Helly Hansen Dynamic Crew : Style Without the Stink

This may be of less interest to you unmarried polypro types, but when my wife saw me for the first time in my Helly Hansen New Dynamic Crew Block long sleeve base layer her eyes widened and she stepped closer. “Nice next-to-skin!” she cooed.

Let me quickly put that in context: In the years that I’ve been climbing, cross-country skiing and paddling, I’ve acquired quite a collection of technical base layer garments; so my wife has seen me model more than a few technical tops and bottoms, thank you, and none have generated the oh-la-la appreciation of my new Helly.

While its aesthetic appeal is a nice ace in the hole on a cold winter night, I’m even more impressed by the quality and function of this top. It’s extremely light, comfortable and versatile. While polypropylene -- a fiber that was awarded the Nobel Science prize for Development – is amazing stuff, keeping you dry and comfy by using body heat as a catalyst to transport sweat away from your body, it’s obvious that not all poly was created equal.

According to their spiffy web site, the garment “transfers moisture rapidly and dries fast.” True on both accounts. On a sunny 55F day I did a moderate seven-mile run in Prospect Park, wearing the New Dynamic top as a single layer, and but when I returned home the shirt was virtually dry. It worked equally well as a base layer under a paddling jacket on a windy day on Brooklyn’s Jamaica Bay.

Here’s the thing: I’ve worn some polypro tops that wick but don’t really cool, others that cool but don’t wick all that well. And virtually all of them, even the best wickers in the business, smell like a sheep that has been toiling on the slopes all day. However, using LIFA technology, a Helly Hansen patent, the garment has “a natural resistance to microbial growth and odor retention.” Bold claim, I know, but it’s true.

In fact, initially I wore the top around the house as a base layer for one chilly week straight and it passed the stink test (relatively speaking, mind you) with flying Scandinavian colors.

Bottom LIne: If you want looks, comfort and function with minimal stink – check out the Dynamic Crew Block. It’s a wife-magnet.--J.G. (Nov ’05)

Price: $42

Manufacturer's Site: www.hellyhansen.com

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