The Best California 89 Tees for Spring

Spring is the season when a soft tee earns its keep. The mornings are still cool. The mid days are warm. The nights drop fast. You need a shirt that can do all three. We make a few that fit the bill. This is a small guide to the best California 89 tees for spring, from a team that wears them on the trail and in town all year.

Why is a good spring tee so important?

Spring weather in the Sierra flips fast. One hour you are in a hoodie. The next you are in shade. The next you are in full sun. A great tee is the base of every layer. It has to feel right on the skin. It has to wick a bit when you sweat. It has to look good on its own when you peel off the shell.

Bad tees fail at one of those jobs. Good tees nail all three. So pick well.

What makes a good spring tee?

Five things.

Soft cotton. Not stiff. Not slick.

A real cut. Not too tight. Not boxy.

Color that holds. Spring sun fades cheap dyes fast.

Art that lasts. Hand drawn beats clip art.

A real story. A tee with a real place behind it feels better on your back.

Our tees aim for all five. Some hit it harder than others. Here are the best picks for spring.

What is the best California 89 tee for a spring hike?

The Sierra Horizon long sleeve is a fan pick. The fabric is soft. The fit is easy. The print is clean. It works on a cool morning hike and stays comfy when the sun comes up. Layer it under a light shell for the cold start. Roll up the sleeves when it warms up. Done.

Pair it with trail pants and solid shoes and you have a full kit.

What is the best tee for a town day?

The Tahoe Lifestyle Tee wins for slow days in town. The cotton is soft. The cut is flattering. The print says “I love this place” with out shouting. Pair it with dark jeans, white sneakers, and a hat for a clean look.

Locals wear this tee on coffee runs, on walks down Donner Pass Road, and on slow Sundays at the river. It is a year round pick that just works.

What is the best tee for a kid?

The California 89 kids line has soft, real cotton tees in fun colors. Kids love them because they feel like a hug. Parents love them because they last through real kid play. The Love Blue kids tees are a fan favorite.

Get one in each size as the kid grows. Hand them down to the next kid. That is the dream of any parent in a mountain town.

What is the best tee for a mom?

A few picks for mom.

The Tahoe Lifestyle Tee for slow days

The Sierra Horizon long sleeve for hikes

A Love Blue tee for the lake and the porch

A Mountain Sunrise tee for the trail

Any tee that matches her favorite hoodie

If you are gift shopping for a Tahoe mom, the Love Blue Collection is the easy yes. Most moms in town own at least one piece from the line.

What is the best tee for a dad?

The Men’s Short Sleeve Sky and Mountain is a Truckee dad classic. The retro vibe. The comfy fit. The simple print. Locals wear it on porch days, on river walks, and on cold beer nights. Worth a place in any closet.

The Mountain Sunrise tee is a close second pick. So is any unisex piece from the Into the Woods Collection.

What about a tee for a long bike ride?

For a real ride, a soft cotton tee can work for short and easy laps. For long rides, a wicking tee is a smarter pick. Our cotton tees are not made for hot races, but they are perfect for slow flow rides on the river trail. Layer one under a wind shell and you are set for a spring spin.

If your ride is long and hot, save the cotton tee for the after ride hang. It is the best feeling to peel off a sweaty jersey and pull on a soft cotton tee at the trail head.

What is the best Love Blue tee?

The Love Blue Collection is built around the deep blue of Lake Tahoe. The art is bold but soft. The cotton is real. The cuts are easy. Each year we add a new print. Each season we restock the favorites.

If you only buy one Love Blue tee for spring, get a short sleeve in your favorite cut. Wear it on a sunny porch day. Watch the lake. Smile. That is the whole point.

What is the best Into the Woods tee?

The Into the Woods Collection is built around the trees. The prints show pines, tree rings, and forest scenes. The art is soft and calm. The line works for slow days, hikes, and cozy porch nights.

If you only buy one Into the Woods tee for spring, pick the long sleeve with the tree ring print. It is a fan pick and locals wear it on every trail.

How do I style a California 89 tee for spring?

Here are a few easy looks.

For a slow town day

CA89 tee

Dark jeans

White sneakers

A light hoodie tied around the waist

A hat for the sun

For a trail day

CA89 tee

Trail pants or shorts

Solid trail shoes

A wind shell in the pack

A hat or beanie

For a porch night

CA89 tee

Comfy joggers

Soft slippers

A wool throw across the lap

A cold drink in hand

For a kid playing in the yard

CA89 kids tee

Soft sweat shorts

Light up shoes

A small back pack with a snack and a juice box

The tee is the base. The rest of the kit shifts with the day.

How do I care for a California 89 tee?

Easy steps that keep the print sharp: - Wash cold. Always. - Turn it inside out before you wash. - Skip the high heat dry. Hang dry if you can. - Skip the bleach. Of course. - Fold it, do not hang it (less stretch on the neck).

Do that and the tee will last for years. Locals tell us their first CA89 tee from five seasons ago is still in heavy use. That is the kind of news we love.

Are there any spring sale tees?

We do small sales each season. Watch the California 89 sale page for the live list. Sign up for the news letter on the home page to get drops first. Sale picks shift fast, so when you see one you love, grab it.

Where can I buy a California 89 tee in person?

The California 89 store on Donner Pass Road in Truckee carries the full line. You can touch the cotton. You can try the cuts. You can pick the prints you love most. The team is full of locals who know the line by heart.

If you can not come in person, the home page is the easy start. We ship across the country and we pack each order with care.

What about a tee for travel days?

Travel days call for a tee that handles a long flight, a car ride, and a quick stop at a coffee shop with no wrinkles. The CA89 cotton tees work great for this. They are soft enough to nap in. They are clean enough to wear at a real meeting on the other end. They mix with jeans, joggers, or shorts.

A few travel day picks: - A short sleeve in a calm color - A long sleeve for the cold plane - A hoodie to roll up as a pillow - Soft sweat pants - Easy slip on shoes

That kit works for almost any trip from Truckee to any where in the world.

Why locals trust the brand

We are a small Truckee shop. Female owned. Locally drawn. We have been here for years. Every tee in the line earns its spot. We test each piece in real life before it ships to a real cus tomer. If we would not wear it our selves, it does not go on the shelf.

For more on real Sierra fashion and small mountain brands, the team at Tahoe Quarterly covers the local scene. The team at Sunset Magazine also writes about west coast small brands like ours.

A small note from us

Spring is our favorite season to launch fresh tees. The light is bright. The colors look extra rich on real cotton. The cuts feel good on a warm day. We hope you find a piece you love. And we hope it stays in your closet for years.

See you at the lake.