Climbing with Workman! A thorough review of the popular model for Spring/Summer 2020 ~ Tops and Base Layer Edition~

From experience, when you actually wear T-shirts and cut-and-sew T-shirts made for mountain climbing, trekking, and trail running, you will be able to experience the high level of comfort, safety and functionality, that is, the high quality, but at first glance, it is undeniable that the high price is high. However, it is true that once you understand the quality and comfort, many people will no longer be able to let go of their daily lives.

Of course, it is also true that even products from specialized brands can be hit or missed. However, it's not easy for people just starting out in the outdoors to get gear and clothes for each season and activity. What's more, if you only have high-end items just because they're safer, you'll run out of energy before you can complete everything. ...That's where it's Workman. I have reviewed many products so far, and each time, specialized brands have shown surprising cost performance over and over again for a wide range of entry-level outdoor activities.

So this time, we've picked out tops and base layers from Workman's 2020 Spring/Summer 2020 model (mainly new products) that seem to be suitable for outdoor activities, and have actually been used for mountain climbing. When viewed from the perspective of mountain climbing, mountain shirts and cut-and-sew (base layers) are a wide range of products that can be used stably every year. Will we be able to discover another bargain this season?

Regarding reviews: Picked items and evaluation criteria

As before, this site will deliver reviews of useful workman items, from the perspective of how to use them mainly for outdoor activities such as mountain climbing and trail running What you can use here is simply outdoor activities such as hiking and light mountain climbing. Conversely, even if the rating is low, there may be no problem if it is light outdoors such as camping or motorcycle touring, so please read this information again.

This time, we have picked out the following three top and base layers from the 2020 Spring/Summer model, from the perspective of "it could be used for hiking, mountain climbing, and trail running." These three models are by no means made for mountain climbing, but are workwear that incorporates the characteristics of outdoor tops and base layers. However, we have selected this because we believe that there is a good chance that it can be used unless it is a harsh, serious mountain climbing.

• 1335 Climbing Long Sleeve Half Zip
• 1347 Heat-shielding -5℃ Cool climbing short-sleeved polo shirt
• 1342 Smooth skin ZERO DRY -5℃ Long sleeve half zip

Evaluation criteria

The following five points were set as indicators for review of the evaluation items.

1. Comfort: Can you continue to wear it comfortably, such as the stickiness after sweating and the low stress on movement?
2. Breathability: Not only is it simple to air well, but also whether the air circulates well even when it contains moisture.
3. Water absorption: We compared the functionality that absorbs sweat when sweating.
4. Quick-drying... After absorbing sweat, we compared the speed of drying after washing.
5. Durability: Even if it has high performance, it's no good if it quickly falls apart. This is an indicator of the durability of the fabric.

With the above five points in mind, I tested by actually walking and running along mountain paths. Each item was rated with 3 points: ◎◯△, and rated with 5 points as a recommendation for light climbing.

Review results & spec comparison table

If you find it difficult to see the table because it is lightweight for smartphones, click here

Impressions of each model

Smooth skin ZERO DRY -5℃ Long sleeve half zip Outdoor recommendation: ★★★★☆

Recommended points

• Continuous dry skin feeling
• Ease of movement

This is △

• Feels a little heavy and comfortable

Of the models we tested this time, this is the only model with different fabric specifications on the front and back. The outer material is made of polyester, but the lining that touches the skin is made of polypropylene, which does not store moisture. Its function, which comes from the name ZERO DRY®, allows the polypropylene to move moisture to the outer material even when you sweat, keeping you dry at all times.

The outer material that has been sent from the lining spreads the moisture widely and evaporates, so if you sweat too much, it will drip out, but if you sweat moderately, your skin will always be dry, and as the name suggests, it will remain smooth.

And this is the characteristic of this model. This structure is often seen in outdoor shirts. Of course, there are differences in quality when you look at the details, but it is hard to believe that it is possible to achieve this at this price.

Thanks to the raglan sleeves, the shoulders are easy to move around, and the seams do not overlap the shoulder straps of the backpack. Furthermore, even if you raise your arms directly above, the hem does not slip up strangely, making this cutting designed to be comfortable during exercise.

We use different colors of fabrics from the body to the sides, but they are not made of mesh fabric, and the fabric seems to be the same design, just because the colors are different.

The chest has a zipper design. It can even open the lobe, which helps ventilation when heat builds up. There is a guard on the jaw area so that it does not hit the jaw directly. By the way, this zipper can be locked, so if you turn the hook down, the zipper will not open or close automatically. This kind of detailed features are also a great feature.

The fitting is tight and follows the body lines. The other two pieces have almost no difference in width from the side to the hem, while this model is gradually becoming slightly narrower. However, stretching in the horizontal direction is very effective so it won't feel too tight. Also, the back body is longer than the front body, so it is less likely to stick out when you bend over.

The fact that your skin is always dry is comfortable, without worrying about stickiness. This year's model uses fibers that reflect sunlight on the outer material to prevent temperature rise inside the clothing , making it particularly useful in the summer.

