Recommended Price: £59
Weight: 375g (men’s large)
Here’s something a little different for your base or even mid-layer. The Woodsmoke shirt has the looks of a classic lumberjack-style shirt – but re-imagined to make it much more practical for active use out on the trails and hills.

The shirt feels as comfortable as cotton to touch, but it’s actually made from a type of polyester with hollow fibres. These trap air to give more warmth than standard polyester. In use, I’ve found the Woodsmoke to be surprisingly warm worn as a baselayer – I wouldn’t want to wear it on the hottest days of summer – but it wicks better and dries much faster than you’d expect from a shirt with these looks. The active cut gives good freedom of movement, and whilst the Woodsmoke looks like it was designed for loafing around, it actually performs very well when out on the hills.
The fastenings are all press studs, including one on the chest pocket and two on each of the cuffs which allow their tightness to be adjusted. The collar can be used to provide some sun protection for your neck. It’s available in two different colour designs – both with a lumberjack check, and there’s a women’s version too. Overall the Woodsmoke seems very well made and I expect it to prove to be very durable.
The shirt is treated with polygiene, which aims to prevent clothes from smelling. I’ve tested quite a few garments with this treatment now, and have been impressed; unlike treatments from a few years ago it seems to continue to work after many washes. I’ve worn the Woodsmoke for 5 consecutive days of walking – working up a sweat – but still the shirt itself didn’t smell (this was verified to me by another person!) If you are looking for something that you can wear out on hikes and then wear again when out in the pub later in the evening, this may be just what you are looking for.