PERSONAL BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Rick Allnutt
51 Year old male
6' 0'' (183 cm) in height
200 lbs (91 kg) in weight
Email address: rick (at) BackpackGearTest (dot) org
Personal Hiking Page: http://www.imrisk.com
I live in Dayton, Ohio

BACKPACKING BACKGROUND
Over the last several years, I have become an ultralight camper with a three-season base pack weight of about 15 lb (7 kg) and skin out weight of 23 lb (10 1/2 kg). I have completed many section hikes on the Appalachian Trail (AT) in all four seasons, with a total mileage of about 600 miles (966 km). I am a gearhead, a hammock camper, and make much of my own equipment.

PRODUCT INFORMATION
Manufacturer: IBEX Outdoor Clothing, LLC
Year Manufactured: 2004
Manufacturer's Link: http://www.ibexwear.com
MSRP: US$125
Size: Large
Measured Weight: 16.7 oz (472 g) (measured to the gram)

TEST CONDITIONS
I have used the Jersey on a number of day hikes and two AT section hikes.  The first section was in Northern Tennessee and North Carolina.  Temperatures ranged as low as 50 F (10 C) for the five-day hike in October.  In late November, I went on a two-night AT walk in Shenandoah National Park with my sons (photo above).  Temperatures were as low as 40 F (4 C) and we were walking in a dripping fog for most of the time. The Jersey was a great piece of insulation in these moist-cool conditions.

REVIEW

For a detailed description of the Jersey's construction, see my Initial Report.

The Shak Jersey is a pullover made from 11.5 oz/sq yd (388 g/sq m) merino wool knit fabric. This midlayer pullover is exactly what I need for winter camping. I use a pullover every day while hiking in cool weather. I often sleep in a pullover, and wear it until the air temperatures reach 50-55 F (10-13 C). It is important that the pullover be comfortable under my pack's shoulder straps, and that it keeps me warm even when moist from sweat or light precipitation. The Shak Jersey has worked out very well in my hiking thus far.

Some descriptive words about the Shak Jersey from the IBEX website are:
- The ultimate performance midlayer.
- Worn as an insulating midlayer, or as a breathable mild-weather outer layer.
- Dense knit breathable Merino sheds water, snow and wind.
- Flatlock construction.
- Deep zip for ventilation.
- Durable stretch. Semi fit.
- Easy Care. Machine Washable.

The material, from first wearing, seems quite comfortable even against bare skin. It is not at all scratchy or irritating.  After two months of use, I have not found the material of the Jersey to be anything but soft and comfortable.  I have worn it dry and moist.  I have worn it to dry it after washing in a trailside stream. 

The sage color has been pleasing to me on the trail. It matches well with the colors of the woods while contrasting well with the other clothing I hike with, so that I can easily pick out what I want from my clothes bag even in dim light. The color is dark enough to make dirt spots not obvious, yet light enough to be seen well in dim light.

The material sheds a light mist and does not compact when moist.  It retains most of its insulating quality when wet.  Against my bare arms, it feels warm and comfortable even when I get sweaty. Unlike some other wool garments I have worn, the Jersey does not get baggy with use in wet conditions.  It retains its springy good fit.

In short, my first two months with the Shak Jersey meets or exceeds all expectations.  This mid-layer top has the quality one would expect from an experienced team of designers and executed well by all those who put it together.