Quality clothing is your first and best defense from the weather extremes which can cause hypothermia or hyperthermia.
You’ve heard this before. But how do you choose a shirt that can protect you from the sun? This long sleeve shooting shirt from Beretta is worth considering.
by Leon Pantenburg
Disclaimer: Beretta is a Survivalcommonsense.com affiliate and supplied the product for this review. Nobody had any input into the content of this post. All I ever promise is a fair shake.
Most people probably worry more about staying warm in the outdoors than they do keeping cool. But heat has been the leading cause of weather-related deaths over the last 30 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Heat regulation is particularly important during outdoor activities during the hot summer months.
In my world, sun and heat protection is as important as staying warm. I am a part-time canoe guide (weather and social distancing permitting) when we can get out on the Mississippi River. The heat index can be extreme. Without the proper clothing, getting too much sun is a definite possibility.
My standard apparel for hot weather includes a wide-brimmed hat and a long-sleeved lightweight shirt.
Appropriate sun protection is important. On one extreme are those folks who wear little or skimpy clothing. Everyone wants a nice tan, and the quickest way to get that is to bare your body to the sun. These people end up getting sunburned and risk heat stroke. Heat stroke, incidentally, is the number one weather-related killer in the United States.
On the other extreme are the folks who cover up completely. Think Bedouin nomads on the Sahara desert. These people wear long flowing robes, designed to dissipate heat and they may cover up so all that is left exposed are their eyes. This concept has proven itself over the eons.
I come down squarely in the middle. In hot weather, I typically wear a wide-brimmed hat with a mesh crown for easy ventilation. My shirt will be long-sleeved and it must dry quickly. So I was interested in the Beretta Long Sleeve Shooting shirt.
Here are the specs of the Beretta TM Long Sleeve Shooting Shirt
- Active Hunt Lightweight 100% cotton with curved mesh back yoke opening for breathability
- Diamond-stitch embroidery on left tonal shooting patch UPF-50 sun protection
- Silver Silaide technology creates an odor barrier for all-day wear
- Front chest pocket
The Good Stuff
Fit: I’m 5’10” tall and weigh (before the quarantine!) about 185 pounds. My usual shirt size is 16-1/2 with a 34-inch sleeve. I’m a fairly average guy, and the shirt fit me really well. I particularly appreciate the fairly long sleeves. When you’re paddling a canoe, that extra length helps keep your wrists and hands from getting too much sun.
The material dries quickly and keeps the wearer cool.
Shoulder room: This is a big deal for me, because I’m constantly paddling and steering a cargo canoe when I get to help guide. A canoe guide needs room to move. The curved mesh back yoke opening really ventilates well, and this is particularly appreciated when you’re doing hard work in hot sun.
Roll-up sleeves: These sleeves are loose and comfortable, with button-up tabs to secure the rolled sleeves. This is great for helping keep the sleeves rolled. The long sleeves provide protection from the sun and mosquitoes.
Colors: The shirts come in a variety of colors. I chose blue because it color coordinates with the rest of my ensemble. Gotta look good for the photos and videos!
Material: The quick-drying material is really appreciated. On one hike, I was sweating constantly and would have soaked through most shirts. Wearing the Beretta TM the only area that didn’t stay dry and dissipate the heat was where my daypack had been carried. The shirt did a good job of keeping me cool. The material is rated at UPF-50 for sun protection. Here are five things you (probably) didn’t know about sun protection.
I have worn the TM shirt a lot in a variety of hot situations, and it has been washed several times. It appears to wear well, and so far, I haven’t found any flaws in workmanship. I have particularly appreciated the technology that creates an odor barrier. The shirt never got stinky when I was wearing it, which is more than you can say for the wearer!
Design: This is clearly designed to be a shirt for shooters. The right shoulder has a padded area where a rifle of shotgun would be shouldered. There is a button flap pocket on the left side. But for my needs, the shirt is a nearly ideal choice for a working guide shirt.
Do you need a Beretta Shirt TM Long Sleeve Shooting Shirt?
Well, again, your clothing is your first line of defense between excess cold or heat. My experience is that the Beretta TM is an excellent choice for anyone who will be working or recreating in hot weather. It also should be a good bug shirt.
I like this shirt a lot, and I will be continuing to wear it outdoors.
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