My first experience with Craghoppers outdoor clothing was a winter gear review for their CompressLite II jacket. I was impressed, and wondered if their summer apparel would hit the mark as well. After three months of hot hiking and plenty of sweaty, dirty miles, I can report that their pants and shirts are also up to the task. Here’s a breakdown of how the Jameison shirt and Mercier pants performed around the Beehive state.
Insect Shield Mercier pants review
The Craghoppers Mercier pants are light, have a technical cut, and are pretty damn bomber. I used these trousers in a variety of conditions and locations, from canyoneering in southern Utah to day hikes in the Wasatch Mountains. They are quite comfortable and the fabric has a nice stretchy feel to it. The Mercier pants dry pretty fast if you end up getting them wet. Also, they are impressively breathable. These pants proved capable of taking a good beating from slickrock without tearing, and are tough enough to handle any mountain conditions you may encounter.
How well does the Insect Shield technology work? I have to admit that I’m not totally sold. I did not get bitten by mosquitos or other bugs when I wore these pants, so in theory the tech is a winner. However, I started to wonder if I ever got bit through my other hiking pants. I’ve camped in both the Craghoppers Mercier pants and a few other brands this season, and my legs have been spared from bites every time. My conclusion: Insect Shield technology certainly works, but all my other hiking pants provide equal protection.
Word of advice before buying a pair of these pants: if you are in between waist sizes, go up. They definitely fit a bit snug due to their European heritage (damn Euros always making things in the correct sizes!).
Jamieson short sleeve checked shirt
Of the two pieces I tested, the Jamieson shirt is easily my favorite. The bamboo and cotton blend is soft and feels great against my skin. Even after many sweaty miles on the trail, the shirt felt good, and even dried pretty quickly despite being drenched. Craghoppers did a nice job with the fit on the Jamieson; it’s long enough to keep from getting bunched up under a backpack, yet doesn’t look goofy when the pack comes off.
A standout feature is the collar, which has two fold-ups to keep your neck protected from the sun. The Jamieson is part of Craghopper’s SolarShield line, which incorporates zinc oxide into the garment. The result is UPF 40 protection from solar rays. Like the Mercier pants, this shirt is very lightweight, which makes it the perfect item to wear for summer hikes. The only downside I could find was the fact that you need to line dry and then iron this shirt between uses, but that’s a nitpicky complaint at best.
The verdict
Lightweight, tough enough for all types of terrain, fast-drying and good looking. I’d apply all of these praises to both the Mercier pants and the Jamieson shirt. The “Insect Shield” concept seems a bit of a gimmick to me, but overall the pants are winners when it comes to playing in the outdoors. If you want a shirt that looks smooth on and off the trail, the Jameison is your huckleberry. If you want to be protected, keep cool and look the part, this Craghoppers gear is a step in the right direction.