Long Term Report

Hot Chillys Bio-Silver Bi-Ply Top
Long Term Report
4/7/04

Personal Information:

Leesa Joiner
ljoATmidmaine(dot)com
Southwestern Maine
42 years old
Female
5'7" (1.7 M)
150 lb (68 kg)

Background:

    My camping, hiking and backpacking experience has included trips varying in length from one day hikes, to 2 week trips. My experience hiking began with my father, when I was about 6 years old. We hiked along the river pathways in northeastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. During cold weather, I backpack, hike, snow shoe, cross-country ski, go ice fishing and winter camp with friends and family. Although I am not a lightweight backpacker, I am trying to ‘lighten up’ and even have converted to using a hammock while camping.   I find that I spend almost as much time outside during the long Maine winters as I do during the summers.

Product Information:

Manufacturer: Hot Chillys
Item: Bio-Silver zip neck, white, long sleeve shirt
Size: Medium
URL: www.hotchillys.com

Test Summary:

    The Hot Chillys Bio-Silver top has traveled with me on 10 backpacking trips- 4 overnighters and 6 day trips. It has also been worn while traveling, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, shoveling snow and during various other activities. The Bio-Silver top is close fitting, without restricting movement in any way. Even after many washings, the shirt still fits well. With many shirts I find that the sleeves shrink, with the end of the sleeve ending about an inch or so above my wrist. I find that irritating, especially when it allows cold air in. With the Bio-Silver top, I have not had that problem at all. The sleeves have not shrunk. The seams continue to be smooth and straight, without any signs of wear. The shirt is a great base layer. It allows for full range of motion, while providing an extra layer of insulation.
    While hiking in the Fall, I would sometimes take off my jacket, and even my regular shirt and hike in just the Bio-Silver top. It doesn't look like 'underwear' and provided just the right amount of warmth. We had an unbelievably cold winter, with January and February temperatures remaining below 0 F (-20 C) and reaching -25 F (-32 C), before the windchill was factored in 10 days. On one of these bitter cold days, I went snowmobiling in central Vermont. The upper half of my body stayed comfortable, and I was very impressed with the shirts wind blocking ability. I'd love to see a full body suit made with the same materials and using the same design idea.
      While snowshoeing, I also wore the top as a base layer. I found that it worked well both when the temperatures were in the 30 F ( -1 C) range and when it was below 0 F (-20 C). I found one of the plusses of this shirt to be that when worn in warmer temperatures, or when I was really exerting myself, I did not end up getting chilled. The shirt was able to wick any perspiration away from my skin.
    After wearing this shirt for six months, repeatedly washing and drying it, it is still in very good shape. There is a slight roughness to the fabric at the point where my elbows rub against my side. It is not to the point where there is any pilling though. I wouldn't consider it a problem, as to the casual observer it would not even be noticeable.
    I hand washed the shirt in a mild soap, and hung it to dry. It dried within an hour or so and retained it's white color, without graying. After repeated wear, there was never a noticeable smell to the shirt- I asked people with me to smell the shirt, and other than some strange looks, no one could smell anything. I was particularly impressed after a rough day snowshoeing. I took off the Bio-Silver shirt and had assumed it would need a good washing- but it smelled fine, I can't say that for the rest of my base layer, such as my insulated bottoms and socks.
    In the field test report, I commented that I thought the shirt was too see through to wear alone. After wearing it at home without a covering over it, I was assured that it was fine. I did wear it alone on occasion and never felt uncomfortable.
    The only concern I have about the Bio-Silver top is the little red chilly pepper that is attached as the zipper pull. It is cute, and really was not an issue, unless I was wearing a overshirt with a loose weave. On a few occasions, I would try to pull the overshirt off over my head and the chilly pepper would get caught in the shirt. This led to some fumbling with around while I had the shirt pulled over my head. It did provide some comic relief for those with me!
    The shirt is well described on the website, which provides a lot of information about the fabric and construction of their products. The size charts appear to be accurate also. One improvement to the website might be to include laundry directions. I enjoyed testing the Hot Chillys Bio-Silver top, I was able to wear it while participating in lots of activities and under many different weather conditions. My thanks to the manufacturer and backpackgeartest.org!


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Reviews > Clothing > Shirts > Hot Chillys Bio-Silver Bi-Ply Shirt > Leesa Joiner > Long Term Report

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