I’ve had the Trekking Shirt and Shorts on test for a good while now, and it’s taken me that good while wearing them across a range of conditions to try and find something to talk about. Now, that might sound strange considering the amount of research that’s gone into the kit, and the complexity of the finished product, but when it comes down to it, after the first couple of times where I was looking and feeling to see what was happening, I’ve just been pulling them on and getting on with it.
Is that damned by faint praise then? Not at all, it’s not as if you normally look at the mixture of materials, monitor the different areas of compression and the like when you’re cutting around the hills. Probably the most obvious performance aspect of baselayers is how it manages moisture and temperature. If that’s not right you soon notice. Anonymous baselayers are what you want, fit and function married invisibly in a cocoon of comfort.
So, after a gap of a month I pulled on the t-shirt again for a refresher on a hike-a-bike around the Kilpatricks.
The first thing you notice is the softness of the fabric, it’s lovely against the skin. The fit is still close, but the huge amount of stretch will accommodate any size or shape or person. I hesitate to say this, but for a synthetic it’s bloody close to feeling as friendly on your person as merino.
The close fit will be a sticking point for many, but baselayers should be close, they work better that way from a moisture management perspective. I’m not exactly adorned by a mail-order catalogue aesthetic, but I’m on the inside looking out, and I’m comfy, so don’t give a shit I say.
The close fit has other benefits, I was reading a study into clothing using compression, and they say that zoned compression works much better than a general compression, ie tight leggings or a skin-suit that you see mentalist Olympians wearing. The X-Bionic kit is super-zoned in that case, taking the concept much further than most. But can you feel it? Well aye, if you’re watching for it. The shorts not so much, your man-tackle is supported and “encapsulated”, and there’s total free movement, but in the shirt you can feel an elusive something depending on what you’re doing. It’s support, but support that holds no resistance when you move against it, but even that is making too much of it, it’s so subtle.
This was my difficulty in writing the kit up, talking about this stuff makes it look like you’re wearing an exoskeleton and it’s all hinges and pivots, but in actual fact you don’t feel any of this unless you concentrate on it.
Moisture management is outstanding, I can get the shirt and shorts damp, but never overloaded. The fabric sucks up the sweat or vents it through the open weave zones on the chest and back. It seems to spread out whatever moisture is there so you don’t get the unsightly patches of sweat that are the curse of most things made in such a light shade of grey. It’s not a sweat-box either, it looks chunky, but it’s not, it’s light and the surface is contoured rather than thick, so you’re in that “just nice” zone, even when working hard.
There’s another merino comparison in that it’s quite happy as an outer layer, a light shower when you’re on the move is no trouble and a cool breeze seems to get absorbed by the fabric. Smell wise it’s not too bad at all, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the synthetics on test, times have indeed moved on and into a much fragrant area.
The shirt has what looks like loose-knitted patches on the hips and shoulders that catch a rucksack’s contact points. These do seem to keep these areas dry, but as to their load absorbing qualities, I can’t tell, my shoulders are too used to pack these days.
Summing up, I really like the shirt, it’s close to merino in its feel, it’s very comfy indeed and keeps me dry at all times. The shorts have the same fabric performance, but because the fabric is softer compared to the last shorts I had from X-Bionic, it means that the legs ride up a bit. It might just be a personal fit issue though, and they do longer-legged shorts which I like the look of.
I like the X-Bionic stuff, and as I’ve said before the technical looks and hype that comes along with it shouldn’t intimidate you, because all of that becomes irrelevant when you pull it on and head out there, it just works.
Hey, I didn’t mention their horrendous packaging once.
I think you have to get an X-Bionis t-shirt so we can test our theories!
I’m going to see Montane soon, I shall question them on the wummins kit. They have a new designer you know.
Bionis?
One final post from me before I dash off to watch today’s Tour de France highlights …
In response to Bigbananfeet’s comment re Airforce One, but Smartwool and liner in Manta’s (second comment above, I think) – have you tried X-Socks Desert Storm? They have more loft than AF-1 and have a built in liner. Worth giving them a try perhaps.
I like the names, I’ve got Run Speed Metal’s I think it is? Magic :o)
Well, since I quite fancy a pair of the X-bionic running shorts, I might experiment with the blokes’ and women’s tops just for fun!
No simon I havent but I’ll have a wee look at them. The Airforce 1’s just fit so well under my trail runners and my keens that I dont think about them all day. I.E. the way sock etc should be. The thick smartwools are only on when stomping about in crampon weather. If the Desert storms ae thick enough for the fit and warmth then they could be a winner.
Ooh I’m excited by the prospect of encasing my ‘man bits’ in merino boxers with the same fit as the X-Bionic stuff. I cant wait.
I remember the days when practically all women had “female backside and hips” – don’t you miss those days?
Bigbananafeet – the Desert Storm socks will be changing name soon (how they came up with that name beats me!) to Trekking Evolution.
Having read your post above, another model that might be worth considering is Trekking Mountain. These have more loft than either AF-1 or Desert Storm, and with nearly 20% Durawool content, should keep the toes toasty on the coldest days. They’re longer than the others too, finishing at about mid calf.
Gender experimentation, encapsulation, female backside and hips.
That’s a lot to work with.
I’ll think I’ll have to have a look at these thicker socks.
Kate take yer pick from here !
http://www.x-bionic.com/#/en/site/products/women
Thanks, Bobinson. Now got some stuff on order from Wiggle – I’ll report back on women’s fit bottoms and how men’s fit tops fit women!
Kate – I take it you ordered some Energizer from Wiggle?
Yep, it’s on sale there.
I want photies, why should I alone continually set myself up for ridicule?
Should of said we have a trade account !
…don’t mention the gloves…
The Energizer top in men’s S/M is too big for me :-(
Shall have to try the ladies. I suspect, given the stretchiness of the stuff, that the arms will be long enough for me. I’ve tracked a black one down in the Channel Isles, but I really want a black and orange one.
Ach!
What did you think of the feel of it though?
The material’s lovely – I got some Energizer boxers and running pants too, and they both feel great, really comfy. The top was too loose to get a proper idea of the compression though. It does feel a bit thick – again, that may be down to it being too big and thus not being stretched sufficiently by my body (when I picked up the boxers I thought they’d be far too small, but they fit perfectly!) Does it cope well when you’re really sweating hard?
I shall have to ring Wiggle in the morning and see if they can get me the ladies in black and orange.
I sweat the most on the bike and then running and the Trekking shirt has fine for me, but bobinson has overloaded the Energiser shirt before, but then he.. .is he looking?… is a roaster.
Like most kit it’ll come down to personal factors how well it manages I think. It’s so sci-fi looking I think you expect more performance and issues.
Re- New apani collection
A friend of mine saw some of these apani products at a trade show a few weeks back, and apparently they are 100% merino wool, and feel amazing! I also had a look on http://www.apanilife.com but it still seems so just be info about wool, hopefully we will be able to get our hands on the products soon. Their technology mixed with merino wool. . . .sounds perfect!!
I should get a look at it in a couple of weeks, looking forward to it!
Update: just back from the gym after first work out in the X bionic running pants short – great things they are too. The small of my back got a fantastic cooling sensation esp. when I was working really hard and they kept me comfortable the whole time, and I tend to perspire a bit at the gym. An Energiser top in women’s fit is on order. Looking forward to it :-)
Alright misses!