When I first saw a Town Shirt sun hoodie — with its kaleidoscopic design of pink-and-white mountain laurel — I immediately had to know the brand.

　　Town Shirt was the name, and thru-hiking was its game. This brand combines years of field development with Hawaiian-style designs using flora and fauna native to the ecosystems of Americas most popular thru-hikes.

　　It was the chosen apparel of Matt Dobson, a North Carolina mountain guide who led me and several other journalists on a hike through the Art Loeb Trail. We were there to test out some equipment from a well-known company, but I found myself equally intrigued by Dobsons Hawaiian-style hiking shirt. Dobson, a triple-crown thru-hiker, told me hed worn Town Shirts apparel over thousands of miles.

　　I followed up on his recommendation by swiftly ordering a sun hoodie and button-up shirt. After many months of testing both pieces of apparel, they now rank among my favorite-ever threads.

　　In short: Town Shirts apparel is perfectly attuned to thru-hiking sensibilities. The shirts have many of the features that hardcore hikers seek out, like the sun hoodies kangaroo pocket and thumb sleeves or the button-ups dual chest pockets. Theyre also quick-drying, wrinkle-resistant, and highly durable. But what really sets Town Shirt apart are the designs. You wont find anything in REI to rival its lovingly rendered depictions of American wildlife and plants. These shirts were made for thru-hikers.

　　Town Shirt Button-Up Camp Shirt

　　9.0 How we rate products Specifications Fabric: Synthetic, soft touch blend Weight: 6 oz. (XS) 7.7 oz. (XL) Sizing: Unisex Shirt type: Button-up, short sleeve Features: Dual chest pockets Pros Ultralight Breathable Durable Beautiful Cons Could be a little more stretchy Yellow brand label is distracting Andrew McLemore Town Shirt Hawaiian Shirt Sun Hoodie Review

　　A 30-mile trail run in North Georgia was a breeze while wearing the Town Shirt button-up; (photo/Andrew McLemore) Many ultralight hikers will spend most of their trail-walking time in either a sun hoodie or a shirt, often swapping between them depending on heat levels and sun exposure. Add in some sturdy shoes, durable shorts, and a jacket, and youve got most of the threads youll really need.

　　Its not a huge surprise that Town Shirts sun hoodie and button-up shirt both worked great for me on long-distance hikes, international travel, river paddling trips, and wherever else I took them. The brand is the passion project of Dylan Pickle Tonkin, a Pennsylvania native who grew up among the tight-knit community of the Appalachian Trail.

　　Tonkin and his wife have spent the last several years building Town Shirt from the ground up. The name refers to the ability of thru-hikers to wear the brands clothing both on the trail and when they venture into a nice bar or restaurant in one of the many towns that serve as pit stops during these months-long trail adventures.

　　If you go into a bar and everybody else is wearing your sports teams jersey, you feel a little bit at home, Tonkin told GearJunkie. So I thought about making apparel with imagery that speaks to hikers, ‘cause that’s my team.That was where the seed was planted.

　　The author feeling pretty comfy (and stoked) during a 20-mile bike ride in a Town Shirt button-up; (photo/Andrew McLemore) Thru-Hike Centered Designs Tonkin works with several independent artists to create designs for the brands primary products: a sun hoodie and a short-sleeve camp shirt.

　　He focused on iconic plants and animals from Americas three classic thru-hikes: the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), the Continental Divide Trail (CDT), and the Appalachian Trail (AT). However, all of the designs lean toward a Hawaiian-style aesthetic, reflecting the Hawaiian shirts that have long been popular on the PCT.

　　The shirts and hoodies feature designs based on plants and animals beloved by Tonkin and other thru-hikers, such as the ATs Red Eft salamander and Golden-Winged Warbler or the PCTs Beavertail Cactus.

