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  Icebreaker Men's Bodyfit260 Mid-Weight Long Sleeve Crew Top By: Icebreaker Average Rating: 5.0 Total Reviews: 2 More Information only the best  On: 2008-12-17These are the best t-shirts on the market, hands down. The wool is very high quality (soft, looks good), the shirts are never too warm, but are enough to walk around outside in cool weather (as low as 40F for me). They stretch, but dont stay stretched, you can wear them for years. You can also get the lighterweight version that isnt quite as warm (bodyfit200). Best is they dont smell, I see so many people wearing very smelly polyester workout shirts. An icebreaker wont smell at all. If you dont wear it to the gym you can wear the shirt multiple times and it will remain clean. Downsides: the fabric is durable but not to piercing; one dog bite and the shirt is ruined. You cant put these shirts in the dryer. Smartwool is a competitor that isnt quite as nice but I hear you can put these in the dryer. Also the fit can be snug, which might show off a belly if you have one. But, you dont have to wear them as tight as the models do, Im 510" 180lbs and the L fits loosely over an undershirt. The M is snug and looks OK. Also, they cost $$, but you already knew that. Awesome Layer by Icebreaker! On: 2008-10-24I recently discovered Icebreaker when I decided to try some 100% Merino Wool clothing/layers. I bought this layer with the zip top, but its essentially the same shirt (same material/weight/etc). It breathes very well, but still provides warmth. It is really good, during all year, as a mid-layer; it is great as a sole layer while being active/exercising primarily in fall/spring. It has a tailored/athletic fit and is meant to hug the body. It is too tight to be worn as a standalone shirt as casual wear, in my opinion/physique, but looks normal for exercise wear. I would prefer if it were a little looser around the bottom, but it does have some stretch. I am 510 and about 165/170 lbs. and wear a medium. (I wear a medium in polos by ralph or vvines (~38-40 chest) and 33/34 waist) I like how it is not overly long; some other merino brands I have tried are too long. ***Overall***: Great usability, good style, good fit, great material/hemming. Excellent all around: "A-" (I have tried many other brands of merino, and still trying more, but thus far- Icebreaker is the very best) ___END OF REVIEW OF SPECIFIC SWEATER___ *If you are interested in more info on wool / contemplating trying it for the firs time - here is more information on my personal experience thus far: I have used synthetic undershirts and clothing for years (such as capilene by patagonia, underarmour, etc.). I was shopping for new layers to keep me cool, insulated, wicked of sweat, and odor control. I found I could choose between the new Coco-whatever charcoal-something most recently released synthetic or 100% merino wool. Im glad I chose wool. Although more pricey, I think its worth the extra for quality of experience while wearing. The differences I notice between wearing wool versus synthetic are: 1) Wool reduces odor extremely well when you perspire. I sweat more than others, and synthetics of all types used to leave me smelling poorly after a workout or even midway through a hot day. I can sweat profusely in wool and when it is dry: almost no odor whatsoever. Even when drenched with sweat, damp clothing, the odor is masked and faint. Really have to try it to understand. (Although, if you get soaked 100%, by standing in rain for an hour, you will have a bit of a unique hair smell until you become drier) 2) Wool wicks so much better than synthetics. I used to drench in my coolmax, capilene, underarmour, poly-synethetics, etc. Synthetics do seem to dry a lot quicker than cotton if its your only layer, but underneath other shirts or jackets- I found it almost useless. I would wear under a cotton polo on a hot day and back would be soaking wet, and stay that way. Wearing wool light layer underneath same shirt: significantly less moisture/wetness on back of outer shirt. Its impressive how it pulls the sweat from the skin, keeping me dry, while it adsorbs it away from the outer layer. Hard to explain, but I know Im sweating as much- yet there is less soak thru; When sweating moderately- I can feel the dampness directly on the back of the merino, but I stay dry next to my skin, and the outer shirt doesnt get soaked. And I tend to be totally dry much faster once I can cool down for a moment. 3) Insulation is far superior. These merino wool layers almost are perfect at temperature regulation: they provide great warmth and increase in warmness when you are active and sweating. Yet, they also tend to be breathable so they wont overheat you. They just seem comfortable pretty much regardless. In closing, and with full disclosure, I would like to say that I do not work/own stock/have any affiliation at this time with any wool manufacturer/clothing company/or any individual sheep. These are my personal views on the clothing thus far and may change my mind later, but I highly doubt it. |