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Reviews > Clothing > Shirts > ODLO Fli Mid Layer > Test Report by Brian HartmanODLO FLI HALF ZIP MIDLAYER NAME: Brian Hartman 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 12, 2022
PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS Manufacturer: ODLO International AG Specifications for the FLI half zip midlayer
Looking on ODLO's website, this is one of several midlayers that ODLO offers but this one in particular is made for hiking, outdoor adventures, and everyday wear. The ODLO FLI has an athletic fit that the manufacturer refers to as slightly tailored. It has a small raised collar and a half zip opening with a zipper that measures 11 in (27.9 cm). The chest is 21 in (53.3 cm) from armpit to armpit and the shoulders are approximately 17 in (43.2 cm) from side to side. The overall shirt length is 28 in (71.1 cm) from the top of the shoulders to the bottom back hem. Finally, the arms measure 23 in (58.4 cm) from the arm pits to the end of the sleeves. The shoulder seams are offset from the top of the shoulder and all of the seams are considered seamless seams. But they're still raised and slightly rough, so I'll watch them and report back if they created any rubbing problems when wearing my backpack. The interior of this midlayer utilizes grid fleece, which is known to help air circulation and wick moisture. The chest pocket is irregularly shaped but it's roughly 4.5 x 7.5 in (11.4 x 19.1 cm), big enough to conceal the largest iPhone or a handful of snacks, your choice. INITIAL IMPRESSIONS Overall, I really like the style and look of the FLI half zip and would have no reservations wearing it around town, in addition to in the backcountry. It arrived on my doorstep well packaged and when I opened the shipping envelope it had no snags, holes, or loose stitching. The color listed on the tag is Dark Grey Melange, which essentially means it's a mixture of greys. Up close the color appears much more varied than it does from a distance. The inside of the shirt has a checkered pattern which is the grid fleece I mentioned above, except for behind the chest pocket, which is polyester. The grid fleece is a nice touch and I look forward to seeing if it keeps me warm yet dry. ODLO's logo is printed in white near the top of the chest pocket. The outer fabric has a nice feel, and the inner fabric is soft and smooth. The entire midlayer has a natural stretch to it, including the arms, waist, and shoulder area.
READING THE INSTRUCTIONS The ODLO FLI came with hang tags and two labels that were sewn inside the garment. The hang tags gave brief, general information about the midlayer as well as ODLO the company. They also mentioned ODLO's Temperature Control system or TCS for short. The TCS is a graphic ODLO created to help customers quickly understand their products' performance capabilities in temperatures from -30 to 30 C (-22 to 86 F) given activity levels ranging from stationary to heavy excursion. It goes hand in hand with one of four designations that ODLO assigns every product, being x-light, light, warm, or x-warm. For example, a product that's designated as 'warm' will be comfortable in a temperature range from -10 to 15 C (14 to 59 F) when stationary, and from -27 to -15 C (-16 to 5 F) when very active. I think it's a great tool and found it very useful when looking at all of the products on their website. The ODLO FLI midlayer, for reference, is designated as 'warm'. Having said all this, I tend to run cool, so whether these temperature ranges are comfortable for me or need to be raised is yet to be determined. Regarding care instructions, the labels on the FLI simply state: do not use softeners, and wash with like colors. Looking for more substance I went to ODLO's website where I found more detailed information as follows: machine wash cold, do not bleach, do not tumble dry, iron low heat, and do not dry clean. Additionally, ODLO recommends in general to wash their garments after 2 or 3 uses to remove dirt, sweat, and other contaminates, which sounds like sound advice.
The ODLO FLI fits well in the chest, arms, and armpits, and its overall length is fine. It's meant to go over top of a baselayer, so having a little extra room is nice. The sleeves are a little long, but it's easy to roll them up and I actually like having the ability to pull them over my hands if they get cold. Beyond that, the top is lightweight and silky smooth with no itching or scratchiness against my hands or neck. I wore it around the block this morning in 24 F (-4.4 C) weather with a baselayer top and thin jacket and was initially cold for warmed up after about 10 minutes. I look forward to the next few months of testing to see how well this half zip midlayer performs. SUMMARY The
ODLO FLI half zip midlayer is lightweight and appears well made.
I'm anxious to test its warmth and moisture wicking capabilities
this winter while backpacking.