Climbing long sleeve half zip outdoor recommendation: ★★★★☆

Recommended points

• High breathability due to mesh fabric
• Flat seams

This is △

• The fabric tends to retain moisture and is slightly less quick-drying

The fabric is 100% polyester. When sweating or water gets exposed, it absorbs it properly, spreads and releases it. Thanks to this, even if you sweat a little, you can stay comfortable. However, as the amount of sweat increases, the capacity will inevitably increase and the drip will start to drop. Moderate exercise intensity is appropriate.

However, mesh fabric is used from the body, which is prone to sweating and stuffiness, to the armpits, and the inside of the armpits, to ensure breathability in areas where sweat accumulates, so the overall quick-drying is not low, and the comfort in situations where sweat is frequently ventilated is not bad.

The fabric has no special processing on both the front and back, but it has a smooth texture and does not feel uncomfortable even if it is slightly sweaty and moist.

The shoulders are raglan sleeves, so they won't stick when lifting your arms, so you can wear them without stress not only for running but also for dynamic activities.

The stitching is generally carefully crafted, and the seams are treated flat so you don't notice any bites on the skin.

The front has a long zipper, allowing you to open up to the groove. The jaw part has a guard so that it does not hit your chin when the zipper is closed.

There is a zippered pocket on the left chest. The pockets are large enough to fit a 6-inch smartphone, and are highly practical. However, if it is too heavy, it will bounce when walking, so you cannot put heavy objects inside. Incidentally, the area around the zipper is a reflective print, and it will be reflected when exposed to light in the dark.

The fabric is not that thin, but it is breathable, sweat-absorbs, and quick-drying, and the zipper on the chest and mesh fabric allow heat to be released, so you can wear it anytime, from spring to summer to autumn, and you'll want to do it in a heavy rotation. However, it doesn't seem to have any odor-resistant properties, so you might want to buy a few and wear them in a different way.

Heat-shielding -5℃ Cool climbing short-sleeved polo shirt Outdoor recommendation: ★★★☆☆

Recommended points

• Lightweight comfortable
• Chest pocket

This is △

• Durability due to the thinness of the fabric

This is the only model of the third one this time with a cooling touch function. We are very excited about this mountain shirt for summer. For this reason, I chose a short-sleeved polo shirt, but there is also a long sleeve model so you can choose it according to your preference.

The fabric is soft and lightweight, and is very comfortable to wear. The low density of the fabric makes it highly breathable and comfortable to wear even on hot summer days.

It's a cool effect that's attracting attention, but surprisingly, it didn't feel as cold as the name suggests. However, by using yarn that has a heat-blocking effect on the fabric, it also reflects sunlight and prevents the temperature inside the clothing from rising, so together with these, it can be said that it is one of the three cool sensations in hot weather. The hotter it gets, the more this comfort will stand out. However, to be honest, since this is the only short-sleeved model, it cannot be denied that the difference only makes you feel that way, and the previous two models were more likely to feel the water absorption and quick-drying properties when you start to sweat after you start to sweat.

The pockets are crimped, just like the climbing long sleeve half zipper, but the size is small and the zipper is more of a less noticeable than durability.

The fit of the body is loose. It is designed to be worn with a little more room than it is perfect. Stretching is quite effective, so if you want to wear it perfectly, it's best to choose a size one size smaller.

It is highly breathable and sweat-absorbs, quick-drying, and is light to wear, so you can wear it comfortably even in the middle of summer. The silhouette is not perfect, so that's what you'll be interested in when running a trail or climbing. It would be better to use it on mountain climbing, trekking, or camping sites. It's cheap, under 1,000 yen, and comes in a wide variety of colors, making it perfect for everyday wear, and it's lightweight and quick-drying, so you can bring a few pieces for camping or traveling, making it convenient to wash and use even if you sweat. It is a very versatile model.

summary

This time, we tested whether the Workman Field Core Series has a top and base layer that is suitable for outdoor activities such as mountain climbing, trekking, and trail running.

My personal recommendation is the long-sleeved half zipper, with a smooth, zero-dry skin -5℃ . After all, the lining is made of a non-water-retaining fabric, so the areas that always come into contact with the skin stay dry. The fit is my favorite tight fit, making it a masterpiece that can be used for a long time from spring to autumn. This makes it difficult to get cold sweat even in the early autumn when there is a temperature difference, so I think I'll be able to use it for a long time this season.

However, the climbing long sleeve half zippers are none other than the best. Although it is slightly less dry and overall comfort, it is a hybrid design that uses different mesh fabrics and is extremely breathable. It doesn't have UV protection, but it can also be used to protect against sunburn in the middle of summer. The flat seams on the lining made it comfortable to wear. These two long sleeves have advantages and disadvantages, so it's hard to say which one is better, and it would be better to use them according to the user's preferences and situation.

The heat-shielding, cool climbing short-sleeved polo shirt is light and breathable, and reflects sunlight to block heat, making it a great option for midsummer sunshine. However, the fit is surprisingly loose and the water absorption is not very good, so if you sweat a lot, the fabric won't be able to be removed, so it seems like it's more comfortable to use after an activity or when you use it on a regular basis.

It's no doubt that the models we tested this time are quite useful in some situations! Some models may be out of stock soon, so check it out if you're interested.

In addition, since fall 2019, this website has been providing tools that reviewers have been interested in as a Workman Ambassador. However, the content of the review article is created in accordance with the regular review policy of this site, and we have not checked it in advance, and we have not received any financial compensation other than providing goods.