ProView – HIMALI Men’s Pursuit Long Sleeve

The HIMALI Pursuit Long Sleeve is a soft, quick-drying base layer that is versatile for all types of mountain adventures. I tested the Long Sleeve out during shoulder season trail runs and early season backcountry ski outings. I was focused on testing out the shirt’s breathability, wicking performance, and speed in drying when wet.

The Pacific Northwest can be cold, wet, and windy, which makes layering systems crucial when in the mountains. During the summer and fall months I am primarily focused on trail running and alpine mountaineering; as soon as the snow starts to fall, my focus turns to ski touring and ski mountaineering. 

For my test of the HIMALI Men’s Pursuit Long Sleeve, I was focused on three primary performance features: first and foremost, speed in drying when wet; second, breathability; and third, wicking performance. 

In the shoulder season layering can be tricky; on mountain runs I often start cold, warm up during the first hill climb, and then have to manage heat throughout the day as I run in and out of cloud cover. Both as a trail runner and backcountry skier, I need a base layer that can thermoregulate with my varying output: allowing enough breathability during high output but providing enough protection from the elements during lower output and breaks. 

Fit/Comfort

The HIMALI Long-sleeve Pursuit Long Sleeve fit large and loosely on me, though that may have been due to a sizing error. I am normally a Men’s Large in most tops and base layers, so I opted for the Men’s Large. While the length was appropriate, the torso of the Pursuit Long Sleeve was baggy and loose, and did not fit snugly against the body like a base layer should. I would recommend sizing down, if you are normally in between sizes.

The Pursuit Long Sleeve is wonderfully comfortable, though. It is incredibly soft and sits nicely on the shoulders. There are no rubbing points, and when it gets wet it does not chafe. Well done!

Look/Style

I love the look and style of the HIMALI Pursuit Long Sleeve, especially in the Mindful Blue color I tested. I will admit that blue is my favorite color, but the design of the Tee is simple and clean. There are two prominent HIMALI logos, one on the front and one on the back, but other than that the shirt is simple. Works for me!

Weight/Packability

The Tee weighs in at 7.2 oz and packs down to about the size of a 500 mL water bottle. It’s not the lightest base layer out there, nor does it pack down the smallest. The fabric does have some heft to it, which you can feel when wearing. It is significantly heavier than the Outdoor Research Echo Hoody, for comparison, which weighs in at 4.3 oz. 

Function/Performance

The Tee excels in temperatures below 50 degrees, where its breathability and wicking work hand in hand to optimize thermoregulation. Above 50 degrees and I found the Tee to be too warm; I would roll the sleeves up or sweat into the shirt, which did a great job of wicking away my moisture. Below temperatures of 30 I would pair the Tee with a midlayer for optimal performance, where the Tee would serve as a next-to-skin layer to wick sweat and condensation. 

Durability/Construction

The HIMALI Pursuit Long Sleeve utilizes a high quality polyester-spandex blend, with 90% polyester and 10% spandex, which gives it a great stretchy feel. Additionally, it features rounded seams, which is a mark of great construction and durability. The stitching enhances the seam’s longevity and reduces its propensity to tear or unwind. 

Friendliness to the Earth

HIMALI partners with Bluesign to track the origin of all the textiles used in the Tee. This partnership ensures that environmentally harmful materials, additives, and processes are avoided throughout the making of the HIMALI Pursuit Long Sleeve. This effort goes a long way towards HIMALI’s pledge to improve its sustainable practices across all of its apparel. Additionally, HIMALI utilizes recycled materials in their fleece fabrics, and have pledged to increase their use of recycled textiles across the rest of their products in the near future.

The Final Word

Overall, I really enjoyed the HIMALI Tech Tee for shoulder season trail runs and I am excited to use it as a baselayer for backcountry ski touring throughout the winter. I loved the next-to-skin wicking performance of the Tech Tee, and found it extremely soft, stretchy, and comfortable. The breathability is impressive and even when wet, it quickly dries out. I did find it to run on the large size, which made it more of a loose/baggy fit, as opposed to a close fitting base layer. Overall, HIMALI has crafted a great base layer in the Tech Tee that is versatile for all different types of mountain pursuits. 

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