I Found 'em! I Found 'em!

“I can't believe it... I've been looking for months for a sale on Ex Officio Air Strip L/S shirts (the Baja Plus is nice, too). Frankly, I've been all over the net, the web, I've browsed myself into near oblivion... and this morning, I found them, finally, at Campmor.

I wore one of these on my JMT hike in '99. It's vented at the sides, and on the yoke. Two huge pockets in front, with one a double (zippered) "security" pocket. It's got a velcro loop above one, and both sleeve's button up above the elbow. They normally run about $78, and I spluged on myself that summer. The interesting thing was, I never overheated. Not once. It's UV protective, cool, comfy, lightweight, dries fast. I was impressed. Very impressed. So I started a search.

NOBODY had these shirts on sale. Well, almost nobody. And the sale price wasn't that great. Finally, I decided to check campmor again, and lo and behold, there they were. 5 colors, and my size. $39.97. I bought 3, shipping was $7.50, and there was no sales tax. Bottom line: 3 shirts for $127.

OK, OK... I know that some would say that's outrageous. Maybe I could have gone with a different brand, etc., etc.... listen... I KNOW that. I bought what I like, it's comfortable, and IMHO, a great price for something I have personal experience with.

I just wanted to share it with my friends here who may be interest. It's a great deal.”

“I hope to see at least one of them on you on the LlamaRama trip.”

“I'm so glad you found it, Obi Wan. It's really great to find something you really want on sale!! Patience paid off! :)”

“God bless Campmor!”

“Sounds like a nice shirt. What fabric are they made from?”

“Phil - The one I bought - the Air Strip - is made of a Drylight fabric, 85% nylon, 15% polyester, with a cotton-like feel. Quick-drying, feather-weight fabric. They run a bit large, but that may be an assist for the ventilation. Having travelled to the Ex Officio Home Page, I've discovered that of the colors I bought, 2 were apparently discontinued. Their home page includes a new periwinkle color that campmor doesn't offer. Too bad, too... I may have to bite the bullet on that one.”

“Are these the button-up type, kinda like a dress shirt?”

“i have a button up TNF shirt that is mighty comfy on hot trips.”

“and is it purple or orange? tnf stuff is always gaudy.”

“If you wanted a mores "dressy" style, go for the Baja Plus... it doesn't have the ventilated yoke, but the sides and sleeves are, and it's got them big pockets.

The Air Strip, on the other hand, has a triple collar, button-down, a 3rd zippered pocket behind the right breast pocket. The collar's function is to unfold and roll up, to keep the sun off your neck.

Both have button up sleeves.

Oh yeah... I just got the white Baja plus, wore it once, took it to the dry cleaners, and the bozo's broke one of the sleeve buttons in half on one sleeve, and completely obliterated it on the other. I raised hell with them this morning. They've already lost 4 of my other shirts, and nexct week, will produce them, or pay me. The morons.”

“Just wonderin', but isn't the point of travel/outdoor wear that you don't need to take them to the dry cleaners? The only thing that bothers me when I wash all my hi-tech fabric items is that some say NO FABRIC SOFTENERS, so I get a dryer full of static-cling. Kinda crackly when I pull stuff out, but I can live with it. Anyone know why -- does fabric softener ruin the wicking treatment or something?”

“no, joy. it is light tan. don't tell me that you're on the tnf bashing bandwagon, too. mygawd, that sh!t gets old.”

“Pekka... I'm not sure the point would be that dry cleaning was or wasn't necessary... As I said, the Baja is a style perhaps less appropriate for the trail, but in fairness, I suppose I should have said that I took it to the cleaners to have it pressed. The Air Strip style would not require, nor benefit by, having it pressed. The Baja's style, as a "dressier" shirt, is desi8gned to present itself as just that, therefore, I will have it pressed again, as necessary. The Air Strip I will not.

Clear?”

“obi, ah, pressing -- I see. That thing my wife always suggests about my shirts, that I contend will be resolved simply by wearing them. I didn't doubt you had an issue the cleaner was being used to resolve, just wondered what. Now I see the button problem. After all these developments with miracle fabrics, isn't it something that buttons remain a problem. I've never had one break, but there is usually at least one on every new shirt, no matter how "tough" and "travel/trail ready" the item is hawked, that comes loose within two wearings.”

“not necessarily tnf but all clothes rainbow bright for hiking. don't like them flourescent colors on clothing.”

“Sounds like you need to find another drycleaner. Seriously though, you take a nylon blend to the cleaners? Come visit here and I'll get Tight Wad Bob to show you how to use an iron (on very low heat for blends). LOL!”

“Pamster, dahling, I KNOW how to use an iron... I just don't have the time. Well, I COULD make the time, if it were something that interested me... but at $.99 a shirt, it's worth it!”