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Reviews > Clothing > Underwear > Duofold Varitherm Silkweight > Marcy Beard > Initial ReportInitial Report: Duofold Varitherm Silkweight Base Layers Date of review: December 2005 Backpacker Bio: Name: Marcy Beard Product information from the Duofold web site: “Lightweight insulation for a high moisture vapor transport
rate. Mechanical stretch for freedom of movement and silver based yarns for
odor inhibiting capabilities” Description: The base layers arrived in individual pouches with product and sizing information listed on the back. Both pieces are made of light “silkweight” material that has a tight weave and is not see-through. They are stretchy, including at the seams, and close-fitting. My other base layers tend to hang rather loosely on my body, while the Duofold top and bottom are similar to my running-specific clothes. The entire turtleneck top is constructed of the same material. There is a front and back panel, two small side panels, and two long sleeves. The neck consists of an additional piece of material 1.75 inches (4.5 cm) high. The neck opening is 6.75 inches (17 cm) across when the shirt is laid flat.
The tights are also completely polyester except for the elastic waistband. The waistband is 1.25 inches (3 cm) wide and forms an attractive “V” shape at the naval. Each leg is one piece of material from the waist to the ankle, with an additional small panel in the crotch. There is no elastic at the ankles.
Both items have small iron-on patches inside them instead of tags, with a description of the size, material composition, and washing instructions. I’m an aggressive tag remover because bits of material rubbing on my skin make me crazy, so these patches are a wonderful solution to my usual laundry day quandaries. Initial Impressions: The material is soft and comfortable. Except for the issues noted below, I don’t notice that I’m wearing anything, which is generally how I like my clothing. The sleeves, which are the right length for my wrists, can be pulled up and they stay put without constricting my arms. All of the seams are neat and well sewn. The cut of each panel is attractive. And I’m particularly partial to the grape (or purple) color. I chose a medium-size turtleneck based on my chest measurement, as Duofold suggests a medium top for a chest of 35 to 36 inches (89 to 91 cm). However, with this size I feel constricted under my arms and I do not have a full range of motion without rubbing from the seams. From the sizing chart on the Duofold website, I perhaps should have selected a large based on my across-shoulder measurement of 16 inches (41 cm). The bottoms are a size large, selected because my waist is in the range of 29.5 to 31 inches (75 to 79 cm) and my hips are slightly smaller than 40 to 41.5 inches (102 to 105 cm). This size turned out to be slightly small on me, with the crotch seams too close for comfort. It isn’t uncomfortable while wearing the tights in the house, but I can imagine unwelcome rubbing after miles on the trail. In addition, I have a personal aversion to wearing anything close around my neck. T-shirts with small necks, turtlenecks, and tight fitting polypropylene tops have all made their way from my possession to Goodwill where hopefully someone without this peculiarity can use them. I had hoped for a zip-up neck, but Duofold makes only a tank top and a turtleneck in the silkweight line for women. I have contacted Duofold about the sizing concerns, and I received a fast response (less than 24 hours) to each email. They have promised to send another set of base layers, including a tank top instead of a turtleneck. I will post a follow-up in the next report. Test Plan: In January and February, I will be hiking, running, biking, and paddling in Austin, Texas, and in nearby parks. My husband and I are planning several overnight hikes in state parks, including off-trail exploration. We will be breaking in packs, tents, and sleeping bags for a long backpacking tour, so I will have plenty of opportunity to wear the silkweight top and bottoms in the outdoors. Winter weather in Texas is difficult to pin down, but temperatures from 30 to 90 F (-1 to 32 C) are likely. Precipitation is either nonexistent or severe, as in drought or pouring rain and flooding. Starting late February, we are heading to Europe for several days of watching the Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. I expect cold weather, perhaps 0 to 40 F (-18 to 4 C), and snow in the Italian Alps, and we will be mostly standing or sitting for a couple hours at a time. Then we are traveling to Tanzania to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, where the temperatures from the top to the bottom of the mountain can range from –10 to 85 F (-23 to 30 C) with possible rain or snow. We will be at altitudes from 1000 to 19,000 feet (300 to 5800 meters) over the course of 3 weeks. In addition to our planned hiking trips, over the 4-month period I will wear the tank top several times while running on trails and on roads, and in various weather conditions. My focus is on three areas: fit, functionality, and durability. “Fit” is fairly straightforward, and will be reassessed when I receive the larger sized items. Are they comfortable? Does the material bunch up or lie flat against my skin? Does it constrict my neck? Are the legs too long or too short? Do the bottoms stay around my waist or is the waist too tight? What happens when additional layers are worn over these items? Do I notice the clothes while I’m wearing them? My best pieces of clothing are practically “invisible” to me, like I’m not wearing anything and yet somehow I’m still warm. “Functionality” starts with warmth. Is this a sufficient base layer, worn with fleece over it, for the chilly and windy winter weather? Does it help hold in body-generated heat? When I sweat, does the material wick the moisture away or does it become damp and cold? How fast does it dry after getting really wet? Regarding “durability”, are there areas of the clothes that show signs of wear after a few outings? Does the material feel sturdy or flimsy? Does the elastic band at the waist maintain the same level of elasticity? If I snag the material on some brush, how does it hold up? Summary: Initial impressions suggest that the Duofold Varitherm Silkweight Base Layers are comfortable, durable, and warm. I am looking forward to receiving the larger sizes so the “outdoor test phase” can begin. Likes: Possible improvements: Thank you Duofold and BackpackGearTest for giving me the opportunity to participate in this test. Read more reviews of Duofold gear Read more gear reviews by Marcy Beard Reviews > Clothing > Underwear > Duofold Varitherm Silkweight > Marcy Beard > Initial Report | |||
