When I’m warm, I’m comfortable. A simple statement, but not always the easiest goal to achieve when traveling. I wasn’t quite sure what conditions to expect during a guided hike to the glacier atop Chile’s Osorno Volcano with Hotel AWA, but I made the correct call when I reached for my Lé Bent Women’s Featherweight Hooded LS Crew.
The Details
Lightweight, breathable, and most importantly, not itchy, the Lé Bent Women’s Featherweight Hooded LS Crew is made using a signature Nuyarn® blend with 60% merino wool, 25% bamboo, and 15% nylon. The result is a lightweight layer that’s soft and breathable.
My daylong hike sported a 1,400-plus elevation gain. I was cold when it started, but it didn’t take long for the heat to start building. A majority of the time, the shirt was layered under my Patagonia Nano Puff Hoody, but there were a few moments of brilliant sunshine when it was my only layer, and I was grateful for its UPF50+ sun protection, airflow, and odor control qualities.
The shirt has a lean silhouette, but it’s not tight, and it offers a comfortable amount of stretch. When I first received the shirt, I’ll admit I was on the fence about the hood, worried that it might be restrictive or not move well, but after just a couple of hours on the trail, I appreciated its versatility.
Good To Know
Typically, I throw the crew in the washing machine, then lay it flat to dry on a level drying rack. (You do not want to put it in the dryer.) That said, I’ve also washed it in a few hotel sinks, not because it was stinky, but simply because it was easy and I liked the idea of it being clean to wear again or to simplify packing.
The only thing I would really change is the Lé Bent branding across the front of the shirt. The lettering isn’t huge, but I believe earlier versions were more modestly branded along the lower sleeve.
Lé Bent’s Women’s Featherweight Hooded LS Crew comes in three of colors: Natural, Black, and Sage. If you think you’ll use it a great amount during the summer months, I might opt for a lighter color as opposed to black. Cost is $169.95 on the Lé Bent website.