Gear Locker: Icebreaker Tech Top

December 2004-January 2005

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.
To download a pdf copy of the magazine click here: > DOWNLOAD

by Alex Matthews

Alex sporting his sweet smelling Tech Top.

Every few years, a new fabric is introduced and touted as the latest and greatest breakthrough in outdoor apparel. Adverts claim increased performance and improved function. Sometimes, these are legitimate innovations, and usually the fabulous new fabrics are petroleum- based synthetics. But there’s an awful lot to be said for Mother Nature’s proven materials! Goose down, for instance, is enjoying a well-deserved resurgence, and another ‘new’ find is wool. That’s right, wool is back. And it’s better than ever.

Icebreaker, located in New Zealand (the land of wooly sheep), has developed a comprehensive line of merino wool garments. Merino is used exclusively in their designs as it’s very soft, strong, machine washable, has no itch factor and is incapable of generating the nose-eradicating stench that synthetics produce.

My review sample was the Tech Top, which fits into Icebreaker’s “Under layer Body Fit 260” (260g/m2) category. It’s a long sleeved, midweight thermal top with a high zip neck. The collar is quite versatile. It can be zipped all the way up to create a high turtleneck, or left open for ventilation. The fit is close, with the fabric providing a good degree of stretch. This top did a great job of moving with me, never binding or getting in the way, and layered very well. The sleeves have thumb loops, which allow the cuffs to be worn overtop of the hand without sleeve ride-up, while retaining full dexterity.

If you are still relating wool to that old coarse sweater you picked up in Ecuador, stop! You wouldn’t want to wear that next to your skin. Icebreaker garments are smooth and soft. There’s no itchy feeling whatsoever. I’ve been hiking, trail running and, of course, kayaking with this top directly against my skin. I’ve used it under a drysuit while kayak surfing, on its own for general touring, and I’ve worn it to the mall and at the movies.

The Tech Top seems consistently warmer than similar thickness fleece. Particularly when wet, the wool insulates better. And while drying times are somewhat longer for wool, it keeps you warmer when damp. Where I really notice this is after a workout. I generally get chilled quickly once I stop paddling. Standing around in damp fleece, I lose a lot of heat and get cold fast. In the Tech Top, this seemed a lot less severe. I also found myself keeping the top on and proceeding to the next activity without the need to immediately change into drier clothes.

The icing on the cake is the total absence of horrible odors! I have synthetic tops that should be consigned to toxic containment sites. Even after thorough washing, they generate an awful smell. When sopping wet, Icebreaker smells faintly like a clean, damp sheep—very acceptable and decidedly non-toxic. In fact, it’s actually quite amazing how many consecutive days the Icebreaker can be worn without benefit of washing and still be comfortable and odor free.

So are there downsides? Well, initially I experienced an unwillingness to abuse the top. These garments are so nicely made and the wool has such a lovely, soft hand, that I wanted to treat it more carefully than usual outdoor apparel.

I also found that it’s better to hang the top over a towel rack to dry rather than on a hanger, as the fabric can stretch. But a few trips convinced me that this is great backcountry gear that just happens to work at trendy cafés too.

Icebreaker is not inexpensive. But as always, durable equipment that truly performs is worth its weight in gold. The Tech Top is warm, fits very well and provides unsurpassed comfort. Try on one of these garments, and you will likely add more to your wardrobe. I plan to do just that.

Colors: (women) black, fire/mango, pacific; (men) black, black/charcoal, storm/aviator

Sizes: Available in both women’s and men’s sizing.

Price: $140 Cdn Icebreaker New Zealand Ltd.

+64 4 385 9113

www.icebreakernz.com

info@icebreaker.co.nz

Thanks to the staff of Ocean River Sports in Victoria for turning me onto Icebreaker.