INITIAL REPORT

Ibex Men's Qu T
Richard Lyon
April 28, 2006

PERSONAL DETAILS AND BACKPACKING BACKGROUND

Male, 59 years old
Height: 6' 4" (1.93 m)
Weight: 200 lb (91 kg)
Email address: rlyon AT gibsondunn DOT com
Home: Dallas, Texas USA

I've been backpacking for 45 years on and off, and regularly in the Rockies since 1986.  I do a weeklong trip every summer, and often take three-day trips.  I'm usually camping in alpine terrain, at altitudes 5000 to 13000 ft (1500 - 4000 m).  I prefer base camp backpacking, a long hike in with day trips from camp, but I do my share of forced marches too.  Though always looking for ways to reduce weight, I'm not yet a lightweight hiker and I usually choose an extra pound or two over foregoing camp conveniences I've come to expect.

PRODUCT DETAILS

Ibex lists the Qu T on its t-shirts page.  It is a featherweight merino wool short sleeve collarless shirt with a very tight weave. 

Manufacturer: Ibex Outdoor Clothing, LLC (www.ibex.com).  All quotations in this review come from Ibex's website.
Year of manufacture: 2006
Material: 17.5 micron New Zealand merino wool
MSRP: USD 79
Intended use: "Everyday wear or as a decadent active top."
Listed Weight, per Ibex website (size not specified): 6.4 oz (181 g)
Measured weight, size XL: 6.5 oz (184 g)
Available sizes: Men's S, M, L, XL, XXL
Colors: Kingfisher (bright blue).  Also available in heather grey, ivy, red pepper, and black.  There is a light grey strip of piping sewn across the stitching that attaches the collar to the shirt, just above the label, on the inside.  A silver-grey Ibex logo is stitched on the back of the shirt just below the collar.
Features: "Rib collar, Seam detail on sleeves."

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

Ibex shipped the Qu T by commercial courier ground service in a cardboard shipping box.  The shirt was wrapped in plastic and had two hangtags attached, one extolling the 17.5 micron merino wool from which the shirt is made and the other including Ibex's warranty against manufacturing and material defects for the shirt's life.  The warranty has the usual exceptions for user-inflicted wounds and ordinary wear and tear, and limits the customer's remedy to repair or replacement of a defective shirt.

The workmanship appears to be excellent.  No loose threads, tight stitching at the collar and sleeves, and a very tight weave in the shirt body.  In fact the fabric weave is so tight, and the thread so small, as almost to be invisible to the naked eye. 

This is no ordinary t-shirt.  There is a separate sewn-in panel in each underarm area, and another just below the collar in back.  Instead of a single seam along the top, each shoulder has a raglan-type strip running from the collar to sleeve.  During testing I'll see if this soft-shoulder design facilitates arm movement.

This shirt is feathery light; to my touch it seems noticeably lighter than ordinary t-shirt cotton.  I agree with Ibex's description of the fit as "relaxed;" the shirt fits comfortably across my chest (46 in/117 cm) and torso without bunching and there's ample length to tuck several inches into my trousers.  The sleeves come down about two-thirds of the way from my shoulder to my elbow.  The collar fits snugly around my neck, rather like a crewneck sweater without the Lycra, and without any looseness at the base.  The super-light merino wool is deliciously soft against my skin. 

TEST PLAN

Testing venues.  Outdoors I'll wear the Qu T in a variety of alpine and prairie locales – an excellent chance to test its thermal capabilities in hot and moderately cold weather.  I have two- or three-day backpacking trips scheduled in Wyoming and Montana in May and June, and will likely hit the trail in the Rockies over the July 4 weekend.  The test period will include a weeklong backpack in the Swan Range, Montana during the first week of August, during which I'll be doing trail maintenance and other backcountry work as a Forest Service volunteer.  I expect daytime temperatures in the 50s through 80s F (10 - 30 C) in the high country, with nighttime taking things down to freezing or somewhat below.  On all backpacking trips I'll have the opportunity to wear the Qu T as a base layer under a shirt or sweater, sole upper body garment during the day, and backcountry sleepwear. 

My experience with the Qu T's long-sleeved and slightly heavier cousin, the Outback, makes me unafraid of wearing a merino tee in warmer temperatures.  On day hikes in Texas and Oklahoma I'd be surprised if the temperature doesn't exceed 100 F (38 C) more than once.  Here the Qu T will stand on its own, but during the local monsoon season (late May) I'll see how well it wicks under a Gore-Tex or other breathable shell.

I exercise at a health club on days when I'm not playing outdoors.  With the hot weather coming on in Texas, there will be many such days during the test period.  I'll wear the Qu T from time to time for my spinning classes, other aerobic activities, and weight lifting.

Test criteria.  I shall look for the following in the Qu T:

Comfort.  Is the merino wool comfortable against my bare skin as sleepwear, under pack straps, under a shell or jacket, or under a sweater? Is it too hot to wear in the hottest temperatures I'll encounter, or will it wick sweat away?  Does it become itchy when I'm sweaty? Does it become smelly after several days of hard use?  Does it feel soft like cotton or slick and itchy like polyester? Will it provide warmth when used as a base layer?

Fit.  Will regular use and washing change my initial good impressions of the fine fit? Will the shirt stay tucked in when I want it tucked in during exercise or hiking?

Durability.  How robust is the stitching at the collar and sleeve seams? Are the weave and stitching tough enough for regular abuse in the backcountry? Is the weave flat, like cotton, to avoid giving branches and briars a good grip? Will use under a pack cause tears or distortion of the shape of the Qu T?  How about bushwhacking or manual labor? Does machine washing (recommended, or at least authorized, by Ibex) affect integrity or performance of the shirt?

Care.  Is it truly machine washable? Can I include it with other woolen items, or is a separate wash required? Does a field washing with camp soap clean the shirt effectively – an important test for a backcountry T?  T-shirts need baths more frequently than sweaters; will regular laundering affect color, shape, or functionality? How long does it take to air dry at home or in camp? Will there be any shrinkage?

Appearance.  Is the Qu T as stylish as my other Ibex shirts on the trail and on the street?

I like all my Ibex gear and am looking forward to testing the Qu T.  Thanks to Ibex and BGT for the opportunity.