Terramar Therma TX2
Silk 'n' Wool Crew
Terramar's all-natural, two-layer, medium weight insulating layer
system.
Andrew Buskov
Initial Report: December 5, 2009
Field Report: February 9, 2010
Long Term Report: April 12, 2010
Tester
Biographical Information
| Name: |
Andrew Buskov |
| Age: |
34 |
| Gender: |
Male |
| Height: |
5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Weight: |
223 lbs (101 kg) |
| Waist: |
38
in (97 cm) |
| Email: |
Rescue(at)Corridor9(dot)net |
| City, State Zip |
Madisonville, Kentucky
USA |
Backpacking Background:
I’ve been backpacking for years now,
and have
slowly started
developing my ideal style. I’ve gotten my pack weight down to roughly
25 – 30
lbs (11 – 14 kg) before water, and am whittling it down every
hike. Day hiking is
nice, but
getting out over multiple nights is really what I enjoy. I like to take
my
time and enjoy the scenery as opposed to hiking hard. I also like being
comfortable and insist on an air mattress. I usually tent or hammock,
but stay in shelters when needed.
 Product
Information:
| Item: |
Therma TX2 Silk 'n' Wool Crew
|
| Manufacturer: |
Terramar
|
| Website |
http://www.terramarsports.com |
| Year of Manufacture: |
2009
|
| MSRP: |
N/A |
| Listed Weight: |
N/A
|
| Actual Weight: |
8.5 oz (241 g)
|
| Available Color: |
Black
|
| Size Tested: | XL | | Available Sizes: | S - 2XL |
Product
Overview:
The Therma TX2 Silk 'n' Wool Crew is part of Terramar's
Thermawool line of insulated long underwear. It is comprised of two
layers, wool and silk, that are sewn together using construction knit
technology. This traps a layer of air between the silk and wool,
creating a thermal barrier without bulk. With a 1x1 rib crew neck and
cuffs, saddle shoulder, wrapped side seams, and flatlock seam
construction the TX2 Silk 'n'
Wool Crew is designed for comfort as well as functionality.
(From Website)
Fabric Features: Unique Two-layer Fabric Layer System, Outer Layer 100%
Super Soft Mercerized Merino Wool, Inner Layer 100% Super Soft Filament
Silk, Fabric Weight: 150 grams 4.5 oz, UPF Rating 50+
Initial Impression:
The TX2 Silk 'n' Wool Crew arrived at my
door in complete condition and
without any
obvious rips, tears, or other deformities. It was packaged in a retail
display box that included information about the
material, guarantee against defects for one year, sizing chart, as well
as washing instructions. I removed the shirt from the
box and weighed it prior to trying it on. I immediately noticed the
level of comfort this shirt provided as opposed to my regular Nomex
blend thermal underwear. It was definitely comfortable and smooth.
 Some
of the things that I noticed right off when trying on the TX2 Silk 'n'
Wool Crew is that the neckline is nice and tight. On a number of other
thermal underwear shirts I've owned the neck felt stretched out,
sitting almost mid-clavicular on my shoulders. With the TX2, this
was not the case. It hugged my neck just like a regular shirt. This
felt comfortable and natural and definitely felt better than others
I've tried.
I also liked the way the back panel was longer than the front. This
allowed me to tuck my shirt into my pants and still be able to bend and
move without it coming lose. However, at no time did I feel like there
was an excess amount of material stuffed into my pants. It did well at
protecting my backside from the cold air that we've been having here
lately. The seams are sewn flat so they don't rub, something that I
absolutely hate in thermal underwear. I didn't even notice the seams on
this shirt at all though.
The sleeves are just the right length as they come down past my wrist
just a little, but not enough to hinder any movement of my thumbs.
There is a seam running along the underside of the arm, but as with the
other seams, it wasn't noticeable. The saddle style
construction in the shoulder is nice. Instead of a seam running on top
of the shoulder, there are two seams that run near my clavicle and
shoulder blade. This means that there is no chance of a seam rubbing a
blister into my shoulder with a pack, something I tested with my
daypack as I was heading to and from work.
