The North Face Trailjammer T-shirt review: optimal airflow while you're working up a sweat
Meet the reviewer
The North Face Trailjammer T-shirt: first impressions
Sweaty adventures require the work of a technical tee with breathability at the forefront, and in this hiking shirt, The North Face has prioritized keeping you cool whether you're hiking, mountain biking or clinging to the cliffside.
Built from perforated polyester, which essentially has lots of tiny holes in it, this sporty, performance-oriented top is very airy when the sun is beating down on you during a steep climb, and easily whisks sweat away from your skin to help cool you down.
Specifications
• List price: € 80 / £60
• Gender specification: Men's and women's sizing available
• Sizes: Men's S - XXL / Women's XS - XL
• Weight (women's S): 4.2 oz / 120 g
• Materials: 92% Recycled Polyester, 8% Elastane
• Colors: Auburn glaze/Black, Skyline blue/Adriatic blue, Fizz lime/Anthracite grey
• Best use: Hiking, mountain biking, via ferrata
A crew neck and medium-length sleeves provide decent protection from the sun, while it's designed with side splits and a dropped tail to be appropriate for mountain biking. This also means you have extra coverage when hiking with a backpack. A streamlined (but not snug) fit leaves plenty of room for comfort and mobility, with lots of stretch added in.
For the most part, flatlock seams cut down on chafing, but the front of the neckline feels a little stiff and rough and some hikers might experience some chafing. Like any synthetic fabric, it gets stinky quickly but we're pleased to see it's largely constructed using recycled materials. It's made of tough stuff and performs well as a first layer or on its own across a variety of adventures.
The North Face Trailjammer T-shirt: in the field
I got to test this hiking top out on a press trip to Corsica with The North Face in early April, where I wore it as a first layer on a cool hike and mountain bike ride, then on its own during a hot, sunny via ferrata.
Here’s how it performed:
Sizing and fit
I tested a small, which is my regular size, and I think it's true to size. In fact, for once it actually fits me light the model on the website. It's not tight, but not so loose that it won't wick sweat and in general I'd say it's a comfortable fit where I can move but also layer something on top.
The sleeves aren't too short, so they give a little sun protection, and the back is a bit longer than the front which is intended for mountain bikers, but also comes in useful when hiking with a backpack.
Comfort and breathability
I spent several days adventuring in comfort while wearing this shirt. It has plenty of stretch and the fabric feels nice against my skin. The only potential issue I spotted is that the seam on the front of the neckline is really stiff when I run my fingers over it and feels a little rough to the touch. I didn't personally experience any chafing on my adventures, but I can imagine that if this were to fit a little tighter, it might cause problems for some.
I wore this as a first layer with The North Face Bolt Polartec Power Grid Pull-On Jacket while hiking and with The North Face Windstream Shell Jacket review while mountain biking. Later, I wore it on its own on a via ferrata where it was hot and sunny. In all of those configurations, I never got overly hot or sweaty. I think the perforated polyester works great for breathability and sweat-wicking.
Odor control and durability
This shirt is made using synthetic fabric, albeit a recycled one, and that means that it does get a bit stinky quite easily, and will stay that way until you wash it. I wore it over three days and while I wasn't exactly humming, it was ready for a wash. I did let it sit for a couple of weeks before washing it as an experiment, but that wasn't enough to air it out.
That of course means that you'll have to wash it frequently, which always cuts down on its durability, but overall it's a pretty tough top. That said, The North Face's FlashDry fabric is designed to be snag-resistant, but I did manage to snag mine on a very thorny bush while biking. However, I also drew quite a bit of blood so I'm under no illusions that any shirt would have held up against that.
The North Face Trailjammer T-shirt: the bottom line
If you're looking for a tough, versatile top that you can wear for hiking and biking in hot weather, this one affords you lots of breathability. The sporty design may not be for everyone, but the focus on performance will please those who want to get moving. If you're looking for something slightly more stylish, The North Face Bolt Tech T-shirt is worth a look, too.
