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Reviews > Clothing > Base Layers and Undies > Kora Shola 230 Base Layers > Test Report by Brian HartmanKORA SHOLA 230 WOOL CREW TOP AND LEGGINGS 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 November 3, 2018
PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS Manufacturer: Kora Material: 100% Yak wool Fabric Weight: 230 gsm (grams per square meter) MSRP: US $145.00 ea Listed Weight: N/A Crew - Measured Weight: 9.5 oz (269 g) Leggings - Measured Weight: 7.1 oz (201 g) Available Colors: Obsidian Blue, Shale Black Available Sizes: Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, 2X-Large Size Testing: Large - Crew; Medium - Leggings Features: Extra-long body length Flat-locked seams Low profile crew neck collar Anti-bacterial 40+ UPF sun protection The Shola 230 Crew and Leggings (hereafter called Shola Crew and Leggings, Shola 230, or Crew Top and Leggings) are thermal base layers made of 100% Himalayan Yak wool. They are designed to be worn next to the skin as base layers, and Kora claims them to be warm in cold weather, yet cool and comfortable during intense activities. Their best qualities are their warmth per weight, natural odor resistance, and their ability to draw moisture away from the skin to keep it dry. In addition, they have built-in 40+ UPF sun protection. Both the Shola Crew and Leggings are made of 230 gsm fabric that is purported to be 40% warmer than Merino wool, 66% more breathable, and 17% faster at transporting water vapor away from the skin. The details of a study by Sheffield Hallam University, comparing Yak wool base layers to Merino wool and polyester, are presented on Kora’s website as proof of Yak wool’s ability to reduce heat loss in cold temperatures. The Crew Top has a high neck collar and long body length to keep air out, while the Leggings are cut high at the back of the waist which should help keep my lower back covered when bending over. Both have flat-locked seams to help prevent chafing and pressure spots against the skin. The Leggings also have an elastic waistband to help keep them in place. Regarding
the manufacturer, Kora is a British company that started making wool
base layers in 2013. The company’s founder is passionate about
sourcing his wool from local nomadic herders in Himalaya to help
sustain their livelihood. Today Kora has many clothing styles as
well as new fabrics in their product line. Their fabrics are made
in house and their products are tested by ambassadors around the world
to ensure Kora’s quality and performance standards. Kora's
product line includes men’s and women’s zip tops, long and short sleeve
crews, polo shirts, leggings, shorts, vests, sweaters and
jackets. INITIAL IMPRESSIONS The Shola 230 Crew Top
and Leggings arrived in an oversized DHL envelope. As soon as I
saw the envelope on my
doorstep, I knew what it was and hurried inside to open it. The
Crew and Leggings were in excellent condition with no snags, holes or
loose
stitching. Both are solid black in color. The Crew has
yellow stitching
that runs across the shoulders and down each arm, as well as on both
sides of the torso, while the Leggings have yellow stitching that runs
down the outside of both legs. Kora’s name and logo are neatly
stitched on
the upper left shoulder of the Crew and completely around the
waistband. I really like the subdued look, which
helps keep them from looking like a technical garments. The shirt is 31 in (78.8 cm) in length from top to bottom and 34.75 in (88.1 cm) across the chest. The shoulders are 16 in (40.6 cm) from seam to seam and the neck is 6 in (15.3 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 this shirt in size Medium but ended up exchanging it for a Large, because it was too tight to put on. Kora customer service was excellent to work with and I had the new shirt in a few days. For reference, my chest is 37.5 in (95.3 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 Leggings are 40 in (101.6 cm) from top to bottom and 25 in (63.5 cm) around the waist. READING THE INSTRUCTIONS Two hang tags were included with the Crew and Leggings. The first gave a brief description of the item, simply saying that it was made from 100% Yak wool and that Kora buys its wool directly from the Himalayan community in support of the local people who live there. It also provided Kora's website and mentioned that lab tests comparing Yak wool to Merino wool purported it to be 40% warmer and 66% more breathable. The second hang tag provided instructions for caring for the garment. The instructions are as follows: wash in a laundry bag on wool cycle at 30 C (86 F). Do not dry clean. Do not bleach. Do not use fabric softeners. Wash with similar colors. Line dry in shade. Do not tumble dry. Ironing is not recommended. Expect 5% shrinkage. Author comment: No, please don’t shrink any smaller!
