Hot Weather Shirts

[LRZ]

I live in SE PA, not the hottest spot in the nation, but when it does get hot and humid, my Smitty shirts feel too heavy and hot. What do you folks in the really hot regions prefer? Any suggestions for lighter, soft and breathable shirts?

[mbkcoach]

Some guys like honigs. I have one dalco they are thin. 

[MikeSafari]

My Official's Choice shirts are very thin but I didn't have the best experience ordering from them so I'm hesitant to recommend them.

[Tksjewelry]

I highly recommend the officials choice shirts, although the shipping has been longer lately. Probably best for next year. They are the best shirts I own and I own something from every brand, even a few old dalcos. My Smitty's are relegated to lender shirts only.

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[zm1283]

Just don't wear an undershirt during the summer. Makes things a lot more breathable. 

[KenBAZ]

"Just don't wear an undershirt during the summer. Makes things a lot more breathable." 

Here in Phoenix most of us wear hi-tech undershirts and tights with advanced wicking properties. It may be because of how dry it is allows the sweating to help cool us off. My partners also tend to favor lighter colors as it gets hotter. We're wearing MLB blue for my two games tomorrow. Expected high for the day; 114 degrees.

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[mbkcoach]

@kenbaz please post link to the hitech stuff. Have never heard or seen of them. 

[LRZ]

I find Smitty's material uncomfortable directly on my skin, so I always wear hitech undershirts. mbkcoach, there are many companies offering them: Champion, UnderArmour, Nike, Russell. Maybe you can snatch some cheaply at Sports Authority, which is going out of business and clearing the shelves.

[mbkcoach]

Ok gotcha. 

[zm1283]

Moisture-wicking shirts are great, but they still add a layer to you, and when it's 95 with 75 percent humidity, it's still hot. I don't see the need for an undershirt if it's really hot, especially in summer baseball when no one really cares anyway. 

[LittleBlue]

14 hours ago, zm1283 said:

Just don't wear an undershirt during the summer. Makes things a lot more breathable. 

Lately I've been following this trend. Last weekend I had 6 games Saturday and 6 on Sunday. First base game I used a Under Armour shirt and it didn't do much. Took it off for the next and subsequent games and felt much better. Except for HS when it's hot I don't wear an undershirt on the bases. On the plate I always do though.

[LittleBlue]

42 minutes ago, zm1283 said:

Moisture-wicking shirts are great, but they still add a layer to you, and when it's 95 with 75 percent humidity, it's still hot. I don't see the need for an undershirt if it's really hot, especially in summer baseball when no one really cares anyway. 

Not to mention that most brands of umpire shirts are moisture wicking too, though if they're compared to a U-A shirt with nothing else on they don't perform as well.

[MadMax]

I fully concur with @Tksjewelry in her endorsement of The Official's Choice shirts. The fabric he uses (yes, he, singular... which is why orders take so long to fill) is second to none. 

I am a traveling tournament umpire, soon (any day now!) to relocate to @KenBAZ's neighborhood in Arizona, and I carry an arsenal of shirts. I heavily favor the MLB Vertical Stripe, using it in White, Cream, Grey, Scarlet, Bermuda Blue and of course ML Sky and ML Black, of which I have 3 of each (3 different manufacturers each). In Classic pattern, I have them all, with those being Smitty and WCUA – I sent the Cliff Keens packin' because of how heavy the material is.

The Classic pattern suffers from one noteworthy trait – because it is a tri-color collar, that collar is of a different, stiffer, less breathable material. TOC, Majestic, Smitty and WCUA MLB stripe shirts use the body material for the collars, so less of feeling like you have a plowhorse harness around your neck.

Technical-fabric shirts are constantly in my employ as well. I have UA Charged Cotton and Nike DriFIT Cotton, UA HeatGear Loose, and Nike DriFIT Pro Hypercool in Black, Navy, and Grey. Yes, I do have a red one just in case I get a real OldSchool partner. And, I even have sleeveless ones too, especially useful when stupid hot. The umpire shirts, while I like them, tend to chafe the nubblies and I don't want salt stains on my umpire shirts, so an undershirt is always worn.

[Majordave]

I've been a fan of underarmour "TNP" wicking material shirts. Still have several in black and navy for umpiring and other colors for the gym. Lately though I've discovered UA "charged cotton". I've got three white ones I got when I worked for Wounded Warrior Project. Been wearing them off and on in humid games. They are super soft. When I sweat them up they wick/hold the moisture and it's like I've got built in air conditioning. Even under my CP I occasionally get a cool blast as I drop down into my plate stance if the breeze blows through. 

Highly recommend either but charged cotton is only one available now from UA I think. 

[Hawkman]

On 6/4/2016 at 2:50 PM, zm1283 said:

Moisture-wicking shirts are great, but they still add a layer to you, and when it's 95 with 75 percent humidity, it's still hot. I don't see the need for an undershirt if it's really hot, especially in summer baseball when no one really cares anyway. 

They care in Iowa; our HS regular season starts in late May runs until mid July with the state tournament at the end of July. I personally couldn't stand to go without an undershirt; I'd soak through my ump shirt by the end of the first inning. Also are you telling me you wear a chest protector with no shirt underneath? That would feel awfully uncomfortable.

[Hawkman]

 I do all of my baseball in the heat as the HS season in Iowa starts in late May with the regular season ending 9 weeks later in mid July. The postseason and state tournament don't wrap up until the end of July. Also, all Iowa HS games are doubleheaders so you're always out there for awhile, one game in the field and one behind the plate. I have mostly Smitty shirts as well as a few Dalco's. The Smitty shirts are certainly a bit heavier than the Dalco but I've found that they wick away the moisture more effectively than the Dalco. I sweat a lot and if it's hot my Dalco shirts are always much wetter at the end of a plate game than my Smitty. The Dalco does feel a bit cooler but it isn't a big difference to me; the material the Dalco's are made out of feels a little nicer and more comfortable too. I used to wear Honigs shirts years ago but just didn't care for them; I like the fit of the Smitty and Dalco shirts and don't find either one of them unbearably hot to wear. I always wear a dri fit type shirt underneath as well. Let's face it, when it's in the 90's or more with high humidity you're going to be hot no matter what brand shirt you wear, especially behind the plate.

[zm1283]

10 hours ago, Hawkman said:

They care in Iowa; our HS regular season starts in late May runs until mid July with the state tournament at the end of July. I personally couldn't stand to go without an undershirt; I'd soak through my ump shirt by the end of the first inning. Also are you telling me you wear a chest protector with no shirt underneath? That would feel awfully uncomfortable.

No, I'm talking about on the bases. I went without an undershirt in several college games this season and no one was the wiser. I sweat on the bases, but not enough to soak through my shirt during the game. When I am talking about summer baseball, I wasn't really referring to Iowa's high school season either. If your state or association mandates an undershirt, by all means wear one. 

I'm not saying anyone shouldn't wear one just for the heck of it, but if you're hot and wondering how to stay cool, avoiding doubling up layers in 90 degree heat is the easiest way.