Review: 66 North Egill Baselayer

- Product provided for the purpose of review, with thanks -

Lightweight baselayer featured Polartec Power Wool, a unique hybrid of natural and synthetic fibres.

Manufacturer's Description: "Athletic-shaped long sleeved turtle neck fabricated in Polartec® Power Wool® that evaporates moisture away from the body to keep it dry and comfortable. The Egill Powerwool Zip Neck is a light base layer top. It is our lightest style made in Powerwool fabric. It has grid backing to help regulate the body temperature. The Egill is perfect for running outside in moderate temperatures."

Features: 

• Polartec Power Wool
• Grid Backing
• Athletic Fit
• High wicking properties
• Naturally odour resistant

How the Power Wool works...

Feature Breakdown:

A lightweight, hybrid baselayer designed to bring the best of both worlds when it comes to the argument between natural & synthetic fibres in outdoor equipment. There's no glue involved with Polartec Power Wool, just clever weaving and the end result is a wool inner and synthetic outer. Benefits of wool include its anti-odour resistance and breathability while the positives of a synthetic layer include shape consistency, quick dry time and toughness. Together, in theory they should create the perfect balance, let's see how the Egill performed...

Field Testing: 

The first test, a cool but rainy December day... Hardshell on along with t-shirt and the Egill, plenty of layers on a mild day but I wanted to see how well the baselayer wicked sweat away from me during periods of activity, as well as the comfort it provided while stationary.

The first thing I noticed was the cut of the Egill, shorter than most baselayers I've used which caused some comfort issues, I prefer a longer cut so there's no chance of it riding up while bending down. 

From a technical perspective the baselayer exceeded expectations, I felt comfortable all day with little to no moisture build up under my shell. The hybrid of materials works well with the inner of the Egill very comfortable against the skin while the outer is tough and durable - good to know when using with a rucksack which can easily wear through 100% wool layers.

The wrist cuffs are nice and large, roomy enough to slide easily over a technical watch but with some stretch in them to keep them close to the skin and keep the draft out.

Another feature of the Egill is the front quarter zip, with a very minimalist design it almost disappears when fully done up but slides smoothly if a bit of extra breathability is needed. A simple feature but one that many baselayers would benefit from having.












The next big test for the Egill was a chilly January morning, I was heading off climbing and needed a layer to keep me warm while belaying and regulate my temperature while climbing. 

Once again the Egill performed well, I didn't notice any build up of sweat and certainly didn't find myself shivering while standing around belaying. The cut of the baselayer wasn't as much of an issue as I thought it might be while climbing, it stayed in a similar place even while reaching above and to the left and right. 

My third test for the Egill, a run on a cold, winter evening. The combination of sweat and low temperature would test the hardiest of baselayers, with the need for breathability high as well as the need for the baselayer to dry quickly.

The Egill performed well, throughout my run I was a comfortable temperature without overheating and while cooling down I found my temperature stayed pretty constant. The baselayer quickly dried off, even in the moist atmosphere we're experiencing at the moment. 

Long-term Use:

Over the past few weeks I've grown to really appreciate the Egill and what it offers in terms of comfort and performance when out and about. The new technology, Power Wool (by Polartec) works well and is something I'm going to keep my eye on over the coming years.

Hybrid baselayers are growing in popularity and I can see why. The best of both worlds makes this style of baselayer more versatile than fully synthetic or natural products.

Overall I'd recommend the Egill by 66 North to a friend.

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If you're interested in checking out more of what 66 North offer than check out their website.

Review: Hydro Flask 21oz Standard Mouth Flask

- Product provided for the purpose of review -

An insulated, 21oz flask designed to keep hot for up to 6 hours and cold up to 24. 

Manufacturer's Description: "Our 21 oz is the perfect go-anywhere companion on your busiest days. It stashes easily in a small shoulder bag, your pack’s side pocket or your car cup holder, and holds enough to keep you going for hours without weighing you down."

Features: 

• Medium Standard Mouth opening
• TempShield Protected
• Keeps Hot up to 6 Hours
• Keeps Cold up to 24 Hours
• BPA-Free
• Durable, sweat-free powder coat finish
• 18/8 Stainless Steel
• Lifetime Warranty
• Capacity: 621ml

Feature Breakdown: 

This is Hydro Flask's flagship flask, their do anything, go anywhere piece of kit. Designed with maximum functionality in mind it's not too big or too small, it comes with a standard loop cap but a sports cap will also fit. It quotes pretty standard times for a flask like this, 6 hours for hot liquids and 24 hours for cold, having seen past reviews of these flasks though, I'm tempted to say these times are modest. The finish is nice, it gives the bottle some friction which is great when the rain's pouring or you're using this flask during water sports.

Field testing:

What better way to test a flask than to brew some coffee and head out for a walk. The standard mouth size is a good size, not so big that you'll find yourself with a messy front but big enough that making hot drinks in the flask isn't a pain. 

For my test I made coffee at 9.30 in the morning and headed out the door about 10. While out and about I made sure to open the flask a few times, have a couple of blows on the coffee and a sip or two before closing. Sometimes the tests manufacturers put flasks through don't mimic real life where the flask will open and close often throughout a day. 

The coffee was still too hot to drink quickly at 12.30, 3 hours after it went in. At 15.30 this was still the case, with the flask fulfilling its promise to keep hot for 6 hours, that means hot, not warm!

After 8 hours the coffee was just beginning to show signs of cooling down, not necessarily cold but definitely no longer hot. 8 hours from a simple flask which you can drink straight out of is a good amount of time, especially with a few openings here and there. Personally, all I'm looking for in a flask in the ability to keep a drink hot for a day on the hill and after 8 hours I tend to be on the homeward stretch or have the necessary equipment with me to make another hot drink so it ticks all the boxes for me. 

With this style of flask something to think about is the temperature of the liquid going in, boiling water will continue to steam inside the flask and cause the pressure to build. This can be dangerous so it's best to fill the flask and give the contents a chance to cool before putting the lid on. This is what I did for my test and it didn't cause me any problems with the coffee maintaining that slightly cooler temperature.

For the cold test I decided to keep it simple and fill the flask with ice to see how long it would keep rattling it for, once again it surpassed the time stated and there were still ice cubes 33 hours after putting them in.

Long-term use:

This flask has quickly become part of my trusted outdoor kit, the need to stay warm when out and about is huge and anything that's going to keep fluids nice and hot is always welcome in my rucksack, especially as we move into winter. 

The quality of the materials that have gone into making this flask is a clear sign that Hydro Flask want to create a brilliant product, the lifetime warranty just confirms it. 

In summary, I've been very happy with my Hydro Flask product, it serves its purpose and does so with good features and nice styling. I'd definitely recommend it to a friend.

The Hydro Flask certainly gets a thumbs up from me.

Hydro Flask are a relatively new brand, started in America back in 2009 but they're quickly becoming more widely available in the UK. If you'd like to find one for yourself please check out Tiso. If you'd like some more information about Hydro Flask please check out their website by clicking here.

Thank you for reading, please don't hesitate to get in contact with me if you've got any questions about Hydro Flask.