TRYING THEM OUT Even in size large, the Shola 230 Crew fit tight in the chest, upper arms, and arm pits. The sleeves are 3.5 in (8.9 cm) too long, but it’s easy enough to roll them up. Beyond that, the top was lightweight and felt smooth against my skin. I wore it around the block in 46 F (7.8 C) weather this morning, underneath a mid weight jacket, and I was cool when I started out but quickly warmed up. The Leggings fit much better and were easy to slip on and off, and comfortable to wear. I look forward to colder weather and the opportunity to test the warmth of these items and their ability to keep me dry and comfortable in tough conditions. SUMMARY The
Shola 230 Crew and Leggings are light weight and appears to be well made and
durable. However, the sizing, for me, was off, and I’m concerned
about the 5% shrinkage Kora says will happen once it is washed. February 3, 2018 FIELD LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS I wore the Kora base layers for 28 days during Field Testing. I wore them on the three backpacking trips below, as well as on day hikes, and whenever I was outdoors for extended periods of time. The weather conditions in November and early December were mild, with above average temperatures and below average precipitation. During that time, I only wore the Crew top and not the Leggings. However, once temperatures dropped and winter kicked in, I started wearing both items, with multiple layers of clothing over the Crew. Most of my time was spent in Indiana (IN), Ohio (OH), and Wisconsin (WI) in various local, state, and national parks, as noted below in my trip logs: Trip One: 6 days, 5 nights
Weather: 26 to 35 F (-3 to 1.6 C) with moderate winds to 14 mph (22.5 kph) Elevation: 1170 ft (357 m) Comments: I wore the crew top on this trip, but wished I’d brought the Leggings as well when temperatures dropped at night. Trip Two: 3 days, 2 nights Location: Manitowoc County, WI Weather: 22 to 34 F (-5.5 C to 1 C); conditions were clear and sunny the first day and cloudy with snow flurries afterwards Elevation: 732 ft (223 m) Comments: I spent most of my time on the Devil’s River State Trail, and surrounding areas. Having learned a lesson from my previous outing, I wore both the Crew top and Leggings and was glad I did. Location: Franklin County, IN Weather: 12 to 22 F (-11 to -5.5 C) Comments: It was cold and windy on this trip so I donned both base layers and wore them the entire trip, which included the drive down, while hiking, at my campsite, in my sleeping bag, and on the return trip home. This was not something I'd normally do, but I wanted to see how good they were, and if they’d retain moisture and body odors. PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD I
had high expectations for the Shola base layers at the start of Field
Testing, given Kora's claim that their garments were warmer, more
breathable, and better wicking than merino wool. Three months
later, I'm happy to report that the Shola Crew and Leggings lived up to
their hype and performed flawlessly throughout testing. They met
my expectations for warmth and breathability, and they wicked moisture
so well that I never felt clammy, even after working up a sweat.
I wore them directly against my skin with one or two additional
layers of clothing overtop of them, depending on the weather
conditions. As seen in the photos above and below, I usually wore
my Polartec Fleece or Thinsulate jacket over the Crew, but when it got
cold and windy, I added a Shell on top of everything. I wore
softshell pants or heavy weight nylon pants over the Leggings,
depending if I was hiking on-trail, or if I was going off-trail
through brush. Comfort / Fit: In terms of comfort, the Shola Crew and Leggings were top notch again. I found them to be soft and itch free, with the ability to easily stretch, so as not to impede motion. I had complete freedom of movement while wearing these items and felt no restrictions when I twisted or extended my arms or legs beyond regular movements. Regarding fit, I found the Crew stretched out as I continued wearing it, to the point where I was no longer bothered by its snugness. The Leggings fit great and I had no problems with them from the day they arrived. To reiterate what I think is an important point, I experienced no scratching or itchiness whatsoever from the fabric, seams, or tags of either item. In fact, I wore the Crew and Leggings for five straight days on my trip to the Cuyahoga National Park, and they were as comfortable to wear on the fifth day as they were on the first. Now, normally I wouldn't wear the same base layers for multiple days, while hiking and in my sleeping bag at night, but in this case, I felt it was important to push these items to their limits and see what they could handle. Knowing I could wear them for extended periods of time, and they'd maintain their performance, makes them that much more valuable to me as multi-purpose clothing. This
topic wouldn't be complete without talking about the anti-microbial
properties of wool and how well the Shola Crew and Leggings performed
in that category. They held no odors whatsoever, despite me
wearing them 24x7 for multiple days in a row. I believe personal
hygiene is important on the trail and know I feel better when my teeth
are clean, my hair is brushed and I don't stink, even when hiking solo
in a big forest with no one else around. Just to make sure my
senses weren't dulled after being alone with myself for multiple
days, I asked my wife to smell the Crew and Leggings when I got home.
