I imagine that the tee is the most popular top worn during warm and hot weather, no matter what part of the world you are in. No matter where you go, you see them, most with some sort of decor, and most made with 100% cotton.

Unfortunately, cotton is about the worst fabric you can use for outdoor activity in warm and hot weather. It does not have the ability to wick moisture from the skin, and then disperse it in the fabric so that it is quickly evaporated into the air. It is evaporation that acts to cools a person's skin.

Instead, cotton gets soaked with sweat, and stays that way until you take it off. Little evaporation occurs and the cotton fabric actually ends up making you feel hotter than you need to be. Just because cotton is popular doesn't mean it is the fabric of choice.

While there is no perfect fabric to keep you cool when active in warm and hot weather, the most widely used fabric by people in the know is polyester, specifically polyester designed to wick moisture.

Many different companies have come up with their own moisture-wicking polyester wicking fabric, most of which offer similar capabilities. And one of those vendors is REI, which is better known as the world's largest outdoor products co-op.

REI sells a line of products that use a polyester fabric called MTS (moisture transport system). MTS is designed to be pile-resistant, moisture-wicking, and anti-bacterial. Based on my experience, MTS does all of these jobs very well.

Now this brings us to the topic of our review, which is the REI MTS Crew Tee. This tee is a very simple tee, with no decorations or fancy styling. It is a very basic garment. But this is not a bad thing. In fact, it is because this tee is so simple that it is desirable. Here's why:

• When you first feel an REI MTS Crew Tee, you may think it is cotton. It looks like cotton, and it feels like, cotton, but it isn't. It has all the good features of cotton, but not the bad ones, such as the inability to wick moisture. The tee is very soft and comfortable.
  
   
• Moisture wicking is very good, and only under the most extreme conditions will the tee get "soaked" in sweat. And when it does, it will dry quickly.
  
   
• Compared to many other polyester tees I have tried, the anti-bacterial MTS fabric does an above average job. You should be able to wear the tee several days in a row without it offending your friends (assuming this is something that bothers you).
  
   
• The fit of the tee is loose and comfortable, without being baggy. The back hem of the tee is slightly longer than the front. The neck has a crew cut.
  
   
• The tee doesn't come with any obvious logo, which I prefer.

The REI MTS Crew Tee is a good, all-around tee for almost any activity where a tee is a appropriate.

Using the REI MTS Crew Tee in the Real World

When the temps get above 70 degrees, that is when I break out my tees, and I have more REI MTS Crew Tees than another other in my closet. I do this not only because they are a great tee, but because they are one of the least expensive quality tees you can buy. Even under heavy use, the tees I have still look like they are new.

I live in the Ozark Mountains, and in the summer, the humidity and temps can both be in the 90 range. Under these conditions, you want a tee that doesn't get or stay wet. The tee seldom ever gets soaked, but it is possible under harsh conditions and strong physical activity. But in the few cases it does, once you rest, the tee will quickly dry out.

Under more normal conditions, the tee easily absorbs any moisture off your skin, dissipating it in the air. The tee may feel damp, but your skin generally does not.

The tee is great for any inside or outside activity where you want to stay cool as you possible can.

Recommendation

If you are looking for price, comfort, and utility, the REI MTS Crew Tee can't be beat.

Product Notes

The REI MTS Crew Tee is available for both men and women (the women's version is called the REI MTS Short Sleeve Tee), and comes is a wide variety of sizes and colors. The MSRP is $20.00. REI also offers the MTS Featherweight Crew Tee, which is somewhat lighter in weight, but costs a little more. These tees can be washed and dried in your washer and dryer.