I’ve been a fan of Smartwool socks for years. They’re my go-to for hiking and skiing. This summer I decided to try their clothes testing out a tee and shorts combo on a recent trip to Africa. I also put the tee to the test as one of two tees I took on 5-day trek of the Salkantay Trail in Peru.
Initial Reaction
I’m not normally a pink gal, but I love this guava pink women’s active ultra lite short sleeve tee with the multicolor shorts. I’m a size 4-6, but ordered a medium in this tee for a looser fit. I ordered up in the active merino wool lined 4” shorts too getting a medium. I immediately thought these would be great for travel as they pack down really well. The colors are vibrant and I really like the grey elastic waistband accent on the shorts to break up the pink. I have athletic thighs and shorts can be tricky for me but these were an immediate yes as soon as I put them on. With the thermoregulating merino wool in both, they also hold up to multiple wears with no stink factor. The shorts have a hidden zip pocket which is nice for keys or credit card, but I’d prefer for the pocket to be on the back. These are 4” running shorts, so there’s no pocket for your phone.
Beach Review of Tee and Short
I first wore the set while walking along the Indian Ocean during a two night stay in Durban, South Africa. It was warm and humid as I explored a nature preserve close to my hotel so the sweat factor was high and these didn’t feel dripping wet as I enjoyed a smoothie at a small cafe in the coastal forest. While walking back to my hotel I got soaked by crashing waves on beach. Both dried within about ten minutes in the late afternoon sun. This combo is perfect for a beach vacation, especially if you like working out or long walks on the beach. I also wore the shirt as a base layer while on safari in Zimbabwe, making it a multi-functional addition to my travel wardrobe.
Trekking Review of Tee
For a 7 day/6 nights adventure with Trek with Alpaca in Peru including 4 days trekking on the Salkantay Trail, I took the tee as 1 of 2 t-shirts in my limited amount of clothes you can take trekking. I only took 1 pair of shorts and opted for specific hiking shorts over these running shorts. I wore the tee multiple days on the trek. I’m not a pink gal, but really love the color of this tee. The pop of color looks great in photos on the trail too. Even with multiple wears the tee retained its shape and never felt itchy. The moisture-wicking and odor resistant properties of the tee were on point during the trek.
Bottom Line
I liked the tee so much I ordered a black one for travel. It will be great for outdoor adventures, working out, pairs with pants and a scarf for urban exploration, or even under ponchos or light sweaters for evenings. It’s great to wear on a plane too since they can be hot and cold in the same flight. The shorts are very different for me but I love them for working out. They’re definitely going in my beach vacay travel capsule too.
Author Jennifer Broome gear test sustainably made clothes and products throughout the year. For more Outdoor Gear and Travel Gear check out the Go Gear section.
