Polarmax Tech Silk Crew

Travel Weight Tech Silk is yet another quality product from Polarmax’s high-performance base layer family. I’ve been testing the tops and bottoms all spring on various trails, bike rides, and one trip to Seattle on a cold, damp, blustery weekend in March. Here is what I found:

Comfort: The Travel Weight Tech Silk is constructed of 100 percent Acclimate® Dry polyester. Yes, polyester! I was shocked too. It feels like silk, it looks like silk, it acts like silk, but Acclimate® Dry polyester is designed by Polarmax to quickly pull moisture into the fabric’s outer surface to achieve rapid evaporation.

Design: Not too tight to be uncomfortable or restricting, not so loose that they don’t wick sweat or help regulate body temperature. What I love about the Tech Silk is that it is so thin you can wear them under jeans or pants for walking around town when the temperatures hover in the 40s, or under ski pants, bike pants, jeans, kayak dry suits and as camping jammies.

The Polarmax Clean-Seams flat-seam construction prevents chafing and snags, too.

Moisture Wicking/Breathability/Odor Control/Durability: Polarmax pioneered the development of an anti-microbial, anti-odor fabric (Scent Prevent™ technology) to kill the bacteria that causes odor. Acclimate® Dry fabric wicks moisture vertically at a rate of three inches in three minutes and ninety percent of the wicking properties are retained after fifty washings.

An important point to note is the number of wearings the Travel Weight Tech Silk can endure before you have to launder them. I racked up the sweat and reek of a three-day camping/hiking trip and three nights of sleeping before they needed a washing.

Warmth: For outdoor activities in the cooler days of spring and fall, the silky polyester kept me warm without sweltering. If you plan to be in a colder climate, or be outdoors in the winter, I recommend the Mountain Skins.

Made in the U.S.A: I always get giddy when I find a piece of high quality gear whose only transatlantic voyage is leaving the U.S., not entering it. Travel Weight Tech Silk —and all Polarmax products—are sourced, designed, manufactured, warehoused and distributed within a fifteen-mile radius in North Carolina. They are all about leaving a light footprint, too. Check out their Green Story for details.

Polarmax Travel Weight Tech Silk are available in men’s and women’s-specific styles.