BackpackGearTest
  Guest - Not logged in 

Reviews > Clothing > Base Layers and Undies > ODLO Natural Kinship Base Layers > Test Report by Alyssa Kimber

ODLO Natural + Kinship Warm Base Layers
TEST SERIES BY ALYSSA KIMBER

Initial Report - February 13, 2022

Field Report - April 10, 2022

Long Term Report - May 23, 2022

TESTER INFORMATION

NAME:Alyssa Kimber
EMAIL:alyssakimber AT hotmail.com
AGE:28
LOCATION:Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
GENDER:F
HEIGHT:5' 10" (1.80 m)
WEIGHT:138 lb (62.6 kg)
CHEST:34" (86 cm)
SLEEVE LENGTH:31" (79 cm) (mid-back to wrist)
TORSO:18" (46 cm) (top of shoulder to hip)
WAIST:27" (69 cm)
INSEAM:32" (81 cm)

I took up backpacking and bikepacking 5 years ago but I have enjoyed front-country camping and day hiking for many years. My trip length is generally one to three nights and ranges from prairie hikes to mountainous terrain. I am a 4-season hiker and typically a 3-season backpacker. My pack weight varies depending on the trip, but I tend to sacrifice weight savings for comfort.  


INITIAL REPORT

February 13, 2022

PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS

Manufacturer: ODLO International AG (ODLO)
Year of Manufacture: 2022
Manufacturer's Website: https://odlo.com/

Natural + Kinship Warm Base Layer with Facemask

MSRP: US$115.00
Manufacturer's Listed Specifications:

  • Material: 52% Virgin Wool (Merino), 29% Polyester, 13% Polyamide, 6% Elastane
  • Weight: Not Listed
  • Sizes Available: XS, S, M, L, XL
  • Colors Available: Black Melange, Submerged Melange (Blue), Winetasting Melange (Burgundy)

Actual Specifications:

  • Material (printed on the inside tag): 52% Virgin Wool (Merino), 29% Polyester, 13% Polyamide, 6% Elastane
  • Weight: 203.6 g (7.2 oz)
  • Size Tested: Women's Small
  • Color Tested: Winetasting Melange

Natural + Kinship Warm Base Layer Bottoms

MSRP: US$100.00
Manufacturer's Listed Specifications:

  • Material: 52% Virgin Wool (Merino), 29% Polyester, 13% Polyamide, 6% Elastane
  • Weight: Not Listed
  • Sizes Available: XS, S, M, L, XL
  • Colors Available: Black Melange, Submerged Melange (Blue), Charisma Melange (Purple), Dark Sapphire Melange (Dark Blue), Winetasting Melange (Burgundy)

Actual Specifications:

  • Material (printed on the inside tag): 52% Virgin Wool (Merino), 29% Polyester, 13% Polyamide, 6% Elastane
  • Weight: 149.3 g (5.3 oz)
  • Size Tested: Women's Small
  • Color Tested: Winetasting Melange

The ODLO Kinship base layers (base layers) arrived in good condition with no loose threads, holes, or any other defects. I was intrigued to see I received the version of the base layer top that includes an integrated hood and facemask. The two base layers arrived with tags that had some information about the products. Both base layers are made in Turkey and are intended to have a fitted design which the website indicates is "made to fit next-to-skin". The base layers are both rated as "warm", with the temperature rating ranging from 10 to -25 C (50 to -13 F), depending on the activity. The image below from the ODLO website illustrates the temperature rating best. The website indicates that warm thermal quality is ideal for all winter activities. 

TempChart

(Source: https://odlo.com/)

The tags also described several features of the base layers including:

  • Natural Thermoregulation
  • Moisture Management
  • Soft Touch
  • Seamless
ODLO recommends the three-layer system for the outdoors including a base layer for moisture regulation, a mid layer for thermal insulation, and an outer layer for weather protection against rain, wind or snow. The website describes the base layers as "highly functional sportswear" with thermal insulation and moisture wicking properties that keep the skin dry and warm. "Smart ventilation zones" will keep the skin dry and the seamless construction is for comfort. The base layers were made for ski & snow, hiking, outdoor, everyday, and moderate intensity.