Other than the texture of the wool, there is no sort of pattern or
weave to it. There is a different feel between the wool outside and the
silk inside, though not enough to differentiate. This might make it a
bit difficult to put the shirt on correctly in the dark. One of the
things that I didn't care for was the instruction tag that is
sewn in near the back of the neck. I understand this is a fairly
standard feature on most clothing, but I've always been against this
style tag on base layer clothing. I could cut it out, but more often
than not I'm either left with a shorter scratchy tag, or a
loosening of threads where the tag used to be. Personally, I
think that all base layer clothing should have the information silk
screened inside the neck of the shirt. This eliminates the
scratchy tag altogether.
On the hang tag that came with the shirt there is a catch
phrase: "Soft to the Touch, Warm to the Feel, Not Too Hot, Not Too
Cold, Always Just Right". I have to say that I agree completely with
this phrase so far. As a test one night, I decided to wear these to bed
since it was a bit cold in the house 66 F (19 C). I normally just wear
some boxers to bed and sleep under a sheet and quilted blanket. As I
lay there in the Silk 'n' Wool outfit, I felt completely comfortable
even though I didn't have the blanket thrown over me. Because I'm not
used to sleeping this way though, I woke up the next morning wrapped up
in my blanket and sheet. However, much to my surprise, I wasn't soaking
wet from sweat, nor was I burning up in any way. I was completely
comfortable! The shirt breathed the way it was supposed to and let my
body regulate temperature all night. Such a wonderful feeling waking up
warm and refreshed.
In all, I'm pleased with the feel, construction, and warmth that I've
experienced with the Terramar Therma TX2 Silk 'n' Wool Crew.
Field Report: February 9, 2010
Field Conditions:During
this testing phase I wore the Terramar Therma TX2 Silk 'n' Wool Crew 10
times. While a few of the uses were on
the three day hikes I took in two different recreational areas in
Western Kentucky, a majority of the usage was around town during some
of the snowy weather we've received this winter. We've received a
couple of big snow falls so far and are looking for more. Big for us is
6+ inches at any one time, but I guess that's what I get for living in
Kentucky instead of Colorado. Temperatures that I experienced during
the day hikes ranged from 35 - 55
F
(2 - 13 C), but overall temperatures that I've worn the shirt in has
been between 2 - 60 F ( -17 - 16 C). All day hikes were during
overcast skies, but only one day hike
had any precipitation: a bit of misty fog. I have also had the
opportunity to wear this under my work shirt, as it's hard to layer
when I have to throw on my gear at any time.
Performance:The
weather this season has been unseasonably cold, or at least that's
the way it felt. It's probably a mix of the colder weather and my aging
bones, but either way I've had some relief in this base layer. The
Terramar Therma TX2 Silk 'n' Wool Crew has been very comfortable and
warm over the testing period. I have found myself washing it numerous
times during the week so I could have something to keep me warm
whenever the temperatures turned cold or I was forced outside for
extended periods of time. In addition to the warming properties that I
have felt with this shirt, the comfort level is absolutely divine.
As
I mentioned previously, the crew has often served as a sleeping nightshirt.
Due to the fact that my bed is nestled right next to a window on the
far side of the house from the heating unit, it's often drafty and cold
when I go to bed. I am forced to either endure the cold or pay
outrageous gas bills during the winter months. I've found that I can
wear the Silk 'n' Wool Crew as a night shirt and sleep well all night
long. This is saying a lot as I don't like to sleep with any sort of
shirt on. I always feel confined and bound. However, the crew did not
make me feel like I was wearing a straight jacket or anything of the
sort.
I've also been wearing this to sleep at work as well. I
often have to get up in the middle of the night to head out on fire
runs. The gear that we wear is individually fitted, not tight but
I definitely can't wear any sort of sweatshirt under it. While you
might think that it would keep me warm in the winter due to the
thickness, bunker gear is not that warm at all. The other catch is the
fact that it's not wise to wear synthetics into a fire situation. As is
well-known, synthetics melt. I'd just soon not have a synthetic top
melt against my arms, chest, and back. I've really noticed a difference
these past few months in my comfort level when responding to fire
alarms and car wrecks while wearing the Silk 'n' Wool Crew.
