It’s getting damn hot in Utah right now, and that could mean runners are banished to early mornings and late evenings. But if you have the right clothes to keep you cool and dry, you can run all hours of the day. I’ve been testing out the new Icebreaker Strike Short Sleeve Crew and Strike 5-Inch Shorts on steamy, mid-afternoon runs. So do they perform under the summer sun? Read on…
The Strike Short Sleeve Crew features:
- Cool-Lite fabric (61% merino, 19% Tencel, 14% nylon, 6% lycra)
- Antimicrobial properties
- Moisture wicking
And the Strike 5-Inch Shorts features:
- 100% recycled polyester
- Merino wool blend liner
- Regular fit
- Draw cord at waist
- Reflective details
First, the shirt. Like all Icebreaker merino wool garments, the Strike Short Sleeve Crew is super soft and comfortable. On runs, I never felt any chaffing or hot spots. Bonded seams on the interior and a somewhat loose fit (along with a relatively light weight) make it feel like I’m hardly wearing a shirt at all. There are a lot of nice touches like reflective seams on the shoulders for safety, and color options that are no obnoxious.
One of the my favorite features is that the entire back panel is made from an eyelet pattern. This allows air to get in and out for superb breathability. Also, like all merino products, the shirt is stink free. I wore it on several runs in a row without washing (despite my wife’s eye rolling) and never got a whiff of funk. So if you’re running in a RAGNAR relay race, this is the shirt you’ll want to be wearing in a crowded van full of sweaty friends and family. They will thank you for it.
My only gripe is that although this is the coolest, lightest, most breathable merino wool shirt I’ve tested, it’s still wool, which means it feels warm on the hottest days. In temperatures from the lower 60s to the upper-80s, I find the Strike Crew to be absolutely perfect. But in the 90s and above, merino’s natural insulation qualities come into play. I wouldn’t go so far as to say I overheated, but that I became aware of the shirt’s limitations in that kind of heat.
The Strike 5-Inch Shorts are a totally different beast, despite sharing the shirt’s name. The entire outer fabric is recycled polyester, which the only merino found is in the interior liner. The shorts are super light and feel non-existent on long runs. I like how the merino liner also adds additional support in the front for… you know… the boys. The inside key pocket is another nice touch.
My only gripe is that I’ve very self-conscious about my skinny chicken legs, and 5-inch shorts are far shorter than I’m used to wearing. Luckily, Icebreaker also make a 7-inch short for guys like me,
The Good: Light weight, cool in warm temperatures, no chaffing, comfortable, reflective details, stink free.
The Bad: Overheats in really hot, sunny weather.
Final Word: The Icebreaker Strike Short Sleeve Crew and 5-Inch Shorts are the softest and most comfortable running gear you can wear for morning and evening summer runs.