The company's logo is a propellor which is displayed on the front hip of the bottom base layer and the same front hip of the top base layer. The propellor represents the company's three core values: responsibility, action and transparency. More information on ODLO's sustainability initiatives can be found on their website. A few initiatives I found impressive were:

  • Products marked with an eco-tag are made from recycled or sustainable sources.
  • "Take Back Programme" operating in Switzerland, Germany and Austria is a reuse/recycle program for sport clothing of any brand.
  • ODLO maintains "Fair Wear Leader Status" given to selected clothing manufacturers for their efforts to continuously improving working conditions in their supply chains.
  • Publishing of an annual sustainability report.

Below are photos of the top and bottom base layers.

Top    Bottom

READING THE INSTRUCTIONS

The care instructions for the base layers can be found on the inside tags as well as on the website. The instructions indicate to machine wash in cold water inside out, use liquid detergent, wash with like colours, do not bleach, do not tumble dry, do not iron, and do not dry clean. 

TRYING IT OUT

I am testing size small, which is my usual size. Both layers fit great and are true to the size chart. Compared to other base layers I own, I would say these are on the longer side. The sleeves extend past my wrists and the length of the front and back extends down past the hips. The bottoms are a high-waisted fit and extend to my ankles. The bottoms are tight to my skin and the top is fit but not compressive. The base layers are soft and comfortable. Both base layers have an attractive design of a lighter pink geometric pattern which are the "smart ventilation zones" mentioned earlier. These areas have small pin-prick holes for ventilation. The top base layer has a hood and "facemask". The hood is tight to my head and the facemask provides cover for my chin but is not tight around my face.  

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS

The base layers look very well-constructed with neat stitching and seams. I love the burgundy colour and the fit which is snug and long. The base layers are comfortable and I am very intrigued to try out the facemask feature on the top. I look forward to testing the base layers in cooler temperatures.

FIELD REPORT

April 10, 2022

During the field testing period I have worn the base layers for various day activities including resort skiing, backcountry skiing, fat biking, cross country skiing, and running. Conditions are listed below by location.

Regina, Saskatchewan

  • Activity: Running, Cross country skiing
  • Duration: 9 day uses 
  • Distance: 138 km (86 mi)
  • Elevation: 575 m (1900 ft)
  • Temperature: ranged from -14 C, wind chill -26 to 4 C (7 F, wind chill -15 to 39 F)
  • Weather: range of conditions from clear to overcast skies, light rain and snow, and often wind.
  • Terrain: Primarily flat, trail and pavement

Kimberley, British Columbia

  • Activities: Resort skiing, backcountry skiing, cross country skiing, fat biking, running
  • Duration: 8 day uses 
  • Distance: 107 km (66 mi)
  • Elevation: 1300 m (4300 ft)
  • Temperature: ranged from -15 C to 11 C (5 F to 52 F)
  • Weather: range of conditions including sunny and clear to rain and wind
  • Terrain: Variety of mountain terrain as well as paved and gravel trails

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

  • Activities: Running
  • Duration: Day use 
  • Distance: 16 km (10 mi)
  • Elevation: 1000 m (3300 ft)
  • Temperature: -13 C, windchill -19 C (9 F, windchill -2 F)
  • Weather: Clear and windy
  • Terrain: Paved and snow-covered trail 

PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD

Over the field testing period I've worn the base layers 18 times for a wide variety of activities and in a range of conditions. I have used the base layers primarily under a thermal mid layer on top and under both a thermal mid layer and a pair of wind and water-resistant pants on the bottom. I did not wear a wind and water-resistant jacket unless it was around -15 C (5 F) or colder, raining or snowing. In warmer temperatures around 0 C (32 F) and warmer, I would skip a bottom mid layer and wear the base layer bottoms directly under my wind pants. I have not had an opportunity to wear the base layer top on its own yet as the temperatures have been too cool. Even on the 11 C (52 F) day it was quite windy and I found myself most comfortable with a wind resistant jacket layered over top. I would not be comfortable wearing the base layer bottoms on their own unless I was in a somewhat private setting (like in sleeping bag, for example), since they are very form-fitting. I will likely always layer these under another pair of pants for active use. 