She was hesitant at first, but when I told her they were made of
wool, she agreed, and said they smelled fine. SUMMARY The Kora base layers kept me warm and dry in cold, wet conditions during the past three months of testing. I had no issues with scratchiness as is sometimes a complaint with wool clothing. In fact, the Shola fabric was soft and smooth to the touch and completely odor resistant which allowed me to wear these base layers for multiple days with no issues. This concludes my Field Report for the Shola Crew and Leggings. LONG TERM REPORT March 30, 2019 LONG-TERM TEST LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS During the previous two months I wore the Kora base layers on two backpacking trips as well as around town on weekends, for a total of 18 days. I wore the Crew and Leggings whenever temperatures were below freezing, or when I knew I was going to be outside for an extended period and didn’t want to be cold. My first outing was a snow filled, two-day trip to Southeastern Indiana (IN). It was clear and cold both days with highs that stayed below freezing. My second trip saw similar temperatures but overcast skies and chilling winds that made me thankful I was testing warm base layers. 1. On this two-day outing I set up camp next to a creek in a long valley between two ridges. The creek was frozen and on the other side of it was a large forest with mostly mature trees. I spent most of my time hiking off-trail through the forest and accompanying farmland. Daytime temperatures were in the upper 20's F (-3 C) and the elevation where I camped was around 670 ft (204 m). Location: Southeastern Indiana (IN)Type of Trip: Off trail Distance: 9 mi (15 km) Length of Trip: 1 night / 2 days Backpack Weight: 39 lb (18 kg) Sky and Air Conditions: Overcast Precipitation: none Temperature Range: 16 F to 27 F (-9 C to -3 C)
2. My second trip was to the Hoosier National Forest, where I hiked on-trail the first day and off-trail the second, covering 12 miles (19 km) across hilly terrain. The trails were slippery on the first day and so that slowed me down some and made me wish I’d brought my hiking poles. I resorted to off-trail hiking the second day, which was less slippery and a more direct route towards my final destination. Temperatures were in the mid 20s F (-4 C) but windy conditions made it feel much colder. Elevations in the area ranged from 530 ft (162 m) to 785 ft (239 m). Location: Hoosier National Forest, Indiana (IN)Type of Trip: On and off-trail backpacking Distance: 12 mi (19 km) Length of Trip: 2 nights / 2 days Backpack Weight: 37 lb (17 kg) Sky and Air Conditions: Cloudy and windy Precipitation: 0.25 in (0.6 cm) of snow Temperature: 25 F (-4 C) PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD The Shola base layers were impressive, especially on my second outing, when cold, windy conditions tried to rob my body of warmth. On that trip I wore a Polartec quarter zip pullover over the Crew, followed by a Thinsulate jacket. Over the Leggings I wore a pair of heavyweight nylon pants with a tight weave that had been treated for waterproofness. This setup, along with my balaclava, Thinsulate hat, two pairs of gloves, two pairs of socks, and insulated hiking boots, kept me warm while sitting outside my tent for several hours each night before retiring to bed. During the day the Crew and Leggings did a great job of regulating my body temperature as I heated up while hiking, then cooled down once stopped for lunch and dinner. Although I generated lots of heat while hiking, the Kora base layers wicked away all the moisture so that I never felt sweaty or chilled. Even after multiple days of continuous wear, they never smelled or presented any odors. One other nice feature of the Kora Crew top was its long length. It draped below the waist of the Leggings by almost 12 in (30 cm). This overlap prevented cold air from reaching my skin and warmth from escaping. During testing I also watched carefully to see if the Yak wool caused any scratching or itchiness against my skin. Five months later I am happy to report that it did not. Quite the contrary, the fabric remained soft and smooth, even after days in the field. It really does appear to be a miracle fabric.
SUMMARY The Shola 230 Crew and Leggings performed outstandingly during the past five months of testing. I set the bar high, and they did everything I expected of them and more. They were warm, lightweight, durable, incredible at wicking moisture away from my body, dried quickly, and never smelled. They are undoubtedly high quality base layers for those who need the best and can't afford to have anything less. These base layers have earned a front row spot in my gear closet. This concludes my Long Term Report of the Kora Shola Crew Top and Leggings. Thanks to Kora for providing these base layers for testing and to BackpackGearTest.org for allowing me to participate in this test. Read more reviews of Kora Limited gear Read more gear reviews by Brian Hartman Reviews > Clothing > Base Layers and Undies > Kora Shola 230 Base Layers > Test Report by Brian Hartman |