ExOfficio’s Air Strip Lite shirt was a revolution when it first came out and it was embraced by frequent travelers like geeks embraced the iPhone. OK, so maybe nobody lined up at stores to get the 2.0 version, but now it’s hard to go anywhere that attracts adventure travelers and not see at least one person wearing one of these shirts around. Considering how much travel apparel there is for sale in your average outdoor gear and clothing store, that’s an impressive feat.

There are a lot of good reasons for this fandom so devoted that people write whole magazine articles about traveling with this one shirt, write about it in their books, or do blog posts gushing about how much they love it. For one thing, these Air Strip Lite shirts still look great after multiple sink washings, days of hacking through the jungle, and rafting down rivers in the sun. I bought one back in 2008 and reviewed it on the old version of this blog a few months later. About 20 trips later, it still looks as good as the new model ExOfficio sent me lately to check out, the one pictured here.

Lots of cool features make this shirt worth the money, the first one being that it’s super-light and dries quickly. It’s moisture wicking, it protects you from the sun, and the Dryflylite fabric’s claim says, “So light you might forget you’re wearing it!” You also might forget because it’s comfortable. This is not some clingy fabric that sticks to your skin and makes you sweat even harder.

But then you start really looking at this shirt and realizing how many thoughtful designs are built into it. There’s a ventilation system that does a surprisingly good job of letting body heat and moisture out through the hidden mesh along the sides and the back in line with the shoulders. Two gusseted chest pockets have Velcro flaps to keep your sunglasses from falling out and one has a hidden zipper pocket for cash or a credit card. There’s a little loop above one pocket, also with Velcro, for securing a tool, glasses, or a pen.  The sleeves can be rolled up and then buttoned above the elbow as the day gets hotter and a loop on the back is handy for hanging it to dry after a washing.

What’s new about this year’s model? Not much, which is a good thing. Don’t tinker with what’s working well. The only noticeable difference is the new one I’ve been wearing is slightly lighter than the one I bought a few years ago. The long-sleeve men’s version weighs all of six ounces. The thinner fabric seems to breathe a bit better too, but that could be my imagination.

The ExOfficio Air Strip Lite shirt has spawned a hundred imitators, some of them probably now its equal, but if you want to make the no-brainer choice and be sure it’ll work out well, get one or two of these shirts and you’ll find yourself packing them over and over again. They come in 12 different colors and several patterns too, so you don’t have to dress just in “I’m on safari” khaki. The women’s version is naturally trimmer, with smaller pockets.

You can get all varieties of the Air Strip Lite shirt for men and women at the ExOfficio site, where list price is $85 but slow-moving colors are frequently discounted. You’ll get Free Shipping On Orders Over $50.

Or check prices at REI, Backcountry.com and Rock Creek.

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