Avoiding the Drop

A couple of weeks back I shared with you some of the tops in my shirt collection. While Fuse is on vacation this week, he asked me to share a few more of my shirts while he enjoys the sun of the Caribbean. So join me after the jump for some of the most comfortable shirts I own.

To start with, I will begin by stating that I live in Las Vegas, NV. For me comfort is defined by whether or not I can wear this shirt outside during the day when the temperature is approaching 110°F (43° C) and not feel like I need to change out of it fifteen minutes after I get outside.

WATFORD FC

I originally purchased this shirt because Zeke’s youth team colors are yellow with black shorts. However, after wearing it to his first fall match at 101°, I fell in love with and now often wear it on summers days even when he isn’t playing. The shirt is made of a polyblend (I don’t know if Diadora named their blend or not.) with mesh venting down both sides. The v-neck collar is also nice in that it keeps its shape but doesn’t trap heat around my neck.

USA World Cup 2010

I really fell in love with this shirt last summer. The Nike material for this shirt really feels more like cotton to me when I am wearing it and does a great job of wicking perspiration off. I have played outdoor soccer in the shirt during the summer and while it maintains some of the moisture, I have been able to wear it off the pitch without getting the air-conditioning “chill” I get from some other shirts when arriving to the post-game meeting place.

PUMAS UNAM

This is the one shirt in my collection that I cannot categorize. I picked this up at the outdoor swap-meet for $19 (not $20, $19 but for $6 more I could have had my name/number pressed on the back…) I do not even know if it is an “official” top of any kind or not. It is made by Rhinox and as you can see in the picture, it carries an FMF patch on one of the sleeves. All my research seems to indicate that Rhinox licenses team names from FMF and make a whole bunch of stuff from balls to tops to backpacks. If anyone of our readers knows more about them, please speak up in the comments.  Either way, Rhinox scored a great one with this shirt. It is super light weight and also has nice mesh venting under the arm. It retains very little moisture and I really like the simplicity in the design.

POLAND 2006-2008

This shirt is the all-time winner in the comfort category. This is the absolute lightest shirt I own, as in 6 ounces light. When I wear this shirt, it feels as if I don’t have a shirt on. It is made by Puma and I have not been able to find another shirt by Puma made out of this material. It seems to be a cross between tissue paper and carbon fibre. I would love to have dress shirts made from this material. I have worn this shirt in numerous outdoor games and despite all tugs and pulls it has received, it has retained its shape perfectly. I can walk of the field after 90 minutes of play in July/August and the shirt is DRY by time I reach my car. If it didn’t come out of the washing machine wet, I would swear this material actually just let moisture pass through like some kind of living cell membrane. I also like the effect of the eagle on the front, from up close it kind of looks like the shirt is “dirty” but as you step back the eagle becomes more apparent.

So there you have it. If any of you are planning a trip to Vegas between May and October, grab yourself one of these shirts and you can enjoy the Strip in both comfort and style.