I had a great chance to try out the Royal Robbins Lt Expedition 3/4 Sleeve during my recent wanderings. (That’s me, above, at a cute Italian restaurant on the Thames, where WanderHubs and I repaired after a thrilling production of Julius Caesar at Shakespeare’s Globe. You know, like you do on a Friday afternoon).
The Globe is an open-air, rain-or-shine theater, and we’d opted for standing or “groundling” tickets. I’m rather evangelical, about sunscreen, so I was delighted that the Lt Expedition offers an “Moisture Control System” with UPF 50+, at least through the first 40 washes. The shirt felt breezy and wicked away sweat. It’s 100% polyester, but it’s that classy, silky polyester. The shirt feels comfortable and gives off an air of casual, effortless polish. And after living out of a suitcase for a couple of weeks, I was grateful for the shirt’s resistance to wrinkles.
I love the choice of snaps instead of buttons. The front panel, or “covered snap placket,” features subtle, decorative stitching.
I’m less excited about the sleeves. Sure, 3/4 sleeves are an OK length for a shirt designed for folks who spend time in the outdoors. The longer sleeve provides more protection from the sun and stray branches. You can also roll up the sleeves and button them into place. This creates a slightly fussier look than I usually go for (though you can see in the first photo that I totally went for it). All told, I think I’d rather have either a long sleeve or a short/cap sleeve and be done with it.
I opted for the Lt Expedition in Emerald, and it’s also available in Pool, Soapstone (shown below), White, and Wild Rose.
Aside from the lightness of the fabric, my favorite feature of the shirt is a zippered pocket in the right side of the shirt. It’s just the size for some I.D. and cash, or maybe a key. You can’t hide a Big Mac in there, but it’s a great sneak feature that doesn’t compromise the shirt’s sleek lines.
All told, this shirt is comfy without looking slouchy, and it’s versatile. After all, it was suitable for the theater (at least for an ourdoor matinee). And I’m sure it will be a trusty companion on hikes when I return to the PNW.
For a look at more Royal Robbins gear, check out Samantha’s review of the Discovery Pant.
Photo Credits: WanderHubs and royalrobbins.com