|
|
 |
Guest - Not logged in | |||||||||||||||||
Reviews > Clothing > Base Layers and Undies > ODLO Natural Kinship Base Layers > Test Report by Brian HartmanODLO NATURAL + KINSHIP WARM BASE LAYERS 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 February 10, 2022
PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS Manufacturer: ODLO International AG Material: 52% Merino wool, 29% Polyester, 13% Polyamide, 6% Elastane MSRP: US $100.00 ea Listed Weight: N/A Measured Weight of top: 6.4 oz (181 g) Measured Weight of bottoms: 5.0 oz (142 g) Available Colors: Black Melange, Grey Melange, Estate Blue Melange, Deep Dive Melange Available Sizes: Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, 2X-Large Size Tested: Large Features: Natural thermoregulation Enhanced moisture management Soft touch Ventilation zones Seamless construction The ODLO NATURAL + KINSHIP WARM base layers (hereafter called ODLO KINSHIP, or base layers) are thermal base layers made from 52% Merino wool and 48% synthetics, which ODLO says 'cleverly work together to prevent under or overheating when on the move'. These garments have ventilation zones, which from what I can tell, are the lighter colored patterned areas where the fabric is see-through. The KINSHIP base layers are made in Turkey and designed to be worn next to the skin as fitted garments. The features I'm most interested in are their warmth to weight ratio, odor resistance, and ability to draw moisture away from my skin, so it stays dry. The top has a crew neck collar and elastic waist band to help keep body heat in and cold air out, while the bottoms accomplish this same feat with a high waist band and elastic ankle cuffs. Both have seamless construction to prevent chafing and pressure spots on the skin. ODLO is a Norwegian company that's been designing high quality performance clothing for sports and outdoor activities for over 70 years. Their clothing is built on the principle of layering and designed to handle harsh conditions. With that said, the KINSHIP base layers are just two of many articles of clothing in ODLO's extensive collection. INITIAL IMPRESSIONS The ODLO KINSHIP
base layers arrived in new condition in a standard mailing
envelope. They had no snags, holes, or
loose
stitching and came in a color that ODLO describes as Deep Dive
Melange. They felt smooth and soft to the touch, and both
are stretchy, as a result of adding Elastane to the weave.
ODLO’s logo is neatly affixed near the waistline of both top
and bottoms. Their style and color make them look like technical
garments which I like, although most people won't ever see them. The top is 26 in (66.0 cm) in length from top to bottom and 34 in (86.4 cm) across the chest. The shoulders are 18 in (45.7 cm) across the top and the neck is 8.5 in (21.6 cm) in diameter. Finally, the sleeves are 28 in (71.1 cm) in length from shoulder to cuff. I should mention here that I originally ordered the top and bottoms in size Medium but ended up exchanging for a Large, because they were too tight. ODLO was great to work with and I had new base layers in a week. For reference, my chest is 39.0 in (99.1 cm) in circumference and the sizing chart recommends medium for chests up to 38.6 in (98 cm) and Large for chests to 40.9 in (103.9 cm). The bottoms are 39 in (99.1 cm) from top to bottom and 25.5 in (64.8 cm) around the waist. READING THE INSTRUCTIONS Hang tags on the KINSHIP base layers provided the following care instructions: turn clothing inside out before washing, wash with like colors, and use liquid laundry detergent. ODLO's website provided more details including (paraphrased): wash every 2 or 3 uses to prevent from becoming too dirty. Machine wash sparingly in cold water using a mild detergent. Do not use bleach or fabric softeners. Do not tumble dry. Don't iron. Below are photos of the back of these base layers. They look almost identical to the front except for no logos.
TRYING THEM OUT The KINSHIP top fit well in the chest, upper arms, and arm pits. The sleeves are slightly long but can easily be rolled up. The bottoms fit great too and were easy to slip on and off, and comfortable to wear. I wore them around the block in 26 F (-3.3 C) weather this morning, underneath a mid weight jacket and pants, and I was cool when I started out but quickly warmed up. I look forward to getting them out on the trail to test their warmth and moisture wicking abilities. SUMMARY The KINSHIP WARM top and bottom base layers are light weight and appear well made and
durable. April 6, 2022 FIELD LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS I
wore the ODLO KINSHIP base layers for 14 days during Field Testing.
