Reviews > Clothing > Shirts > tasc Carrollton Performance Crew > Test Report by Mike Curry

TASC PERFORMANCE CARROLLTON PERFORMANCE
TEST SERIES BY MIKE CURRY
LONG-TERM REPORT
August 28, 2012

CLICK HERE TO SKIP TO THE FIELD REPORT
CLICK HERE TO SKIP TO THE LONG-TERM REPORT

TESTER INFORMATION

I've been backpacking, climbing, ski-packing, bushwhacking, and snowshoeing throughout the mountains of Oregon and Washington for the last 25 years. I'm an all-season, all terrain, off-trail kind of guy, but these days (having small kids) most of my trips run on the shorter side of things, and tend to be in the temperate rainforest. While I've carried packs (with winter climbing gear) in excess of 70 pounds (32 kilos), the older I get the more minimalist I become.

INITIAL REPORT

PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS

Manufacturer: thriv NP, Inc.

Carrollton Performance Crew

Year of Manufacture: 2012
Manufacturer's Website: http://www.tascperformance.com
MSRP: US $30
Listed Weight: None
Measured Weight: 5.7 oz (162 g)
Other details:

Color tested: Dark Red

From Manufacturer:

UPF 50+
55% Organic Cotton
40% Viscose from Bamboo
5% Elastane

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS

The tasc Carrollton Performance Crew arrived in its retail packaging, an interesting cardboard tube that immediately caught my attention as I'd never seen anything quite like it. Inside I found the shirt which had a sticker stating "moisture wicking bamboo performance technology" and a cardboard hang tag attached by a string tied to a safety pin. The overall packaging gave a very positive impression that this company was attentive to detail.

Turning my attention to the shirt, my initial impressions continued to be positive. The first thing that struck me was how incredibly soft and silky the material was. I've always been a fan of how soft most organic cottons feel, but this material took that one step further to feeling positively silky.

Looking the shirt over closely, I found it to be exceptionally well constructed. The stitching was neat and tidy, and everything looks very well designed.

Best of all, there is no tag at the back of the neck . . . just one on a side seam near the bottom (containing care instructions).

READING THE INSTRUCTIONS

Cool Cardboard Tube Packaging

Care instructions are machine wash cold, do not bleach, tumble dry low, warm iron if desired.

TRYING IT OUT

Putting on the Carrollton Crew was positively luxurious. It truly felt like silk, and actually cool to the touch. Since I was lucky enough to have had the shirt arrive on a warmer day, I decided to wear it for my daily run. My initial experience was fantastic, and I found the shirt seemed to combine the best in the cooling properties of cotton with the wicking and drying properties of synthetics. The initial experience had me anxious for some more warmer weather. I've had the opportunity to wear it running one more time and on a day hike since, and can honestly say I look forward to getting to put this shirt on, it feels so good against my skin!

Regarding fit, I'd say it is comfortably large for a large. I'm usually somewhere between a large and an XL, depending on how the shirt size runs, but a large in the Carrollton crew is definitely a comfortable fit for me . . . an XL would have been a little too big.

SUMMARY

My initial impressions of the tasc performance Carrollton Crew are positive. It appears to be a very well-made shirt that is positively silky to wear and touch, and seems to combine the best cooling properties of cotton with the wicking properties of synthetics. I look forward to testing it in the field.

FIELD REPORT

FIELD LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS

Carrollton Crew after a day on the trail

I have used the tasc Carrollton performance crew as outerwear on 4 nights of backpacking and six day hikes during the test period. In addition, I've worn it as a baselayer on cooler days that weren't quite warm enough to use it alone on dayhikes (6) and running (12 runs) as well as three day trips rock climbing. I've also worn it around town and to work on a number of occasions just to better assess long-term wear.

Weather conditions while backpacking have been sunny with temperatures ranging from about 65 F (18 C) to 85 F (29 C). Humidities have been low, except one day at 85 F (29 C) with thunderstorms.

On one rock climb, the temperatures reached 96 F (36 C) and was sunny.

PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD

Performance

For hot weather use, this is the most comfortable shirt I own. It feels super-cool and super comfortable. It dries fairly quickly, and feels fantastic against my skin, even when damp with sweat. It actually feels cool against my skin, which is wonderful until the temperature starts to dip, but makes a nice sub-layer under some insulation in those conditions. It's about the best thing to wearing no shirt at all when it's warm, and in some cases better. I've not worn it with sunscreen under it, and have not had any sunburn issues (even though I burn easily, and have worn it for up to 8 hours on snowfields).

Appearance/Wear

I've received a lot of compliments about the looks and fit of the Carrollton crew. I think it looks great, and it looks pretty much the same as I remember it when it arrived. It is showing no signs of wear, and that impresses me as things I wear rock climbing don't usually last really long.

Design/Features

It has a very comfortable and relaxed cut, drapes nicely, and the seams haven't been an issue under pack straps. It is a great design all around.

Laundering

I've laundered the Carrollton crew at least a dozen times, and haven't noticed any change in the shirt. It doesn't seem to retain odors like some other shirts I own.

SUMMARY

Overall, the tasc Carrollton crew is one of the most comfortable shirts I've ever owned, has proven itself very durable, and looks great. I can't think of a single thing I don't like about it when worn in the heat, but it can feel a bit chilly on a cool day.

LONG-TERM REPORT

LONG-TERM TEST LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS

I have used the tasc Performance Carrollton crew on 4 additional days of backpacking (on a 6 day trip) during long term testing. This trip was a traverse of the NE Olympic Mountains including some climbing in Royal Basin some off-trail high traverses near Mt. Constance. Temperatures ranged from 80-85 F (26-29 C). Skies were sunny with little to no wind. In addition I've worn the shirt on at least a dozen runs during long-term testing, as well as on some crag climbs and around town.

PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD

The tasc Performance Carrollton crew has continued to perform wonderfully during long-term testing. It continues to be one of my very favorite shirts for hot-weather use.

About the only new observation I can note is how the shirt has changed over time, which is simply that it hasn't . . . it hasn't shrunk, stretched, or shown noticeable signs of wear, despite a LOT of use. If anything, it might be a bit softer than it was at first, but I'm not sure. It certainly hasn't deteriorated in any way.

It's a great shirt, and I love it in hot weather.

SUMMARY

The tasc Performance Carrollton Crew is an outstanding hot-weather shirt that fits and feels great, wicks moisture well, and keeps me cool. It has held up exceptionally well, and is everything I'd look for in a natural-fiber shirt.

CONTINUED USE

I plan to use this shirt in hot weather until it is threadbare, which given how well it is holding up is going to be many years from now. For everything from backpacking to running, it's the first thing I reach for in hot weather now.

I'd like to thank thriv, NP and BackpackGearTest.org for the opportunity to test the Carrollton Performance Crew. This concludes my report.

Reviews > Clothing > Shirts > tasc Carrollton Performance Crew > Test Report by Mike Curry