Ortovox 185 Rock’n’wool Lengthy Sleeve Base Layer Evaluate

Backside Line

We put the Ortovox 185 Merino Rock’n’Wool base layer by way of the take a look at working across the Rocky Mountains, climbing 14ers, and scrutinizing it in a managed setting. We discovered it to have the perfect warmth-to-weight ratio of all of the base layers we examined.

This midweight base layer options ultra-soft superb wool fibers. The material, plus its comfortable match, is reassuring. The development of this base layer makes it really feel hotter than different base layers of comparable weight.

The material is 100% merino wool, benefiting from pure moisture-wicking and odor-resistant properties.

Though it’s versatile sufficient to make use of year-round, the Rock’n’Wool isn’t probably the most breathable possibility. It really works finest as a standalone layer for cold-weather cardio actions however can retain an excessive amount of heat on summer time hikes.

Consolation

Once we placed on the Ortovox Rock’n’Wool, we instantly observed the softness of the wool. Wool can typically be itchy, however the ultra-fine 19-micron fibers used within the Rock’n’Wool maintain it feeling plush. The seams are additionally extraordinarily low-profile, making them fully unnoticeable when worn immediately towards naked pores and skin.

The comfortable match of the Rock’n’Wool is a little bit of a double-edged sword. We love the way in which it feels throughout cardio exercise as a standalone layer – it stretches and strikes with you surprisingly effectively as a wool shirt. Nevertheless, once we built-in it right into a full layering system with a mid-layer and puffy jacket, we discovered that it has the potential to twist and bunch up beneath different layers. It’s not a deal breaker and should enhance with extra put on, nevertheless it’s one thing to think about when you plan on utilizing the Rock’n’Wool for one thing like mountaineering.

Heat

The midweight wool of the Ortovox Rock’n’Wool hits the temperature candy spot for many instances of the yr. If something, it leans barely within the hotter path. At 185g/ms, the material weight is on the lighter facet of the midweight vary. Nevertheless, its comfortable match and tightly woven fibers retain warmth higher than different clothes of the identical cloth weight. This optimum warmth-to-weight ratio makes it very best for ultralight backpacking when each ounce counts. 

The Rock’n’Wool makes for a comfortable sleep layer any time of yr and an ideal lively layer throughout the colder months. We particularly like it as a standalone layer for ski touring or mountain climbing uphill on brisk mornings. Through the hotter months, the wool will get to be somewhat a lot for high-output actions.

Breathability

What the comfortable match and tightly woven cloth of the Rock’n’Wool features in heat, it loses in breathability. In our drying pace take a look at, this prime dried faster than among the heaviest base layers, nevertheless it retained moisture longer than different wool and artificial base layers of comparable weight. This isn’t essentially a nasty factor when you worth heat over breathability. It additionally isn’t a problem you probably have one other layer to vary into or management your output to handle how a lot you might be sweating. The Rock’n’Wool is designed to maintain you heat and sheltered from the wind reasonably than cooled by it.

Luckily, the Rock’n’Wool nonetheless advantages from merino wool’s pure moisture-wicking capabilities. When you could not really feel the breeze as a lot, and it might take somewhat longer to dry than different base layers, the material successfully wicks sweat away out of your physique so you possibly can keep heat throughout the drying course of.

Versatility

The Ortovox Rock’n’Wool is somewhat expensive, nevertheless it makes up for it with versatility. This base layer is our go-to for about 9 months out of the yr, not often leaving it out of our layering system. Even in the summertime months, we like it as a sleeping shirt in chillier areas just like the excessive Rockies.

The Ortovox Rock’n’Wool can match over a skin-tight base layer, however for probably the most half, we wouldn’t use it as a mid-layer. It additionally loses some versatility resulting from its lack of options. The Rock’n’Wool is an easy, minimalist base layer with no pockets, thumbholes, or zippers. Whereas we respect these helpful options, the absence of them is what retains this base layer’s match so comfortable and athletic.

Model

We perceive that type is a really subjective time period, so we attempt to fee it based mostly on what number of colour choices can be found and the way it compares to informal put on. The Ortovox Rock’n’Wool is a layer that emanates athleticism. Ortovox is a well-liked model within the aggressive cross-country snowboarding world, and its aesthetic displays that.

The newest model of the Rock’n’Wool includes a break up, asymmetrical design with vivid colours and multi-colored yarn that signifies the multi-faceted nature of outside actions. Whereas we do love the patterns and colours out there, we understand they is likely to be somewhat too loud for some and wouldn’t simply match into a elaborate cocktail hour. With solely 5 totally different colorways out there, the choices are somewhat on the low facet.

Ought to You Purchase the Ortovox 185 Rock’n’wool Lengthy Sleeve?

The Ortovox Rock’n’Wool has a superb warmth-to-weight ratio and is right for ultralight backpackers, skiers, and climbers alike. It really works nice as a standalone lively layer for chilly climate actions, however can get somewhat too steamy in hotter climate. The tightly woven fibers are nice for conserving you heat, however they don’t do an incredible job at letting the breeze in.

Merino wool is at all times a favourite fiber resulting from its odor resistance and moisture wicking properties. The Rock’n’Wool will maintain you hotter than different layers because it’s drying and can maintain you smelling contemporary for longer.

For folk that run sizzling or choose extra breathability, there are higher choices on the market. Whereas we like it for a lot of cardio actions, it’s not the only option for mountain climbing in all day lengthy throughout the hotter months.

What Different Base Layers Ought to You Think about?

REI Midweight Half Zip Evaluate: The REI Midweight Half Zip is a equally heat base layer, nevertheless it has a neck zipper that means that you can extra simply dump extra warmth. It’s additionally artificial with extra breathability and extra versatile layering functionality. 

Smartwool Basic All-Season Evaluate: The Basic All-Season is one other minimally designed wool base layer. It nonetheless gives the pure advantages of merino wool, however is somewhat lighter and extra breathable than the Ortovox Rock’n’Wool, making it higher fitted to heat climate cardio actions. 

Smartwool Basic Thermal: When you like merino wool and the heat of the Rock’n’Wool however need one thing with a extra relaxed match, the Basic Thermal may very well be an incredible different. It matches free sufficient to be worn as a mid-layer, is trendy, and has many colour choices.

Icebreaker Merino 200 Oasis: The Oasis 200 is a lightweight to midweight merino wool base layer just like the Smartwool Class All-Season however with a tiny bit extra heat. It scores at the very least common all throughout the board, making it a stable all-around possibility.