Outdoor Research Echo S/S - Women's Review

A high performer across the board, the Echo is a reliable shirt for warmer weather. Plus, it comes in a huge array of colors, so you're bound to find one that matches the rest of your gear!

Performance Comparison

After taking the Echo for long runs in the desert, we were thoroughly impressed with its performance in the heat.

Comfort

Comfort should be one of your highest priorities when looking for your next running shirt, because the farther you run, the less you want to have to think about what you're wearing. This stretchy tee has a more form-fitting cut, without being tight. We appreciate the subtle v-neck, that still sits high enough to give you plenty of coverage from the sun, and that some colorways have contrasting color panels along the sides for visual interest. We love the gussets underneath the arms that help increase range of motion without a lot of pulling at the fabric, but we wish that the sleeves were slightly longer so that they didn't flare out at the edges and that the underarms were cut a bit lower. Climbers, size up to accommodate your shoulders and lats! The back hem dips an inch lower than the front, and we feel the length is great for running.

The raglan sleeve means that you don't have to worry about any seams rubbing along the top of your shoulder.

While the fabric does have the potential to snag if you're running on narrow, overgrown singletrack, the overall quality is a winner. The flatlock seams are low profile and durable, and the raglan sleeves mean that there is no seam running along the top of the shoulders. This greatly decreases the chance of rubbing underneath a running vest or pack.

We wish the sleeves were slightly longer so that they didn't do this funny flare out at the edge. The contrasting-color gusset under the arm provides extra range of motion.

Breathability

A high score in the breathability category translates to our testers feeling comfortable when running in full sun on a hot day. Even when wearing a running vest, we didn't get overheated in the Echo and felt consistent airflow through the fabric thanks to the gridded polyester mesh that makes up the whole shirt. This is also one of the lightest running shirts we tested this spring, weighing in at just 1.9 oz. Pretty impressive! If you plan on running in the heat of summer, you won't be disappointed by this one.

The stretchy, gridded polyester allows steady airflow and is so lightweight it's nearly see-through. The flatlock seams are also a mark of a higher-end product since their low profile is more comfortable but also more expensive to produce.

Drying Speed

The Echo ranked high during our drying speed test, too, where we fully soaked each shirt, wrung them out by hand, and hung them to dry on a clothesline. The top performers all reached a state of dryness within minutes of each other, and this was consistent with our field testing, too, where we experienced a quick drying of sweaty patches once we took off our running vest and the evaporative cooling effect that goes along with that.

Though we got sweaty on our no-shade test runs, the sweat dried quickly and the evaporative cooling helped regulate our temperature.

Features & Versatility

When it comes to features, the main draw of this shirt is the AirVent fabric, which helps prevent odor and provides UPF 15 protection. Since this ultralight tee is marketed specifically for your hottest days, these are two features that are great to see. Additionally, there is one reflective logo located along the front hem.

A reflective logo on the front hem of the shirt.

In terms of versatility, we would certainly pick this one for running in the heat, hiking, and backpacking. We'd be less prone to wear it climbing, both because the fabric tends to snag and because it is cut fairly short in the body and could pull up and out from under the waist of your harness. The breezy airflow through the fabric will make the Echo a go-to in our summer quiver, but one we might put away pretty quickly once it starts cooling off in the fall. For travel, the packability is fantastic, taking up almost no room in a carry-on.

Super lightweight and packable, this would easily stuff into a pack without taking up much space.

Value

If staying comfortable in the heat is a high priority for you, this one is definitely worth the money. The overall quality of the shirt is consistent with the price point. While it's definitely a bit more specialized because of the ultralight fabric, if that's consistent with your running needs, it's a great buy.

Conclusion

The Outdoor Research Echo is a shirt we'll be recommending to all of our friends living in hot locales this summer. Breathable, lightweight, and comfortable, it's a standout technical running shirt.

This tee is easy and breezy!