Gear Box: Icebreaker Tech T Lite

Sometimes the best gear is the stuff you didn't know you needed until you had it. Such is the case with the Tech T Lite from Icebreaker, a company that makes a whole line of performance apparel using Merino Wool as its basic building blocks. Made from 100% natural fibers, Merino Wool is soft, comfortable, and breathes well in all kinds of conditions. The fabric is also designed to keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer, and while I can't attest to the former just yet, I can confirm the latter.

The Tech T Lite is a super soft and very comfortable technical t-shirt that is great for hiking, backpacking, or simply wearing around town. It comes in a wide variety of colors, and proudly bears the Icebreaker logo on the left breast. Aside from that, there isn't much to say about the design. It is simple, straight forward, and well cut, but looks good in its simplicity.

But looks aren't what we're most concerned about, it is performance, and I can tell you that I've been wearing this shirt throughout the warm Texas summer, and it has exceeded my expectations. The shirt breathes well, even in 100º+ temperatures, and it does an exceptional job of wicking moisture away from the body, keeping you comfortable whether you're on a day hike in the Hill Country or simply kicking around town with friends.

Considering the quality of the Tech T Lite, I'm pretty sure it is going to make a great, lightweight base layer later in the year when the weather turns cool. (It never really gets cold in Texas) The shirt is also very durable and wears quite well. Mine looks brand new, even after being worn, and washed a number of times.

This is my first experience with Icebreaker gear, and I have to say that I'm quite impressed overall. I look forward to trying more of their clothing in the future, especially their cold weather gear and their new line of cycling apparel that was announced last week at Outdoor Retailer.

MSRP on the Tech T Lite: $59.95 but is currently on sale on the Icebreaker website for $44.95. (Check out other Icebreaker gear, including base layers, at TravelCountry.com.)