A little while back we picked up one of the new Triple Aught Design (TAD) Traverse 150 Tech T shirts. The claim to fame of this shirt is that it is 100% Merino Wool. Why do we care about Merino Wool shirts? Its a light weight natural material, which doesn’t drip when exposed to flame like most synthetics, regulates body heat, and doesn’t absorb odors. Sounds good on paper, but how did it do after being worn for a full duty week under armor?
Click the pic to jump to the rest of the review and find out.
While I liked the idea of Merino Wool wicking moisture, and helping to regulate body temps, what interested me the most what its ability to shrug off odors. I’ll point out that while I’m prior service, I’m currently a full time city cop, and I deal with many people who have a stench about them that would gag a maggot. I hate the stench of nasty people and places, and while I’m not a clean freak, the last thing I want is to smell myself. My test for this shirt was to wear it under armor until it held an odor about it. I figured this would take two days under armor at best. I started out my duty week with a clean uniform, and my TAD Traverse shirt underneath my armor. I got off shift, and had no smell on the shirt at all. I shook it out, and tossed it over a chair, and wore it again the next morning. This went on for a full duty week, which put me into one shirt for a total of slightly over 50 hours. At the end of this, there was still no smell on the shirt. Yes, I shower, and yes, I use deodorant, but for guys who live in armor, you understand what I’m getting at.
The next part of the test was more on accident than anything else. While I had planned to throw it in the wash on delicate ( I don’t handwash anything unless I’m in the field), it went in the wash on regular settings along with the rest of my clothing. It was then thrown into the dryer, which was a combination that I figured had ended its useful life. I was happy to see the shirt had shrunk a bit, but it was still very serviceable. The collar was good before, and it stayed up nice and tight afterwards as well, but it didn’t shrink up as I thought it would.
I repeated the wear of the shirt under armor for another week, and again, no smells. The next test was out hiking with a pack, and while sweaty, at the end of the day the shirt didn’t seem to be impressed with my efforts. The following test was caving, getting wet, and then hiking. The shirt continued to be unimpressed with my testing, and even if there was a hint of odor after taking it off while I was wet from sweat, it was gone after hanging it over a chair the next morning.
My accidental test with the washing machine was so successful, I’ve throw in it an additional 4 times, and the size of the shirt has stayed the same. I know this is NOT something recommended by the manufacturer, but it works for me, and I guess I’m lazy that way.
The downside to the TAD Traverse 150 Tech T is the price. Coming in at $70, it isn’t cheap by any stretch. Before you get disgusted with the price and click off this page, think about how much clothing you pack when you go hiking. Think of how much room and weight you get with a stack of other t-shirts. This shirt fits well, wears fantastic, is evidently durable in the wash, and doesn’t leave you smelling like the funk. To me, that is worth something, and it has earned its place as a shirt which will be going with me on each trip up into the mountains.
The below specs are from the manufacturer:
A naturally hard working and adaptive fabric-Merino has a unique ability to regulate body temperature. During exertion or warm weather, it wicks away moisture from your body and releases it on the surface. This evaporation mechanism has a cooling effect, enhancing comfort while keeping you dry. To help you stay warm in cold weather, the air pockets in the Merino fiber trap body heat to provide insulation. This adaptive capability makes the Traverse 150 highly flexible, important if you need to count on a small set of gear to handle unpredictable conditions.
Stands up to extended use scenarios-Merino has a high warmth-to-weight ratio, making it packable and unobtrusive when moving light and fast. It also does not retain odors, giving you more uses between laundering than other fabrics. Unlike synthetics which can trap odor despite washing, Merino readily sheds odor when laundered.
The Traverse 150 Tech Tee is made with MAPP (Merino Advanced Performance Program) fabric ensuring it is created exclusively using Merino fibers sourced from the cleanest and purest New Zealand alpine environments. It is available in Slate Grey and Black.
Material
- 150 grams/meter2 Merino Wool
- 100% Merino Wool
- New Zealand Merino Wool is MAPP Certified
Patterning & Construction
- Set-In Sleeves
Hem Configuration
- 4-thread Overlock with Cover-Stitched Hems and Neck Band
http://www.tripleaughtdesign.com/Apparel/Shirts/Traverse-150-Tech-T
