X-Bionic Trekking Shirt
I’ve had the Trekking Shirt and Shorts on test for a good while now, and it’s taken me that good while wearing them across a range of conditions to try and find something to talk about. Now, that might sound strange considering the amount of research that’s gone into the kit, and the complexity of the finished product, but when it comes down to it, after the first couple of times where I was looking and feeling to see what was happening, I’ve just been pulling them on and getting on with it.
Is that damned by faint praise then? Not at all, it’s not as if you normally look at the mixture of materials, monitor the different areas of compression and the like when you’re cutting around the hills. Probably the most obvious performance aspect of baselayers is how it manages moisture and temperature. If that’s not right you soon notice. Anonymous baselayers are what you want, fit and function married invisibly in a cocoon of comfort.
So, after a gap of a month I pulled on the t-shirt again for a refresher on a hike-a-bike around the Kilpatricks.
The first thing you notice is the softness of the fabric, it’s lovely against the skin. The fit is still close, but the huge amount of stretch will accommodate any size or shape or person. I hesitate to say this, but for a synthetic it’s bloody close to feeling as friendly on your person as merino.
The close fit will be a sticking point for many, but baselayers should be close, they work better that way from a moisture management perspective. I’m not exactly adorned by a mail-order catalogue aesthetic, but I’m on the inside looking out, and I’m comfy, so don’t give a shit I say.
The close fit has other benefits, I was reading a study into clothing using compression, and they say that zoned compression works much better than a general compression, ie tight leggings or a skin-suit that you see mentalist Olympians wearing. The X-Bionic kit is super-zoned in that case, taking the concept much further than most. But can you feel it? Well aye, if you’re watching for it. The shorts not so much, your man-tackle is supported and “encapsulated”, and there’s total free movement, but in the shirt you can feel an elusive something depending on what you’re doing. It’s support, but support that holds no resistance when you move against it, but even that is making too much of it, it’s so subtle.
This was my difficulty in writing the kit up, talking about this stuff makes it look like you’re wearing an exoskeleton and it’s all hinges and pivots, but in actual fact you don’t feel any of this unless you concentrate on it.
Moisture management is outstanding, I can get the shirt and shorts damp, but never overloaded. The fabric sucks up the sweat or vents it through the open weave zones on the chest and back. It seems to spread out whatever moisture is there so you don’t get the unsightly patches of sweat that are the curse of most things made in such a light shade of grey. It’s not a sweat-box either, it looks chunky, but it’s not, it’s light and the surface is contoured rather than thick, so you’re in that “just nice” zone, even when working hard.
There’s another merino comparison in that it’s quite happy as an outer layer, a light shower when you’re on the move is no trouble and a cool breeze seems to get absorbed by the fabric. Smell wise it’s not too bad at all, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the synthetics on test, times have indeed moved on and into a much fragrant area.
The shirt has what looks like loose-knitted patches on the hips and shoulders that catch a rucksack’s contact points. These do seem to keep these areas dry, but as to their load absorbing qualities, I can’t tell, my shoulders are too used to pack these days.
Summing up, I really like the shirt, it’s close to merino in its feel, it’s very comfy indeed and keeps me dry at all times. The shorts have the same fabric performance, but because the fabric is softer compared to the last shorts I had from X-Bionic, it means that the legs ride up a bit. It might just be a personal fit issue though, and they do longer-legged shorts which I like the look of.
I like the X-Bionic stuff, and as I’ve said before the technical looks and hype that comes along with it shouldn’t intimidate you, because all of that becomes irrelevant when you pull it on and head out there, it just works.
Hey, I didn’t mention their horrendous packaging once.
I’ve found myself wearing the X boxers a lot this year too. The snugger more ‘encapsulated’ fit seems to have sorted out any chafing problems I had. If only they could make merino wool boxers in the same shape with the same holding power.
The shirt sounds an interesting alternative.
i was registering my 3rd pair of boxers (got them on special offer from james @ one outdoors) the other week and looked at my past registrations, ive had my main airforce 1 socks since 2005….still in great nick too so definatley worth the cash.
supposed to be getting some of their compression socks on test soo so that should be fun…obviously not with shorts though.
