Ah, merino wool, how I love thee. This natural fiber shaved off the backs of sheep and woven into baselayers, sweaters, and jackets is all the rage these days, and for good reason: merino wool is soft, breathable, wicks moisture away, insulates even when wet, and doesn’t retain body odor. The new Mountain Khakis Rendezvous Quarter Zip is one such garment, and through it, my affair with merino has deepened.
Before I go even further, here’s the details from Mountain Khakis:
- 21.5 Micron 100% Washable Merino Wool Jersey Knit
- 11 ¼” YKK® Reverse Coil Locking Zipper
- Interior Storm Flap with Rollover Chin Guard
- Flatlock Stitching at Critical Seams for Freedom of Movement
- Zippered Napoleon Left Chest Pocket
- 3” Stand Up Collar
- Lycra®-Bound Thumb Loops on 2 ¾” Cuffs
- Signature MK Back Yoke
- Embroidered Logo Treatment on Back Right Shoulder
- Athletic Fit
I’ve been wearing the Rendezvous Quarter Zip from January to April, in every activity from backcountry and alpine skiing, hiking, and even fly fishing. In the backcountry, this sweater is an awesome mid-weight layer. While it’s not terribly warm when temperatures are below freezing, it acts as a good base layer underneath a down or synthetic puffy. In more mild conditions, I usually just wear a merino wool t-shirt underneath and get away with that, or add a softshell over it for protection from the elements.
Skiing at Alta, I’ve been digging this piece as a mid-layer on sunny, spring days when the puffy is too warm. It has really good freedom of movement, and a super soft feel against the skin… buttery would be an apt term. If the wind starts to blow, it keeps the breeze at bay when paired with my hard shell. I also really like the thumb loops on the hand gaiters. Many loops are somewhat abrasive or make the arms feel stretched out around the shoulder blades. But I found the MK Rendezvous to have a perfect fit and the loops are smooth and comfortable. My only gripe is with the neck. When zipped all the way up, it’s pretty tight around the neck, so I always keep it down, despite needing it during storm days. Overall, it’s a real comfortable sweater on the slopes that also looks damn classy during apre’ beers at the P-Dog.
The Mountain Khakis Rendezvous was also my go-to warm layer on a recent trip to Southern Utah. It went on 6 hikes in 3 days, and I donned the sweater on every one of them, especially in the mornings and late afternoons when the desert air developed a stinging chill. The Flatlock stitching is super comfortable against my body, even when pressure from pack straps is applied. When hiking in the sun, however, I did overheat easily.
I even went fly fishing on a cold, March morning on the Middle Provo River with the MK Rendezvous Quarter Zip, and loved how it felt under my waders. I never got cold standing on the shore, and never got hot either. It was pretty much the perfect layer for the day that kept me so comfortable that I never even noticed whether I was hot or cold.
Of course merino wool is well known to not smell, so I hardly ever washed it. Lo and behold, not even a whiff of B.O. could be smelled even after a long weekend of ski touring.
The Good: Quality construction, super soft, comfortable Flatlock stitching, nice thumb loops, merino wool doesn’t smell.
The Bad: Neck too tight when zipped all the way up.
Final Word: The Mountain Khakis Rendezvous Quarter Zip merino wool sweater is a very nice, quality, mid-layer or even base-layer piece that will be your constant companion for a plethora of outdoor activities from fall through spring. It might even deepen your love for merino wool like it did for me.
For more, visit Mountain Khakis online.