　　Matt Gnome Dobson and Dylan Pickle Tonkin. The brands Casa de Luna design is on the left; (photo/Matt Dobson) Tonkin does offer a few single-color designs for a broader audience. But most of his colorful, eye-catching designs arent meant to appeal to weekend warriors who want to look as sleek in the outdoors as they do in the boardroom. Instead, the brand opts for designs that speak directly to thru-hikers, a small, energetic community that often values self-expression and hippie engineering over perceived status or cutting-edge innovation.

　　The Casa de Luna print is a perfect example. Its a collaboration between Tonkin and the Casa de Luna refuge, which hosted weary PCT hikers for 21 years until its closure in 2019. This design, along with the Red Eft salamander, quickly became Town Shirts bestsellers. Tonkin pitched the idea to the refuges owners, Joe and Terrie Anderson, while staying with them during his 2018 hike of the PCT.

　　Technical Features Make no mistake: Town Shirts apparel isnt just pretty — it can also go the distance.

　　Sure, theres hardly an outdoor brand that doesnt make sun hoodies and technical button-ups these days. But Town Shirts apparel is just as durable and tailor-made for hiking as the competition (and its maybe even better).

　　Im a big fan of chest pockets; (photo/Andrew McLemore) Button-Up Camp Shirt I chose the Red Eft salamander design for the button-up camp shirt. Not only has this super-light and functional shirt served me well on bike rides, hikes, and travel days, but I have also literally gotten compliments on it wherever I go. Its just too darn pretty.

　　The short-sleeve button-ups are made from synthetic, lightweight fabric. Early designs of the shirts included UPF protection as well, but Tonkin dropped that feature when his customers said they didnt care about it. That also helped bring the price down, he said. The shirts have two chest pockets (another big positive for me) and are soft and stretchy.

　　I do think the shirts could be a little more stretchy in the shoulders, but for pure hiking, thats unlikely to be a downside for most.

　　(Photo/Andrew McLemore) Sun Hoodie Im similarly in love with my trillium-themed sun hoodie. The sun hoodie, made from 88% polyester and 12% spandex, combines several features that are important to hikers. That includes thumbholes for the cuffs and a kangaroo pouch in the front.

　　Its moisture-wicking and quick-drying, and it offers 50 UPF sun protection. My favorite part: It has a super-oversized hood with a button to prevent the wind from blowing it off.

　　Like seriously, this hood is deep enough for a Jedi Knight, which is exactly what I always want from any hoodie, but its hard to find. Its the ideal garment for when you need full-body sun protection that still keeps you cool on the move. It tends to be my go-to backup garment for almost any activity, especially during the hot summer months.

　　Various Town Shirt designs at an event along the Pacific Crest Trail; (photo/Drew Foster) Town Shirt: Final Verdict This apparel doesnt just function — its also likely to start a conversation with every experienced hiker you pass on the trail.

　　The Casa de Luna print is a perfect example. Its a collaboration between Tonkin and the Casa de Luna refuge, which hosted weary PCT hikers for 21 years until its closure in 2019. This design, along with the Red Eft salamander, quickly became Town Shirts bestsellers. Tonkin pitched the idea to the refuges owners, Joe and Terrie Anderson, while staying with them during his 2018 hike of the PCT.

　　Dobson (the hiking guide) told me that he wore his Town Shirt sun hoodie for more than 1,700 miles on the PCT, and its still ready to go in his closet. He has also consulted Tonkin about various ways to improve the garments.

　　Town Shirt is fully recognizable by its prints, but make no mistake — it is performance gear, Dobson told me. Dylan has been through countless fabric, cut, and manufacturer changes over the years. His being a thru-hiker and knowing whats needed means these things are born from the trail.

　　I love both my Town Shirt hoodie and my Red Eft button-up. The latter is probably the most comfortable button-up shirt Ive ever had, and the sun hoodies cavernous hood allows me to attain a Zen-like internal focus. But Id be lying if I didnt also love the constant compliments I receive while wearing these — and not just from hikers, but also from random people on Atlanta bike trails or even from my Spanish-speaking friends.

　　Theres just something special about clothes that have a personal touch, and Tonkins designs seem to spark that recognition in everyone.

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