Pearl Snap Shirts Are Back; These 6 Adventure-Ready Picks Go Anywhere

Snap buttons have been a staple of Western Wear for decades, but the style has finally infiltrated mainstream fashion to the point where some of my favorite lifestyle and adventure brands are incorporating the snap in their kits. Why are pearl snap shirts so popular again right now? Because most of us are doing our best to look like we’re extras on Yellowstone. But also, there’s a lot of functionality to those pretty snap buttons. Cowboys relied on them because they were easy to fasten and unfasten on the fly, and that’s still true today, even if you’re riding a bike instead of a horse. Not only do the best pearl snap shirts add a bit of spice to a vanilla button down, they’re practical too, allowing you to put on the layer quickly, and rip the shirt off like Clark Kent walking into a phone booth.

I’ve spent the last six weeks testing out several pearl snap shirts in a variety of situations, from paddling excursions to camping trips to après surf taco sessions. I’ve worn them in the stifling humidity of the Southern Appalachians and the dry, crisp climate of Southern California. I was on the hunt specifically for button down shirts that look good in social situations but also perform well on outdoor adventures. What I learned is that not all snap button shirts are equal. Some are more pretty than practical, while others simply can’t handle the demands of activity during a hot, summer day. But I found half a dozen pearl snap shirts that I absolutely love, each for different reasons—some are stylish layers meant for running long miles, while others are classic upgrades to your date-night wardrobe. These are my six favorites.

Best Pearl Snap Shirt Overall

Poncho: The 1969

$80 at Poncho

Poncho shirts have become my go-to this year partly because of their fit (Poncho gives you options for regular or slim fit in every size), and partly because they’re loaded with thoughtful design details for outdoor use. The 1969 has a sunglasses loop on the chest, a hidden zipper pocket that’s big enough for your phone or a small case of flies, and a lens cloth on the hem to help you keep glasses and camera lenses clean. The fabric is a light and stretchy mix of nylon and spandex that has UPF 50+ protection, and dries fast and breathes well, even in the humid summers of the Southern Appalachians. But my favorite features of this shirt, are the interior mesh panels on the chest and shoulders, as well as two large vent panels on the back, all of which help circulate air in the spots where you need it most. The result is a super versatile shirt that excels in a variety of situations, from casual to light cardio. I wore the Poncho on long travel days, date nights, pub crawls, and days at the beach.

Best for Summer BBQs

Criquet Performance Seer Sucker

$124 at Criquet

Performance seer sucker? Yeah, it’s a thing. Criquet’s version is a really lightweight, wrinkle-free blend of cotton, nylon, and polyester that’s super stretchy and does a good job wicking moisture. The pearl snaps are a nice touch, and Criquet adds collar stays in the lapels to help keep the look crisp. The shirt is too pretty for hardcore adventures, but it’s proven to be the perfect layer for summer barbecues and afternoon happy hours in the full sun. And the wrinkle-free claim is legit; this shirt looked great after being stuffed in a carry-on for days. Seer sucker isn’t just for the Kentucky Derby anymore.

Best for Date Night

Howler Brothers H Bar Snapshirt

From $63 at Huckberry $85 at Howler Brothers

Maybe the most “Western” snap shirt in this roundup, the H Bar goes a step further than just pearl snaps by adding some traditional Western detailing on the chest. It’s a pretty shirt, and it’s less performance-minded than others I tested, mostly because it’s made from a 50/50 cotton/polyester blend that honestly isn’t built for adventure. It’s not as stretchy and doesn’t wick moisture quite as well, but that’s ok, because I’m not always doing something hardcore. Sometimes, I’m trying to look nice for my lady, and that’s where the H Bar comes in; this is a date night/out on the town/try your luck at line-dancing kind of shirt. And I love the relaxed style.

Best for River Adventures

NRS Drifter

$90 at REI $90 at NRS

If the Howler Bros H Bar was meant for après, the Drifter was built for adventure. This long sleeve snap shirt is made from a light, breezy material that’s designed to get wet and dry fast. A really comfortable mesh lining on the chest adds breathability and next-to-skin softness, while double-zipper front pockets add storage for fly boxes, notebooks, phones, and other small items. I was originally put off by the long sleeve nature of the shirt, but you can roll the sleeves up high on your biceps and lock them down with buttons, giving this layer added versatility. The snaps are the same color as the shirt material, so they’re subtle. I prefer my buttons to make a statement, but I understand not everybody is into that sort of flare. I really like the hidden buttons beneath the collar, which keeps it in place, and the microfiber wipe on the hem is a nice touch on this pearl snap shirt.

Best for Fishing

Kuiu Vented SS Snap Shirt

$99 at Kuiu

Much like the Drifter, Kuiu’s Vented SS is designed for doing cool stuff in the wild, with a stretchy and lightweight material that’s given an extra layer of breathability thanks to added ventilation in key areas. Kuiu doubled down on breathability with a mesh lining that covers the shoulders and a wide strip of larger air holes down the center, all of which are hidden by a large vent on the exterior of the shirt. Perforated fabric beneath the arms also promote airflow where you need it the most. The four-way stretch material has a buttery next to skin feel, and one of the chest pockets has a zipper to keep small items safe when you’re on the move. Kuiu offers a variety of styles in the SS snap shirt, from camouflage to solid prints, but I like the topographic-inspired design, which is borderline floral without screaming “look at me!”

Best for Running

Rabbit High Country SS

$75 at REI $75 at Rabbit

The High Country doesn’t have a lot of frills—there is no microfiber lens wipe or sunglass loop—but it’s the best snap button shirt I tested in terms of performance. Rabbit is a running-specific brand and while the High Country looks like a date night shirt, it’s actually designed for moving fast in hot weather. Made from mostly recycled polyester with a hefty amount of spandex, the High Country is a super stretchy, lightweight layer that breathes well and dries fast. The entire back panel is perforated for extra ventilation, which I appreciated on muggy days in the Southern Appalachians. The metal snaps are minimalist, so they don’t weigh down the front of the shirt or chafe when you’re moving fast. You also get two chest pockets that snap shut, so you can securely carry a gel or card on a run. I wore this shirt on hikes, trail runs, and rounds of golf and was constantly impressed with how it handled moisture in the southern heat.

Graham Averill is a travel and gear columnist for Outside. Read his review of his favorite summer hiking shoes here.

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Graham Averill is Outside’s National Parks columnist, as well as a gear columnist for the magazine, spending most of his time writing about travel and the equipment he uses while traveling.

He grew up in the South before bouncing around the West where he studied at the University of Colorado and fell in love with skiing, surfing, and mountain biking. Eventually he and his wife settled down in the Southern Appalachians because it’s the only place in America where you can get boiled peanuts from a roadside stand.

He’s contributed to a wide range of magazines, from Bike mag to AARP, and he really likes to write stories about pushing his own limits. Also, he jumps at the opportunity to write about his truck.