Icebreaker BodyFit Zone Long Sleeve Half Zip Underwear Review
Features of the tested product
Test conditions
Ecological footprint
Test of the Icebreaker BodyFit Zone Long Sleeve Half Zip base layer in 200g merino wool for winter activities. Opinion after several days of snowshoeing in different massifs of the Alps.
Test of the Icebreaker BodyFit Zone Long Sleeve Half Zip Underwear
This underwear is part of the Icebreaker BodyFit Zone range, a range of first layer clothing intended for winter activities with its merino wool of 200g. The BodyFit Zone range differs from the BodyFit by its inserts which offer more breathability, freedom of movement, ideal for very dynamic activities. Its cut is adjusted as close as possible to the body and the seams are flat to avoid any irritation. The item is sold in a cardboard box, as is often the case for this type of product. On the other hand, it unfortunately lacks technical information and use (same thing on the site).
The BodyFit Zone Long Sleeve Half Zip is a solid color, blue for the test, but in two different shades. At first glance, the look and fit are quite nice. The collar rises slightly and it has a long zip. To test it, I wore it on several day-long snowshoe outings and roaming in the Alps, and during a ski touring outing.
The wool is soft to the touch and very comfortable to wear next to the skin. Composed of 96% merino wool of 200g, this jersey retains heat well. Even on the coldest outings, well below 0°C, I only had on top a thin fleece sweater and a waterproof/windproof jacket. In activity, that was enough, while for the legs, I had ski pants. In the evening, in the unheated refuges, I had an extra little down jacket. The little extra, the thumbholes on the wrists prevent the sleeves from rolling up untimely and keep the wrists and palms warm.
WINTER SALE!
There are excellent opportunities to get bargains or even very good bargains during this sales period (January 12 to February 8, 2022). In order not to give in to the unreasonable temptations of the sales, here are some rules to follow to buy responsibly:
Here are some offers from our partners:
In terms of breathability, performance is also there. On sunny outings, I only wore the underwear with the long zip wide open. Neither too hot nor too cold, its ability to regulate the temperature according to variations in the weather, the effort provided, is stunning. Note the mesh inserts under the arms which increase breathability. After three days of hiking, the jersey did not smell, the advantage of merino wool over synthetic which quickly becomes unbearable while traveling.
This Icebreaker BodyFit Zone Long Sleeve Half Zip base layer offers great freedom of movement. Its 4% lycra (elastane) avoids feeling cramped, which sometimes happens with swimsuits that are worn close to the body. If some underwear, technical but ugly, can only be worn under other clothes, this is not the case. It is doing very well without anything above, the cut is beautiful.
If merino wool is quite fragile over time and is damaged in particular by the friction of the backpack, I have not noticed anything yet. The “corespun” fabric, core spun, gives the jersey more resistance.
85%
My opinion
The Icebreaker BodyFit Zone Long Sleeve Half Zip base layer is a comfortable, high-performance jersey. A garment that has become my first favorite winter layer after this test, it never leaves me! It can also be used at the bivouac in summer or at altitude during trekking in the Andes or Himalayas.
Verdict
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
