Icebreaker Tech T Lite T-shirt – First Hand Review

Material

The Icebreaker Tech T Lite is made of core spun yarns (87 % Merino wool, 13 % nylon) – which basically means that the Merino wool fibers are twisted around an inner core of nylon fibers. Nylon is included for enhanced durability as Merino wool has inferior durability/strength in comparison to synthetic materials such as polyester and nylon. This is usually not a problem when the fabric is thick, but the Icebreaker Tech T Lite uses a very thin (150 g/m²) and porous fabric, so that it offers great performance in warm weather, and thus increased durability is definitely welcome. Due to the thin and porous fabric the t-shirt is also very light – it weighs merely 163 grams which is approximately the same as my synthetic base layers weigh.

However, the Icebreaker Tech T Lite t-shirt offers much better breathability and moisture-wicking performance than the synthetic base layers – the moisture is instantly wicked through the thin and porous fabric and efficiently dispersed on the outside of the fabric so that it can evaporate. I didn’t use any scientific methods to assess the breathability, but a simple experiment with blowing the air into the fabric proved that synthetic base layers have much bigger “resistance” than the Icebreaker t-shirt.

Even though Merino wool in general dries slower than synthetic base layers (it absorbs up to 33% of its own weight in moisture while polyester only absorbs up to 0.4 % of its own weight in moisture), I was very surprised how fast this the shirt went from being completely soaked with sweat to being completely dry (in relatively warm and windy weather). I think that the main reason for quick drying time is the porosity and thinness of the fabric as well as good moisture-wicking performance.

I was particularly impressed with the excellent odor control. I wore the t-shirt on the Jof di Miezegnot hike where it got completely soaked with sweat – to the point where it had white rims of salt. I dried it overnight and when I put it on next day for the Cima del Cacciatore hike neither my girlfriend or I could detect any signs of unpleasant odor. Furthermore, even after the Cima del Cacciatore hike I couldn’t detect any signs of odor. Before testing the t-shirt I was wondering whether the usually great anti-odor performance of Merino wool would be noticeably weakened by the 13 % nylon (infamous for poor odor-control) in the fabric, but after these two hikes I was assured – the provided odor-control is superb.

The t-shirt feels a little less soft to the touch (maybe even slightly synthetic) than other Merino wool base layers, most likely due to the nylon fibers that are used to increase durability. It is, however, still pleasant to the touch and provides good comfort. During the testing period I didn’t notice any discomfort caused by the material.

Comfort, fit and functionality

The Icebreaker Tech T Lite t-shirt is comfortable to use in various conditions. The material is quite stretchy and thus it offers great freedom of movement. Freedom of movement is additionally increased by regular fit which also enhances the performance in warm conditions (better ventilation). However, I think that the t-shirt is suitable for year-round use due to its great functionality (moisture-wicking, quick drying, breathable). In winter you might have to compensate some insulation with the mid-layer, but besides that I don’t see any reason not to use this t-shirt also in cold weather.

The logo on the chest is embroidered while the label on the inner backside is printed. Therefore, there is no chaffing or other discomfort. The t-shirt doesn’t have flatlock seams, but I didn’t feel any discomfort as a result of the normal seams – indeed flatlock seams are most necessary when a base layer is tight fitting. In the neck area the seams are reinforced for better durability.

Washing and drying

While many Merino wool garments can only be washed in cold water, the Icebreaker Tech T Lite t-shirt can be washed on 40 C in the washing machine. This is indeed a great benefit as it allows you to wash it together with other synthetic clothing that you use for hiking. The t-shirt dries very fast due to the thin and porous fabric.

Testing

I have worn the t-shirt on my hikes in the Italian part of the Julian Alps (Jof di Miezegnot and Cima del Cacciatore trail) so far and I was really satisfied with the performance. The temperatures were quite high (+ 20 C) but the t-shirt kept me comfortable throughout the hikes. What I liked the most about the t-shirt is its great moisture-wicking properties as well as short drying time. The t-shirt basically dried during every pause (up to 15 minutes) without a problem (sunny and slightly windy weather).

I would recommend the Icebreaker Tech T Lite t-shirt to every hiker, mountaineer or other outdoor enthusiast who needs a well-performing base-layer for year-round use. The t-shirt might be more expensive than competitive synthetic products but it’s worth every penny.