ProView – Men’s Icebreaker Clothing

Getting decked out in Icebreaker from head to toe is a wool lovers dream, especially when it’s lightweight running gear. The overall quality of the pieces are top notch and the fit is true to size from their website. The feel of the material was the real game changer though, the Amplify T-shirt feels like silk and nipple chaffing is a nonexistent issue. The socks were roomy and so comfortable that I did not experience my usual numbness. The support of the boxers is world class and keeps the crown jewels right where they’re supposed to be without feeling restrictive. Even the small stuff, like the Chase headband, pleasantly surprised me, staying put, keeping my head at just the right temp while drying in an instant after some sweaty uphills. The Tech trainer Hybrid jacket is also super versatile, perfect for chilly spring runs followed by an evening walk to the brewery for an adult beverage.    

Men's Icebreaker Clothing

Product Description: Driven by the belief that nature has the solutions, we provide natural performance alternatives to synthetic based apparel to create a healthier more sustainable future for our species and the planet.

Offer price: Varied

• Quality
  (5)
• Features
  (4.5)
• Fit
  (5)
• Durability
  (5)

Summary

Getting decked out in Icebreaker from head to toe is a wool lovers dream, especially when it’s lightweight running gear. The overall quality of the pieces are top notch and the fit is true to size from their website. The feel of the material was the real game changer though, the Amplify T-shirt feels like silk and nipple chaffing is a nonexistent issue. The socks were roomy and so comfortable that I did not experience my usual numbness. The support of the boxers is world class and keeps the crown jewels right where they’re supposed to be without feeling restrictive. Even the small stuff, like the Chase headband, pleasantly surprised me, staying put, keeping my head at just the right temp while drying in an instant after some sweaty uphills. The Tech trainer Hybrid jacket is also super versatile, perfect for chilly spring runs followed by an evening walk to the brewery for an adult beverage.    

Overall

5

Pros

• Extremely breathable
• Lightweight
• Not restrictive

Cons

• Some featured could be tweaked- small pockets on shorts

• Shop on Outdoor Prolink
• Shop on Icebreaker

My big goal for 2019 is the Grand Traverse Triple Crown, a three-part race from Crested Butte to Aspen, Colorado. The course spans 40 miles of backcountry and racers ski, bike, and run the route throughout the course of the year. I have always thrown my running gear together before a race day. However, with this being my longest race yet, when I got the chance to test out a selection of Icebreaker’s finest, I jumped at the chance. I will preface this review with the fact that I love Merino wool; it has been a mainstay of my winter outfit for years but I have never really dabbled with it for summer use. In my mind, it’s wool, it’s for cold weather use, right? Spoiler alert, not so much.

When I opened the box from Icebreaker the first thing I noticed was the quality, all the stitching looked tight and the garments were soft and supple. I’ve used merino garments from most of the mainstream companies and also some small, less well-known brands and the Icebreaker stuff was right up there with the nicest I’ve worn. As we’ve had quite a winter, over 500” of snow at my local resort, this provided the perfect excuse for early spring trips to Utah and even to Florida to test it all out.

Just a quick note on sizing before I jump into the individual items. I am 6’ tall, about 175 lbs, and I have a 32” waist. I am long and lean but a little thick at the same time. I have always been a ‘marge,’ in that dead space between a medium and large in most outdoor companies garments.

Amplify Short Sleeve Crew

There were a number of things that I noticed when I first put this t-shirt on, how light it was, how soft it felt, and most importantly how well it fit. Out on the trail things just got better, the cool light fabric does a fantastic job of regulating temperature. This feature was put well to the test while running during the heat of the day in Utah. The mesh back was appreciated during long training runs on the treadmill. The fit and ultralight fabric make it feel like it isn’t there, which for me is saying something as I typically find myself adjusting t-shirts constantly due to uneven shoulder heights from a partially separated collarbone many years ago. Like most merino products the anti-odor properties are excellent. I put some serious miles on this shirt before washing it and never got an unpleasant whiff of myself.

Cool-Lite™ Impulse Running Short

The shorts turned out to be a little large for me and someone my size would be better off with a size medium, which is what their website recommends. They were still very comfortable and the Cool-Lite™ liner did a good job of keeping everything in place and comfortable when running without boxers on. The Cool-Lite™ fabric really does seem to do everything that Icebreaker touts! The higher length of the shorts took a little getting used to as I’m not really one to show so much leg, but that coupled with the air permeable Pertex nylon fabric were definitely appreciated during hotter runs. The small pockets on the sides for gels and other items are a nice touch but limited with what you can hold. I was able to fit one gel on each side, if they were a little deeper you could fit two vertically which would also make them easier to get to while on the move.

Mens Cool-Lite™ Anatomic Zone Boxers

After wearing these for a couple of months, there’s no question as to why these are Icebreaker’s best selling boxers. Once again the Cool-Lite™  fabric works it’s magic and provides a very comfortable ride. They are lightweight, soft, and there was zero chafing no matter what I was doing. The length and tightness are perfect, they don’t have a tendency to bunch up, and aren’t so tight that you lose circulation. The contoured pouch works perfectly for keeping the crown jewels supported whether running, biking, skiing, or just hanging out. I have been wearing these a lot because of how comfy they are which has tested not only their durability but odor resistance (yes I have washed them multiple times throughout the test) and I can say they have performed valiantly.

Men’s Tech Trainer Hybrid Jacket

The first thing I thought when I pulled this jacket out of the box was how heavy it seemed for its size, this was quickly put to rest though once I put it on. Once again the fit is spot on and the fabric stretches perfectly while running so that there is no feeling of binding anywhere. This jacket is warm too, for a couple of early morning February runs I did, it was the ideal piece. I maintain at a fairly high temperature, and this jacket breathed beautifully so that I didn’t overheat or sweat profusely. The thumb holes are a nice touch but for some reason, my jacket had a left-hand zip which took some getting used to. This jacket is also a great casual piece and looks great on and off the trail.

Unisex Chase Headband

This headband was an odd highlight, it’s just a headband, right? Wrong. I have used various headbands in the past, usually free offerings I’ve picked up at race registrations and the bar was set fairly low. I used this headband under my helmet for the ski portion of The Grand Traverse and it performed totally unexpectedly. The race starts at midnight and then continues throughout the day and as helmets are mandatory layering can be tricky. This headband was so soft and comfortable that I forgot I was wearing it. The only time I noticed it was about six hours into the race when we transitioned to our first major descent and it was wet, however, it dried out in no time and remained in place for the duration of the race. It never became too hot once the sun came out or too cold when the winds picked up.

Run & Light Mini Sock

I suffer from sweaty feet, no matter how cold it is. In the winter I always find myself using the thinnest merino socks I can find. These socks did a great job of wicking the moisture away from my feet and keeping them relatively cool. They are woven to be left and right specific and it makes a difference, they were super comfy and provided a perfect balance of cushion and comfort.

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Originally from the green rolling hills of southern England, Will Shoesmith has called Colorado home for the last 15 years. While he was initially drawn over to the other side of the pond by the prospect of otherworldly skiing, it was experiencing summer in the heart of the southern San Juans that forever changed him. Since that fateful summer working on a dude ranch I went on to ski patrol before moving into a career in the fire service. Now residing in Aspen/Snowmass, during the winter he can be found in the Highlands bowl or the high country expanse of the Elk mountains while long summer days are spent biking and running the nearby trails throughout the area.