REI Co-op Sahara Long-Sleeve - Women's Review

The REI Sahara is a button-up shirt with a collar, made of 94% nylon and 6% spandex. It has a UPF 50 rating and features two Velcro chest pockets, a side zippered pocket, tab sleeves, a back vent, and a sunglasses loop.

Performance Comparison

Comfort and Fit

We think the Sahara fabric is smooth and decently comfortable to wear, if a bit crinkly. It's not the softest or thinnest collared shirt we tested, but clever features and overall flexibility help to make it a great option for staying comfortable and happy.

With 6% spandex fabric (the rest is bluesign-approved nylon), the Sahara is stretchier than it looks or initially feels. The added spandex greatly improves mobility through the shoulders, even for ladies with broader shoulders. This shirt also has a relaxed yet classically feminine cut that we like. While a previous version of this top had stretchy underarm panels for mobility and ventilation, this latest version does not, which is noticeable during big arm motions, such as paddling. The newest version also did away with the soft inner collar lining, though we can't say we noticed its absence much.

The features of the Sahara are understated and blend into the shirt's design better than so many similar shirts with gaudy pockets, tabs, snaps, and zippers sticking out everywhere. It has less obtrusive chest pockets, with small Velcro strips that keep weight down and don't catch our long hair. A small loop at the nape of your neck lets you hang this shirt out to air after a long day on the trail if needed. Our most significant complaints about the Sahara are how easily it wrinkles inside a bag or suitcase and how high the sleeve tabs are — they require three full rolls to fasten, pulling the sleeves up above your elbows. But other than that, this is an excellent collared sun shirt.

Sun Protection

Previous iterations of the Sahara had a lower UPF rating, but this new fabric now provides UPF 50 protection. Drop hems in the front and back add torso protection when bending over or raising your arms. However, the buttons just below the neck could be placed more helpfully. While leaving them unbuttoned is attractive and comfortable, buttoning them up protects more skin, and doing so makes the collar quite tight.

We are very impressed with the sleeves long enough for even our self-described "ape-armed" testers. They also boast a fairly unique, curved cuff that does a great job protecting the backs of the hands from those harmful UV rays. Additionally, the Sahara comes in several colors that change yearly – though some are inevitably dark, making them hotter. We've had dark blue and military green versions throughout the three iterations of this shirt that we've tested, and the green is significantly cooler-feeling than the others.

Breathability

The thickness of the fabric on the Sahara is about the middle of the road for the collared shirts we tested. It's not so thick that you will feel stifled, but it isn't as thin as some others that almost feel like you're not even wearing a shirt. A slightly looser fit helps to maintain airflow inside this shirt on a hot day.

The vented back panel is a great feature, though it's undergone some changes. While previous versions of this shirt allowed the back panel to vent directly to your skin, this updated Sahara now has a mesh panel covering the vents. REI has tried to mitigate the extra heat this adds to your shoulders by making the vent sizes larger than before. The small zippered pocket is also lined by mesh to mitigate the effects of adding too many layers of fabric. And when you do find yourself sweating, as you inevitably will, the Sahara wicks moisture well and dries quickly to keep you cool and moving.

Versatility

We really like this shirt's classy, feminine cut and versatile design. We feel it outcompetes the many boxy or loose shirts out there for style and is much more versatile as both a sun shirt and just a nice indoor option. Our main tester usually doesn't like how she looks in a button-up shirt, and even she enjoys wearing this one. It also extends its usability with stretchier fabric, making it much easier to move in without worrying you'll burst through the back of the shirt. And while lots of other button-up shirts are covered in giant pockets that are an eyesore, the Sahara keeps its features subtle and tucked away.

We're quite impressed by the many general features the Sahara has that make it a solid choice for a variety of activities. It incorporates generous stretch for mobility, sleeves that roll up high for when you're hot (if you remembered your sunscreen!), and a pleasing aesthetic you can wear to brunch. Though it is available in only a few colors, we like that the options are a blend of colors that won't break your eyeballs or make you feel like you're a child again. Additionally, this is one of only a few shirts in this review that we feel can make a smooth transition from the trail to the office.

Durability

REI makes the Sahara with double-stitched hems stitched into a 94% nylon, 6% spandex blend. This gives it stability while still being flexible enough to allow for a good range of motion. Its added features — like hanging loops, Velcro tabs, a zipper, and all the buttons — are also made of quality materials and attached with clean, strong stitching.

Though it's not as thick and beefy as some others, we had no issues with the durability of this shirt during the multiple rounds and several months of testing we subjected it to. It's not ripstop, but it's made of a solid material that withstands being scraped through bushes and against rocks. It also has reinforced stitching just about everywhere. We've been wearing several versions of the Sahara for several years now, and we can happily report that each of them still looks as good as the day we first got them.

Features

The Sahara has several understated features that we feel make it useful and classy. The two chest pockets Velcro closed. The left chest pocket has a sunglasses loop — though it's a bit awkward to use if you're not a flat-chested human. A small zippered pocket is hidden behind the side seam on the left side and is just large enough to hold a credit card, ID, and lip balm. This shirt also has sleeve tabs and a vented back.

Should You Buy the REI Sahara Long-Sleeve?

The REI Sahara Long-Sleeve is a well-rounded button-up sun shirt for many different activities. Though it may not have the coverage of some of the other shirts in this review, it's a highly versatile option that even the anti-button-up shirt-wearers among us have a hard time disliking. This shirt is a great collared choice for folks who prefer this style over hooded options. It's comfortable and full of features that make it useful and natural-looking on a backpacking trip or around the office. You might even love it so much that you end up buying two — have you used your REI dividend yet?

What Other Sun Shirts Should You Consider?

The Columbia Silver Ridge Lite is another button-up we like, offering an oversized fit with a boxier shape and roomier design. If you want the protection of a hood and thumbholes, the Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Hoody is a lightweight, supremely stretchy option that we love to wear. If mobility is key for you, the flat seams of the Outdoor Research Echo Hoodie may be just what you're after.