Traveling abroad with the Mission Dobby Shirt from Royal Robbins

Traveling is in my blood. You see, I grew up in a military family moving from one location to another every 2-3 years. My brothers and I were nomads with not many long term friends. Always saying goodbye just as we were getting comfortable. It wasn’t terrible however. We quite enjoyed traveling to new locations and meeting new friends. I now have a wife of 23 years, a son in college and another navigating the ups and downs of high school. But one thing remains. We still travel a lot. And a perfect companion is the Mission Dobby shirt from Royal Robbins.

Getting its start in the 1960’s after the iconic Sierra Nevada rock climbing duo of Royal Robbins and wife Liz looked at their tattered cut off shorts and decided to make something better. Something that would not only look good, but perform well on the rugged rock climbs and remain wearable after hours. Garments that travel well yet remain understated and classic. Just as they were. Liz stitched up a pair of climbing shorts called the “Billy Goat” and Royal Robbins the apparel company was born.

Now focusing mainly on travel and touring clothing, Royal Robbins incorporates a lot of high tech fabric treatments and materials to increase the versatility of their clothing. The Mission Dobby Short Sleeve shirt is a pretty high tech shirt without outwardly showing it. Wether in a car, on a plane, by the pool or even playing pool, this shirt kept me cool and looking presentable. This shirt had everything I needed for a recent trip to Grenada.

Mission Dobby Short Sleeve Features:

• HeiQ stain release technology helps spills and stains wash out easily
• Lightweight and breathable polyester/nylon blend dobby dries fast and has a cotton-like feel
• Vented yoke with TempraTech™ body temp activated thermoregulation technology
• Zippered chest pocket with sunglass sleeve
• Microfiber insert inside of front hem wipes lenses and screens clean
• Shirt length: 30.5″

Fabric:

• Mechanical Stretch YD Woven w/ HeiQ Soil Release: 61% Polyester, 39% Nylon
• Sun protection: UPF 50+
• Garment weight: 5.4 (size M)
• Made in Vietnam

“Technical performance, cotton-like comfort, stain release and a hidden snap front. HeiQ technology means stains wash out and TempraTech® keeps things cool making this a great shirt for global travel in warm climates.” – royalrobbins.com

The devil is in the details

It’s the little touches that make this shirt such a great all around travel top for warm climates. For me, I like a little stretch in the fabric. I mean, who doesn’t, right? Wrinkle free fabric…a must. HeiQ stain release fabric…I don’t even know what that is, but I want it! Hidden snaps in lieu of buttons for rapid removal…because we were on vacation, Ha! A zippered chest pocket sized for a passport…handy for international travel. 50+ UPF sun protection was more appreciated that I originally gave it credit for. The 85F temps felt more powerful this much closer to the equator than back home. And the hidden vents on the back shoulder did allow some additional air flow.

I’ve been a big fan of Royal Robbins since I reviewed the Active Traveler Pants and Expedition Shirt in an article I did on Airline Travel Essentials. Those pieces have been great travel companions but now I need to visit Royal Robbins and plus up my wardrobe with a few more colors in the Mission Dobby. A great warm weather travel shirt by all accounts.