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Reviews > Clothing > Base Layers and Undies > Coldpruf Classic Base Layers > Test Report by Brian HartmanCOLDPRUF MERINO WOOL BASE
LAYERS CLICK HERE TO SKIP TO THE FIELD REPORT TESTER INFORMATION
I have been backpacking for over 20 years throughout Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and most recently in Western USA. In addition to backpacking I enjoy family camping with my wife and kids and being outdoors in general. I would describe myself as a mid weight backpacker. I use fairly light weight equipment and gear but still like to bring more than the bare essentials with me while on the trail. INITIAL REPORT November 5, 2017
PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS
Specifications
for Crew Top Specifications for Pant INITIAL IMPRESSIONS The ColdPruf thermals arrived in
a letter-sized UPS envelope. When I first saw the envelope on my doorstep, I
thought it was for my wife because I was expecting a larger, heavier package.
However as soon as I saw my name on the envelope and the North Carolina return
address, which is where ColdPruf is located, I knew my thermals had
arrived. READING THE INSTRUCTIONS The hang tags gave a brief description of the base layers. I also found care instructions on the website as well as on the product labels. The instructions read as follows: Turn inside out before washing. Machine wash cold with like colors on gentle cycle. Do not bleach. May steam or iron at low setting if needed. May be dry cleaned. I also found warranty information on ColdPruf's website which states that they will replace the garments free of charge and without question if at any time they don't live up to expectations. TRYING IT OUT ColdPruf describes the Classic series base layers as having a snug, comfortable fit. With that in mind, I chose size Medium for both when ordering and am very glad I did. They fit perfectly. They are soft and smooth against my skin and they are snug, but they also have enough stretch that they are very comfortable to wear. Being silk weight they are thin enough that I can see through them, but I don't foresee that as a problem as long as they are durable. I wore them briefly around the house and look forward to cold weather and the opportunity to put them through their paces. SUMMARY The ColdPruf Classic base layers
are lightweight, Merino wool thermals. They are well designed, meticulously
sewn and I look forward to testing their durability and effectiveness at keeping
me warm, dry and comfortable. January 16, 2018
FIELD LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS
PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD The ColdPruf Classic base layers
performed very well during the past two months of Field Testing. In fact, they
exceeded my expectations for warmth and durability, given the fact that they are
so thin. As recommended by ColdPruf, I wore them directly against my skin with
multiple layers on top of them. Over the shirt I wore a lightweight mid layer,
followed by an insulating vest and my shell. Over the bottom I wore my hiking
pants, which are uninsulated nylon pants. Once on the trail and warmed up, I
stowed the shell in my backpack to avoid sweating, but as soon as I stopped, I
immediately put it back on to combat cold, gusty winds. SUMMARY The Coldpruf Classic baselayers
kept me warm and dry in some very inhospitable conditions. The fabric is soft
and smooth to the touch and I really like the fact that they are odor resistant
which allows me to wear them multiple days at a time. LONG TERM REPORT March 27, 2018 LONG-TERM TEST LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS  During the past two months I wore the ColdPruf thermals for a total of 14 days, including two backpacking trips, as well as to work and around town. In fact, I pretty much wore the top whenever temperatures were expected to be below freezing, and I wore the bottom whenever I needed to be outside for extended periods. My first outing was a two-day trip to Southwestern Ohio where skies were partly to mostly cloudy and temperatures were cold with daytime highs in the low 20s F (-4 C). My second trip was for two days to the Hoosier National Forest in Southern Indiana where skies were sunny and there were 5 in (12.7 cm) of snow on the ground. 1. Southwestern Ohio (OH). During this two-day outing I hiked mostly off-trail through mature forests and across several frozen creeks. Daytime temperatures were in the mid 20's F (-4 C) and elevations ranged from 577 ft (176 m) to 860 ft (262 m). Location: Southwestern Ohio Type of Trip: Off trail Distance: 12 mi (19 km) Length of Trip: 1 night / 2 days Backpack Weight: 36 lb (16 kg) Sky and Air Conditions: Overcast Precipitation: 0.75 in (2 cm) snow Temperature Range: 9 F to 24 F (-13 C to -4 C) 2. My second trip was to the Hoosier National Forest. During this two-day outing I hiked on and off trails covering approximately 9 miles (15 km) over moderately hilly terrain. Snow and slippery trails slowed me down considerably. Elevations ranged from 505 ft (154 m) to 760 ft (232 m) and temperatures ranged from the low to upper 20’s F (C). Location: Hoosier National Forest Type of Trip: On and