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When shirts are mentioned in the office, my mind is instantly drawn to memories of sweaty 2010’s nightclubs or 90’s sitcoms or Steve Irwin the Crocodile Hunter, rather than active outdoor pursuits. The Trekking Shirt world has intrigued me in recent times – How can they be comfortable? How will they keep me cool?

From a buying perspective - we sell plenty. The button closures make sense for airflow. Many have good sun protection. So, when I had the opportunity to take one on Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB), I jumped at the chance.

My TMB kit was meticulously thought-through, so anything that went into my pack was considered, and absolutely had to have purpose – keeping my pack weight low was obviously at the forefront of my decisions. Are there lighter options to a Trekking Shirt? Certainly. But I would argue there are not many more versatile.

The forecast for my 11-day trip was mainly sunny and relatively warm. Perfect conditions to give a Trekking Shirt a try. The Turbat Maya 2 Shirt was 1 of 3 in my rotation of base/mid layers, giving me options for a range of situations.

For anyone unfamiliar with Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) - it is a long-distance (170km) circular route around the Mont Blanc massif in the Alps, with approximately 10,000m of elevation gain depending on the exact route. The ascents each day are usually right out of the blocks, steep and long, with the bulk of climbing amid the mid-day sunshine.

Controlling body temperature in the mountains is a great balancing act – under high exertion, keeping cool and wicking sweat is imperative. But as soon as you stop, it can get cold - quickly. This is why it is important that your clothing not only pulls moisture from your body, but it can dry just as quick. For me, this is where the Maya Shirt excelled. When temperatures rise, you can physically feel the fabric cooling you down, which was particularly welcome during the bigger climbs on the warmer days.

I was particularly impressed by how fresh the shirt remained after multiple days of use. Despite being worn hard on multiple days, it didn't develop the usual stale smell you often find with some activewear. When not in use, it was packed down small into its own chest pocket and it was noticeable just how fast the creases “fell out”, if looking prim and proper on trail is your bag.

I opted for a part-rolled sleeve – I think this was subconsciously my way of dressing the shirt down, and the sleeves remained in place all day long. There is also a button fastening further up the sleeve, which I didn’t use personally. The material is UPF50+ Certified and although not particularly big, the collar can be worn up for added neck protection.

Overall, it proved to be a very welcome addition to my kit. A comfortable and practical shirt for long days in the mountains which won’t look out of place at a restaurant.