Meet the reviewer
Inov-8 Graphic T-Shirt: first impressions
With the costs of even the most basic outdoor items seemingly rising inexorably at the moment, it’s refreshing to come across a garment like this hiking T-shirt from British brand inov-8, which has a much more reasonable list price.
• List price: $30 (US) / £25 (UK)
• Sizes available: XS / M / L / XL / XXL
• Weight: 146g / 5.1oz
• Materials: Cotton (50%), Modal (50%)
• Colors: Blue / Black Graphite / Green
Best known for producing reliably excellent trail-running shoes and apparel, in recent years inov-8 has widened its offering to include hiking boots and walking shoes, and the brand has also branched out into trekking trousers and tops.
But does cheap also leave us cheerful? I’ve been testing the Inov-8 Graphic Tee to see how it compares to the best hiking shirts on the market.
Inov-8 Graphic T-Shirt: design and construction
This is an unfussy and down-to-earth T-shirt, with no collar or neck zip. It’s constructed from a material mix comprised of 50% cotton and 50% modal, with the latter fabric being made from cellulosic fiber sourced from trees, usually beech. It’s often touted as an environmentally friendly fabric because it’s biodegradable (in certain circumstances) and recyclable, but there is some debate about how ecological it really is. (It all comes down to the practices employed by the suppliers of the modal to the brand, for which we don’t have full visibility.)
There is zero debate about the next-to-skin comfort of the material, however, which is undeniably deliciously cool and comfortable. It’s also tough and robust, and will hold its shape well.
On the downside, both cotton and modal absorb much more moisture than synthetic fabrics like polyester, so if you get this garment wet it will weigh you down quite a bit, and will also take ages to dry. Furthermore, unlike other natural materials such as Merino wool and bamboo, cotton offers no thermal properties whatsoever when wet, and can actually make you colder.
Used in the right sort of environment, however, this makes an excellent hiking shirt, climbing T-shirt or running top.
Inov-8 Graphic T-Shirt: on the trails
I’ve been testing this T-shirt while hiking, climbing and running in a wide range of weather conditions and temperatures over the last 12 months, and I ’ve enjoyed using it in all four seasons. Importantly, I’ll caveat that by saying I avoided wearing it in the hills and peaks during the winter, and outdoors in wet and cold conditions generally, because cotton is far from the best material to get caught out in when the elements get grumpy.
In winter I stick to using this T-shirt for trips to the climbing gym and in spring and fall it’s best worn on short walks and trail runs when conditions are definitely dry. But in warmer weather the lovely feel of the material and the relaxed fit of the tee makes it perfect for wearing while out hiking on coastal and countryside trails, or climbing at the crag.
A relatively basic garment, the Graphic Tee doesn’t claim to revolutionize your outdoor experience, it just feels nice to wear, allows you to move completely freely, wicks moisture away from your body when you break a sweat, protects your torso from the wind and the sun, and looks good with a pair of jeans at the pub when you’re enjoying mid- or post-adventure pints.
Oh, and it won’t empty your wallet either – with many base layers (both short and long-sleeved versions) costing around 100 bucks these days, this modest but highly functional tee is available for a fraction of that.
