Backpacker Magazine – Online Exclusive

Gear Review: Multi-Use Shirts - Icebreaker Superfine 200 Top, First Ascent Cloud Layer 1/4 Zip, Columbia Leadout Shirt

Just because you can't be in the backcountry everyday doesn't mean you can't dress for it.

by: Will Rochfort

Tags:
• Gear
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• Apparel
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For Everyday Style – Icebreaker Superfine 200 L/S Top
New Zealand Collection, 8 oz. (Men’s M) , Men’s S-XXL, $90, icebreaker.com

This quickly became my favorite go-to top for autumn activities. Whether it was running to the store for last-minute dinner ingredients, dayhiking through fall colors, or heading to the pumpkin patch for Halloween preparations, this long-sleeve crewneck shirt fit in with the in-crowd. Additionally, the leaf print graphic added just enough class so that it didn’t appear I had dressed myself in the dark. Its myriad urban uses mirror its multi-faceted applicability in the outdoors.

The superfine merino wool wicked away sweat while hiking in everything from 60 to 85°F temps, and the soft fabric felt pleasant even under a heavy pack. This top rocks for travel too. The wool’s natural non-stink properties allowed me to wear it to lunch in Denver, just one day after wearing it all over eastern Rocky Mountain National Park. One note: I’d recommend washing before first use, as this completely eliminated the small amount of itchiness I felt straight out of the box.



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