An all-purpose, natural fiber tee.
Just Right
I’ve gone through many, many t-shirt phases in my life, and right now, I just want a well-made tee that feels and looks good. If it’s made out of alpaca fibers, even better. Appalachian Gear Company’s Women’s 8020 AG-TEE™ fits the bill (and me) perfectly, with lots of extra bonuses. (Also available in men’s version.)
I love the “regular fit style” of this soft tee. It’s not snug and not baggy, but very slightly shaped, with just a bit of room for me to feel free when I move around. I like the slightly scooped neckline, which is low enough to show off my goddess necklace, but not so low I feel exposed.
I often end up wearing men’s trail and exercise shirts to get more torso length and because I have a large chest and sometimes a women’s shirt that fits in the shoulders is too tight across the chest. Not this one. The Women’s 8020 AG-TEE™ is actually long enough for me, and is cut about an inch longer in the back of the shirt than in the front for more coverage. I also found a near perfect fit in the shoulders and around the chest, wearing size XL. The subtle shaping and the shorter sleeve style of the women’s tee make it the more attractive choice for me. The Women’s 8020 AG-TEE™ just feels like another one of my favorite “throw on and go” tees. I love new tees that feel like old tees.
High Functioning
The Appalachian Gear Company’s Women’s 8020 AG-TEE™ is made out of 80% alpaca fibers and 20% Tencel. It’s a wining combo. Alpaca, like wool from sheep, is naturally resistant to odors and does a great job of wicking away moisture. It helps with regulating body temperatures in the heat and feels cosy warm in the cold. Adding Tencel gives the fabric great durability. If you’re not familiar with Tencel, it’s marketed as a more sustainable fabric that is created from wood pulp. The alpaca/Tencel blend fabric in the Women’s 8020 AG-TEE™ is designed not to run if snagged. I haven’t made any holes in my top, so I will have to take their word on it.
Aside from the comfort and performance benefits of natural fibers, I like wearing alpaca garments for the same reason I like wearing sheep wool garments: I rarely have to wash them. This means I can pack a lot smaller for trips because I can wear Women’s 8020 AG-TEE™ for days without needing to wash it. Seriously, it doesn’t smell. I just hang it up at night to air it out, and I’m fine wearing it out for a hike, then to a dinner party in my friends’ back yard. It’s still fresh enough for yoga the next day.
The Appalachian Gear Company has designed this top for durability. I have been wearing it for several weeks, with and without a day pack, and it shows no sign of the seams or the fabric breaking down. The Women’s 8020 AG-TEE™ can get wrinkled if you wad it up and stuff it into a pack or a drawer and forget about it, which I sometimes do. Then I turn the house upside down, trying to find it because I miss wearing it.
I don’t have the time or energy to change clothes throughout the day, so I really love having a lightweight top that is comfortable, performs well, and looks nice. I tested a black tee, my favorite color, which is ideal for travel, too. Nothing is more unpleasant than being in transit for five or eight or 20 hours; wearing the Women’s 8020 AG-TEE™ keeps me from stinking long after I’ve lost my patience, energy, and composure. It’s a huge bonus to arrive at a destination not smelling like it was a journey getting there.
Sustainable by Design
The Women’s 8020 AG-TEE™ is produced in the USA by a collective of small workshops in the Southest out of alpaca sourced from Peru. The Appalachian Gear Company is committed to paying fair wages, provide a safe work environment, and creating jobs. The Women’s 8020 AG-TEE™ is on the pricy side, but the price reflects the garment’s high quality and the company’s commitment to fair wages.
Bottom Line
A well-made, durable, attractive top that is ideal for trail, travel, and every day wear.
Details
Available in sizes XS-XL, in several fun colors: Cranberry, Black, True Blue, Sea Foam, Cobalt, and Olive Drab. This shirt is also available in men’s sizes S-XXL in Black, Sea Foam, Cobalt, Olive Drab, and Mallard. (Please note the detailed care and washing instructions on the Appalachian Gear Company’s website to keep your tee in top shape.)
Manufacturer: Appalachiangearcompany.com
