Polarmax Acclimate Wool Baselayers : Superior Wicking and Warmth

After a particularly brutal recent storm slammed into my hometown in Norway, I donned my Polarmax Acclimate Wool 1/4-Zip Mock Turtleneck and bottoms and headed into the woods.

I spent several exhausting hours breaking trail in knee-deep powder up the steep slopes on my backcountry skis, but I was stoked to be wearing such warm, dry, and breathable baselayers.

The Acclimate Wool line by Polarmax is a high performance mix of Merino wool and polyester; it's specifically designed to transport not just liquid sweat, but also steamy sweat. The material harnesses the best qualities of wool and of synthetics. Whatever my exertion level, I always stay dry when I wearing these baselayers--which is important in the harsh Scandinavian winter. Being dry means being warm.

The Acclimate Wool baselayers fit a little loose, by design. I wasn't expecting this, but I really liked it. I never feel bunched up and restricted, like I often do in tight tops. Even more important, I don't get the weird, claustrophobic always-dirty feeling I get when wearing tight-fitting bottoms. I know that loose-fitting baselayers sounds a little counter-intuitive--I always thought the first layer should be hugging my skin like cling wrap--but they work!

As I was charging up the mountain, I never felt clammy despite pushing myself super hard. Better yet, whenever I stopped to grab a bite to eat, I remained warm and dry. This was a surprise. Normally, when I stop moving my core temps drop and my sweat no longer evaporates--so I start getting damp. And that can lead to a miserable, bone-chilling cold that never goes away. Having a baselayer that transports both moisture and steam is pretty important. Kudos to Polarmax for effectively combining such high performing materials into one garment.

The Polarmax Acclimate Wool baselayers are very well constructed. The zippers are high quality. The wool/poly blend is soft and completely itch-free. The inside of the material has a waffle construction that traps extra warm air and increases each garment's insulating abilities.

Both top and bottoms have flat seams throughout, which is essential for long outings when I can't afford to have any chafing. The 1/4-Zip Mock Turtleneck top also has shoulder panels, offsetting the seams to either side of my shoulders. That means no hot spots under my pack straps!

Polarmax's Acclimate Wool baselayers (a crew neck top, bottoms, and the 1/4-Zip Mock Turtleneck) are available for both men (sizes S to 2XL) and women (sizes XS to XL). They come in a variety of colors, including brown, blue and black.

Materials: 50% merino wool, 40% Acclimate Dry, 10% recycled polyester.

Bottom LIne: Warm, stench-resistant wool base layer for cold weather activities. My 1/4-Zip Mock Turtleneck and bottoms have become one of my favorite pairs of long underwear. (Nov '10)

BUY ONLINE : $59 for the bottoms and crew, $69 for the ¼-zip top.

Manufacturer's Site: www.polarmax.com

Share on Facebook