Smartwool Active Mesh Shirt
Smartwool ActiveMesh Shirt – Photo: Smartwool
The Good:
- Temperature regulation
- Odor resistance
- Fit
- Cost
The Bad:
- Durability
Smartwool ActiveMesh Shirt – Photo: Smartwool
The Verdict
The Smartwool Active Mesh Shirt is comfortable, lightweight, and funk-resistant, which is essential for athletes and avid travelers. While a lot of outdoor clothing is boxy and unflattering, the fit of this shirt is feminine and cute. The color palette is also somewhat unique for technical wear. And the performance is tough to beat. My main concern with this shirt is that it’s so light that durability might suffer over time. But its $65 price point makes this worth the risk.
Full Review
I wore the Smartwool Active Mesh Shirt for three days straight on a recent trip to Wisconsin. And while I often find wool shirts feeling a bit sticky after the second day, the Active Mesh Shirt remained breathable and lightweight (and mostly odorless). What was more was that it kept me comfortable in a variety of temperatures, keeping me cool in the 70s and relatively warm in the 60s. This shirt is also made with 38% merino wool, 33% tencel and 29% recycled polyester. Typically, I’m an advocate for wool-dominated fabrics. But in this case, I actually think that the tencel and polyester will help the shirt maintain its shape for longer, which can be an issue in merino-heavy clothing.
Smartwool Active Mesh Racerback
Smartwool Active Mesh Raceback. Photo: Smartwool
The Good:
- Sturdy
- Roomy fit
- Mesh zones for breathability
- Machine washable
- Elasticity
The Bad:
- Armpit coverage
Smartwool Active Mesh Raceback. Photo: Smartwool
The Verdict
The Smartwool Active Mesh Racerback is a great top for dynamic movement. Whether you’re weightlifting at the gym or trail running in the mountains, this shirt’s elasticity, breathability and comfort support most athletic endeavors. I predominantly used this shirt in the gym, where I found its breathability and elasticity to be a strength.
Full Review
There are few things that are more empowering than an active shirt that accommodates dynamic movement. You want your shirts to be unassuming and minimally distracting like the Smartwool Active Mesh Raceback. This top is comfortable and lightweight, which makes it unlikely to become heavy with saturation. Its elasticity and mesh side panels create extra give and breathability when it matters the most. And – best of all, its machine washable, which is important for people who sweat a lot. The main drawback with this shirt is that it hangs a little bit low over the armpit area, since I prefer coverage in parts of the shirt that see a lot of movement. But overall, it’s comfortable, cute, and consistent in its performance.
Smartwool’s Spring Active Mesh Shirts are Lightweight, and Funk-Proof originally appeared on Gear Institute.