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Reviews > Clothing > Underwear > Zyflex Thermal Shirt and Pants > Roger Caffin > Initial Report
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Reviewer Details
| Reviewer: | Roger Caffin |
| Age: | 60 |
| Gender: | M |
| Weight: | 63 kg (139 lb) |
| Height: | 167 cm (5' 6") |
| Email address: | r dot [surname] at acm dot org |
| Home: | Sydney, Australia |
Backpacking Background
I started bushwalking at 14 and took up rock climbing at University with the girl who became my wife and my permanent walking partner. Ski touring and canyoning followed. Winter and summer, we prefer long hard trips by ourselves: about a week in Australia, up to two months in Europe/UK. We prefer fast and light in unfrequented trackless country. We would be out walking and skiing for at least three months a year. We have now moved to lightweight gear, much to our backs' relief. I designed and made much of our lightweight gear myself.
I am also the maintainer of the Australian aus.bushwalking FAQ web site www.bushwalking.org.au/FAQ/.
Product Information
| Manufacturer: | Zyflex | www.Zyflex.com/ |
| Year of manufacture: | assumed 2006 | |
| Country of manufacture: | Romania, using American fabric | |
| Size: | Medium | |
| Material: | 59% Polyethylene, 35% Nylon, 6% Lycra | |
| Care: | Cold wash, do not tumble dry | |
| Colour: | Grey * | |
| Model: | Thermal Shirt | Thermal Pants |
| Listed weight: * | 7 oz (198 g) | 6.6 oz (187 g) |
| Actual weight: | 8.0 oz (228 g) | 6.2 oz (175 g) |
| MSRP: | US$19 | US$19 |
Notes:
* I have described the colour as 'grey', but in reality it is a mix of white and black threads. I had requested grey, but whether the colour really is what the web site calls 'grey' I cannot tell.
* The web site does not specify what size was used for the listed weights, but one is under my measurement and the other is over anyhow.
* In addition to the Medium sized garments, the company included a set of Small size garments. I will be wearing the Medium size ones in the Test.
Product Claims
The company's web site says of the shirt: "The Zyflex® Thermal Shirt provides superior warmth for its weight and is perfect for any winter activity. Comprised of our patented, breathable, water-resistant material, this shirt is a must for any outdoor adventure in adverse conditions. The shirt is constructed with raglan sleeves, an extended back, and external tags for optimal comfort and performance." and recommends it as a mid or base layer.
The web site says of the pants: "The Zyflex® Thermal Pants are designed to provide maximum insulation during the winter months. Comprised of our patented breathable fabric, the Zyflex pants will allow you to wear fewer layers and still be plenty warm in the harshest conditions. Designed with an soft elastic waistband and thin cuffs at the ankle." and recommends them as a base layer.
One of the quoted testimonials says: "There are many companies selling performance clothing that will keep you warm but, very few have anything that keeps you warm and repels water!" The 'repels water' bit is certainly an interesting claim relative to most other thermals, which seem to wick water up at a great rate.
Initial Impressions
The style of the Shirt or Top and the Pants was what I was expecting from the web site and as described above. They are base layer thermal clothing. To my surprise I received two sets, one Medium and one Small. The availability of the two sizes has allowed me to compare the fit of each size: more on this below.
What was most unexpected was the 'feel' of the fabric itself. It contains Spandex, which makes it quite elastic, but apart from that it had a strange almost rubbery feel on the surface. I know what Lycra fabrics feel like: this was completely different. The closest approximation I could give would be a light canvas - and it made a rustling noise a bit like a light canvas as well. Obviously the fabric doesn't feel like the soft knit used in my more conventional Australian thermals, which have given very good service. The outer surface is a smooth knit, albeit with little bumps apparently created by the black thread between the white; the inner surface is very slightly fluffy or fleece-like. The latter is a bit hard to photograph. The fabric has good sideways stretch (from the spandex), but no vertical stretch. It will be very interesting to see how the inner and outer surfaces go in the field.
Garment Fit
I popped them on of course, and found that Top and Pants had different 'fits'. The Medium Top is slightly loose on me, while the Medium Pants are slightly tight around my leg muscles. I had to stop and think about this for a while.
The legs are slightly tight. I know I have large upper and lower leg muscles compared to most people - my wife and I do a lot of fairly fast walking. So someone with more average-sized muscles might find the legs of the pants just a snug fit, not a tight one. It's a great theory. However, the tightness doesn't worry me at this stage.
The top is slightly loose around the torso and the shoulders - or am I slightly under-sized for medium? I am 167 cm (5' 6") high but only weigh 63 kg (139 lb). I am led to believe this is in the middle of the 'correct body weight' range for my height, so why the torso feels loose while the legs are tight seems strange to me. The width of the arms does increase from the elbow to the shoulder, becoming quite loose around the upper biceps and shoulder. In fact, the shoulder region as shown in the first photo (OK, the armpit region) does look positively capacious. This must be a styling or design decision. Whether it is good to have that much looseness around the shoulders of a warmth garment is a good question - I think not. Never mind: the Medium is close enough in body and arm length.
I also tried the Small size garments on, but both the Top and the Pants were a bit tight for me. The Small Top did not solve the large space around the armpit. My wife takes a Small size: I will let her wear them and report on how her pair seems to survive wearing and washing as well.
As you can see from the first picture, the arms and legs seemed a fair length on me. There was enough stretch in the legs for the bottom edge to stay around my ankle while I wore them around the house. The soft elastic waist band was high enough for my waist so it doesn't pull down when I bend over. The legs are slightly tight: I am hoping this will not restrict blood flow through my legs. The length of the arms on the Top also seems fine. The waist length on the Top was fine: the bottom edge came well below my coccyx, almost down to my crotch. I don't think there will be any gap around my back, and the Top should even help keep my backside warm: we'll see. The two areas I am not so certain about are how well the loose fit around my body will work and how well the slightly loose open neck will work: both may let drafts in.
The seams are all overlocked. This places a small rib of fabric on the inside, which is not as nice as a flat-felled seam, but I don't seem to be conscious of the rib. The wrist and ankles are neither tight nor loose: they are suitable for underwear. I will have to see if they stretch much over time.
Planned Testing
Testing will be done on trips, both day and extended, and possibly at home. We are fast heading into winter now: we had had the fire running all day when the first photo was taken. I will be carrying the Top in reserve on day trips and I will carry both Top and Pants on some overnight trips. We often change out of our thin windshirt and trousers in the evening in the tent as they are not 'warmth' clothing, and sometimes are slightly wet. Later on, all being well, I should be able test the garments on snow trips - snow permitting.
Things I would be monitoring in the Zyflex Top and Pants include:
