Since I started outdoors about two years ago, whether it's hiking or hiking a stream, I'm fascinated by nature.
Before receiving this Smartwool Merino woolen coat, I didn't really know much about wool products. I have heard of its functionality, but I have never bought or worn it. Therefore, I am looking forward to this experience, and finally being able to wear smartwool woolen clothes and wool socks to verify the advantages of merino wool products in the mouths of donkey friends!
Speaking of the Smartwool brand, like wool products, I've only heard of it. But this experience, especially to understand the history and characteristics of the brand, completely made me feel that it was too late to meet and hate! Smarwool wool socks are made of Merino wool for you to wear comfortably, merino wool originated in New Zealand!
First, let's briefly introduce the Smartwool brand, a leading brand of wisdom wool from Colorado, USA. Founder Peter Duck in order to solve the problem of wet and cold discomfort of feet throughout the winter, and even frostbite, with breeders, scientists continue to improve and evolve, developed the first pair of soft, strong, temperature-controlled and non-shrinking merino wool socks, and then developed wool jackets and other products.
The products I tested this time were the Smartwool Wool Jacket NTS250 Men's Long-Sleeved Contrast Shirt and lightweight shock-absorbing PhD wool socks. As soon as you get the product, you will see the simple outer packaging, with a cute villain LOGO, which is very textured. I observed many details of the wool coat, such as multiple stitches that feel very strong, and the material feels very soft to the touch, and it is indeed wool! The contrast pattern is very suitable for the autumn and winter seasons. Wool socks I chose a very mountainous atmosphere of the pattern, there are mountains and seas and a donkey friends are looking forward to the big scene of the sun, before wearing already like their products, but also look forward to its functional performance!
Smartwool wool coat NTS250 features
The Smartwool woolen coat is a year-round wool coat made from 100% pure New Zealand merino wool with several features:
1. Three-dimensional close-fitting tailoring, waist line to modify the figure, so that wool clothes attached to the body, more able to maintain elasticity and breathability
2. It is sewn with smooth stitching, which will not have an uncomfortable friction feeling, making the joint of the clothes more firm and more suitable for long-term field activities
3. Wool fiber can absorb moisture on the surface of the body's skin at a faster rate, which is more efficient than the general material, and it remains dry and comfortable during exercise
4. Ultra-light weight, only 218g, fully meets the needs of lightweight mountaineering.
Smartwool lightweight PhD shock absorbing wool socks feature
Smartwool wool socks, which can also be worn all year round, are also made from 100% pure New Zealand merino wool and have several features:
1. Lightweight and unburdened
2. Moisture absorption and breathability, and a lot of outdoor environment conditions, which is one of the most important functions
3. Anti-odor and bacteriostatic, in the face of multi-day travel, can maintain foot hygiene and comfort
4. Machine washable for easy cleaning
5. Warm temperature regulation in winter and cool in summer, wool socks feature
6. Soft and intimate to make the soles of the feet feel relaxed
The season has entered the autumn and winter, the scenery of the mountain forest has slowly added some red breath from the vigorous greenery, take advantage of the hiking and cooking, to experience and see how wool products bring us in it, whether the above characteristics are played.
We chose two itineraries to test, one is a waterfall that needs to pass through a humid rainforest environment, the travel time is short, and the temperature is not low; the other is a slightly higher altitude. The travel time is relatively long. I believe that two different environments will make testing and experience more complete.
Test the trip
The temperature was around 19 degrees, so only the Smartwool NTS 250 wool jacket was worn alone, without the need for a windproof jacket. The wool jacket is very light, so it is particularly easy and pleasant to walk. Although there is some sweat during the march, but the clothes are very breathable and dry, there is no feeling of stuffiness, and there is no discomfort of clothes sticking to the body because of sweat, so that I am usually afraid of heat, I feel really magical! At the same time, the wool jacket also provides a certain warmth, in the process of stopping the rest, the wind will not feel cold. Because of the smooth stitching design, the skin does not have the tingling sensation of the general woolen clothes, and the three-dimensional cut makes the body perfect and looks better when taking pictures.
The part of the Smartwool wool socks, the whole road is very heavy because of the cloudy day and heavy fog. Passing through very primitive trails on the way, wearing comfortable Smartwool wool socks, in addition to the role of shock absorption, the dryness of the feet remains unexpectedly good, but also maintains a certain temperature, which is very suitable for use in the environment of jungle trails. The socks were inevitably wet with some mud during the march, but it was quick and easy to clean at home with a washing machine.
Today's field kitchen location is in front of the waterfall.
During the picnic, I wore a Smartwool wool coat the whole time, and I didn't feel hot because of the fire used in the picnic, but I felt comfortable and breathable. After the event, the clothes were magically not stained with any smell, which made me admire this smart wool brand even more. I really regret not having such a woolen coat earlier!
The next day, because of the low temperatures, I added a short-sleeved underlay to my Smartwool wool coat. At the beginning of the steep journey, the wool coat once again played a role in regulating body temperature and quickly absorbing moisture and sweating. The steep slope made the sweat flow more, and on the way to rest, I took off the woolen coat to check it out, and it was dry! As the altitude gradually increased, the temperature slowly dropped, but I didn't need to take out my windproof jacket from beginning to end, because the wool coat temperature control was perfect, making the climbing lighter.
When I didn't wear a woolen coat before, when I wore a bottom coat and a middle layer, the perspiration function was not obvious. Usually halfway through, because the clothes are wet, it will be very cold and uncomfortable when it is blown by the wind, plus the coat, and it is too heavy. This time, because of the Smartwool Wisdom Wool, there was no previous situation at all.
The journey is relatively long due to the long distance of walking, the path is also primitive, often across the roots of the tree, covered with mossy stones, then the comfort and shock absorption performance of the wool socks is relatively important, the wool socks play a comfortable and cushioning function, back home to the toes and calves and no discomfort or pain, there is no odor caused by sweating on the soles of the feet for a long time.
summary
Smartwool's wool product test gave me a glimpse of the wonderful mountaineering experience that Smart Wool can bring, as well as the substantial help it brings during the hiking process.