Latitude UPF 50+ Quick Dry Shirt

The closer you get to the equator, the more the sun hits from above and the less it forgives. People who spend the day under it solved this long ago by covering the arm instead of exposing it, and by wearing cloth that lets air through instead of cloth that holds heat.

The Latitude Shirt is that kind. Polyester mesh with open holes in the weave, light, that dries fast after sweat or water. Outdoor work shirt cut: collar with a stand, front buttons, short sleeves and a straight hem.

The fabric is UPF 50+, the highest band on the ultraviolet protection factor scale, which measures how much radiation the weave lets through. Sunscreen still applies on the face, neck and arms that stay uncovered.

Five pockets, each with a job

Two flap pockets with hook and loop closure, a vertical zip pocket between them, a narrow loop for a pen and a fabric loop to hang sunglasses by the arm. Inside one of the pockets a lens cloth is sewn in. It is fishing shirt design, where the hand needs to find things without looking.

The rod holder is a hook and loop tab at the hem that pins the rod against the body and frees both hands to change the hook. Away from fishing, it holds a closed umbrella, a short tripod or the shirt hem itself in the wind.

The mesh up close

The weave has holes visible to the naked eye, laid out in rows. That is what lets air through and sweat evaporate fast. In return, this shirt is not waterproof and was not made to keep out rain. Fabric that breathes and fabric that seals are opposite things.

Technical details

• Material: 100% polyester, open mesh
• UV protection: UPF 50+
• Sleeve: short
• Collar: with collar stand and front buttons
• Pockets: two flap pockets with hook and loop, one vertical zip pocket, pen loop and sunglasses loop
• Hem: hook and loop tab that works as a rod holder
• Extra: lens cloth sewn inside the pocket
• Drying: quick
• Season: summer and hot days year round
• Colors: Army Green, Sand, Navy, Slate Grey and Black

Size chart

Sizes below follow US sizing, converted from the real garment measurements. Choose by your chest measurement.

Garment measurements, with a 1 to 3 cm (up to about 1 in) tolerance. The cut is loose by design, so air can circulate. If you prefer the shirt closer to the body, take the size below.

Care

• Machine wash cold, normal cycle.
• No fabric softener. It closes the holes in the mesh and kills the breathability.
• Line dry in the shade. It dries on its own in no time and needs no dryer.
• Do not bleach and do not iron hot. Polyester melts.

The detail photos show the piece in blue, a color that is not among the five sold. Construction is the same in all of them.