Reviews > Clothing > Shirts > Ex Officio Give-n-Go Skivvy Top > Stephanie Martin > Field Report

Field Report: Ex Officio Give-n-Go Skivvy Top

Product Information:
Manufacturer:	Ex Officio [http://www.exofficio.com]
Year of Manufacture:	2004
Listed Weight:	4 ounces (113.4 grams)
Weight as Delivered:	4.8 ounces (136.1 grams)
Color:	Light Blue
Size:	Women's Medium
MSRP:	$38
Style of Product:	Lightweight, slim fitting long underwear shirt.
Contents - Product Use and Performance - Continued Test Strategy - Summary

Details in this Field Report are intended to be taken in addition to findings as listed in my Initial Report.

Product Use and Performance
The Ex Officio Give-n-Go Skivvy has seen a fair amount of use - having been worn on numerous occasions either on its own (with a sports bra underneath), or layered underneath other clothing to provide additional warmth.  The longest continuous period of use (sans deodorant, but with the occasional shower - hooray for camper services) was a duration of one week while doing extensive hiking and exploring in Death Valley National Park in California.  Activity levels have ranged from simply lounging around in camp to highly aerobic scrambling adventures.

So far, with the exception of some cosmetic snags, the Give-n-Go Skivvy Top is holding up well - all stitching is in good repair, and the garment remains mostly stain free.  After numerous washings (both in a front loading machine with normal detergent and by hand), the top remains true to size.  Unfortunately, I have managed to snag it on various prickly plants in my desert explorations and this has resulted in several runs in the fabric.  In addition, I have noticed some pilling on areas of high wear when worn with additional garments layered on top of the Skivvy.  It seems that the pills are a combination of fibers from both the Give-n-Go Skivvy and my other layers that may occur when the garments rub together under the weight of a pack.  I haven't observed any pilling in high-wear target areas from wearing Give-n-Go Skivvy on its own.  As I also mention, the Skivvy is mostly stain-free - I've managed to get out regular dirt stains and some ground in plant stains (obtained while getting entangled with a particularly friendly prickly plant).  I do have one smudge on the shirt of unknown origin that I've not been able to get rid of.  While I have noticed that the shirt gets wrinkly if I fail to fetch it out of the dryer in a timely manner, the wrinkles seem to disappear after wearing the Skivvy for a short time period.

Referencing the cardboard hangtag and various details highlighted on the Ex Officio website, the Give-n-Go Skivvy is  touted as being anti-bacterial, moisture-wicking, quick drying, and stretchy - a perfect garment for highly aerobic activities.  Based on my experience, I would have to agree - for the most part, on the manufacturer's claims. 

In my experience with the Skivvy, I have been able to wear it in a variety of climates and still remain comfortable.  The Give-n-Go Skivvy certainly has a lot of give and stretch to it.  It fits very closely - close enough that I personally am not comfortable wearing it around town or for Urban or Resort Travel, as Ex Officio recommends - but it's great for trail wear.  The high amount of stretch in the fabric keeps it close, while not bunching, binding or hindering my movement.  Even after numerous wearings and washings, I'm still able to pull up the sleeves and have them stay up, and not come slithering back down my arms while hiking.  The close fitting cut also means I've not had any trouble layering other clothing over the Skivvy for additional warmth.  While I've been able to wear the Skivvy during various activity levels and weather conditions, I especially like to wear it on warmer days when a strong wind is present - the Skivvy wicks moisture away quickly, so I don't get clammy or feel like there is a river of sweat trickling down my back, while providing just enough warmth to keep me comfortable while hiking a strenuous trail.  Even in low-wind situations, the Skivvy has proven good at wicking moisture and drying relatively quickly.

Sadly, my definition of quick drying must be skewed, as I don't consider "two to four hours" (as reported by Ex Officio) to be quick drying at all.  While the Skivvy does dry very quickly when worn, the few times I've washed it in the field by hand and hung it to dry, I found it still damp in the morning - I suspect this might have been due to the fact that there wasn't any wind present and the the temperatures passed through the dewpoint.  Perhaps this was due to the fact that I didn't have a dry towel to "roll them up like a burrito and stomp away" as directed by the product hangtag.  I admit, putting on the damp shirt wasn't very inviting, but once it was on, it dried pretty fast with the aid of my body heat.  I haven't tried hand washing and hang drying at home yet, but I suspect my results might be better in these situations...stay tuned for my results in my long term report!  The other shortfall, in my opinion, is the anti-bacterial treatment on the Give-n-Go Skivvy.  I had high hopes indeed for the AEGIS Microbe Shield.  Unfortunately for me, and my companions, the Skivvy did develop and hold a mild stink after periods of high intensity exertion or longer durations of wear.  The smell did not dissipate after the shirt was removed from my body and hung to "air out." The only way I could remove the smell from the shirt was by washing it.  Ah well, while it works a little (the Skivvy didn't seem to develop as ripe an odor as other non-treated shirts), it doesn't work perfectly.

Regarding the shirt's design, I'm very pleased with it.  The close fit is comfortable and allows me to easily layer other clothing on top.  The length is perfect - hitting right above my hips - I can wear the shirt tucked in or hanging loosely.  The sleeves also fit perfectly - with my thumbs through the thumbholes, I haven't noticed any pressure on my hands, or any chafing or binding.
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Continued Test Strategy
Overall, I'm quite pleased with the design and materials of the Ex Officio Give-n-Go Skivvy top.  It has become my hiking shirt of choice during these winter hiking months.  I'll continue taking it with me on all of my adventures during the test period, including trips to the Grand Canyon and while canyoneering in Southern Utah.

I'll continue evaluating the the Skivvy on its overall fit, comfort and ease of use and care in the field with a focus on its breathability, moisture wicking performance and quick drying time.  In addition, I'll continue evaluating the shirt for wrinkle and stain resistance, durability and its ability to remain true to size.
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Summary: Woo Hoo's and Boo Hoo's  
I really am glad to have had the opportunity to test the Ex Officio Give-n-Go Skivvy.  I usually don't find myself hiking in long sleeves, because most shirts I've worn in the past have too limited a comfort range.  This shirt has proven to be a pleasant surprise.  With that said, here are my "Woo Hoo's" (likes) and my "Boo Hoo's" (some room for improvement).

- Woo Hoo: Nice cut and plenty of stretch
- Woo Hoo: I really like the thumb holes; they provide that little bit of extra warmth when I don't want to wear gloves - and they make pulling on additional layers easier! No more trying to grab the sleeve of my base layer while pulling on additional layers!
- General Comment: The fabric is prone to running when snagged on plant matter
- Boo Hoo: AEGIS Microbe Shield didn't prevent the Skivvy from developing a definite odor after high exertion or extended wear
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My thanks to BackpackGearTest.org and Ex Officio for this testing opportunity.

Reviews > Clothing > Shirts > Ex Officio Give-n-Go Skivvy Top > Stephanie Martin > Field Report