Odor-eliminating, durable, flattering, AND more comfortable than your favorite worn-in P.J. tee?! Could it be?
When Alpine Fit reached out to me to review their Rendezvous Ridge shirt, I did a little research before agreeing. I don’t often review clothes because a lot of the time they’re just so similar to everything else out there! But after checking out their website, I realized there were a lot of things about their brand (and this shirt in particular) that stood out from others – and I really wanted to see if the Rendezvous Ridge lived up to the hype!
Here are some of the things that caught my eye:
- Customized Fit Options. Or at least somewhat customized! Alpine Fit offers all the normal sizing you’d expect, but in 2 different ‘shapes’. Sizes XS – XXL are available in their ‘Wild Iris’ fit as well as their ‘Azalea’ fit, which we’ll discuss soon!
- Odor-Eliminating Fabric. According to their site, the silver-infused fabric prevents the dreaded camp-stink we’ve all experienced. This was one of the things I was really eager to (and DID) put to the test!
- UPF Sun Protection 50+. So your skin stays protected!
- Wearable in All Seasons. The Rendezvous Ridge can be worn as a base layer in the winter and is also breathable enough to wear out for a hike in the warmer months!
- Made with Recycled Fibers. 69% Recycled, but we’ll get more into that later.
- Their products are made in the U.S.A. & the company is female owned!
SPONSORED POST DISCLOSURE: This is a sponsored product review post done in collaboration with Alpine Fit. As always, my opinions are 100% my own and 100% honest.
I have to say I was a little skeptical of some of the claims, but an all-season long-sleeve shirt definitely spoke to me and my easy-to-burn skin! Plus, the antimicrobial, silver-infused fabric was more than a little appealing for someone who camps a lot but doesn’t necessarily want to smell like someone who camps a lot.
But what really drew me in was the sizing and fit options. I have never come across an outdoor clothing brand that has different fits for different body types! So, I took a look at the size chart and was like…
“Does the universe revolve around me? I mean how else did they get my literal EXACT measurements?”.
And after shrinking my head back down to a normal size, I was all in on this partnership!
This review post is divided into 3 sections:
1. In-Depth Review of Features: special fit options, fabric, comfort, odor-elimination, durability
2. Pros and Cons
3. Final Rating + Is It Worth the Cost?
1.
IN-DEPTH REVIEW OF THE RENDEZVOUS RIDGE SHIRT FEATURES
Fit Options: Azalea or Wild Iris?
The main thing that sets Alpine Fit apart from other outdoor clothing brands is their fit options. Aside from picking out your size for the Rendezvous Ridge, you’ll also need to select between a Wild Iris fit and the Azalea fit. Both ‘fit’ options include sizes between XS and XXL.
Azalea. For bodies that have more volume in the bust and hips and less volume in the waist.
Wild Iris. For a straighter frame. Not much curve. (Me all the way)
Of course this isn’t a hard-set rule. Say you match up with the Azalea fit but you prefer more room in the waist – you can order the Wild Iris! This is more of a guide to get you that perfect form-fitting base layer feel.
Now, the burning question: Are the fit options for the Rendezvous Ridge a marketing tactic, or do they actually make a difference?
They absolutely make a difference! I’ve never had a shirt fit me so perfectly. Honestly, when e-mailing with Alpine Fit I reallyyy wanted to go on and on about how perfect the fit was. BUT I also didn’t want to come off like a crazy person, so I gave them slightly more normal feedback.
100% honesty though: this is the most perfect fit I’ve ever experienced! It’s form-fitting with absolutely NO riding-up in any area (no need to keep tugging at your shirt), and the stretchiness of the fabric allows it to hug your body without feeling restrictive. It’s super apparent that they took their time working out the kinks in their fit options!
NOTE: This shirt is meant to be form-fitting (and it definitely is!), so if you like a little more room, make sure to size up!
Fabric: Comfort, Weight & Sensitive Skin Compatibility
What is the Rendevous Ridge made of?
69% Recycled Polyester
17% Tencel Lyocell
7% ionic+ Polyester (contains silver – we’ll get more into this in the next section!)
7% Lycra Spandex
You can read more details about their fabrics here!
How comfortable / lightweight is the Rendevous Ridge Long Sleeve?