While
I've noticed that the crew tends to soak up perspiration quite easily,
I've not noticed any sort of cooling effect because of this. It feels
just like some of my other wool clothing in that it wicks the
perspiration away from my skin. I've not felt overly cool while wearing
the crew during any of my outings, nor have I felt overly cold while
sweating in my gear at work.
The only downside that I've noticed
about the Silk 'n' Wool Crew is the fact that the neck stretched out
quite a bit. I'm very particular about the neckline in all my shirts.
While I don't care for turtlenecks, I do want the neck of the shirt to
sit comfortably at the base of my neck, just above my clavicle. The
Silk 'n' Wool used to sit near this area, but now the neck has
stretched out so much that it sits mid-clavicular instead of close to
the base of my neck. It's easily twice the size as it was when I
received it. I've tried everything I can think of to shrink it back
into place, but even using a warm dryer setting hasn't helped. This is
definitely something I don't care for. While it hasn't stopped me from
wearing the crew yet, it's getting to that point. If the neck continues
to grow, I just won't feel comfortable in it anymore.
Long Term Report: April 12, 2010
Field Conditions:Throughout
the Long Term Report testing phase, I was only able to use the Terramar
Therma TX2 Silk 'n' Wool Crew shirt 5 times in total. The primary
reasons for this was due to the fact that the weather warmed up to the
point I didn't need any base layers on my hikes at all. In addition,
wearing it around town and at night was also minimal due to the rising
temperatures. The few times that I did wear the Silk 'n' Wool Crew were
on exceptionally cold nights while running errands around town and once
to bed after changing the sheets to a non-flannel style. Temperatures
for times I wore it around town were around 30 F (0 C) with moderate
winds and no precipitation. In total, I've probably used the Silk 'n'
Wool Crew approximately 20 times for various activities.
Performance:I've
still been fairly pleased with the function and feel of the Terramar
Therma TX2 Silk 'n' Wool Crew. I found that even thought the weather
was warming up considerably the last two months, I was able to use the
crew comfortably on the few times that the weather turned bitter cold.
It really was one of those items that I threw on in a moment's notice to
get relief and heat my body when I needed; something that is a definite
plus as I tend to get cold frequently. It continued to keep me warm and
toasty throughout the testing period.
It is a very versatile
piece of clothing indeed. I was able to wear it under long sleeve
t-shirts, long sleeve button-up style shirts, and even short sleeve
t-shirts at times. There were also many times that I wore the Silk 'n'
Wool Crew by itself, though this was primarily done while running
around the house as opposed to running errands around town. I liked the
fact that it looked good under most all my clothing. I didn't at all
feel out of place as I would have with other long sleeved underwear.
As
mentioned previously, I found that the Silk 'n' Wool Crew tended to
hold smells easier the longer the test went on. This was especially
noticeable during one particular instance where I was out running
errands. After coming home, and knowing that I was heading out again in
about 30 minutes, I left the Silk 'n' Wool Crew on underneath my
t-shirt. I noticed that I started perspiring more heavily. As the time
passed, I could easily start smelling my clothing even though I had
only been wearing the Silk 'n' Wool Crew approximately 2 hours in total
with most of that time having very little effort and perspiration. I
immediately took off the shirt for washing as I really didn't want to
smell during the rest of my errands. This was one of the few times
during the entire testing phase that I had to remove the shirt due to
smell.
The only other problem that I had was the fact that the
collar of the neck continued to stretch out over the Long Term Report
phase. It was already getting fairly large at the end of the Field
Report phase, but now it's stretched out enough that I no longer feel
comfortable wearing just this shirt. I now always insist on having a
shirt over the Silk 'n' Wool Crew, otherwise I tend to show too much
chest and back to feel comfortable and secure.
In all though, I
firmly believe in the warming ability of the Terramar Therma TX2 Silk
'n' Wool Crew. I will continue to use it as a piece of base layer
clothing until it's just too tattered to function. It provides warmth
and comfort if used in the right cool conditions. Even though there are
some problems that I have to keep in mind, I still feel that is a
well-made piece of gear that serves its purpose well.
I'd like to thank BackpackGearTest.org and Terramar for allowing me to participate in this test.
Read more gear reviews by Andrew Buskov
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