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

Backside Line

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

This midweight base layer options ultra-soft nice 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, making the most of 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 choice. It really works greatest as a standalone layer for cold-weather cardio actions however can retain an excessive amount of heat on summer season hikes.

Consolation

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

The comfortable match of the Rock’n’Wool is a little bit of a double-edged sword. We love the best way it feels throughout cardio exercise as a standalone layer – it stretches and strikes with you surprisingly nicely as a wool shirt. Nonetheless, after 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 will enhance with extra put on, but it surely’s one thing to think about if you happen to 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 occasions 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. Nonetheless, its comfortable match and tightly woven fibers retain warmth higher than different clothes of the identical material weight. This optimum warmth-to-weight ratio makes it ideally suited for ultralight backpacking when each ounce counts. 

The Rock’n’Wool makes for a comfy 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. Throughout the hotter months, the wool will get to be a bit of a lot for high-output actions.

Breathability

What the comfortable match and tightly woven material of the Rock’n’Wool positive factors in heat, it loses in breathability. In our drying pace check, this prime dried faster than a few of the heaviest base layers, but it surely retained moisture longer than different wool and artificial base layers of comparable weight. This isn’t essentially a foul factor if you happen to worth heat over breathability. It additionally isn’t a problem when you’ve got one other layer to alter into or management your output to handle how a lot you’re sweating. The Rock’n’Wool is designed to maintain you heat and sheltered from the wind fairly than cooled by it.

Luckily, the Rock’n’Wool nonetheless advantages from merino wool’s pure moisture-wicking capabilities. Whilst you could not really feel the breeze as a lot, and it might take a bit of 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 a bit of expensive, but it surely 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 attributable to its lack of options. The Rock’n’Wool is an easy, minimalist base layer with no pockets, thumbholes, or zippers. Whereas we recognize these useful options, the absence of them is what retains this base layer’s match so comfortable and athletic.

Type

We perceive that type is a really subjective time period, so we attempt to fee it primarily based 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 most recent model of the Rock’n’Wool includes a cut up, asymmetrical design with vivid colours and multi-colored yarn that signifies the multi-faceted nature of out of doors actions. Whereas we do love the patterns and colours obtainable, we notice they may be a bit of too loud for some and wouldn’t simply match into a elaborate cocktail hour. With solely 5 totally different colorways obtainable, the choices are a bit of 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 a bit of too steamy in hotter climate. The tightly woven fibers are nice for retaining you heat, however they don’t do an ideal job at letting the breeze in.

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

For folk that run sizzling or want 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 Take into account?

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

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

Smartwool Basic Thermal: In case you like merino wool and the heat of the Rock’n’Wool however need one thing with a extra relaxed match, the Basic Thermal might be an ideal various. 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 no less than common all throughout the board, making it a stable all-around choice.