Review: icebreaker Merino Wool OASIS LS CREW
Written by Yasushi Hisatomi
table of contents
Before I knew it, I was wearing icebreaker merino wool all the time
This may have been said many times before, but I love icebreaker's merino wool base layers (underwear/innerwear). After trying out a lot of base layers in 2014, I ended up wearing icebreaker for the longest time. It's just so comfortable and has a stylish design. That's why I'm still wearing it, not only in the mountains but even as I write this. So, below is a detailed review of icebreaker's merino wool base layer, which I recommend to everyone who gets through the winter, whether they're a mountain climber or a city dweller
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Detailed Review
Item name (price)
icebreaker Oasis Long Sleeve Crew (Reference price: 10,584 yen)
Main specifications and evaluation
Check out this review to compare it with other items
| item | Specifications and reviews |
|---|---|
| Fabric | 200g Jersey (100% Merino wool) |
| Size | XS, S, M, L |
| country of origin | China |
| weight | 150／200／260 *200 in this review |
| Fit (10 points) | 9 |
| Feel and comfort (10 points) | 9 |
| Mobility (10 points) | 7 |
| Temperature adjustment performance (20 points) | 18 |
| Quick drying (20 points) | 14 |
| Durability (10 points) | 8 |
| Form Design (10 points) | 9 |
| Price (10 points) | 5 |
| Overall score | 79 |
This is amazing!
the biggest advantage of icebreaker's merino wool is that it's functional, yet also offers the most stylish form and design . When it comes to functional outdoor wear, appearance and comfort tend to be secondary. This cut-and-sew top, with its stylish, comfortable form and sophisticated color scheme, is a game changer. It's completely natural to wear it every day, and in fact, I'd love to wear it.
Of course, it's not just the appearance that's noteworthy, but also the functionality. First of all, it feels nice against the skin, to. The fabric has a fine weave, is stretchy and firm, and SmartWool's merino wool has similar characteristics, but this one feels smoother (closer to cotton?).
And what I felt especially during the cold winter months was its "warmth, breathability, and quick-drying" properties, which are ideal for cold weather . I tried it out several times, and my conclusion was that merino wool base layers were relatively more comfortable in winter than synthetic base layers. This is probably because, compared to synthetic base layers of the same weight, merino wool is less quick-drying but has better warmth. In other words, for midsummer activities, quick-drying is more important for comfort than warmth retention, but in winter, temperature regulation (warmth retention) is more important for comfort than quick-drying, so the characteristics of merino wool come into play even more.
Other notable details include a drop-tail hem seam construction that prevents chafing from the backpack (see right). By the way, care is easy too; just wash it in the washing machine with regular mild detergent. I put it in a laundry net to prevent it from stretching or getting damaged.
This is not so good
If I had to point out something, it would be that the color variations for the non-striped version are disappointing
The single-colored ones are okay, but the two-color combination is one of the worst color combinations I've ever seen lol. I just couldn't bring myself to choose this one even though it's a few hundred yen cheaper. I wish they would offer more variations in the border style
Summary: What activities is it recommended for?
It's perfect for all kinds of outdoor activities, including hiking and climbing, as well as cycling, kayaking, and skiing. As mentioned earlier, its unique characteristics are especially useful in colder seasons than in the hot summer. It's also incredibly convenient because it's versatile enough for travel abroad, even when you can't predict the weather at your destination, and it can be worn hygienically even in situations where washing is difficult
It's true that there are many cheaper merino wool products out there, but I think it's definitely worth having one of these icebreakers, which are so highly functional for mountain climbing and also great for everyday use. As for which of the three weights to choose, I recommend the 200 weight model to fully experience the versatile and versatile qualities I've written about so far
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