end, the Icebreaker is a nice choice for those sold on the benefits of merino, but the Capilene will get the job done in a cheaper, lighter, and more durable package.