Long-Term Report:
Ibex Scout 1/2 Zip Shirt

Date: March 21, 2006

Product Description
From the Ibex website: “A midlayer with a versatile, double knit wool fabric. Flat knit on the inside, lofty boucle knit on the outside, it offers maximum temperature regulation. Clean design suits technical or everyday wear. This half-zip pullover is perfect as a midlayer or outerwear for hiking, backpacking, snowshoeing, skiing, and everyday use.” On an attached product card: “Ibex wool provides superior temperature regulation, quick-drying comfort, and second-skin softness.”

How the Ibex Scout Shirt was Tested
Test Period—Mid-November 2005 to mid-March 2006.

Test Locations—Southwestern US (Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona).

Testing Conditions—The terrains consisted of: badlands desert, canyon country, forests, and high elevation alpine country.

Temperatures during the four month test period ranged from 12 F to 65 F (-11 to 18 C), wind ranged from calm to 30 mph (48 kph), and elevations ranged from 5,000 to 12,000 ft (1524 to 3658 m). Precipitation during the test period amounted to only a few light rain and snow showers.

Activities and Amount of Use—Over four months of testing I wore the Ibex Scout Shirt a total of 70 days in the following activities:

I wore the Ibex Scout Shirt overnight in a sleeping bag a total of 15 nights while backpacking, winter car camping, and one hut trip. I also wore the shirt for casual wear on 10 occasions for activities from dinner parties to attending a winter parade.

How I Used the Ibex Scout Shirt—I tried wearing the Ibex Scout shirt as a base layer directly against my skin, and found it too scratchy. I much preferred to wear it over a single wicking baselayer or two baselayers. Depending on the temperature and wind conditions, I wore either a wind shirt or a synthetic insulated jacket over the Scout Shirt. In really cold or windy conditions I wore a down-insulated jacket plus a shell jacket over the Scout Shirt. When I wore it in my sleeping bag I wore it over two base layers.

Measurements and Data—After each trip I recorded the following data in relation to my comfort in the Ibex Scout Shirt: 1) temperature, 2) estimated wind speed, 3) estimated humidity, 4) altitude, 5) precipitation (including what form), 6) clothing or sleeping system, 7) clothing worn with the shirt, and 8) how well it performed in terms of warmth, utility, and comfort.

Assessment
Following is my evaluation of the Ibex Scout Shirt based on four months of testing.

Fabric-- Merino wool double knit with a flat knit on the inside (smooth) and a boucle (looped) knit on the outside. The fabric is about 1/8 inch (3 mm) thick. The textured outside surface will increase warmth by trapping air when another garment is layered over it.

Construction and Quality—Flatlock construction, with additional tailored seams on the underside of the sleeves, chest, and torso. Set-in sleeves. No elastic in the hems. The bottom hem is horizontal (no dropped tail in back). The quality is superb; I did not find any flaws in the fabric or sewing.

Sizing and Fit—The shirt is sized large enough to fit over a thick base layer, but is not large enough to fit over another heavy shirt or jacket (go up a size to do that). The body extends about 7 inches (18 cm) below my waist, and has a 1.25 in (3 cm) reducing taper from chest to hem. The fit is relaxed. For me, the sleeve length is adequate but not extra long. The sleeves reach my wrists with my arms horizontal, and cover my wrists when I lower my arms. Articulation is good, there is minimal binding and the sleeves pull back about one inch (2.5 cm) from my wrists when I raise or cross my arms.

Features--New Zealand boucle knit, half front zipper, zippered chest pocket with brushed tricot lining, flatlock construction, stand up or fold down collar, machine washable.

Measurements—The front zipper is 11.5 in (29 cm) long, and the pocket zipper is 5.5 in (14 cm) long. The body is 24 in (61 cm) high in front and 27 in (69 cm) in back, which makes the hem come out horizontal. Body width at chest height is 23.5 in (60 cm), and width at the hem is 22.25 in (57 cm). Sleeve length is 34.25 in (87 cm). The collar is 2 in (5 cm) wide.