This included four backpacking trips, a kayaking adventure, and
several day hikes. I also wore the base layers whenever I was
outside in temperatures below 32 F (0 C) for things like shoveling my
driveway, picking up tree branches in my yard after high winds, and
walking around my neighborhood in the evenings. Most of my
testing took place in Southern Indiana (IN), but I also wore the
KINSHIP while hiking at local parks in Central IN. Temperatures
during this test period ranged from 12 to 63 F (-11 to 17.2 C) and the
weather included snow, rain, freezing rain, high winds, and a few warm
days. The areas I backpacked in ranged from 554 to 928 ft (169 to
283 m) elevation. The
KINSHIP base layers
performed well during my past two months of Field Testing. They
were warm, comfortable to wear, and did a good job wicking
moisture. I wore them next to my skin with a midlayer and outer
layer. I wore ODLO's FLI midlayer half zip pullover over the
crew, in combination with an Aegis jacket. And I wore
uninsulated nylon hiking pants over the bottoms. When
backpacking off-trail and expending lots of energy, I removed the
Aegis jacket, and stuffed it in my backpack to help regulate body heat.
When stopped for lunch or at the end of the day, and especially
when it was breezy and cold, I put on my down jacket for additional
warmth. Warmth / Wicking: The KINSHIP base layers kept me warm when temperatures were above 30 F (-1.1 C), and I was using my standard setup (base layers, FLI midlayer, Aegis jacket). When temperatures dropped below 30 F (-1.1 C), or when I was sitting still, the base layers still worked, but I needed to replace the Aegis with a down jacket. When temperatures were in the teens F (-10 C), my upper body stayed warm as long as I wore my down jacket and kept moving, but my legs were cold. When hiking aggressively and generating lots of body heat, the KINSHIP base layers did an excellent job wicking moisture away from my skin to keep me dry. I was genuinely impressed with their wicking capabilities as evidenced by the fact I never felt sweaty, or cold and clammy after exerting myself. Comfort
/
Fit: I originally ordered the KINSHIP in size Medium but ended up
exchanging them for size Large which gave me more room in the waist
and
thighs. They fit comfortably close to my body which is exactly
what ODLO recommends in order to benefit the most from their moisture
wicking properties. Having close fitting clothes also means I
have to watch what I eat over the Holidays, so I don't gain too
much weight. The only thing the larger size is the shirt sleeves
go to my finger tips and bottoms go to my toes. Not ideal,
but easily remedied by rolling them up. The fabric, which is a
combination of Merino wool, Polyester, Polyamide, and Elastane, was
soft, smooth, stretchy, and not itchy in the least.
They don't appear to hold odors, but I still washed them twice
out of habit. SUMMARY The KINSHIP base layers kept me warm and dry in challenging weather conditions. In addition, they were comfortable to wear and did a good job wicking moisture from my skin and keeping odors at bay.LONG TERM REPORT May 8, 2022 LONG-TERM TEST LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS  I wore the KINSHIP base layers for 18 days during Long Term Testing. This included backpacking trips to the Hoosier National Forest (HNF) and Hawaii (HI), and three day hikes in Central IN. I hiked approximately 74 mi (119 km) in total on these trips. While in Hawaii I wore the KINSHIP base layers to bed each night, and at the top of Waimea Canyon and the summit of Mount Haleakala in conjunction with the FLI midlayer and Aegis jacket. It was too warm to wear them however at sea level or during the day. While backpacking in the Hoosier National Forest I wore the KINSHIP with the FLI midlayer most of the trip, except when I went to bed, at which point I removed the pullover. I also donned the Aegis jacket during early morning hours.
