Royal Robbins Cool Mesh Shirt : Stay Cool Under the Collar

The plane sat on the tarmac, ready for takeoff, but something was wrong with the cooling system. We were absorbing the scorching heat of the tropics, waiting for the friendly skies to cool things down in our puddle jumper, bound for a larger airport and better air conditioning en route to my final warm-weather destination.

I guess I shouldn't have been surprised when she sat down next to me. Everything else about my trip had been hot...the food, the uncomfortable bed, my temper. It stood to reason that an attractive woman would share my stifling air on this pre-Information Age tin can.

She wiped away the strand of hair plastered against her moist brow and politely said with an accent I couldn't place, "Excuse me, please," as she brushed by me and dropped into her seat.

I smiled weakly and tried my best to look disinterested, but her flowing dress, auburn curls, and jasmine scent had taken their grip on me. Not to mention her smile. I needed a cold drink, but that was a pipe dream on this flight. I'd have to gut it out.

I was without the benefit of a hand-held fan, that cold drink, or the promise of no in-flight turbulence, but I did have one important ally: My clothes. Specifically, my shirt. I had wisely packed my Cool Mesh short sleeve shirt from Royal Robbins, and my travel savvy was now paying dividends.

While my flight mates looked like they could be poured into an I-beam mold with the ease of liquid iron, I sat in relative comfort. I normally don't think of cotton shirts when I think of hot weather apparel, but the weave of this shirt provided ventilation that my regular heavy cotton tees don't.

It's also a more stylish shirt, with a collar, buttons, and even a nice, flat pocket (that I used for stashing business cards). My Cool Mesh Short-Sleeved Shirt fits almost all the clothing categories I need when I travel: excursions, casual business meetings, after-dinner drinks. And I stay comfortable even when I'm south of 23 degrees latitude.

Although my shirt had seen wear each of the previous four days, a quick washing in the sink of my (warm) hotel room was sufficient for cleaning and it looked pretty crisp. It looked better than most of my travel shirts look after daily sink washings. The collar wasn't disshevled and the material didn't look tired -- so I got to look better than I actually felt.

"So...what takes you to Yangon?" was her ice breaker. I feigned indifference, but smiled inside, content to know that my mesh-weave 100% cotton shirt was helping me keep my cool temperature- and demeanor-wise. A lesser shirt might have had me jumping out of my seat, taking to one knee and proposing to her on the spot.

I played it slowly. We had a five-hour flight ahead of us--plenty of time to discuss what type of china pattern and luggage would be best for our wedding registry. I casually smoothed the front of my Cool Mesh Shirt, glanced at my watch, and gave my reply., "Oh...I've heard it's...quite warm there this time of year."

Available in Deep Blue, Obsidian, Lizard, and Soapstone, sizes S-XXL.   Women's styles also available.

Fabric: 100% cotton.

Bottom Line: Fabric blends and technical fabrics have their time and place, but it's nice to have a cotton shirt I can depend on for travel and daily wear--even in hot temps.--G.P. (May '10)

BUY ONLINE: $45, click to shop at Altrec , click for men's/women's tops.

Manufacturer's Site : www.royalrobbins.com

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