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 570 miles (918 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)

REVIEW
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 want for the winter months coming up. 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. So I'm looking forward to this test series with great anticipation.

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.

My detailed look at the construction of the Shak revealed the most meticulous sewing I have ever found in a piece of clothing. There are absolutely no loose threads, and every seam is perfectly sewn. All of the seams around the neck and shoulders have been sewn with a flatlock sewing machine. The layers of knit fabric are slightly overlapped and then sewn together from top to bottom, trapping the edge of the knit on both the top and bottom sides.  This creates a seam which is functional, comfortable, and good looking.  Attention to detail like this is important for the critical areas that will be pressed between my pack straps and my shoulders. There are no seams across the back to become an irritation between the pack and my skin.

The material, from first wearing, seems quite comfortable even against bare skin. It is not at all scratchy or irritating.

The areas around a top's neck have sometimes been a problem for me in the past. All the seams around the Shak's neck have been made with the flatlock stitch to keep them from causing a pressure spot on my neck.  The front zipper is 11 in (28 cm) long and of a matching color to the knit material from which the Jersey has been crafted. It is long enough, unzipped, to allow me to reach into a pocket on a tee shirt. When the zipper is closed, my neck is surrounded by a collar which is tight enough to keep warmth in, but not tight enough to worry me with pressure or scratchiness.

There is a seam on each side of the Jersey which runs from the bottom of the cuff to each hip which is not sewn with the flatlock stitch. This was necessary for the construction of the top, but nowhere does this seam cause a pressure spot which bothers me with my pack on. The seam has been carefully finished along its edge to keep the knit fabric from unraveling.

The sage color was a bit brighter and a little closer to what I call an olive color than I had expected from the website. The color works well for hiking and contrasts 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. I think the color will grow on me.

TEST CONDITIONS
I look forward to using the top backpacking on several trips during the fall, winter, and early spring months.  (I'm leaving on a cool weather Appalachian Trail trip of 72 mi (116 km) in two days to get the testing started.) I will be wearing the Jersey for both cool and cold weather hiking - as an outer layer for mild winter conditions, and as a midlayer for very cold weather. In addition, I will wear it for day hiking and generally to keep warm while reading through the long, dark winter.

I plan to wash the top in the field and see how long it takes to dry. I will also be machine washing it according to the directions on the tag sewn into the Shak:
WASH GENTLE COLD
(40°) SEPARATE    [I assume 40 F (4.5 C)]
WITH A MILD DETERGENT
(IVORY SNOW)
DO NOT BLEACH
LAY FLAT TO DRY
Except that I will not be adding ice cubes to the wash water to bring the temperature down to the suggested temperature - my well water temperature is 55 F (13 C) year round.

I look forward to seeing how well it sheds a light mist and how it feels against my bare arms when I get sweaty. I will be interested in seeing if it wicks the moisture away and if it becomes scratchy against my moist skin.  I will see if the Jersey gets baggy with use or if it retains its springy good fit.

In short, my initial look at the Shak Jersey exceeds all the expectations I had when I was selected for the test series. I harbor no reservation that the Jersey will perform well in my backpacking. I am fascinated to see how good, good can be.