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Reviews > Clothing > Base Layers and Undies > Gordini Lite Pant > Test Report by Nathan Kettner
BOTTOM - GORDINI BASE LAYER
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TESTER INFORMATION
I'm a medium weight backpacker, meaning my pack usually weighs 30-35 lb (13-16 kg), and I generally hike a moderate pace and mostly in mountainous terrain. I almost always use a tent (lightweight when backpacking, wall tent when hunting). I'm a weekend backpacker and make lots of day trips and single night outings, plus a few week-long backpack trips. All of my outings have been in the beautiful and rugged Rocky Mountains of Colorado and Wyoming since I started backpacking in 2004.
INITIAL REPORT
PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS
Manufacturer: Gordini INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
The bottom was packaged in a sharp looking orange box (see pic below). The first thing that struck me as I pulled them out of the box is how really lightweight they were - in fact, I can almost see through them. The material is very soft and stretchy and is advertised as Lavawool (registered trademark of Gordini USA), a fabric that is supposed to have, "The warmth of Merino wool + comfort of fleece." Printed on the inside of the waist, the construction is listed as a blend of 88% polyester and 12% Merino wool. READING THE INSTRUCTIONS The only instructions are the care instructions which say, "Machine wash cold, tumble dry low. No bleach." TRYING IT OUT The first thing I noticed when trying them on was that the legs were rather tight and a little short, even though the waist fit rather well - this is not unusual for me since I am rather tall and slender. Perhaps a larger size would have been better for my 33 inch (84 cm) waist and 34 inch (86 cm) inseam. Other than that, the waistband seems to be very tough and long-lasting and the legs feel very soft and allow for an unrestricted range of motion. TESTING STRATEGY
I plan to wear these long underwear with whatever else I need to stay warm and dry on several day snowshoe trips and at least one overnight snowshoe trip. The average temperature will vary significantly, from lows near 0 F (-12 C) to highs near 70 F (21 C), with elevations from 6,300 - 13,500 ft (1,920 - 4,100 m) above sea level. I'll be using the following criteria to evaluate: SUMMARY - 25 October 2008
As far as I can tell, this bottom should be just right for my snowshoe trips when I don't need too much insulation because I'm generating enough body heat, but have to have a good moisture-wicking base layer to keep me comfortable. FIELD LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS I've had the Gordini bottom for a little over two months now and have worn it on 3 or 4 sledding trips near beautiful Colorado Springs, CO, on one 2-mile (3.2 km) hike along the Front Range at about 6300 ft (1920 m), and on a Christmas tree cutting expedition up to 8500 ft (2600 m). The sledding trips all saw temperatures just slightly below freezing and the tree cutting trip was slightly colder, around 15 F (-10 C). During the sledding outings, I worked up a sweat pulling the sleds and kids up the steep hills, while the 2-mile (3.2 km) hike and tree cutting were accomplished at a more leisurely pace. PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD
I wore the Gordini bottom under a pair of long pants (breathable synthetic), and in temperatures near freezing. That combination of baselayer and pants would be perfect without any additional insulation, however, the sledding trips required a waterproof (snowproof?) outer shell to keep from getting wet. SUMMARY - 13 January 2009
Overall, I really like the feel of the Gordini bottom because it is a soft, warm, lightweight baselayer. It will be my first choice for a baselayer in future outings. LONG-TERM TEST LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS
Since I filed my Field Report, I've had the pleasure of wearing the Gordini base layers on many cold days around town, but most interestingly, I wore them on two snowshoeing trips. The first trip was in the Lost Creek Wilderness of central Colorado where the trail starts at about 8,000 ft (2400 m). A friend and I ascended just over 2,000 ft (600 m) in 5 hours of steady climbing in nearly untouched snow and temperatures in the 20's F (-6 to -1 C). We took turns breaking trail, but the sweat factor was high whether I was in the lead or not. PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD On my snowshoe trips, the only time I realized how much I was sweating was when I took my backpack off and the wind could get to my sweat-soaked back. The rest of my body stayed pleasantly dry and relatively warm because of the wicking properties of the Gordini base layers. I have come to expect the comfort and warmth provided by the lightweight Lavawool. SUMMARY - 10 March 2009 Since I have been wearing the Gordini baselayers, I have started to take for granted the comfort and warmth provided by the lightweight, soft, and stretchy Lavawool. I think these pants will be the standard by which I judge all other baselayers. CONTINUED USE
Since these pants look almost as good as the day I received them more than 4 months ago, even after many uses and trips through the washing machine, I expect that I will wear them for years to come and then I'll have to get another pair. Read more gear reviews by Nathan Kettner Reviews > Clothing > Base Layers and Undies > Gordini Lite Pant > Test Report by Nathan Kettner |