I will also be watching closely to see how durable it is
during Field Testing. April 5, 2022 FIELD LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS I
had several opportunities to test the ODLO FLI during the past two
months thanks to cold, wet weather in the Midwest. Most of my testing
took place in Southern Indiana (IN), but I also wore the FLI while
walking around my neighborhood and at local parks. 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. PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD During Field Testing I wore the FLI underneath ODLO's Aegis jacket and overtop ODLO's Kinship base layers, except on warm days when I wore the FLI as an outer layer or on very cold days when I replaced the Aegis with my down jacket. Overall, I was impressed with the performance of this midlayer pullover. Please see below for additional details. Comfort
and fit: The FLI ranked high in this category. It has an athletic
fit, which is to say it's tailored. It's soft and smooth and fits
me well. And the fabric has some stretch which I like a lot. I found myself wearing it not only while backpacking but around my house, while shopping, and around town. Warmth: The FLI worked well as an outer layer when temperatures were above 55 F (12.8 C). Between 40 and 55 F (4.4 to 12.8 C) I needed a jacket like the Aegis over top it in order to stay warm. Below 40 F (4.4 C) I needed my outer layer and had to be active to stay warm. Below 30 F (-1.1 C) I needed to additional insulation in the form of my down jacket to stay warm. The FLI had no cold spots or areas I felt needed more insulation. On
the other end of the temperature spectrum, I could probably wear
the FLI in temperatures up to 68 F (20 C) without feeling
uncomfortably warm, as long as I wasn't active. In the photo
below I wore the FLI as an outer layer while kayaking on Lake Monroe in
60 F (15.6 C) weather. It was sunny but a cold steady wind
was blowing across the lake. The FLI kept me plenty warm as
an outer layer while I paddled hard against the wind and current. SUMMARY Overall, I’m happy with the FLI midlayer pullover. It’s warm, breathable, and durable. I've had no problems with it and thanks to its solid design I don't expect any. This concludes my Field Report for the FLI midlayer.LONG-TERM TEST LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS I
wore the FLI for 18 days during Long Term Testing. This
included backpacking trips to the Hoosier National Forest and
Hawaii (HI), and three day hikes in Central IN. I
hiked approximately 74 mi (119 km) in total on these trips.
In addition, I wore the FLI to work and around town for warmth
and wind protection. The weather was cool and breezy on this trip with
sunny skies and daytime highs in the low 60s F (16 C). The FLI did
an excellent job of keeping me warm in the morning and evening hours. 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 Trail 6. 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 The FLI pullover performed very well during Long Term Testing. It provided adequate insulation for my core without being bulky or heavy. It kept me warm at the top of Waimea Canyon when temperatures were in the low 60s F (16 C), and winds were gusting to 25 mph (40.2 kph). And it proved its worth at the summit of Mount Haleakala, at an elevation of 10,023 ft (3,055 m) above sea level, where temperatures were 49 F (9.4 C) with high winds and driving rain. Because the weather was so extreme here, I wore ODLO's Kinship baselayers and Aegis jack in addition to the FLI and this combo kept me warm and dry. During the rest of my Hawaiian trip, not including Waimea Canyon or Mount Haleakala, I wore the FLI as an outer layer, over top a short sleeve wicking t shirt, and it kept me plenty warm on early morning and late afternoon hikes. During the bulk of each day from 10am to 5pm, the FLI was too warm to wear as temperatures approached 80 F (26.7 C).When hiking in warmer temperatures I used the front zipper to regulate my body heat, zipping it down when I felt hot and zipping it up when I felt cool. Any moisture that collected inside the pullover quickly evaporated after I stopped and relaxed for a few minutes in the wind. The FLI proved durable, resisting brush and branches that could snag or rip lesser garments. The fabric's ability to stretch helped measurably in this regard. Also on the plus side, the FLI doesn't hold body odor and it didn't pill or fade after washing it. The pullover was comfortable to wear as well. It was easy to put on and take off, and the fabric was soft and smooth, never itchy. When it was too hot to wear the FLI I stuffed it in my pack, and it never seemed to wrinkle. I even wore it to dinner two nights, and it blended in with what others wore. Regarding fit, the chest and shoulders fit well, but the sleeves and tail were too long, both minor issues. The sleeves were an easy fix as it was simple to roll them up, but the tail wasn't meant to be tucked in, so I just had to deal with the extra length. When not wearing it at night, it was soft enough to be used as a pillow.       WASHING AND GENERAL CARE As for general care, I washed the FLI twice during Long Term Testing and it turned out well both times, coming out soft and smelling clean. My technique was simple: I turned the pullover inside out, then washed it in cold water with similarly colored clothes, and finally let it air dry.SUMMARY This concludes my Long Term Report for the ODLO FLI midlayer and this test series. Thanks to ODLO and BackpackGearTest.org for the opportunity to test this pullover. Read more reviews of Odlo US gear Read more gear reviews by Brian Hartman Reviews > Clothing > Shirts > ODLO Fli Mid Layer > Test Report by Brian Hartman | ||||
Trip 1: 2 days and 2 nights in the Charles Deam Wilderness, IN
Weather
Resistance: The FLI did a good job of blocking wind and it fit snug
enough that cold air didn't get under the waist or up my sleeves.
When it started to rain, I immediately put on my waterproof jacket,
so the FLI never had a chance to get wet, which is as it should
be. 
