I used to proudly count myself among the cheapskate backpackers who would not get rid of a t-shirt until it either had discolored beyond recognition or had started falling apart from all the hand washings (and beating on rocks in India) that come with long-term travel. Then I would repeat the process with another few cheapie shirts. After all, it’s easy enough to refresh your t-shirt wardrobe in Bangkok, Cusco, or Delhi for a few dollars a pop.

But as I’ve become older and wiser I’ve realized that sometimes it really is worth paying an hour’s salary for a t-shirt. I wore this ExO Dri Tee from ExOfficio every couple days for two months solid this summer (plus on a few bike rides since) and it still looks like it did the day I took it out of the wrapper. No stretching, no discoloration, and no noticeable deterioration in the wicking properties or odor-fighting properties.

That last one is important. I had one other cheaper wicking shirt with me on my two-month journey through two hot countries and I ended up eventually throwing it in the trash. It had gotten those little fuzzy balls around the collar, but more importantly, it stunk. Well, not when it was clean, but it didn’t take many hours of being sweaty after that for people to smell me coming. Unfortunately, that’s often the case with cheaper wicking shirts, which are no more than collections of untreated synthetic fibers. You’re better off with plain cotton unless you’re in cold weather and need to keep your skin dry.

This advanced t-shirt is a different story. It’s 15% cotton, first of all, so it doesn’t have that icky swishy polyester feel. It dries fast though, which is good on the go and good for quick washings. It has built-in sun protection and the FreshGuard finish “limits bacteria growth while neutralizing body odor.” It has some nice comfort touches too, like a printed tag instead of one scratching your neck and ribbed seams that are in front of the shoulder—helpful when you’re lugging a backpack around.

My one beef is common across many ExOfficio shirts: every drop of sweat shows up clear as the sun. Perhaps it’s the lack of patterns, perhaps the actual fabric construction, but while the sweat may dry quickly, you’ll see all of it all over in the meantime. Bring something to change into if you’re going from the sweaty outdoors to a nice air-conditioned restaurant.

The ExO Dri T-shirt comes in five sizes and seven colors and lists for $38. Sometimes the less popular sizes/colors will go on sale for 50% off, so check the links below.

Get the Exo Dri Tee for men at ExOfficio.com

Check prices on the ExOfficio eXo Dri Shirt at Sierra Trading Post