Review by Jason B
Fall is here on the rock, deer season is open and it is time to get out in the mountains. Just as with hiking and backpacking, my base layer is one of the most important pieces of my hunting ensemble. This fall I will be wearing the Full Draw Quarter Zip L/S Shirt from Columbia’s hunting line up. The shirt is soft to the touch and very comfortable to wear. The main body of the shirt is a dark green and the sleeves and collar feature Columbia’s proprietary Timberwolf Camo pattern. The zipper operates smoothly and ends in a short collar that when zipped up resembles a thin mock turtleneck. There is a small unobtrusive Columbia decal on the left chest and a small Velcro pocket on the left sleeve.
On the 'Rock' in Kodiak, Alaska
The shirt features several technologies pioneered by Columbia that are worth mentioning. The first is “OMNI-SHIELD” which is supposed to help the shirt shed light rain and resist staining. The second feature is called “OMNI-SHADE” which is supposed to help block UV rays from the sun. Here in Kodiak it is rare to see the sun at least until next summer, but I do think it will be interesting to see how the shirt fares with the ever-present rain and mud that persists in the fall. One thing I really like about this shirt is the lack of actual hang tags. The sizing information is screened onto the shirt instead of an annoying tag this is a very good thing! The construction of the shirt is solid. I checked all the seams and everything was very well sewn with no pulls or loose seams. Care instructions are fairly simple – machine was cold gentle, do not bleach, tumble dry low, remove promptly, iron low, do not use fabric softener, and do not dry clean.
Columbia calls this shirt a midweight base layer, but after a quick look it is apparent that the shirt is very thin. I can easily see through the dark main shirt material when I hold it up to a light. Based on this, I would classify this shirt as a lightweight base layer. The sizing is another area that is interesting with
Columbia Full Draw Quarter Zip L/S shirt
this shirt. I am 5’6” / 175 pounds with a 19.5” torso and 27” arms. I usually wear large shirts, and ordered a large based on the sizing on the Columbia website, which is what I received. I tried it on and found that the shirt length and sleeve length were pretty long. The shirt measures 30” from the neck to hemline and the sleeves measure 33”. So it is a bit large on me but not too large to be uncomfortable.
I used the shirt on a quick day hike on a mostly clear, but blustery day in Kodiak. Temperatures were in the 50’s and winds were blowing 10-15 mph. I hiked the trail up to Old Women’s Mtn, which starts with a protected 700-foot climb over about a mile and then breaks out onto an open ridge that runs for several miles. The shirt performed well and felt quite breathable over the climb to the ridge, but once I made the ridge the wind blowing through the shirt quickly caused me to get chilled and I had to put on a fleece to keep moving on up the ridge to the summit. Overall, I am pleased with the shirt based on this initial use. However, the fall and winter are long and I look forward to seeing how the shirt performs.
It is listed on their website as a “mid-weight polyester knit pique shirt has a smooth, silky feel and is both waterproof and sun-resistant for all-weather comfort.”
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