It is mostly plant fibre
66% bamboo rayon and 28% cotton. The last 6% is spandex, for stretch, so we will not call it plastic-free. But it is a long way from a polyester shirt.
Defender 2026 · An alternative base layerYour base layer
Your base layer
is probably plastic
Most base layers are polyester or nylon. If you would rather not wear plastic against your skin for a twelve-hour day, here are five reasons to switch to bamboo.
Shop the bamboo long sleeve66% bamboo · 28% cotton · Made in Ukraine
- Bamboo blend, soft on skin
- Breathes and moves sweat
- Made in Ukraine
It is soft enough to forget
Bamboo is famously soft. On a long day you stop noticing you are wearing it, which is exactly what you want from the layer touching your skin.
It keeps sweat moving
The bamboo-blend knit helps move moisture away from your skin and breathes, so you stay more comfortable as you heat up and cool down.
It moves with you
Seamless shoulders and a little stretch mean it works under a pack, on a climb or in the gym.
It is made in Ukraine
Like everything we make. Bought from Ukrainian makers, start to finish.
How it stacks up
Bamboo vs. the base layers you know
Fabric, price and origin, from each brand’s own website. Our price is live for your country.
| Bamboo Active Long-SleeveSaint Javelin | Capilene Midweight CrewPatagonia | Rho LT Crew NeckArc'teryx | Abisko Wool LSFjällräven | Core Merino 120 LS CrewSitka | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $76 | US$95* | US$100 | US$90 | US$119 |
| Fabric | 66% bamboo rayon, 28% cotton, 6% spandex | 100% recycled polyester | Torrent fleece, 84% poly / 16% elastane | 50% wool / 50% polyester | Merino blend |
| Pockets | None | None | 1 chest | None | None listed |
| Made in | Ukraine | Sri Lanka | Vietnam | Not listed | “Imported” |
Swipe to compare →
Competitor list prices and specs from each brand’s own website, 28 October 2026. * Patagonia prices from US retailers. Shown in your currency; ≈ means converted.
Bamboo Active Long-Sleeve
Get the bamboo long sleeve
Bamboo Active Long-Sleeve
$76
66% bamboo, 28% cotton, 6% spandex. Made in Ukraine.
- Feel good against your skin all day: a soft bamboo blend (66% bamboo rayon, 28% cotton, 6% spandex).
- Stay comfortable as you heat up: the knit helps move sweat away from your skin and breathes.
- Move freely under a pack: seamless shoulders and just enough stretch.
- Wear it everywhere: under fleece on the trail, on its own at the gym, at work, on the plane.
- Made in Ukraine.
5★ reviews
What people say about our bamboo long sleeves
★★★★★
“effectively wicks sweat away from your body and dries quickly, I wear one of these almost every day at work. … excels as a stand alone layer or as a base layer in the winter.”
Hunter
★★★★★
“Ideal as a base layer in colder weather or as an outer layer in warmer weather. … The fit is excellent, not too baggy and not too tight in all the right places.”
Ben
★★★★★
“True to fit, breath well and very comfortable.”
Leslie Bashow
★★★★★
“I work a very physical job mostly in varying environmental conditions and I value this shirt.”
Number Six
★★★★★
“Very comfortable and light. Nice cut and fabric, feels like it’ll last”
Dundee
★★★★★
“This shirt is quality material, the bamboo is soft and washes like new.”
CaliforniaMom72
Store-wide: 4.89★ from 5,469 reviews (Judge.me, 28 October 2026).
Where this came from
Who makes this
-
2022A sticker
Journalist Christian Borys prints a sticker of a saint holding a Javelin, hoping to raise a few hundred dollars for Ukraine. Days later the full-scale invasion starts, and the saint goes around the world.
-
2022 – 2025From meme to maker
We move production into Ukraine. Military-inspired gear first, then a Defender collection every winter, each one pushing further outdoors.
-
2026Tested in the Yukon
Defender 2026: Polartec fleece made in Ukraine. Before launch we wore it 55 km off-trail through the Yukon backcountry, with nights down to −10 °C.
Questions we get
What is it made of?
66% bamboo rayon, 28% cotton and 6% spandex. The spandex gives it stretch, so we do not call it plastic-free. It is mostly plant-derived fibre instead of the polyester most base layers are made of.
Is it a hiking base layer or an everyday shirt?
Both. We wore it under the Defender fleece in the Yukon, and it is just as good on its own at the gym or at work.
How does it fit?
A standard, close fit that layers cleanly under a fleece. Size guide on the product page.
Where is it made?
In Ukraine.
