Arc'teryx Peakline Shirt
The Arc'teryx Peakline Shirt is a cotton-polyester long-sleeve button-down built for hiking and travel in warm conditions. The fabric blend (roughly 57% cotton, 43% polyester) gives you the soft hand feel of cotton with faster drying than a pure cotton shirt. Roll-up sleeve tabs let you convert to half-sleeves mid-hike. I bought this for camping trips where I wanted sun protection and bug coverage without looking like I walked out of an REI mannequin display. At around $90, it costs more than most hiking shirts, but the styling crosses over to casual wear better than fully synthetic alternatives.
Cotton-Polyester Blend with Quick-Dry Performance
The fabric balances comfort against performance. The cotton content keeps it feeling natural against skin, while the polyester speeds up drying after sweat or light rain. It won't match a pure synthetic like the Borderline Shirt for moisture-wicking speed, but it dries noticeably faster than a standard cotton flannel.
Arc'teryx designed the collar to hold its shape without flopping throughout a full day of hiking. The button-front closure allows ventilation adjustments on the fly. The hem sits at an untucked length that works with hiking pants, jeans, or shorts without looking sloppy.
How Does the Arc'teryx Peakline Shirt Fit?
The slim fit follows Arc'teryx's athletic cut. At just over 6 feet and 165 pounds, I wear a large with room for a thin baselayer on cooler mornings. The shoulders sit correctly without drooping or pulling during scrambles. The torso tapers enough to prevent that billowy parachute effect you get from boxy hiking shirts in the wind.
The sleeves reach the wrist with extra length for clean roll-up wear using the integrated tabs. The chest pocket sits high enough to stay accessible under a hip belt. I've worn this untucked on trails and tucked in at a campsite dinner, and it works both ways without fighting you.
Best Between 55 and 80 Degrees on Trail
The Peakline handles warm-weather hiking and camping between 55 and 80°F. Long sleeves block sun and mosquitoes, which saves you from slathering on sunscreen and DEET all day. The cotton-blend fabric breathes better than fully synthetic shells but won't cool you as effectively as a mesh-backed design.
For sustained effort in heat above 80°F, purpose-built hiking shirts with back venting perform better. The Borderline Shirt has a mesh-lined rear yoke that dumps heat more effectively during hard climbs. For casual trail days, light camping, and travel where you don't need maximum airflow, the Peakline's comfort edge matters more.
Arc'teryx Peakline vs. Borderline and Patagonia Self-Guided Hike
The Borderline uses fully synthetic Wye fabric with mesh venting for higher breathability during sustained activity. Pick the Borderline for dedicated hiking days, pick the Peakline for mixed-use trips where you want one shirt that works on trail and at the brewery afterward.
The Patagonia Self-Guided Hike Shirt offers similar casual hiking performance at a comparable price with recycled content. The Arc'teryx runs slimmer, which some prefer and others find restrictive under a pack. Both handle typical three-season hiking effectively.
Comfort Over Technical Performance
For a long-sleeve that handles hiking, camping, and travel without screaming "outdoor gear," the Peakline delivers. The cotton blend provides better comfort than pure synthetics during low-to-moderate effort. The slim fit and clean styling mean I can wear it around town on a travel day without changing shirts.
The price sits at the premium end of casual hiking shirts. For dedicated technical use where ventilation and UPF ratings matter, specialized shirts from Arc'teryx's running and hiking lines perform better. The Peakline targets the overlap between outdoor capability and everyday wearability. Check the Ether Crew for hot-weather alternatives, or the Cormac Crew Neck LS for a running-focused long sleeve.