The weight of this top is pretty much on par with competition base layers (weighing in at 5 oz), but it feels unbelievably lightweight! It definitely has that barely-there feel and I’ve actually opted to wear this top over my usual ‘comfy lounge-wear’ top quite a few times. I can go straight from hike to couch with this baby! Totally fits my vibe.
As far as the softness / comfort of the fabric, the body of the shirt is very comfortable and soft! It also has enough stretch that it doesn’t feel restrictive, despite it being form-fitting. Like I said, ‘barely-there’ feel!
How well does the Rendezvous Ridge work with sensitive skin?
I have extremely sensitive skin! I’ve always had to be selective with detergents, clothing, beauty products, etc. And on top of that, I also have mild sensory issues. Some fabrics literally make my skin crawl and I can’t stay in them for more than 15 minutes. I don’t know why, but it is what it is!
My initial reaction to the Rendezvous Ridge was that the body of the shirt is incredibly soft and comfortable! It is so light and the fabric is buttery soft. The stitching in the body is not noticeable at all either, which is usually where I run into issues.
The arms, however, I struggled with a bit more. And I do mean ‘a bit’! It’s honestly barely worth mentioning, but it’s something I’d like to know before purchasing, so here it is. My first couple days of wearing the shirt, the backs of my arms had a slight ‘itchy’ feel. I think it’s because of the additional stitching near the elbow (where the cool pattern is stitched in) in conjunction with how form fitting the shirt is throughout. But after a few days of wear, I stopped noticing this.
Odor-Elimination: AKA The Camp Stink Test
A lot of the outdoor-wear on the market uses merino wool for their odor-resistant fabric. I’ve tried many merino wool products and while they work to an extent, it’s not enough to cancel out my day 3 camp smell (or even day 2 if I’m backpacking).
As a result, I’ve been on the HUNT for the perfect camp shirt and I was super excited to test the limits of this silver-infused fabric.
So, yes, I bit the bullet (so you don’t have to) and put my poor, new Rendezvous Ridge shirt through 6 days of wear with no washes between. Something I’ve of course NEVER done before, because that would be gross. (…) Okay, I’ve done it before. But I’ve never tried it with clothes I exercise in! So in a way, it was a new experience for me.
So, how well does the odor-eliminating fabric work?
In order to give you a clear idea of this very scientific test, let’s go over all of the variables of the experiment:
- 6 Days of Wear (no washes)
- 4 Somewhat Sweaty Hikes (not dripping sweat, but enough to soak into the fabric – sorry to be gross, but science isn’t always pretty)
- 1 Deodorant Stick (I’m kind of gross, but I still like my deodorant)
So after all this, does the Rendezvous Ridge really eliminate odors better than other athletic shirts?
YES. After 6 no-wash days my Rendezvous Ridge shirt is still fresh as a daisy! I even had my husband do a sniff test just in case I had gotten used to my own smell. He has verified: No stink. And we’re 7 years into our marriage so… he isn’t afraid to be honest anymore.
Bottom line: As far as odor-resistance, the Alpine Fit Rendezvous Ridge is far superior to other base layers I’ve tried. And while I gave the shirt a pretty good ‘stink’ test, I intend on updating this review in the future as I get more wear out of it (and in different climates / weather / activities). Should be an easy task seeing as this shirt has already become my go-to activewear top!
Durability
I have to say, durability is a huge factor in what clothing I choose to buy for my adventures. I’ve ripped a ton of clothes because of the stupid scenarios I get myself into (of which I am always ill-prepared for).
I can’t speak to the long-term durability of the Rendezvous Ridge top (yet) but it has already held up to some low-level bushwhacking as well as some extremely large dog talons. I’m still teaching my youngest dog (who is already 63 lbs) not to jump on me and it has been a long, slow process thus-far!
NOTE: I will be updating this section in the future once I get more wear out of this shirt!
2.
PROS & CONS OF THE RENDEZVOUS RIDGE TOP
Now to the Pros & Cons list. Most of these are just bullet point versions of what I’ve detailed above, but some of it is new information – so give it a quick scan-through!
Pros
- The odor-eliminating fabric works WONDERS.
- Because of the marled fabric, it doesn’t show sweat as much as other tops! Often solid colors show sweat really quickly, but the Rendezvous Ridge has a marled pattern that masks sweat really well (it’s the same type of dual-colored ‘pattern’ you see in knitted fabrics, but there is no texture to it).
