Gear Review: Summer clothing and other fun gear

Summery shirts, a casual dress, a backpack, and two-way radios take the spotlight in this clothing and gear review.

The Landmark Project Made to Be Outside Women’s Short Sleeve Boxy Tee and Meet Me in the Mountains Unisex Short Sleeve Tee 

The Landmark Project is all about sustainable clothing that showcases love for outdoor living. Made of 100 % sustainable cotton, which is sometimes hard to find these days. The Made to Be Outside T-shirt reminds me that I really am “made to be outside” because nature makes me so happy (and is great for my mental and physical well-being). The back of the shirt is endearing, with a take on America’s “A Horse with No Name” tune. The short, boxy fit is quite cute and looks great with shorts or a skort. If you are looking for a longer T-shirt, check out the Meet Me in the Mountains unisex T-shirt. With mushrooms being all the rage, it’s a fashionable shirt. If you want a classic fit and are between sizes, size down. I purposely sized up to medium so the T-shirt (60% cotton, 40 % recycled polyester) covers my behind and is great to wear with tights. Comes in a springy-summery light peach and mountainy green or blue color. $36 each, thelandmarkproject.com.

Ibex Essentials Cami, Natural Bikini, and Goat Short Sleeve and Long Sleeve Crews

Ibex’s blend of predominantly merino wool with 12% nylon and 5% elastane translates into an antimicrobial, moisture wicking, breathable, and odor-control cami top and bikini underwear. I’m about to go TMI here, so don’t say I didn’t warn you: I always wear clean underwear daily, and I tested the odor control factor, and sure enough, I could potentially wear them again, and let’s just say the moisture-wicking worked in humid, Southern state 90-plus-degree temps. The cami and bikini fit comfortably snug against the skin and held up like champs after I accidentally washed them on warm (as opposed to cold) and threw them in the dryer, rather than line drying. Now onto the shirts: I’m in deep love with the Baltic blue short sleeve — its richness is unlike any color I’ve seen in a T-shirt; it also comes in red, green, and black. Again, the 89% merino wool (11% nylon) creates a soft, comfortable feel with all the properties listed above, including thermoregulation for hot summer days and durable fabric with a UPF 50+ rating. The long sleeve does the same and comes in malachite (shown) and black. No tags and offset shoulder seams add to the cozy comfort. Cami, $60; bikini, $35, Goat short sleeve, $85, long, $95, ibex.com.

Icebreaker Merino Blend 125 Cool-Lite Sphere Short Sleeve Scoop T-shirt

Again, I’m in love with the color — pink (also comes in black and desert sand). This T-shirt literally feels featherlight and paper-thin, yet its merino wool (40%) and TENCEL Lyocell blend make it ultradurable, along with a silky-smooth softness, odor resistance, and moisture management. TENCEL uses sustainably sourced wood pulp, minimizing the environmental impact and enhancing the natural properties of merino wool. While I love it in the mountains, it’s also a perfect shirt for 98-degree, humid days in Kentucky, where my parents spend summers on a lake. The scoop neck is very flattering, and the medium fits great, so I might recommend sizing up if you are between and want a relaxed fit.

Party Shirt International Powerwash: Stretch Tech

Summer is made for parties, and these wild, unisex shirts add life and fun to any gathering. My husband ordered the most subdued, the Powerwash, and honestly, he looks great in it. He loves the four-way stretch and its lightweight, breathable, and moisture-wicking properties. I love that it resists wrinkles (have you noticed how wrinkled most clothing gets, even folded, in a suitcase after being in a humid state?). He’s a solid medium, and medium fits perfectly; I need a small (so size down if you’re in-between). Just scrolling the website is a blast, as they offer shirts for any theme, from tropical, jellyfish, and fish to lightning bolts, lizards, and patriotic mullets to Southwest themes, including one with skiers and snowboarders among saguaros. $59, partyshirtinternational.com.

Royal Robbins Featherweight Knit Dress

Again, amazing colors make it tough to choose, particularly between the new, subtly printed wild rhubarb or bluer dusk. I went rhubarb and love it. It blends 60% low-impact-farmed cotton with 40% polyester for a flattering fit. The overlay skirt and two side-seam pockets don’t bulge or make the dress look bulky; it remains feminine yet works great on a short hike when you want a dressier look if you are, say, doing a photo shoot among wildflowers. Size down; the Small fits great throughout the bust and waist, except for a tiny bit of extra room under the armpits. $95, royalrobbins.com.

Midland T71 X-Talker FRS Walkie Talkie

First of all, there’s nothing more nostalgic than walkie-talkies; I loved mine as a kid. But they are still extremely practical, particularly when we’re making videos skiing or mountain biking and can’t hear one another yelling to “GO!” They charge in four hours and last up to 12 hours, include low and high settings to conserve battery life and indicate when the battery is low. With 36 channels to choose from, 121 privacy codes for communicating without interference, a headphone jack, NOAA weather radio scan and alert technology, and hands-free voice activation (which really comes in handy), these walkie-talkies are versatile and very functional. They come in all black or with tasteful darker pink front plates, which add a little flair without screaming “pretty in pink.” $79.99, midlandusa.com.

Deuter Speed Lite Pro 23 SL Hiking Backpack

Weighing about 1 ½ pounds empty, this 23-liter backpack is great for day hikes. It’s designed to carry up to 22 pounds, but I keep it lighter, since it has ventilated shoulder straps without super-beefy padding (yet it’s comfortable for a normal day-load) and a single waist strap around the belly, with wider and supple hip fins for stability. Made for women, the pack fits my more narrow frame wonderfully, with a skeleton I can’t even feel that results in zero wiggle or bounce against my back. Small, outer zippered pockets, a larger open back pocket, and attachment loops add ease to grabbing gear fast. And I absolutely love the integrated hydration system, so I can sip on the go and not worry about carrying a water bottle. I went for the fun lotus-mystic colorway, but it’s also available in black. $130, deuter.com.

Kimberly Nicoletti is a freelance editor, writer, and coach. She can be reached at kim@kimberlynicoletti.com