Usability—I found the Ibex Scout Shirt most useful as a mid or outer layer. As a mid layer, it performed very well with one or two wicking base layers under it and a wind shirt or insulating jacket over it. As an outer layer, it also performed very well with one or two base layers under it. The inside of the shirt is fairly smooth, so it slips on over other clothing very easily. I also found that it works very well when worn as a shirt (tucked into my pants), especially when carrying a backpack. The angled front pocket is very handy for stashing small items.

Warmth and Comfort—When I wore the Ibex Scout Shirt as a baselayer against my skin, it was a little too scratchy for my liking, so I only tried it once. When worn over one or two baselayers, the Ibex Scout Shirt is warm and has a surprisingly broad comfort range. I found it very comfortable to wear for hiking in cool conditions (25-50 F/-4 to 10 C), especially on overcast days. Its comfort range was more limited when hiking in the sun (in the Southwestern US the sun is warm even in the wintertime). I used the front zipper a lot to regulate temperature, i.e., opening it when I felt a little too warm and closing it when I felt cool, and found it to be very effective. The Scout Shirt was too much insulation to wear for strenuous activities (for example, hiking uphill at a fast pace), but it was an excellent piece to put on to prevent chilling when I stopped and for hiking downhill.

Breathability and Moisture Management —Worn over a baselayer or two, the Scout Shirt breathes and expels moisture well at low or moderate exertion levels. It tended to get steamed up inside at higher exertion levels. In colder temperatures (below about 35 F/2 C) and windy conditions, I found the Scout Shirt comfortable at moderate to high exertion levels, and I used the front zipper a lot to regulate the inside temperature. When I stopped at moderate temperatures I often put a wind shirt on over the Scout Shirt, and found that the Scout Shirt (and wicking baselayer) dried out quickly without chilling. In cold weather I usually put a light synthetic jacket on over the Scout Shirt when I stopped, and the Scout Shirt dried out quickly under the jacket without chilling.

Weather Resistance—I found the Scout Shirt to be quite wind resistant in light to moderate winds and moderate temperatures, but in stronger wind and colder temperatures I definitely needed to put a wind shirt or shell jacket on over the Scout Shirt. I wore the Scout Shirt while building an igloo on a cool day with snow flurries and found that it was still warm while damp. However, it made more sense to put a rain shell on over the Scout Shirt to stay dry.

Weight—At 15.2 ounces (431 g), the Scout ½-Zip Shirt is on the heavy side. I carried it on two backpacking trips and found it to be very useful, but concluded that it is too heavy to carry for lightweight backpacking. However, it is very useful and functional for day hiking, snowshoeing, and other moderate exertion day trip activities in cool and cold weather.

Odor Management—The Scout Shirt does not smell with extended use. I wore it almost continually (day and night) on two extended backcountry car camping trips (totaling 11 days) and one five-day backpacking trip, and the shirt did not develop any offensive odor.

Durability—I used the shirt quite a bit as outerwear while bushwhacking and it does not have any snags. Debris does tend to stick to the outside of the shirt, but it brushes off fairly easily. After four months of heavy use the shirt does not have any pilling or wear in wear zones, like the underside of the sleeves.

Versatility—The Scout Shirt is a very versatile piece for day tripping in cool or cold weather. I used it in a broad mix of activities and it performed well in every situation. Many articles of outdoor clothing can be worn socially at first when they are new, but not after they have received some field use. Not so with the Scout Shirt; I was able to wear it interchangeably for all types of outdoor activities and a range of social activities. When I wore it socially I received a lot of compliments on the shirt.

Cleaning—I washed the Scout Shirt several times, by hand, in lukewarm water using Woolite. It cleaned up easily and did not shrink. Washing instructions are: “Machine wash gentle, cold with mild detergent (Ivory Snow), do not bleach, lay flat to dry”.

Acknowledgement
I would like to thank Ibex Outdoor Clothing and the BackpackGearTest Group for selecting me to participate in this test.

Will Rietveld