Gear Review
Stoic Merino Crew - Short-Sleeve - Men's
Finally, the (BO) solution!
By TJP
Ranked #120 - Men's Performance Shirts - Short Sleeve
April 1, 2010
I heard a lot of positive things about merino as I researched clothing for camping/backpacking this summer. Intrigued by its alleged ability to insulate and wick like polyester with out all the gym-funk smell, I quickly snagged one of these off of SAC. Upon its arrival, I wore the shirt hiking 4 consecutive days in a row without washing and I am proud to announce that it only had a faint musky odor like a cotton shirt would get, not that sickly B@!!-sweat smell that all of my polyester base layer and gym clothing gets. So that test passed! I'm 5'9" 170# and the medium fits well. As you can see from the picture I posted, the shirt is light and does fit a little snug. I will call it an athletic fit, because it's looser than say an Under Armour compression fit. The shirt tail is a bit long, I presume because the piece is likely meant as a base layer to be tucked in, but it's not so long as to look sloppy. I love the cut of the sleeves and the pseudo-V-neck is great. I do like this thing enough that I have already ordered a second one off of SAC. I would rate it at 4.5 stars if I could, but due to the MSRP price I'm not real sure the value warrants a full-on 5. I suppose we will see this summer when I add 50lbs of pack to the hiking scenario. Promise to update if my opinion changes!
View Details: Stoic Merino Crew - Short-Sleeve - Men's
Helpful Votes: 4 Yes
Change me.
2 Comments Last Reply: November 11, 2010 By: TJP
Only thing I might suggest to Stoic is to make a different cut to the shirt tail, perhaps sell it as a different shirt all together. I understand the almost "night shirt" cut so that you can tuck it in without fear of it coming untucked; but some of us just don't tuck. I'm not a tucker. There, I said it. (still love the shirt)
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
Update as of 11-11-2010 This is my new fall favorite for running. When the temps are still too warm for that annoyingly clinging under-armour, but a little too chill for your polyester technical shirt with the billions of little holes in it, enter the blissful wool solution! PS, still loving it for hiking and camping, just gotta be careful about hipbelt-buckles pinching and eating the light weight wool fabric!
Helpful Votes: 1 Yes