Long-Term Report Duofold® VarithermTM Midweight 360º Stretch High Performance Base Layer

Ryan Christensen
May 9, 2006

Reviewer Information:

Backpacking Background:

Name:  Ryan L. Christensen Age:  41 Gender:  Male Height:  6’ 2” (1.88 m) Weight:  225 lb (102 kg) Email:  bigdawgryan (at) yahoo (dot) com City, State, Country:  Idaho Falls, ID, U.S.A.

I began hiking, camping, backpacking at twelve, and continued until 25.  After a long hiatus due in part to a bad back, I resumed hiking and camping four years ago.  I now share my love for these sports with my teen-age boys.  The past several years, we have hiked or camped nearly every month, year-round.  We vary our experience: desert, forest, meadow, and mountain; spring, summer, fall, and winter; sunshine, rain, wind, or snow.  We began backpacking together last summer.  I am a lightweight backpacker, but carry a full array of necessary gear.

 

Product Information:

The information in the table below is primarily from the product packaging as received.

 

Manufacturer	Duofold, a Sara Lee Company
Manufacturer’s website	http://www.duofold.com/
Year of Manufacture Top Bottoms	2004 2002
Material (per Duofold website)             Top             Bottoms	96% Polyester, 4% Lycra©  Elastane 96% Polyester, 4% Lycra©  Elastane
Style Received             Top             Bottoms	Long Sleeve Crew Ankle Length
Material Received Top Bottoms	96% Polyester, 4% Lycra©  Elastane 88% Polyester-VarithermTM, 12% Lycra©  Elastane
Color Received Top             Bottoms	Royal Blue (my description, as none was given) Burgundy
Size Received Top             Bottoms	Men’s Extra Large Men’s Large
Laundering Instructions	Machine wash cold with like colors.  Use only non-chlorine bleach when needed. Tumble dry low.  Warm iron if desired.
Warranty	None Stated
MSRP             Top             Bottoms	$20 US [per link from Duofold website] $20 US [per link from Duofold website]

Product Description: 

The Duofold Varitherm^TM Midweight 360º Stretch High Performance Base Layer is high-tech long underwear.  Please see my Initial Report for more detailed information.

 

I received and tested different versions of the Duofold Varitherm^TM Midweight 360º Stretch High Performance Base Layer than my fellow testers.  The manufacture date of my top is 2004 and the manufacture date of the bottoms is 2002.  Consequently, colors for both top and bottoms are different from those Duofold currently offer.  The material blend in the bottoms is different from that in the top.  However, the material in the top is identical to that in the current Duofold Varitherm^TM Midweight 360º Stretch High Performance Base Layer tops and bottoms. 

Product Claims: 

Duofold claims the Varitherm^TM Midweight 360º Stretch High Performance Base Layer provides moderate warmth in cold weather; aggressively moves moisture away from the skin and dries quickly—keeping the body feeling warm, dry and comfortable; and stretches in all directions and fits comfortably close to the body for maximum skin contact, and the perfect performance fit.

 

Testing Conditions:

 

I live in Idaho Falls, which is located at 43°29'30" North, 112°1'57" West (43.491775, -112.032509) at an elevation of 4,700 ft (1,433 m).  My testing occurred in southeastern Idaho at elevations between 4,700 ft (1,433 m) and 6,700 ft (2,042 m).  Most days were in the 20’s to low teens F (-2 C to -11 C) with some days/nights near or below 0 F (-18 C).  However, spring is here, and temperatures are on the rise.  My last wearing of the Varitherm^TM Midweight base layer was on a cross-country skiing trip in the Kelly Canyon Nordic Area on March 31, 2006 and temperatures ranged from 34 to 38 F (1 – 3 C).

 

During the test period, the activities in which I engaged to test the Varitherm^TM Midweight base layer included shovelling snow, sledding, outdoor target shooting, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing (more mountaineering than track skiing).

Testing:

 

As outlined in my test application, my test plan included four main objectives: fit and comfort, function, durability, and overall impression.  I have detailed my test results under each objective. 

 

·        Fit & Comfort

1.      Do the top and bottoms fit true to size?

                  [Results]  Yes, after multiple uses and launderings both top and bottoms continue to fit true to size, at least in my case.

 

2.      Is the tail on the top long enough to remain tucked in?

                  [Results]  Yes, the tail continues to remain tucked in.  However, based on my size, I would still consider purchasing the tall men’s size for a little extra length to ensure the top remains tucked in.

