[Mountaineering: An Honest Underwear Review] Women's Long Sleeve Underwear: A Must-Have for Sweaty Hikers Who Want to Use It All Year Round
Written by Mioko Matsubara
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For me, sweat-wicking, quick-drying underwear is a "must-have layer"
I am often asked, "If I'm starting mountain climbing from scratch, what kind of clothing should I get first?"
Rainwear (outer layer) is essential. Quick-drying, warm clothing appropriate for the season and location (T-shirts, long-sleeved shirts, down jackets, fleece, vests, etc.) and pants are also essential. These days, relatively inexpensive, high-performance rainwear can be found at Workman and large outdoor shops
You might think that having all the above items will be enough, but I would like to strongly recommend that you add an additional item: dry underwear with high moisture absorption and quick-drying properties (hereafter referred to as underwear)
previously discussed the necessity of underwear on this site , but simply put, underwear is "undergarments that focus on keeping the skin dry." When hiking, where the environment changes drastically with regard to weather and sweating, underwear is an important piece of equipment that can determine your comfort while you're out and about. As an aside, underwear is also a versatile piece that can be used as an inner layer for everyday wear.
Now, the reason why I am so particular about underwear is that I sweat a lot and have experienced extreme cold from sweat regardless of the season
Next is UV protection. The underwear we'll be looking at today is long sleeves. Wearing long sleeves protects you from UV rays, even in the summer, not to mention in the winter. I wear long sleeves because I don't want to get sunburned and because sunburn can drain my energy. Long sleeves prevent scrapes when you come into contact with sharp rocks or branches, and they're essential for someone like me who is very active
So this time, I tried out four dry underwear items designed for year-round wear to find out, "Which one is best for me?"
table of contents
Top 4 long-sleeved dry underwear with excellent moisture absorption and quick-drying properties
I chose the candidates based mainly on the following criteria and my personal preferences, regardless of release date
- High comfort (skin contact and body fit without feeling tight)
- Quick-drying
- Easy to move in
I didn't really consider odor resistance this time. There will always be an odor regardless of how many days you wear it. I can usually get rid of it by spraying it with peppermint spray (homemade), so I didn't worry about it and didn't include it in the criteria
After considering these points, the following four options have been selected:
- finetrack Dry Layer Basic Long Sleeve (Women's Size M)
- Mont-bell Geoline LWU Neck Shirt (Women's Size Medium)
- THE NORTH FACE Long Sleeve Dry Crew (Women's Size L)
- ONYONE High-Grade Stretch Mesh Free Neck Long Sleeve (Unisex Size S)
Test environment and field test results
Test environment
[Period] November to December
[Mountain Range] Mt. Tengu (Nagano Prefecture), a low mountain in southern Kanagawa Prefecture with many ups and downs
[Weather] Sunny, cloudy, light rain
[Layering] Underwear + merino wool base layer + windbreaker or rainwear
[Tester's body type] Height: 160 cm, Weight: 53 kg
With low and high mountains, steep climbs, and ridge walking, it was the perfect environment for testing
Field test results
| type | Emphasis on comfort | Emphasis on quick drying | Balanced (for light outdoor activities) | For cold weather sports |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| item | finetrack Dry Layer Basic Long Sleeve | Mont-bell Geoline LWU Neck Shirt Women's | THE NORTH FACE Long Sleeve Dry Crew | ONYONE High-Grade Stretch Mesh Free Neck Long Sleeve |
| image |  |  |  |  |
| Here is ◎ |
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| Here is △ |
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| Outdoor Gearzine Review | ||||
| Comfort | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ |
| quick drying | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Ease of movement | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| weight | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Specifications | ||||
| material | 100% polyester | Geoline® 100% polyester |
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| Official weight (g) | 47 | 89 | about 100 | ─ |
Impressions after actually wearing each item
My favorite: Mont-bell Geoline LWU Neck Shirt Women's
Until I tried it on this time, I had only ever used Finetrack for mountain climbing (the previous model, which I thought was probably skin mesh), but after experiencing the soft feel of Geoline, this is the winner. Since it's in direct contact with my skin all day, a comfortable feel is important to me. The fabric is stretchy enough that I have no problems with ease of movement
