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Reviews > Clothing > Shirts > Ibex Qu T > Heather Oakes Palmer > Field ReportField Report for the Ibex Qu T Shirt July 3, 2006 Tester Info:
Name: Heather Oakes Palmer Backpacking Background: I consider myself an intermediate hiker and backpacker for over five years with my longest backpacking trip being only three nights. Sadly due to time constraints, day hiking and weekend backpacking comprise most of my weekend warrior experience averaging one backpacking trip and two day hikes per month averaging between 10-15 miles (16.1- 24.2 km) per day. I tend to backpack in warm, humid climates, with a good amount of hiking in the southern Appalachian Mountains and I have rarely hiked in below freezing or snowy conditions yet. I am a lightweight backpacker and buy my gear accordingly, often splitting various objects and amounts of weight with my husband. Product Information:
Manufacturer: Ibex Outdoor Clothing Product Description: The Qu T is a relaxed fit, crew-neck, lightweight wool t-shirt. Featuring contrasting seams, a feminine fit, and temperature regulation, the Qu T is advertised as being for outdoor activities and everyday wear. From the website: the shirt is described as “Entirely new and exceptional, the Qu T is silky, unbelievably light 17.5 micron New Zealand Merino.” Field Conditions: In the mountains of Georgia and North Carolina, the average elevations I have hiked in range from 2000 – 5500 ft (610-1676 m) and trails close to Atlanta average around 1500 ft (547 km). The day temperatures have been anywhere from 70 F to a horrible day of 96 F (10 C to 36 C) and has dropped to low 40s F (6 C) at night but night temperatures actually average in the mid-60s F (18 C). I have tested the shirt in increasingly high relative humidity at 80% or higher. Given the time of year of this test, I’m mostly hiking in heavily forested areas with lots of stray brush. I also tested the shirt in Florida while traveling and doing some town walking. The temperature was between the high 90s F to low 80s F (55- 27 C) during the day and only became slightly cooler at night, and the relative humidity has been over 100% in low lying areas or during rain. Field Report: For more product information, please see my initial report. On a two day backpacking trip in North Carolina I was able to test the shirt in a good variety of conditions during that one trip. The first day was warm and sunny as we climbed up to 5500 ft (1676 km) and made camp. Then the temperatures dropped. Then there was wind. I layered the Qu T under my rain jacket, the only other piece of gear I really had, and did the cold hiker dance in the morning when the temperature bottomed out at 43 F (6 C). On the second day the clouds rolled in and the warm temperatures never quite got there. Half of the day I wore the rain jacket over the Qu T either because it was drizzling, or I was chilly. I was able to wear only the Qu T with a sports tank in the late afternoon, and the breathable shirt was a revelation after having worn waterproof clothing for the better part of the day. A brutal elevation gain up Albert Mountain allowed me to get the shirt sweaty in case it had not been sweaty enough after hiking all day. Ultimately hiking 23 miles (37 km) that day, I would say that the Qu T held up very well under the mild and warm conditions I tested it in during the day. I felt cool and dry; the shirt did not inhibit any movement and felt very comfortable on my skin. Later that evening I hand-washed the Qu T in the sink knowing that I would need it to be somewhat presentable for our next few days in a real town. Washing the shirt out with Dr. Brommers, I noticed a wet dog smell emanating from the wool. I noticed that I washed it in hot water instead of cold water, and then hoped the shirt would survive and not stink the next day. The shirt was dry and no longer smelled early the next morning. Since the Qu T looks good enough to pass for ‘real’ clothing, I’ve tested it during travel and city walking. The shirt was worn for two days wandering around Asheville, North Carolina; and while I could have used something a bit warmer for the chilly nights the shirt was perfect during the day as it helped me feel cool in the sun and dried quickly when I worked up a little sweat. The Qu T was a constant companion during an unexpected trip to St. Augustine, Florida in May. May in Florida is summer weather where it was seriously muggy and temperatures up to 88 F (31 C) during the day, and only sinking to the high 70s F (26 C) at night. I wore the shirt twice while we were walking in the historic district and then washed it out in the sink with cold water and regular hand soap. The shirt did well with hand washing, it dried quickly even in the humidity and the smells were washed out. With mild weather though out May, I would wear the comfy shirt, sweat a little and be dry by the time I’d need to be seen in public. Then the summer abruptly began in June, and one day I woke up and the temperature was 91 F (33 C). Hiking on a trail near Atlanta with my full pack to keep myself in shape, and I was able to actually wring sweat out of the shirt when I finished. A week later I decided to forgo the heavy pack while hiking a humid lakeside trail. After that hike, I realized that this Qu T was the nicest thing I had ever worn in such horrible heat and humidity. While I still sweat copiously I feel that the fabric did help prevent me from overheating, dried quickly so I would not stew in my own sweat, and overall felt more comfortable to wear in that weather than anything I had worn before. While the shirt dries fast, feels wonderfully soft and light, and helps keep me feeling a little cooler; I have already begun noticing some signs of wear. After a few outings the shirt began to retain a slight odor in the underarm area even after hand washing. After two machine washes in cold water and air-dry, I still detect a slight underarm smell. I have noticed loose threads in the seams around the collar but all other seams are holding well. I have noticed some fabric pilling under the arms, and in the back of the shirt especially in the lower back region where the waist/hip belt on my pack rests. I was testing the Gregory Deva 60 pack while testing the Qu T and the pack does have a suspension system designed to move as you move, so the pack motion could have caused some wear on the shirt. There is no discoloration or fading of the color, but I have stretched the shirt out a little either by use or washing.
Continued Test Plan: I will continue testing the shirt during day hikes, and overnight backpacking and camping trips, primarily in the Georgia and North Carolina Mountains. I will also test the shirt during my weekly city rambles and some everyday wear since it looks nice enough for work. Given the weather lately, I will test this shirt mostly alone or with some layers such as a sport tank or raingear. How well does the shirt continue to wick moisture, how long does it take to dry once it is damp, and will it retain funky smells once it is dry? I will also continue to test how the shirt feels on my skin given the still rising temperatures. I will continue to test the durability of the shirt. Will the seams unravel after washings and use? Will the colors run or fade? How will the fabric hold when in contact with brush, packs, or other pointy objects? Will the fabric pull or run? Will any parts of the shirt show signs of wear from being rubbed often by my pack? Will the armpits become discolored from sweat? Will it get stretched out from use or shrink from the washing machine? Likes: 1. Fabric feels soft and comfortable Dislikes: 1. Smell is easily retained
Reviews > Clothing > Shirts > Ibex Qu T > Heather Oakes Palmer > Field Report | |||