off trail backpacking Distance: 9 mi (15 km) Length of Trip: 2 nights / 2 days Backpack Weight: 35 lb (16 kg) Sky and Air Conditions: Sunny with light winds Precipitation: None. 5 in (12.7 cm) of snow was already on the ground Temperature Range: 21 F to 28 F (-6 C to -2 C) PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD The ColdPruf Classic base layers continued to perform well during Long Term Testing. I continue to be impressed at how well they retain warmth, given their light weight. And, because they are so thin, I could easily layer additional clothes over them without feeling bulky. In regard to their ability to wick moisture, I expended a lot of energy hiking off-trail in the Hoosier National Forest and generated lots of excess heat, but I never felt sweaty or chilled, even when stopped for lunch. I must say that I am completely sold on merino wool as a base layer. It has the magical ability to draw moisture away from my skin and dissipate it, without retaining odors or smelling, even after multiple days on the trail. Although I had an initial concern about the long-term durability of these thermals, they have held up very well to abrasion and multiple washings and have exceeded my expectations for durability.I wasn't sure going into this test if the wool would cause any scratching or itchiness against my skin. Four months later I am happy to report that I've had no problems with irritation whatsoever. My only negative is that, after washing the top and bottom twice during Long Term Testing, they have shrunk slightly so that they are now tight instead of just snug. The top has gotten narrower across the chest and shorter in length so that it's tight across the chest and rides up my back rather than stay put. The bottom is smaller in the waist and length but still wearable. I washed both garments in cold water and let them air dry per ColdPruf's instructions so I'm not sure why they shrunk. Nevertheless, I've done some research into this subject and, because I didn't run them through the dryer, it may be possible to stretch them back out again using a process called "knit blocking". Knit Blocking involves soaking the garments in a sink filled with luke warm water, a generous amount of hair conditioner, and a dab of mild detergent. If I decide to do this I would only soak the top, see if it works, and then try the bottom. Along similar lines, one nice addition for ColdPruf to consider would be to add a tail to the back of their tops to help keep them tucked in.
SUMMARY The ColdPruf Base Layers were warm, lightweight, and they did a great job of wicking moisture away from my skin. They also dried quickly and didn't hold any odor. I only wish I had ordered a larger size because they have shrunk over the past four months and the shirt is now tight instead of snug. Overall, I am sold on the ColdPruf Merino Wool base layers and give them high marks for both quality and performance. This concludes my Long Term Report of the ColdPruf Merino Wool Layers. Thanks to ColdPruf for providing these items for testing and to BackpackGearTest.org for allowing me to participate in this test.
Read more gear reviews by Brian Hartman Reviews > Clothing > Base Layers and Undies > Coldpruf Classic Base Layers > Test Report by Brian Hartman | ||||||||||||||||||
The top has a drop-tail to help keep cold air
out and a raglan shape shoulder yoke (manufacturer description) which is a
design that moves the seam off the shoulder. They also have elastic cuffs to
keep cold air from coming in at the wrists. The pants have a Comfort logo
elastic waistband and elastic cuffs to keep cold air out and keep them from
pulling up at the ankles.
I wore the ColdPruf Classic baselayers for 26
days during Field Testing. This included three overnight backpacking trips, a
cross-country ski trip, numerous trail running and daylong hiking trips, and two
snow shoveling excursions. I also wore the top and bottom to work when
temperatures dipped below 0 F (-18 C). My trips during this test period were to
Southern Indiana (IN), Northeastern Wisconsin (WI) and Northeastern Ohio (OH)
where temperatures ranged from -9 to 19 F (-23 to -7 C) and winds gusted to 16
mph (26 kph), making for frigid conditions. The skies varied from sunny to
overcast during this period and the snowfall totaled 7 inches (18 cm) in WI and
OH while I was there. Back in Southern Indiana I saw a total of 4 inches (10
cm) of snowfall while backpacking. During Field Testing I hiked / skied a total
of 23 mi (37 km).
Comfort / Fit: Based on ColdPruf's sizing
chart, I chose size medium shirt and pants, and they fit fine, albeit snug.
After doing more research on their website, it turns out they recommend
close-fitting base layers to improve the moisture wicking properties. It took a
few weeks for me to get used to the close fit, which is ok, as long as I don't
gain any weight. The material is stretchy so that helps with fit and, as a
bonus, it feels smooth against my skin and has no itchiness whatsoever. One
last thing I really like about these garments is they don't hold any odors. As
testament, after wearing them for 26 days, I handed them to my wife and asked
for her thoughts and she said they smelled fine.
