When I’m going camping, I usually throw a bunch of regular, old, cotton t-shirts in my backpack. The moisture-wicking tees that I buy at sports outlets to wear jogging stay at home in a drawer. The feel of my pack straps against cotton/poly blends is just a little too slick for me, even if that means my shirt is hanging off me, weighed down with sweat by the end of a long climb.
But the Cool-Lite Strike by Icebreaker splits the difference. It’s an excellent crossover that feels like a light tee, and performs like activewear should.
I put mine through its paces. I wore it on long day-hikes. I ran half marathons in it. I took it kayaking and SUPing. It didn’t take long for this to become my favorite shirt for sweat-related activities.
While some of my other moisture-wicking tees have become pungent over time, inducing all the fragrant flashbacks of my high school locker room, my Cool-Lite Strike still smells and feels like a fairly new shirt. The natural anti-bacterial fleece of the merino sheep helps with that.
That’s right: The shirt smells better because it’s more sheep-like. Go figure.
The fleece of merino sheep is a great cooling fabric. It’s what protects these alpine sheep from biting winters. When pure merino wool is used in outdoor gear, it’s usually to keep the wearer cool and protected from UV rays. But Icebreaker’s blend of merino wool and other fabrics makes the Cool-Lite Strike 40% cooler.
If these sheep ran half-marathons or spent a day kayaking, they’d want the same blend.
Tech Specs
MSRP: $99.00, but has been $59.99 (40% off) off through icebreaker.com.
Fabric type: 61% Merino wool, 19% TENCEL®, 14% Nylon, 6% LYCRA®
Colors available: Monsoon/Black/Fuse (gray, black, yellow), Aquamarine/Admiral/Fuse (turquoise, dark blue, yellow), and Spark/Metal/Lunar (orange, dark gray, light gray)
Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL
Icebreaker Cool-Lite Strike Short Sleeve Crew
$59.99 - $99.99
Pros
- Lightweight
- Breathable
- Ventilated
- Anti-bacterial/no odor
- UV protection
Cons
- None that I've found. Really.
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