Finding good boxers is a real problem for me at the moment.
I’ve tried the energizer boxers, but just can’t get on with them. They’re far too short in the leg for me and ride up and become uncomfortable quite quickly. It’s a real shame as I love the material.
I have some Nike pro shorts which have horrible shiny material that becomes clammy on long jaunts and the longest washing label I’ve ever seen but in their favour they are a much better length and cut (a few inches above the knee) for me and never ride up.
If X-bionic did some around that length I’d be made.
That or maybe I need to finally try some merino wool boxers if there’s some good long ones. Boxer shorts bunching up around my groin seems to be par for the course for most wicking technical cut ones I’ve tried.
The bovers I wear most are Chocilate Fish’s merino ones, just got a new pair for spare in fact.
Smartwool used to do boxers with very long legs and a letterbox fly opening, they wewre great.
Getting your panst sorted is a trila, but it’s bliss once it’s sorted.
Aye Moggy, those news ones are very different!
I shall have to investigate.
The trouble with the trials of pants is the no returns policy, so you can quickly build up a load of rejected pants as you can’t tell how they’ll perform until your out in them for a day.
How long are the choclate fish ones? They look longer than the energisers.
The Chocolate Fish’s legs are longer than most I think, in fact longer than anything else I’ve got except the old Smartwools.
The one’s I’ve just got have a fly for peeing simplicity this time!
It is hit and miss like you say, very difficult to get it right.
I wonder if I shouild do a panst round-up at some point, it’s one of those rarely dicussed but vital subjects.
btw, is there anywhere in the UK that actually sells this stuff? For women?!
The X Bionic website, and google, are your friends :)
Actually, maybe the triathalon heading will have some too?
I really do fancy some more of the kit, this is why I was looking for retailers. I might have to get the t-shirt that matches the black energiser shorts.
The trekking range I remember them saying was still “on its way”. I do believe I had the first set out ther at one point. It just took me ages to make my mind up.
I see ptc* is my friend too!
So phone Suzanne Russell, Customer Services 01250 873863 Ext 222 and she will tell you with a glance at her screen who’s got what and where they are.
They’re looking at bringing in more of the gear (usual trouble, someone has to have the nous to stock it) including the long shorts and long sleeve tops.
And, it turns out the Ben Fogle & Co are wearing X-Bionic gear in their On Thin Ice telly programme.
Likeys (www.likeys.com/acatalog/X_Bionic_-_Men.html) stock the Winter Trekking stuff (plus Energizer, Accumulator and Runningwear), and I’m sure if you asked them nicely, they’d be only too happy to get in the short-sleeved version too. Failing that, for the time being, ask James at OneOutdoors, or pester your local outdoor store to get some in.
Loads more X-Bionic stuff in the pipeline – including, I believe, a range featuring all the X-Bionic technical wizardry … but made in Italy from, wait for it, Saxon Merino wool! There’ll be less packaging too.
I’ve also used an advance sample of the Trekking Pants Short – which cover the quads nicely and finish a couple of inches above the knee (take note Benjamin) and work well under a pair of ‘normal’ hiking shorts. Fantastic! No riding up and the compression really helps on a long day out on the hills. Hopefully, these will be in the UK next year.
The Running Pants feature a higher degree of compression – just where it’s needed – and so far, are probably the best X-Bionic legwear I’ve tried. Well worth the investment. Of the 50-60 people who tried these on at this year’s London Marathon Expo, I think only one or two didn’t reach into their wallet and buy a pair.
I presume the running pants, which look excellent, are designed more as an outer short tight rather than as underwear?
In general, where the baselayers are concerned, I’d say the Energizer and Trekking pieces are ideally suited to most outdoor pursuits in typical UK conditions year round – and they do exactly what they say in terms of keeping you cool when you’re warm and vice versa. I’ve used the same short-sleeved Trekking shirt on a cold January day (under Paramo Velez) and also in the 30 degree temps we had for a short spell in May. However, I prefer the long-sleeved ‘Winter’ version, which I’d didn’t find too hot in the Lakes last week. But that’s just a personal preference.
