You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
UNDER £40<br />
<strong>April</strong> <strong>2021</strong><br />
MONTANE<br />
Dart Long Sleeve<br />
RRP: £32 Target price: £25<br />
The Dart is an effortlessly cool base<br />
layer, proving that walking tops needn’t<br />
be technical or expensive to be<br />
functional and enjoyable. I loved the<br />
tailoring of it: it rests close to skin<br />
without wrapping you in a clingfilm-like<br />
grip, settling into more of a relaxed form<br />
of drapery. It’s woven out of polyester<br />
rather than natural materials like wool<br />
or cotton, so it doesn’t quite have that<br />
luxurious downy feel that other, pricier<br />
tops have, but the material is still soft<br />
and incredibly comfy, helped by the low<br />
profile flatlock seams. As I was yomping<br />
around my local hills in Bristol I did find<br />
it got sweatier more quickly than the<br />
natural-fibre tops did, though it also<br />
dried very fast. But ultimately this is<br />
more of an ‘I’ll deal with your sweat<br />
when it comes’ top rather than a ‘I’ll<br />
regulate your temperature nicely<br />
throughout the day’ top. As such, it’s<br />
best suited to moderate walking, rather<br />
than jagged hikes where your heart-rate<br />
races up and down with the terrain.<br />
With its in-built 40+ UPF sun protection,<br />
it could fast become the top you reach<br />
for as we enter the sunnier months,<br />
for casual spring wanders. RB<br />
INFO: Sizes: 6-16 Weight: 100g Fabric: 100%<br />
polyester Contact: 01670 522 300,<br />
montane.com<br />
+<br />
–<br />
Comfy, flattering tailoring,<br />
breathable, great value.<br />
Limited wicking ability,<br />
not very warm.<br />
BERGHAUS Explorer<br />
Tech Tee LS Crew<br />
RRP: £35 Target price: £25<br />
The Explorer Tech has something<br />
of a space-age sheen to it, perhaps<br />
reflecting Berghaus’s pride in their<br />
Argentium fabric technology, which is<br />
designed to wick moisture away from<br />
the skin and be stench-resistant. Made<br />
from 100% polyester, I did find that this<br />
top was incredibly breathable when<br />
I needed it to be. On steep pulls, I could<br />
feel the air pulling the moisture away,<br />
though unsurprisingly I found the antisweat<br />
properties more effective when<br />
worn on its own rather than under<br />
a mid or outer-layer. Like the Dart from<br />
Montane, the Explorer’s tailoring is<br />
relaxed and flattering on the torso, but<br />
its sleeves pull tight around the forearms<br />
and wrists. That makes it brilliant in the<br />
winter months when combining it with<br />
a mid-layer, as it stops the sleeves rolling<br />
up, and gloves can be pulled on easily<br />
over the cuffs. However, I did find the<br />
tightness slightly constricting on the<br />
forearms. There is good articulation in<br />
the shoulders though, so it certainly<br />
doesn’t restrict movement when<br />
negotiating technical terrain. This isn’t<br />
a terribly warm top, so it’s best worn<br />
with a mid-layer or on warm days. RB<br />
INFO: Sizes: 8-20 Weight: 110g Fabric: 100%<br />
polyester Contact: 0345 607 2477,<br />
berghaus.com<br />
+<br />
Highly breathable, good wicking<br />
properties, good value.<br />
OEX Barneo LS<br />
Baselayer Top<br />
RRP: £36 Target price: £25<br />
Taking its name from an ice base deep<br />
inside the Arctic circle, the Barneo is the<br />
shirt I imagine Batman wears under his<br />
Batsuit when there’s crimefighting to be<br />
done at the North Pole. It only comes in<br />
black and outwardly appears incredibly<br />
technical. But there’s more to it than<br />
looks alone that would appeal to the<br />
Caped Crusader. Made by OEX<br />
(a premium own-brand initially sold by<br />
Go Outdoors), it’s a solid cold weather<br />
performer that makes smart use of<br />
textiles. A blend of bamboo viscose and<br />
polyamide makes for a soft, strong and<br />
stretchy fabric that handles sweat well.<br />
It’s also naturally odour resistant and<br />
has honeycomb-knitted zones at the<br />
sides for extra breathability where it’s<br />
most needed. I loved the thumb loops in<br />
the cuffs too, particularly when I wanted<br />
the long sleeves pulled all the way down<br />
over my wrists on frosty mornings.<br />
Indeed there are lots of good things to<br />
say about the Barneo, but it’s seriously<br />
let down by limited sizing. I’m normally<br />
a medium but had to settle for ‘smallmedium’,<br />
and though it’s meant to<br />
be a snug-fitting top, I found it<br />
intolerably tight at times. PT<br />
INFO: Sizes: S/M-XXL Weight: 245g Fabric:<br />
40% bamboo, 54% polyamide, 5% elastane<br />
Contact: 0330 008 1555, gooutdoors.co.uk<br />
+<br />
–<br />
Great fabric performance, thumb<br />
loops to lock out draughts.<br />
Very limited range of sizes<br />
and colours.<br />
RATINGS<br />
COMFORT:<br />
BREATHABILITY:<br />
VERSATILITY:<br />
VALUE FOR MONEY:<br />
★ ★ ★ ★ ★<br />
★ ★ ★ ★ ★<br />
★ ★ ★ ★ ★<br />
★ ★ ★ ★ ★<br />
RATINGS<br />
COMFORT:<br />
BREATHABILITY:<br />
VERSATILITY:<br />
VALUE FOR MONEY:<br />
★ ★ ★ ★ ★<br />
★ ★ ★ ★ ★<br />
★ ★ ★ ★ ★<br />
★ ★ ★ ★ ★<br />
– Not the comfiest. BEST FOR: Cold-weather outings in the<br />
RATINGS<br />
COMFORT:<br />
BREATHABILITY:<br />
VERSATILITY:<br />
VALUE FOR MONEY:<br />
★ ★ ★ ★ ★<br />
★ ★ ★ ★ ★<br />
★ ★ ★ ★ ★<br />
★ ★ ★ ★ ★<br />
BEST FOR: Far-reaching day walks<br />
over moderate terrain.<br />
BEST FOR: Dynamic strides out over<br />
varied terrain on mild, breezy days.<br />
moors and hills.<br />
90 COUNTRY WALKING APRIL <strong>2021</strong>
Change language