Arc’teryx Skyline Short-Sleeve Shirt Review

The Arc’teryx Skyline Short-Sleeve is a top-of-the-line button down performance shirt for hikers. The standout features are its wrinkle-resistant fabric and iconic snap buttons. At a hefty price point, this shirt caught my eye as something that could really stand out from the crowd. I’ve been especially impressed with Arc’teryx over the last few years and wanted to check out one of their hiking shirts. The Skyline did not disappoint. For any hiker seeking the best hiking shirt money can buy, this is definitely not one to miss.

Arc'teryx Skyline

Sawtooth Wilderness magic. Skyline shirt pictured on right.

Arc’teryx Skyline Short-Sleeve Shirt At-a-Glance

  • MSRP: $89
  • Weight: 4.1 ounces
  • Materials: Diem (100% polyester)
  • UPF Rating: 45+

Circumstances of Review

I got my hands on this shirt in early September 2020 and managed to put it to the test around the country over the following month and a half. This shirt has seen miles in the Sawtooth Wilderness in Idaho, the slot canyons of Utah, Glacier Peak Wilderness in Washington, and Fall Creek Falls State Park in Tennessee. I experienced conditions ranging from being soaked in sweat to fully layered in the rain. In total, I’ve put over 200 hiking miles on this shirt so far. Spoiler: I predict thousands more to come.

Making friends with a goat on Mount Timp in Utah.

Features

  • Snap buttons: Plastic snap buttons make this shirt extremely easy and downright fun to take off. What’s better than ripping your shirt off Hulk-style at the end of a long day of hiking?
  • Wrinkle-resistant material: You can ball it up and throw it in the corner of your tent at night if you want. When you put it on in the morning, it’ll still be wrinkle-free and you can keep looking dapper on trail.
  • Zippered chest pocket: This little pocket comes in handy for little tasks like storing your bottle cap when filtering. It’s also inconspicuous and doesn’t feel in the way when not in use.
  • Quick-drying: This is a given in hiking shirts, but still a nice touch.
  • Lightweight: Four ounces is nice on the back when you leave this little guy in your pack and wear your sleep shirt into town.
  • Breathable: The Skyline can hold its own even in the muggy southern heat of late summer.

Performance 

This shirt seems great on paper, but how did it actually perform?

To put it simply, I was impressed. I’ve put a lot of backpacking miles on a number of shirts. The Skyline stands out as my favorite. First of all, it’s comfortable to wear. The material used in the shirt is light, breathes well, and has a nice little stretch to it. I never found any parts constricting or tight, even when my pack would start to sit wonky. I could wear this shirt all day and barely even think about it.

Arc'teryx Skyline

EVERYBODY loves a good snap button.

In addition to being the most comfortable shirt I’ve backpacked in, the snap buttons are a game-changer. They’re just so fun and easy to use. At the end of the day, it literally takes seconds to rip off. Want to get comfy at camp? SNAP, done. Accidentally started with the wrong button and need to start over? POP POP POP, we’re there. Want to impress your friends and scare off potential new ones at camp? RIP, all set. It may even be slightly quicker to put on since you don’t have to thread buttons through slits.

This shirt is comfy to wear and fun to take off. What more can one hope for in a hiking shirt?

Arc’teryx Skyline SS Pros

  • Comfortable: This is legitimately the most comfortable shirt I’ve ever hiked in.
  • Moisture-wicking: The moisture-wicking is on point and contributes significantly to the comfortability of the Skyline.
  • Solid sun protection: A UPF Rating of 45+ is great. It definitely kept my pale skin well protected.
  • SNAP BUTTONS: Seriously. These are the BEST.
Arc'teryx Skyline

Hot hiking in Escalante.

Arc’teryx Skyline SS Cons

  • Pricey: At $89, this shirt is definitely in the upper tier of price ranges.
  • Salty sweat stains: My shirt ended up holding quite a bit of salt from my sweat. It was particularly noticeable due to the darker color I chose in the shirt. It washed out easily after the trail, but a week of hiking in summer heat covered the shirt in salt splotches.

Final Thoughts 

My stance on the shirt should be pretty apparent at this point: I seriously love it. I highly recommend this shirt to anybody looking for the absolute best of the best. Is it the best value for a hiking shirt? Definitely not. You could probably walk into a thrift store and find something reasonably comparable in quality at a fraction of the price. There is some good news on that front, though: the Skyline is currently on sale as of this publication (October 2020).

Shop the Arc’teryx Skyline Shirt

Arc'teryx Skyline

The Arc’teryx Skyline SS putting its name in action with some pizza on a peak.

Comparable Shirts

prAna Cayman Shirt

  • MSRP: $69
  • Weight: 5.3 ounces

Columbia Silver Ridge Lite Short Sleeve Shirt

  • MSRP: $50
  • Weight: not listed

Patagonia Stretch Planing Hybrid Shirt

  • MSRP: $89
  • Weight: 5.2 ounces

Outdoor Research Astroman Short Sleeve Shirt

  • MSRP: $84.95
  • Weight: 4.8 ounces

*This product was donated for purpose of review.

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