The Accumulator range would be great in really cold conditions or for activities like climbing (a chilly hour on the belay followed by full-on effort for the next pitch).
The Running Pants are indeed designed to be worn on their own – no need to hide them under ordinary shorts. They look much better on, and are more supportive/less revealing than your bog standard lycra shorts, so I’d say just the job for adventure racing/trail running, not just for the track.
Hope that helps.
I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for the trekking short pants when they get released. In the meantime I’ll possibly finally give wool pants a try (shudders).
The shirts are on my investigate list as well, is the winter one you mention the ‘ski touring’ one?
Yup – the Ski Touring is also known as (and named on the packaging) as Winter Trekking … but like I say, I’ve found that it doesn’t have to be winter to use it.
I’ve just had word in, and I’m going to have a look at the “Apani” X-Bionic merino kit shortly (I’ll try and sneak some photies) and I’ll have a test sample in a bit for us to see how it does out in the field as well.
My interest is most definitely piqued.
Only problem is when it gets outwith its limit it really craps the bed !.
I have had it on few times when it has done this (my fault probably !) but when it does you would be as well running about the hill without it !
Benjamin: Just to add to the confusion I have to say that having tried a variety of ‘technical lower body apparel’ I find wool ones don’t ride up, but that their supportive qualities are rather lacking. That probably isn’t a surprise, but I thought I’d mention it…
You probably don’t know this, Simon (well, you do now), but I get SO pissed off at companies that produce men’s stuff and not women’s, or men’s stuff before they can be arsed to bother with the women.
I’ll need to get one of the Energiser shirts and see what the difference is to the Trekker.
Will update when further info available.
Unisex colours are generally good, partly because they don’t seem to produce much in the way of pastel pink and baby blue for blokes (which of course encompasses unisex).
But, your unisex points echo my own.
Boots are a case in point. Our local Cotswolds has twice as much display (and stock) space given over to men’s footwear than women’s so they have a vastly greater choice. I’ve asked them about it, and of course it’s all to do with market forces. But it’s extremely annoying!
Some others have extremely different blokes and wummins fits, Haglofs immediately springs to mind.
Maybe unisex is partly a philosophy for some folk and penny pinching/finger crossing for others?
Montane – their fit has suddenly become a *lot* more ‘athletic’ and thus unusable for me :-(
And one other point about men’s tops – I find quite a few women’s tops – base-layer, fleece etc. – are too short in the torso for me (again, may be due to broad shoulders).
I thought the penny pinching approach to unisex was the most likely!
I’m going to see Montane soon, I shall question them on the wummins kit. They have a new designer you know.
In response to Bigbananfeet’s comment re Airforce One, but Smartwool and liner in Manta’s (second comment above, I think) – have you tried X-Socks Desert Storm? They have more loft than AF-1 and have a built in liner. Worth giving them a try perhaps.
Ooh I’m excited by the prospect of encasing my ‘man bits’ in merino boxers with the same fit as the X-Bionic stuff. I cant wait.
Having read your post above, another model that might be worth considering is Trekking Mountain. These have more loft than either AF-1 or Desert Storm, and with nearly 20% Durawool content, should keep the toes toasty on the coldest days. They’re longer than the others too, finishing at about mid calf.
That’s a lot to work with.
I’ll think I’ll have to have a look at these thicker socks.
http://www.x-bionic.com/#/en/site/products/women
Shall have to try the ladies. I suspect, given the stretchiness of the stuff, that the arms will be long enough for me. I’ve tracked a black one down in the Channel Isles, but I really want a black and orange one.
What did you think of the feel of it though?
I shall have to ring Wiggle in the morning and see if they can get me the ladies in black and orange.
Like most kit it’ll come down to personal factors how well it manages I think. It’s so sci-fi looking I think you expect more performance and issues.
A friend of mine saw some of these apani products at a trade show a few weeks back, and apparently they are 100% merino wool, and feel amazing! I also had a look on http://www.apanilife.com but it still seems so just be info about wool, hopefully we will be able to get our hands on the products soon. Their technology mixed with merino wool. . . .sounds perfect!!