The weather was cool and breezy on this trip with sunny skies and daytime highs in the low 60s F (16 C). I hiked mostly on trail through mature forests that were just starting to leaf out. The terrain was moderately hilly with elevations ranging from 530 ft (161 m) to 780 ft (238 m). Maui, HI: 6 days / 5 nights 1. Red Hill Summit Trail on Mount Haleakala. Elevation 10,023 ft (3,055 m) 2. Keawakapu Beach Trail 3. Graves Trail 4. Pipiwai Trail to Waimoku Falls 5. Seven Sacred Pools Trail 6. Hana Bay Cliff Trail 7. Waianapanapa Coast Trail 8. Waihee Ridge Trail 9. Kapalua Coastal Trail 10. Napili Bay Beach Trail Kauai, HI: 3 days / 3 nights 1. Wailua Falls Hike 2. Sleeping Giant Trail 3. Pihea Vista Trail 4. Kalepa Ridge Trail 5. Kokee Nature Trail6. Pu'u Hinahina Lookout Trail 7. Waimea Canyon Lookout Trail 8. Lumahai Beach Trail 9. Kauapea (Secret) Trail 10. Waiakalua Beach Trail Oahu, HI: 6 days / 5 nights 1. Banyon Tree Route 2. Malaekahana Loop Trail 3. Tom Tom Trail 4. Makapu'u Point Lighthouse Trail 5. Manoa Cliff Trail to Manoa Falls 6. Diamond Head Summit Trail PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD It was too warm to wear the KINSHIP base layers at sea level on the islands, but I did wear them while hiking Waimea Canyon, where temperatures were in the low 60s F (16 C) and winds gusted to 25 mph (40.2 kph). Pihea Trail, which starts at the end of the canyon road, was slick and muddy, and the wet clay quickly enveloped my hiking shoes making travel slow. I also wore the thermals at the summit of Mount Haleakala, where high winds, driving rain, and 49 F (9.4 C) temperatures attempted to force me down the mountain. On this trip I wore the FLI pullover over the crew top, and the Aegis jacket as my outer layer. Over the bottoms I wore my nylon Prana pants which were treated for waterproofness. In addition, I wore a winter hat, gloves, and my hiking shoes, which unfortunately weren't waterproof and completely soaked through. Arriving at 8:00 am, I hiked the loop trail at the top of the mountain and then waited two hours at the Visitor Center hoping conditions would change, but by 11:30 am it was apparent things were only getting worse, so I headed back down, dripping wet on the outside, but happy I made the trip. Despite lousy conditions the crew and bottoms performed wonderfully. They kept me warm throughout the morning, even as driving rain entered around my cheeks and wetted my midlayer and crew top. Supposedly sunrise and sunset on the summit are amazing, but they're infrequent occurrences due to fog, rain, and clouds obscuring the horizon. While backpacking in the Hoosier National Park I wore the KINSHIP all day long, and even though I generated lots of heat while hiking they quickly wicked away the moisture, so I never felt sweaty or chilled. Despite two days of continuous wear, they never smelled or presented odors. In terms of comfort and fit, the KINSHIP remained comfortable to wear throughout testing and they fit fine except for the sleeve and legging lengths which I simply rolled up and forgot about till I took them off. The top and bottoms proved durable throughout Long Term Testing, and I look forward to wearing them again this fall and winter when temperatures drop.
SUMMARY The KINSHIP base layers performed exceptionally well during Long Term Testing. They were warm, lightweight, and durable, and did a good job of wicking moisture away from my body. They also dried quickly and never smelled. Finally, they're well made, and I never experienced any quality issues with them during testing. These base layers have earned a spot in my gear closet. This concludes my Long Term Report for the KINSHIP base layers. Thanks to ODLO for providing these for testing and to BackpackGearTest.org for allowing me to participate in this test. Read more reviews of ODLO International AG gear Read more gear reviews by Brian Hartman Reviews > Clothing > Base Layers and Undies > ODLO Natural Kinship Base Layers > Test Report by Brian Hartman | ||||||||||||||||||
Trip 1: 2 days and 2 nights in the Charles Deam Wilderness, IN
