AllOutdoor Review – XKG Sonora Air Shirt
You will find Kings Camo/XKG in Lindon, Utah and they are a hunting apparel brand that has been around since 2002. The two brothers who put the company on the map back then were the ones to debut their terrain-specific camo patterns. A change of guard came in 2013 with Ryan Foutz, Jed Nelson and Kevin Pritchett taking over as owners, and they have since put the company on an expansion path. Today the XKG line is all about technical pieces for the backcountry, offering an assortment of hunting garments made for that kind of work and the focus of today’s review is their Sonora Air Shirt, a super breathable piece of kit that looks great on the trail and at the yearly summer family gathering.
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Specs – Sonora Air Shirt
- Designed for hot weather, humid climates, and arid desert conditions
- Performance micro-mesh woven fabric construction
- Fabric composition- 95% Polyester / 5% Spandex
- Moisture-wicking fabric
- Quick-drying material
- UPF 30 sun protection rating
- Polygiene Odor Control Technology to reduce odor buildup during extended wear
- Snap-down collar
- Two low-profile chest pockets
- Integrated microfiber lens-cleaning cloth inside the shirt hem
- Men’s sizing: Medium through 3XL
- MSRP – $99.99
Fabric and Technical – Sonora Air Shirt
The secret to the Sonora Air is in the fabric. King’s Camo has put together something special with an advanced micro-mesh weave that is high-tech performance material at its core. It is laced with 37.5 Active Particle Technology and these are microscopic particles in the fibers that do more than simply wick sweat. They interact with your body’s natural vapor to manage heat and moisture, drawing it from your skin and speeding up evaporation for a pronounced cooling effect.
Then you have the precision laser perforations on the shirt. They open up the airflow so hot air can get out and fresh air in. You would be hard pressed to find a hunting fabric as light and breathable as this micro-mesh while still being tough enough for the brush or the river. Put it on and you will hardly feel it on your back, yet it works overtime to keep you dry and cool when you are putting in the work.
How it Performs in the Heat
This is the shirt I turn to for the Maine woods in summer or a day on the water. I was out on the river in July last year when the thermometer was in the high 80s and the humidity had most of my other long-sleeves feeling like a damp towel. The Sonora Air was a different story. Between the tech and the ventilation, it dried fast and kept me cooler than anything else I have on hand, even after a good paddling and portaging session left me in a sweat.
I’ve used it on early-season hunts and hot-weather hikes where you need to stay cool and scent-free. The Polygiene does its job and you don’t end up reeking like a locker room by day’s end. And with a UPF 30 rating, you have plenty of sun protection on an open ridge or on the water. Don’t let the summer appeal fool you, I wear it year-round. Come spring or fall it makes a fine base or mid-layer under a jacket. It is so light it packs down to nothing in your pack. I have never felt held back by it, whether I am glassing from a ridge, casting on the river or still-hunting through the timber.
It has an everyday look to it as well. The fit is clean and modern with subtle patterns, so I don’t mind wearing it off the trail. My girlfriend will tell you she likes it because it is functional but looks sharp. I also appreciate the soft microfiber panel on the hem for a quick wipe of the binoculars or sunglasses in the field.
What I Like – XKG Sonora Air Shirt
- The active cooling and breathability when it is really hot
- A design so light you forget you are wearing it
- Quick-drying and wicks moisture in a hurry
- Good looking too (and my girlfriend says so)
- Handy panel for cleaning lenses
- Works for any activity or season
The Only Downside
You are paying for quality. At $90 to $110 the Sonora Air is a premium piece. For the casual outdoorsman that might be a bit much, but if you are serious about what you do, the performance is there to back it up.
Final Thoughts – XKG Sonora Air Shirt
In my book the XKG Sonora Air is a triumph of technical design. I have put it through its paces on humid hikes and sweltering river floats and the comfort it offers is real. It is one of the finest warm-weather shirts I have come across for hunting or just being outside. If you want to stay comfortable while chasing smallmouth or deer in the early season without the heat getting to you, this is the way to go. The price is higher than some, but the results make it worth it. I plan to be in my Sonora Air for the rest of the summer and into the fall.
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