Reader Reviews

Rating: 5 / 5

Backpacking Light Merino UL line
Long-sleeved shirt

Color: Nomoon Black
Size: Large
Actual Wt: 5.1 oz
Fit: Comfy. I'm 5'11" and 195 lb. I have long arms and the sleeves tended to pull up a little past my wrist, but I could pull them back out when I wanted to do so.


The ad asks...

What do you get when you cross an anorexic sheep with a designer of backpacking gear?

The lightest weight superfine merino wool in the world: 115 g/m2.

...AND I add: a fantastic shirt!

It is extremely thin. It worked well in temps ranging from low 50F up to mid 70F.

Surprisingly for me, I did not stink it up too bad. My wife verified the lack of foul odor - just somewhat sweaty. This unfunkiness is new territory for me.

After a few days of wearing it all the time, I followed the instructions for Powerhouse Wool Wash and afterwards the handwashed shirt smelled fresh as new and fit as well as before I cleaned it.


Funny tag on the inside:
...
100% Merino Wool
MACHINE WASHABLE
See Back for care
instruction

Made in Fiji
...
(Back of tag)

Hand Wash 40C
Wool Detergent
Cold Rinse Well
Dry : Lay Flat to Shape
Warm Iron
...

It is meant to be worn next to skin so you realize the maximum benefits of ultralight merino: moisture management, thermoregulation, odor resistance, and comfort. EXCELLENT resuls on this! I had no skin irritation. Its thermoregulation was incredible.

As for the limitations of Merino UL: after four days, it held up with no problems. I plan to wear it on my next trips so I will stress test it for sure.

It was not cheap, but it was well worth it to me.

Edited by gmatthews on 05/20/2008 19:26:14 MDT.

Rating: 5 / 5

I love this shirt. Period. I was skeptical when I bought it, it seemed really flimsy and thin. But it's really warm and cuts a good amount of wind. I'm from Tucson, working in Idaho this summer, so I'm a bit climate-shocked. After work I come home, shower, put on a tank top, shorts and my BPL shirt and its enough for me to hang out outside at night down to ~50F. It's become my staple warm shirt.

As for durability I did a lot of bushwacking in it on a cloudy workday and had no snags or pulls. I was in dense conifer forest with lots of brush, but no thorny plants. I was careful but not obsessive with it.
AND the flies can't bite through it. Perfect!

I also have the pants and this ninja suit kept me warm in my MH Phantom 32 at 35-40F on the shore of Jackson Lake in the Tetons last month with no tent or bivy.

The only wish I have is that it came in an extra small.

Edited by jetcash on 08/23/2008 14:45:20 MDT.

Rating: 5 / 5

I bought this shirt to wear as a base layer & as my hiking shirt in warmer weather. I was concerned when I got it because it is so thin I thought it wouldn't last but it's held up well. Good temp regulation and fast drying. Warm when wet. Spray with permetherin to help keep mosquito's at bay.