Michigan is not necessarily the ideal location for trying out hot-weather gear. But when Duluth Trading Company offered me the chance to test their new Armachillo shirts, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity. With the snow finally melting and the sun coming out, my boyfriend and I pulled out the shirts to give them a try.

Immediately, I was impressed with the comfort. Never has a shirt felt so soft and silky against my skin while remaining light and airy. The lightweight fabric is reminiscent of parachute material without being sticky—a great feature for an outdoor shirt. Duluth treats its Armachillo line with a “jade-fabric treatment,” which is responsible for keeping the fabric cool and preventing sweat from collecting.

The more we wore the shirts, the more we realized just how great of a feature this was. My boyfriend, who tested the men’s long sleeve shirt, tends to run hot, so he was incredibly impressed with the shirt’s ability to wick away sweat.

The back features a mesh bi-swing, or vent, which allows extra airflow throughout the shirt as well as creates freedom of movement. Extra fabric under the arms also helped when reaching and stretching, keeping us feeling unrestricted while working outdoors. The sleeves can be worn full length or rolled up and secured by a button around the elbows to keep the wearer comfortable as the temperature fluctuates. The collar, which can easily be flipped up, was sturdy enough to stay up and prevent the sun from hitting our necks, but could also be easily flipped back down when we were out of direct sunlight.

Another great feature of this work shirt is its semi-professional looking design. For the women’s shirt, the sides taper in slightly to provide a more tailored look that hugs curves without being super snug. Duluth offers a wide variety of color options as well, so there really is something for everyone. I thought the turquoise plaid pattern I received was really cute, making it a great day-to-night shirt option. Rob’s blue men’s shirt was also a great transition shirt, as he has worn it to the bar on several occasions.

One thing to note is these shirts run big. Rob, who is normally a large, should have ordered a size down. I’m normally an extra-small, and found that a child’s size might have been a better option. Because of this, the tailored design was truly appreciated because we would have both been swimming in shirts that were boxy. Along these same lines, I found the sleeves to be really long, which surprised me because I actually have longer arms. When rolled, the sleeves still came almost three-quarters of the way down my arm.

Overall, my boyfriend and I were both very impressed with the quality and comfort of this new line of cooling Duluth Trading shirts. We will be putting ours to use all spring and summer.

Images courtesy Lauren Montemurri