Cotton, Jade, and Crab Shells: HyperNatural Makes My Favorite Synthetic Shirt Alternative

When it comes to performance apparel, polyester has long dominated the market. It’s cheap, durable, and dries quickly. But it’s also a synthetic clothing made from petroleum. It sheds microplastics, requires millions of barrels of oil to keep up with global demand, and won’t biodegrade.

And I have a more personal reason for wanting to avoid it: I’ve developed a nasty skin allergy to the dyes used in most synthetic clothing.

That’s a big problem for someone who loves being active outside, as most performance apparel includes at least some polyester, nylon, or other synthetic fibers. During my search for alternatives, one of my favorite finds has been the shirts from HyperNatural.

These cotton-based shirts have become an easy choice for most of my outdoor activities. Not only do they have zero plastic, but they also feel great and include some surprising additions. Adding dust from jade mines supposedly makes the shirts cooler, while chitin from crab shells aims to reduce odor.

In short: HyperNatural’s shirts have performed extremely well for me on road runs, trail runs, and cycling. Like any cotton-based apparel, they’re not a good choice for backpackers, and they don’t dry quickly. But for anyone seeking a natural-fiber shirt that also feels fantastic on the skin, I can highly recommend these — even over most of the merino wool shirts that have become so popular.

HyperNatural Cotton Shirts Review

Let’s start with arguably the most important aspect of these shirts: They feel fantastic against the skin. By blending cotton with viscose (another plant-based fabric) and adding a smidgeon of recycled spandex, the shirts are silky and flexible. Because cotton remains the dominant material, the shirts stay breathable.

But HyperNatural also has a couple of head-turning additions as well: dust from jade mines and chitin from crab shells. HyperNatural is one of several apparel brands that have started infusing fabrics with jade dust, which supposedly pulls heat and moisture away from the body. Meanwhile, chitin (sourced from the food industry) has become an even more popular addition to apparel in recent years, as it contains antimicrobial properties. This reduces odor after extra-sweaty workouts, and may improve moisture-wicking as well.

For most of us non-scientists, however, that’s all just marketing until we actually test out the fabric. And there’s no better testing than running in summer heat.

Sweat Testing

I’ve been lucky enough to test out lots of natural-fiber clothing lately. It’s become an ongoing mission for me, as avoiding synthetic fabrics isn’t just a preference for me — it’s a necessity to avoid itchy rashes breaking out on my skin.

As anyone with sensitive skin can attest, this most often happens as we sweat, since that’s when our pores open up — letting in chemicals from our clothing in the process. During these infernal summer months, sweating profusely in a short amount of time is pretty easy: Just take a 2-mile run almost any time of the day.

That’s become my go-to clothing test, and HyperNatural’s Topanga Featherweight Crewneck Tee has performed admirably. They may not wick away as much moisture or dry as quickly as merino wool, but these shirts feel way better on the skin to me.

But even after getting drenched with my sweat, I can hang them up in the bathroom without washing, and then throw it on again the next day. And while they’re certainly a bit wrinkly, they don’t smell a bit. I’ve kept this up for 2 weeks without washing, with little to no odor evident. (Though I still decided to wash them at this point.)

I’ve also thrown these shirts on for hours-long bike rides and day hikes, and they’ve performed admirably in all cases. Unless you’re looking for something for multiday backcountry adventures, these cotton shirts will keep you cool during exertion. I’ve only had them for about 2 months, but they feel very difficult to tear, and haven’t shrunk or shown signs of wear after multiple washes and plenty of use.

Safety and Sustainability: Certifications

HyperNatural has also done its homework when it comes to sustainability and health. For starters, its clothing is Bluesign-certified, meaning it’s been approved by an independent Swiss agency that tests products to ensure they’re made sustainably and safely. The brand also obtained Oeko-Tex certification, another Swiss organization that tests products for potentially dangerous chemicals and dyes.

Both of these agencies have become increasingly common among outdoor apparel brands looking to prove their bona fides. That means the natural-fiber–based clothing of HyperNatural won’t just reduce the micro-plastics that are increasingly in our blood and water, but it also avoids many harmful or untested chemicals often found in apparel.

HyperNatural Formal Wear

Though I’ve spent most of my time testing out HyperNatural’s T-shirts, I’ve also tried their El Capitan button-up. This is a much heavier shirt, but it feels equally wonderful on the skin as the T-shirts. It also sports the same fabric blend and jade/chitin additions, so it offers the same benefits.

The El Capitán Classic Fit Micro-Pique Shirt is probably the most stretchy and comfortable button-up shirt I’ve ever owned, and I like the thickness of the fabric, which is impressively cool — even when I’m wearing it to hike up Stone Mountain. If you’re looking for a formal shirt that won’t get stinky on long, hot days, I can strongly recommend this one. At $195, it’s not cheap, but it’s also likely to last you a good long time.

Conclusion & Caveats

Many outdoorsy folks like to point out the old adage “cotton kills,” meaning that the fabric’s inability to maintain body temperature when wet poses a risk. In those cases, you’ll want to grab some apparel made from merino wool, or even synthetic fabrics like polyester or nylon (assuming you don’t have a skin condition like me).

But let’s be honest: Even most of us are not going on multiday camping or backpacking trips most of the year. By necessity, I’ve been using HyperNatural or just normal cotton shirts for most of my activities lately, and they work great in either case. The advantage of HyperNatural is a shirt that will stand up to long-term wear, feels fantastic on the skin, and won’t stink when you toss it on the floor after returning from an exhausting summer run.

At $85, there’s no question it’s an expensive T-shirt — but in the world of performance activewear, it’s in the realm of many name-brand apparel pieces. That’s what I do, and I’m grateful to have shirts that allow me to keep getting sweaty in nature — without getting itchy in the process.