- The length in the arms and body are perfect for a slightly longer torso / arms (and this shirt doesn’t ride up at ALL!). But for people who are shorter, it’s easy to scrunch up a little without it looking messy or ill-fitting.
- The fit options really do make a difference and I was able to find my exact measurements for the first time!
- The fabric is buttery soft and has a little bit of stretch – allowing it to be form-fitting without feeling restrictive.
- The shirt feels so thin and light, but somehow worked well in both 40 degree and 80 degree weather.
- I don’t know who needs to hear this, but the fabric is super easy to wipe clean if you spill food / drink on it. I’m only somewhat embarrassed to admit that this was a huge selling factor for me.
Cons
- The sleeve stitching can be itchy for super sensitive skin (like mine). The stitching on the arms is a bit different from what you’d usually see because of the cool ‘ridge line’ pattern sewn in, so this could be why it took me some getting used to before my arms felt at-home in their new sleeves.
- The shirt is quite form-fitting throughout, so if you like a little more room in the arms it might be worth sizing up! However if you size up for the arms, you’ll be sacrificing the perfect fit through the body. Personally I typically like roomier sleeves, but I still wouldn’t opt for a larger size. The fit in the body is just so perfect and the more I wear my Rendezvous Ridge, the more comfortable I get with the sleeves!
- The Rendezvous Ridge Long-Sleeve is only available in 2 colors – Misty Bering Sea Blue and Winter Moss Green. I’m really hoping they add a couple more color options in the future!
- The price is quite high ($129 pre-tax) and many people just can’t afford to spend so much on a shirt, regardless of the quality.
3.
FINAL RATING: IS THE RENDEZVOUS RIDGE WORTH THE COST?
MY RATING 9.25 / 10
The main thing that brings my review down slightly is the cost. The Rendezvous Ridge is a little pricier than average at $129.00 pre-tax. But does the cost make sense? Considering the quality of the fabric and the fact that it is U.S.A. made, I’d say yes! But of course, no matter how quality the product is, this price point makes it impossible to justify for many people.
Final Thoughts
What the Rendezvous Ridge lacks in affordability, it more than makes up for in quality and the amount of use you can get out of it. For a lot of people $129 is much too high a price to pay for a shirt, but if you have the money this is by FAR a better investment than buying several other shirts of lesser quality. Especially seeing as you can (in theory) pack just ONE shirt for a 3 day camping rather than 3 shirts from cheaper brands. And after my 6-day ‘stink test’ I feel pretty confident doing just that!
To be honest, the no-wash test wasn’t even much of a chore for me. I genuinely WANTED to wear this shirt every day. The comfort level is just unmatched! I found myself coming home after a day outside in the heat and not even feeling the need to change. Usually I cannot wait to slip into my worn-in comfy clothes at the end of the day, but this shirt is just so light and soft that I honestly didn’t even think of it most days.
As I said before, this shirt transitions from trail to sofa seamlessly – and that is literally the cycle of my life. Go hiking. Have a movie marathon after. Go camping. Have another movie marathon (while unpacking and doing laundry of course). In a nutshell, I love me some outdoor time but I also love me some lay-on-the-couch-while-cuddling-my-dogs time.
So because this is a sponsored post, a question a lot of people might have (and a question I typically have when I read a sponsored post) is ‘Would you spend your OWN money on this?’. A very fair question to ask, I think.
And the answer is yes.
In fact, I plan to! Because obviously I’m gonna need it in Winter Moss Green, too.
Now would I have ever spent $129 on this hiking shirt without first trying it and realizing how much use I can get out of it? No. But that’s what these sponsored posts are for! It’s a lot of money to commit to something you aren’t sure of, but after realizing how well the odor-elimination works and how perfectly it fits I am totally confident that it’s well worth the cost and feel comfortable recommending it to others.
So if you have the means and are looking for a shirt (or multiple shirts) for your outdoor adventures, you truly cannot go wrong with Alpine Fit’s Rendezvous Ridge Long-Sleeve. It’s the most comfortable base-layer I’ve ever owned, it’s lightweight, it’s GENUINELY odor-resistant, and the fit will make you feel like a supermodel who has their clothes professionally tailored. You really can’t do much better!
Buy your own Rendezvous Ridge shirt directly from Alpine Fit!
