Everyday Short Sleeve Crewe
4.8
5
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Dry & Odor Free Confidence
This is my first piece of Icebreaker, and first piece of Merino wool clothing at all. In summary, I am very satisfied with my purchase. If you're looking for a single, versatile Merino shirt, this is it.
Now the details.
Comfort:
When I first put on the shirt, it felt very slightly itchy. I soon realized the itch was only noticeable when I was sitting still, and it has subsided altogether with wear. The material is super soft and very comfortable.
Fit:
I am a tall slim guy with an athletic build -- 6'3", 165lbs, 39" chest, 32" waist. I ordered size medium and it fits great for an athletic base layer or single layer. Fits close all through the chest and waist, and even in the sleeves, which is great for a guy with lanky arms like mine. Perfect for backpacking or biking. The seam design and stretch of the fabric affords great range of motion -- it's easy to forget you're even wearing this shirt. At my height, the length was slightly shorter than I like, but not to the point of being a problem. I noticed the fit loosened up a small amount after a few days of hard wear.
Thermal Regulation & Moisture Wicking:
A main selling point for Merino, I was eager to test the moisture and thermal regulation of the material. The shirt feels slightly warmer than a cotton t-shirt, though doesn't feel hot when you move a lot. I went for a 2.5 mile hike with 1600' ascent in one hour, carrying a 30-pound pack. 60 degree evening in the woods, no wind. By the top, I was drenched in sweat. However, I did not feel sticky, clammy, or uncomfortable as I would've expected with a cotton shirt.
Small disappointment here as the Merino does (a) get really wet during strenuous exercise and (b) feels cold when wet. Maybe my expectations were unrealistic... however, 20 minutes after completing the hike, the shirt was bone dry. Impressive.
Odor Management:
The day after my 2.5 mile hike, I wore the shirt again, and I was afraid to put it on. However, when I did, it felt and smelled brand new, like I had just brought it home from the store. Amazing! I would never wear any other shirt without washing after what I put it through on that hike the day before.
I spent the day hauling and stacking 3 cords of split wood with two other guys. Little to no breeze, 75 degree sunshine. I was again drenched in sweat by the end, and again was completely dry in 20 minutes or so. Dry, non-sticky, and -- incredibly -- completely odor free!
I wore the shirt a third consecutive day without washing -- this time to a casual dinner at my inlaws' house. I gave and received hugs and sat next to my mother-in-law at dinner. I even received a compliment from my sister-in-law on smelling nice.
At the end of day 3, this shirt still passes the wife-whiff test -- and if she is satisfied with Icebreaker's odor management, then you and I certainly ought to be!
Durability:
I have not owned this garment long enough to comment on durability or washability, but I will update this later.
All said, great shirt, brand, and material. You will not be disappointed.
June 17, 2013
The best shirt you can get
Originally, I bought it because it has no logo on the chest and it instantly became my favorite shirt. It has long enough athletic cut, but looks totally casual when rushing through the concrete jungle. If you are looking for your first Icebreaker shirt, this is it.
November 22, 2012
I wear it everyday
These are the finest undergarments that I have ever owned. I wear them everyday. They live up to their "no odour" billing and I generally wear each shirt for several days in a row (day and night!) before washing. They keep their shape (e.g., no sagging collar) and so far there has been no evident fading.
December 10, 2011
A Perfectly Comfortable Shirt
Overall, a very well constructed and comfortable shirt. Its 200 g/m2 Merino wool was warmer than my cotton undershirts, but not as warm as my polyester cold gear baselayers.
For sizing: I normally wear a large cotton undershirt which is loose fitting for me. Since this Icebreaker was not advertised to be a compression fit, I ordered a large based on their sizing chart. I'm 5' - 9" male, 41" chest, 35 inch waist and 162 pounds.
The large fit perfectly on my shoulders and neatly around the rest of my body without compression. There is plenty of stretch available with this everyday shirt, so for buyers who prefer a more secure hug, a medium sized shirt should be fine.
The one thing I didn't like about the shirt was its low sitting neckline. I prefer my shirts during cold weather to hug near the neckline. Maybe a medium sized shirt would have done that better.
November 18, 2011
320 g/m² HeavyweightNZD $349.95