The base layers are very warm and have contributed to my comfort significantly on cold days. They also do a great job at wicking sweat, especially for mild to moderate sweat sessions. It has surprised me on more than one occasion to find the base layers completely or mostly dry after an activity. There are times when I'm more active and the base layers do retain the moisture but dry quite quickly after sweating stops (within one to two hours). I notice the waist band on the bottoms and top as well as the top cuffs seem to retain sweat the longest, likely because the material is thicker in these areas.

This set has become my "go to" base layer for colder temperatures, around -10 C (14 F) or colder. I think this is primarily because the top layer has the facemask feature which I find adds at least a few extra degrees of warmth compared to other base layer shirts I own. The facemask covers my neck, head, and ears completely as well as some of my chin. On windy or cold days I would often pull the facemask up and layer a headband over top for extra ear protection. I do not get full protection of my face as my cheeks and some of my forehead is exposed, but the facemask does not cause the condensation issues I often experience with other facemasks (condensation around the mouth resulting in an icy patch on the facemask and/or fogging and icing up on my glasses). I find this to be a nice middle-ground and sufficient for protection except on very cold days (around -30 C (-22 F) and colder). On the flip side, because the facemask adds that few extra degrees of warmth, it is not the shirt I reach for on milder days (around 0 C (32 F) and warmer). Even though I can choose not to wear the face mask, it is not removable and still sits around my neck keeping that warmth in my neck area where I may not want it.  

I usually wash the base layers after every use but did use them a few times in a row without washing and could not smell any body odor on them. The base layers are stretchy, close-fitting and are very comfortable. I like the high waist of the bottoms and the long torso length of the top. I have never had a problem with my midriff skin being exposed, which can happen with other sets if the top or bottom does not overlap sufficiently. The base layers are still in quite good condition except for two small holes that have developed on the thigh of one of the pant legs (see second photo below). I don't think this is uncommon with wool clothing as I have had other wool base layer bottoms develop holes, especially in areas of high stretch such as across thighs and calves. It could be a snag that developed from washing with other items or just typical wear and tear. It does not lead me to believe the bottoms are of low quality. Another thing to note is that I did have the color from the top transfer to my ODLO AEGIS jacket. I wore the base layer top directly under the jacket while running in the rain. When I returned home and removed the jacket, it was damp inside from sweat and also clearly had a red stain across the inside of the jacket (see first photo below). This occurred after several uses and washes so I was surprised to see the color transfer. I have only had this happen once and I have not noticed the color transfer to any of my other clothing while wearing it or in the wash. I have washed the base layers likely around 15 times and they have not shrunk, stretched out, or pilled with washing. 

Jacket_stain  Bottom_holes

LONG TERM REPORT

May 23, 2022

During the long term testing period I have worn the base layers on one overnight camping trip and for numerous day activities including hiking and running. Conditions are listed below by location.

Regina, Saskatchewan

  • Activity: Running
  • Duration: 7 day uses 
  • Distance: 85 km (53 mi)
  • Elevation: 575 m (1900 ft)
  • Temperature: ranged from -10 C to 5 C (14 F to 41 F)
  • Weather: range of conditions from clear to overcast skies, light rain and snow, and often wind.
  • Terrain: Primarily flat, trail and pavement

Zion National Park, Utah

  • Activities: Hiking 
  • Duration: 1 day use and 1 overnight camping trip
  • Distance: 11 km (7 mi)
  • Elevation: 1220 m (4000 ft)
  • Temperature: -1 C to 20 C (30 F to 68 F)
  • Weather: Sunny and windy to overcast and calm
  • Terrain: Desert. Rocky, sandy trail and a river hike

PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD

RiverOver the long term testing period I've worn the base layers 9 times in a range of conditions. I used the base layers paired with the ODLO FLI mid layer, ODLO AEGIS jacket, and ODLO ski socks when temperatures were around 0 C (32 F) or colder. I would also wear another thermal layer or a pair of wind and water-resistant pants over the bottom base layer. When it was warmer, I mixed and matched layers as appropriate to the conditions. On one hike, the temperatures started out around -1 C (30 F) so I was in all my ODLO layers to begin the hike. By the end of the hike it was 20 C (68 F) and I had removed the ODLO mid layer and jacket so I was only hiking in my ODLO base layer top and bottom, with a pair of water-resistant pants over top. I was just on the edge of being uncomfortably warm at that temperature, however I had no other layers to change into, so the base layers worked ok for this situation. Based on this, I would agree with the ODLO temperature chart in that the upper range of applicability for these base layers would be around 15 C (59 F). I also wore the base layers on their own for a night of camping in temperatures around -1 C (30 F). I was very warm and comfortable paired with my 3-season sleeping bag. I even used the facemask on and off through the night to keep my ears warm. Since I primarily used the base layers paired with other layers, I don't have any photos of me wearing them on their own, but you can see the top base layer poking out at the neck in the photo to the left.  

As it was warmer during the long term testing period, I was testing primarily the mid to upper temperature range for these base layers. In this range, the base layers continued to do a great job at keeping me warm and wicking sweat during mild to moderate levels of activity. The base layers were too warm for intense levels of activity in the mid to upper temperature range. The facemask worked great for windy day ear protection as my ears often get cold in the wind, even if the temperatures are mild. It was easy to pull the facemask up and down when needed, as opposed to removing and storing a head band or hat which is just a little more inconvenient.  

I washed the base layers approximately 6 additional times according to the care instructions: in cold water and line dry. The base layers have remained in relatively good condition. The holes mentioned previously have not worsened and I have not observed any shrinking, stretching, pilling, or other signs of wear. In my field test report I also mentioned I had observed color transfer from the base layer top to my ODLO jacket. I have not observed any additional color transfer during the long term test period. 

SUMMARY

This set of base layers have become my "go to" for colder temperatures, around -10 C (14 F) and colder. They also function well as a wicking layer in warmer temperatures up to 15 C (59 F), under low to moderate levels of activity. They are super comfortable, warm, and do a great job of wicking sweat and drying quickly. I love the facemask feature of the top which provides a great balance of warmth and function in cold temperatures and windy conditions. There were some quality issues that came up after two months of use: a few small holes developed on the thigh of one of the pant legs and the color of the top transferred to my ODLO AEGIS jacket. However I consider these relatively minor issues and overall I feel the base layers have performed very well and are of good quality.

PROS

  1. Top and bottoms fit true to size and are long
  2. Nice color and geometric design
  3. Broad range of temperature applicability, especially with the facemask feature
  4. Comfortable, warm, and great wicking capability
CONS
  1. Some quality issues: two small holes on the pants and color transfer from the top to my jacket

This concludes my Long Term Report. Thank you to BackpackGearTest.org and ODLO for the opportunity to test the ODLO Natural + Kinship Warm Base Layers. 



Read more reviews of ODLO International AG gear
Read more gear reviews by Alyssa Kimber

Reviews > Clothing > Base Layers and Undies > ODLO Natural Kinship Base Layers > Test Report by Alyssa Kimber



Product tested and reviewed in each Formal Test Report has been provided free of charge by the manufacturer to BackpackGearTest.org. Upon completion of the Test Series the writer is permitted to keep the product. Owner Reviews are based on product owned by the reviewer personally unless otherwise noted.



All material on this site is the exclusive property of BackpackGearTest.org.
BackpackGearTest software copyright David Anderson