It comes in blue, purple, and black, and the fact that it comes in all colors except for black, which attracts gnats and mosquitoes, is a big plus. I also like the wide collar, which doesn't interfere with the clothing you wear on top
My back, which sweats the most, was a little slow to dry and felt cold, so I wish the sweat could be released a little faster
THE NORTH FACE Long Sleeve Dry Crew
The back of the fabric has a textured grid pattern, which I expected would provide good breathability, but when I sweated, the fabric felt like it was sticking to my back, armpits, and chest. The sweat didn't dry easily, which made my back feel cold, and I felt cold on the ridge where the wind was blowing
It's a shame that it only comes in black. It fits loosely to the body except when you're sweating, and I like how it's soft and smooth to wear, without the stiffness and roughness that synthetic fibers often have. There's plenty of room between the fabric and the skin, and the fabric stretches well, making it easy to move around in. It's loose-fitting, but the thin fabric means it doesn't interfere with your base layer
finetrack Dry Layer Basic Long Sleeve
It dried far faster than any of the underwear I tried on. For people who sweat a lot, not feeling cold from sweat is a very important feature, and this is a valuable feature that can be said to be Finetrack's specialty
I used to wear the black version and had the painful experience of being bitten by horseflies and midges through the round holes in the thin fabric, so I'm glad that there are other colors available. However, the lack of insulation and the stiffness of the fabric remain the same
I found the perfect size using the Size Finder on the Finetrack online shop, but the new "tornado sleeve" cut made it difficult to put on, and it didn't seem to suit me. Compared to other garments, the fabric didn't stretch as much when I was moving, which was disappointing, as it made it a little difficult to move around
ONYONE High-Grade Stretch Mesh Free Neck Long Sleeve
I had high hopes for this item as a dark horse in this fitting, but unfortunately I didn't really get the "air conditioning effect" that the garment touts
Maybe because it was a product for baseball, it didn't seem to be a good fit for outdoor activities in the winter when you sweat a lot. Baseball is a sport where you don't sweat a lot except in the summer, so it's a different use case
Perhaps the "heat-generating function" of the underwear, which absorbs sweat moisture at the beginning of exercise and actively releases it to cool down as sweat production increases, was overworked, making me too hot when I started sweating and suddenly cold when I stopped moving. I chose a small size, likely because the sizing was for men, but the tightness felt like pressure throughout the entire garment, making it uncomfortable enough that I wanted to take it off as soon as possible. Having become interested in the "air conditioning effect" first, I regret not choosing the company's "Breath Tech PP" underwear, which I had overlooked in the lineup. As it's specifically designed for baseball, there were no problems with ease of movement. If I were to use a high-grade underwear for mountain climbing, I would recommend going up one size and using it as underwear during rest periods
summary
If we divide the above clothing according to the people for whom they are recommended, Montbell is for mountain climbers who walk at a speed similar to the course time, people who sweat moderately, and people who care about the comfort of their underwear. Finetrack is for trail running, mountain climbers who walk at a fast pace, high-intensity mountain climbing, and people who just want to dry their sweat quickly. The North Face is for low-intensity mountain climbing, traverses, light hiking, and people who don't sweat much
You read the product description, try it on, and then you might find yourself thinking, "Huh?", for better or worse. You never know until you actually try it on
Underwear is an important piece of clothing that can help prevent what is often called "hypothermia." We hope that this will spark your interest and help you find the perfect piece for you. Have a great time on your mountain trip!
Aiko Matsubara
These days, I'm still interested in places like Iceland and Alaska in the north. However, if possible, I'd also like to dive in the waters of the Galapagos Islands. Ten years have passed since I began my journey to visit the places I want to see before I die, climbing all 100 of Japan's most famous mountains. I climb mountains all over the country in Hiraide model shoes (shoes chosen by alpine climber Kazuya Hiraide). I'm from Osaka and love craft beer and drinkable yogurt
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