Reviews > Clothing > Shirts > Ex Officio Micro Stretch Tops > Paul Schilke > Long Term Report

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 Backpacking Background

 

        As a resident of Wyoming, I take day trips hiking at altitudes ranging from 7,000 ft (2100 m) to 12,000 ft (3700 m).  Except for the severest conditions, I enjoy hiking in most types of weather.  I can only use one hand, so I prefer gear that is light and fairly easy to use.  I've hiked 350 miles of the North Country Trail and 2000 miles of the Appalachian Trail.  I've bicycled 50 miles (81 km) to Lake Michigan on back roads through vineyards and farmlands; and have canoed through Canyonlands National Park to the confluence of the Colorado and Green Rivers.

 

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Manufacturer Listed Features

• "Moisture wicking with an odor-resistant finish (Aegis Microbe Shield) to keep you feeling fresh" 
• "Flat lock stitching reduces bulk; forward shoulder seams for comfort"
• "Thumb slot with extended sleeves to make layering easier"
• Wrinkle Resistant Peach Finish
• Turtle-like neck with zipper that stretches from the top of the my neck to just below my pectoral muscles

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Field Conditions

 

        I wore the Fleece Skivvy on about a half dozen hikes in Medicine Bow National Forest at altitudes ranging from 7500 ft (2300 m) to 11,000 ft (3350 m). I’ve worn the same fleece about a dozen times throughout the duration of testing.  It was worn in the hot winter sun and in the cool of the cloudy shade.  The longest hike on which this thermal base layer was worn was about four miles (6.4 km). The coldest temperature was about 25°F (-4°C) and the warmest was about 50°F (10°C).

 

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Long Term Report

 

        I’ve enjoyed wearing the Fleece Skivvy. It does a good job of wicking sweat and releasing moisture to superior layers and/or the atmosphere. When I first received the shirt I found it to be relatively stylish when worn under a fleece vest, something I’d wear to class.  However, the shirt is clingy, as any good base layer should be.  I might feel a bit sheepish if wearing it alone in a non-outdoors setting.

 

        Unfortunately the first turn through the dryer brought forth the wrinkled lint bunnies common to piling. This was noticed especially on the collar and the back.  The piling is possibly due to over-drying.  I’m really just starting to understand the effects of over-drying on synthetic clothing and make the necessary effort to pull them from the dryer before they are completely dry.

 

        These days, I’m reluctant to wear the Skivvy without washing after one day of heavy sweating.  Its not so much that the Skivvy has developed a horrible stench after one day of use.  It is more that the shirt develops a slight odor.  I guess if I were in the field for extended periods of time, the stench of the shirt would not bother me, as it would be masked by the smell of my body. Unfortunately, I did not wear the Skivvy on any such trips.  Regardless of all that, the Skivvy remains my favorite thermal base layer.  I relish the thought of reaching for it first before I head out the door for a day’s experience on the trail.

 

        Recently I wore the Skivvy on a day hike up Gray’s Rock Trail.  The temperature was about 50°F (10°C) with breezy winds.  I was a wearing a microfleece jacket over the Skivvy that day.  As soon as we started the ascent up the trail I stripped to my Skivvy layer and unzipped the collar.  I was warm the whole way up but not exactly overheating.  When we reached our destination I hovered momentarily between warmth and chill before I slipped the top layer back on.  The top layer effectively cut the breezes.  I was warm again as I moved through the stands of Ponderosa Pine, Douglas Fir and Western Juniper taking measurements of tree girth, density and core samples in an effort to decode the traits of this part of the forest.  The Fleece Skivvy was very comfortable to wear during this activity which involved a lot of upper-torso movement.  After our work was completed and we headed down the hill, I stripped down to my Skivvy and found, once again, that it was sufficient protection from the day’s temperatures and climate while I was moving at a fast pace.

 

        Oddly enough the men’s Micro Stretch Fleece Skivvy Zip is no longer listed on the Ex Officio web site.  It was listed when I typed up my initial report, however by the time I went to type up my field report, it was not listed.  As of today, the Men’s Skivvy Fleece is still not listed on the website.

 

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Summary

 

        I liked the Micro Stretch Fleece Skivvy. Overall I found that the fit, finish and usefulness were excellent, even with the piling occurring at the beginning of the test.  However, like many things my enjoyment also revolves around the cost / benefits ratio and comparison with equal products.  That is impossible given that the Fleece Skivvy is no longer listed on the Ex Officio website.

 

 

Things I like

• Fit of the turtle-like neck 
• Zipper which expands usefulness and comfort of shirt 
• Thumb slots

 

Things I didn't like 

• Lint magnet effects of "Peach Finish" 
• Some piling on neck and back

 

Reviews > Clothing > Shirts > Ex Officio Micro Stretch Tops > Paul Schilke > Long Term Report