 

3.      Do the sleeves stay in place at the wrists?

                  [Results] Yes, the sleeves continue to stay in place.  I believe this is due more to the snug fit down the entire length of the arm than the fit at the wrist.

 

4.      Do the legs stay in place at the ankles?

                  [Results]  Yes, the legs continue to stay in place.  However, like the arms, this is more attributable to the snug fit down the entire length of the leg than the fit at the ankle.

 

5.      How comfortable is the material?

                  [Results]  The material remains very smooth and soft to the touch.  It is still quite comfortable next to the skin.

 

6.      How comfortable are the wrist and ankle cuffs?

                  [Results]  The wrist and ankle cuffs are virtually non-existent.  Therefore, I have had no comfort issues at the wrists or ankles.

 

7.      How comfortable is the waistband?

                  [Results]  The waistband remains comfortable, not too tight, yet tight enough to keep the bottoms securely in place.

 

8.      How comfortable is the collar?

                  [Results]  The collar is still comfortable.  My personal preference is for a more substantial collar, similar to that on an ordinary T-shirt.  If anything, additional time in the top reinforced this preference.

·        Function

1.      How warm does the material keep me in cold weather?

                  [Results]  When engaged in moderate physical activity, the Midweight base layer kept me sufficiently warm.  However, when my physical activity level dropped substantially during colder weather, I did get a little cold.  In most instances however, an additional layer of clothing would have remedied this. When target shooting and snowshoeing, I wore normal underwear, the base layer, jeans, a long-sleeve T-shirt, and my coat which is filled with Thinsulate^TM Liteloft^TM insulation.  When I went cross-country skiing, I wore the same layers but with a fleece jacket rather than my coat. 

 

2.      How well does the material wick moisture?

                  [Results]  The material wicks moisture away quite well.  I did not feel clammy.

 

3.      How quickly does the material dry when dampened with moisture (sweat)?

                  [Results]  On my snowshoeing and cross-country skiing outings, the base layer dried within approximately one hour after ending the intense physical activity. I continued wearing the base layer as I traveled home and was comfortable as the base layer dried.  However, had I remained outdoors in the colder weather, I believe additional layers, or removing the wet layers, would have been required for me to remain comfortable.  On these outings, I wore normal underwear, the base layer, jeans, a long-sleeve T-shirt, and a fleece jacket. An additional sweater might have been sufficient to keep me warm had I remained outdoors while the base layer dried.

 

·        Durability

1.      Does the fabric retain its color after multiple uses and launderings?

                  [Results] Yes, the colors remain bright.  However, even after multiple launderings, when the bottoms got wet from the snow, the burgundy dye continued to bleed, turning my white underwear pink—not cool in my opinion. This held true on my most recent cross-country skiing trip.  When my blue jeans became wet, due to multiple falls in the snow, the base layer bottoms became wet and again, the burgundy dye turned my white underwear pink.

 

2.      Do the tops and bottoms retain their shape after multiple uses and launderings?

                  [Results]  Yes, after multiple uses and launderings, both the top and the bottoms continue to retain their shape.

 

3.      Does the fabric retain its 360º stretch after multiple uses and launderings?

                  [Results]  Yes, after multiple uses and launderings, there has been no degradation in the stretch of the material.

 

4.      Do the seams hold up after multiple uses and launderings?

                  [Results] Yes, after multiple uses and launderings, the seams remain intact.

 

5.      Does the fabric resist abrasion?

                  [Results]  So far, the material shows no signs of abrasion.  However, the only abrasion I have subjected the base layer to is that of rubbing against my clothing.

 

6.      Does the fabric pill after multiple uses and launderings?

                  [Results] This is the only area where I would give the Varitherm^TM Midweight base layer a negative mark.  Pilling has increased in the crotch area of the bottoms, where my legs rub together.  However, there is still no pilling evident in the top.  This may be attributable to the difference in the material in the bottoms and top I tested.    

 

 

 

·        Overall impression

The big question I posed in my test application was “…based on fit, comfort, performance, and durability, would I be inclined to purchase Duofold^® Varitherm^TM, or other Duofold^® base layer products, over other brands—at the suggested retail price—for myself?”

 

[Results]  After four months of testing, I am very pleased with this product.  I think the Varitherm^TM Midweight 360º Stretch High Performance is a great base layer for moderate activity levels and temperatures.  In addition, based on my experience, I would consider purchasing other Duofold^® base layer products in the future.

 

I want to thank Duofold and BGT for the opportunity to participate in the Varitherm^TM Midweight 360º Stretch High Performance Base Layer test.