ExOfficio Polo – This is undeniable my best shirt. It is a polo shirt and can look quite ’smart’ with the right pair of pants but since it is completely wicking I can even work out in it if I wanted to. Naturally, I don’t work out in it, but as hot as it might sometimes get this shirt still performs well and is thick enough to still be comfortable in the winter time. The shirt really doesn’t show its wrinkles once I put it on but the thing that puts this shirt over the top is that it has a zipper breast pockeet. While this is normal for an ex-offico shirt it’s not quite standard …

Ex Officio ExO Dri Pointelle Shirt
I’m a big fan of Ex Officio in general but these shirts deserve a so-so rating. Let’s start with the positives. Great color selection and a few neck designs (v-neck, scoop neck and crew neck) make this shirt relatively cute as travel apparel goes. It looks more like regular clothing rather than some strange technical, trekking gear which is certainly appreciated on the road. [ad#reviews-image-only] The negative: the fabric doesn’t seem to hold up well under hand washing conditions. Granted I put these shirts through the ringer, literally, by regularly washing them on washboards, but the fabric has begun to pill and after 4 months is beginning to look old …

With the increase of performance apparel on the market its easy to get lost in all of the wicking, anti-macrobial, anti-chaffing and anti-whatever else is on those sales tags. After four months on the road here’s my break down of performance women’s intimate apparel:
REI: Function and soft, the REI panties were in the running for number one from the beginning. Available in several seasonal colors and cuts, they also were the cheapest of the ones I tried at about $16 a pair. Unfortunately the craftsmanship is poor. The material has stood up well to constant hand washings and wringing, but the seam quality is just not there. In both pairs the material has separated from …

We all wear wicking t-shirts and gym shorts yet many of us still use cotton underwear simply because it is more comfortable and that is what we know. With long-term travel, cotton is simply not an option. For the trip, I have been testing three different types of performance boxer briefs: ExOfficio’s Give-N-Go, REI’s Midweight MTS, and the EMS Techwick.

ExOfficio’s Give-N-Go is a marvel of modern apparel. Not only does it dry quickly and wick moisture away, but it is also anti-bacterial, making it the best option for all day sweating under a hot sun or multi-day ‘wash in the sink’ use. While this material is technically superior to just about anything I’ve ever worn on my body, it is …