The best gear is gear that delivers more than you expect. My Royal Robbins Men's Expedition Top fits the description to a tee.
I bought my Royal Robbins Men's Expedition Top over ten years ago. It has been all over the world with me, from Bangkok, Thailand to Campeche, Mexico and from kayaking in the Florida Everglades to hiking in Death Valley. Throughout all my adventures, the shirt has served me well.
What makes this shirt a standout is its material and design. The material is extremely lightweight but durable enough to take a lot of abuse on water and land. I've worn it waverunning in my kayak and scrambling up rough granite in Yosemite National Park, and there isn't a tear on it. The quick-dry synthetic material breathes just enough to keep me comfortable on the hottest days. It also has sunblocking properties so I don't get burned. The material is so superb I'm able to wash it in a sink or pond midday and wear it out dry that night.
On the design side, my Royal Robbins Expedition Top has a mesh lining that keeps moisture moving, two pockets that close with velcro fasteners -- one is zippered for extra security, and two very roomy document pockets. There's a slit in the back for extra ventilation and loops on the sleeves to keep them in place when they're rolled up.
This shirt is so versatile, I usually put a syntetic long john top under it to wear it in cooler climes.
Way too many of my adventure photos feature me wearing this shirt, and there's a simple reason for that: It outperforms my expectations.
My Royal Robbins Expedition Top has been my constant companion for over a decade. I wear the shirt everywhere from kayaking in the Everglades to hiking in Death Valley and it doesn't have a single tear. The shirt is made of lightweight material that blocks the sun and dries quickly. It also features roomy pockets -- one of them zippered -- and a mesh liner. The back (shown below) has a slit to keep the moisture moving.
