Winter weight Coloumbia top uses space blanket-type technology to increase insulation value.
Just in is one of the most unusual base layer tops we've come across, Columbia's Omni-Heat Heavy Weight Long Sleeve Top complete with innovative reflective inner surface.
Shiny On The Inside...
From the outside it looks like a perfectly normal, stretchy polyester base layer, as you'd expect with its 85% polyester/15% elastane breakdown, but turn it inside out and it shimmers like a Twilight vampire boy caught out in bright sunlight.
Yep, the inside incorporate a reflective, metallic treatment which Columbia calls Omni-Heat Thermal Reflective. The principle is the same as a reflective space blanket, the idea being that the inner surface reflects your body heat back giving increased warmth while keeping bulk low. It looks a bit Space 1999, but the inner surface of the top doesn't feel particularly metallic against the skin and after a brief initial coolness warms up quickly.
Four-Way Stretch And Close Fit
Fit is close thanks to the high elastane content, though we're a little dubious about how well it'll wick – in the past we've found high elastane percentages tend to impair wicking.
Columbia uses a treatment, we think, called Omni-Wick to move moisture outwards, so it'll be interesting to see how it copes and whether that metallic element to the fabric has an impact.
What else? Flat-locked seams, lots of stretch, non-reflective panels under the arm-pits and a measured weight of 214g for the men's medium test top. It's also noticeably thinner than most winter-weight base-layers.
Omni-Dry
We've been very impressed with previous Columbia technologies we've tried. In particular, the Omni-Dry waterproof glove lining technology, also used by sister brand Mountain Hardwear, has proved to be excellent and one of our big wins of 2011 standing head and shoulders above most other waterproof handwear we've tried.
We're heading out on two wheels into the night later, so the plan is to wear the top then and report back imminently. Price is £45 and you can find more information both on the garment and Columbia's technology at www.columbiasportswear.co.uk.
