Whether you’re trying to keep cool at home during a hot summer, or traveling in hot places, the right clothing choices can make a difference in comfort. Once considered only a fabric for cold climates, in recent years merino wool has been used in lighter weights as well as blends to make a difference in hot climates, as well.
That’s why I’m taking the Icebreaker Women’s Cool-Lite Sphere Short-Sleeve Low-Crewe shirt along with me this summer on my travels.
The shirt is made from Cool-Lite jersey fabric that blends natural Tencel with corespun fibers (nylon threads wrapped in merino wool) for a combination of durability, softness, and breathability. The fiber blend of 52 percent merino wool, 35 percent Tencel, and 13 percent nylon helps evaporate heat away (three times faster than merino alone) and resist odor (more so than on synthetic fibers).
The open neck is a Goldilocks version of a relaxed crew-style—not too high and not too low. Just right. The side seams are set a little forward, for added comfort. And the shirt has a drop-tail hem for better coverage.
As with any merino clothing items (even when blended), it’s best to let air dry after washing, rather than tossing in the dryer. This lightweight wool shirt (Icebreaker 130 Featherweight) dries quickly, even in the shade.
The women’s Cool-Lite Sphere Short-Sleeve Low-Crewe shirt comes in heathered colors like metal (gray), Prussian blue, waterfall (light blue), lagoon (turquoise), and sorbet (peach), and lists for $70 on the Icebreaker site. The men’s version of the shirt lists for the same amount and comes in heathered colors like black, midnight navy, and straw, as well as combo colors like chalk blue/midnight navy, Mediterranean/black, and non-heathered colors like metal and vintage red. Total variety for women: 5. Total variety for men: 7.