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TNF S/S El Cap Shirt
Tested
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Price: £35.00
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Weight: 202 grammes (men's
medium)
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Features: Polartec
Powerdry double picque fabric, front neck zip, collar,
Raglan sleeves, underarm gusset, flat seams, flat ironed-on
label for comfort.
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Confortable and looks good
A little warn for hot weather use
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The Concept Yet another baselayer top, this one's short
sleeved, so presumably intended mainly for summer / warm weather use.
There's a long-sleeved zip neck top for cooler conditions.
Like all baselayers, it's intended to move moisture away from the
skin outwards to where it can be evaporated and not to hold moisture
close to the body. A good baselayer is essential to maximise the
efficiency of breathable outer layers.
Features
TNF has used Polartec's high-wicking Powerdry fabric, though the
double pique knit seems heavier than other Powerdry fabrics we've
used. To underline that, the short sleeved version of the El Cap
weighs pretty much the same as the long-sleeved Sprayway equivalent
and more than ME's long-sleeved Comfort Zone top. The fabric uses its
physical structure to move moisture outwards.
Otherwise it's a simple variation on the LS El Cap shirt, but with
- you guessed it - short sleeves. You also get a small collar, neck
zip and shoulders with flat seams displaced so they don't sit right
at the top of the shoulder. Good for minimising pack rub.
In Action The El Cap's fabric feels soft and comfortable
against the skin, silkier and 'drapier' than other baselayers we've
tried. It does seem to be slightly heavier than other Powerdry
fabrics we've used though and while it does wick well, it doesn't
feel quite as comfortable as lighter materials in very hot
conditions. Nor does it wick as well as the much thinner Berghaus
Xstatic Powerdry fabric, then that doesn't feel as luxurious as the
TNF offering.
A stretchier material would give a tighter fit and contact more
skin surface than the loose-cut El Cap increasing wicking efficiency
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Otherwise it does the job and is light years ahead of cotton tee
shirts. If we were going to quibble, which we are, we'd like a taller
collar for added sun protection - though it wouldn't look as neat -
and maybe a slightly deeper neck zip for better venting. Otherwise we
have no problems with the S/S El Cap.
One observation though is that our old, L/S El Cap has lost a lot
of its softness with repeated use and washing, though it has taken a
caning over the last couple of years.
The slightly heavier grade of Powerdry used in the El Cap feels nice
and hangs with a pleasing loose drape, but sacrifices some funtional
efficiency as a result. Thinner, stretchier grades of Powerdry seem
to wick better particularly in very hot conditions where the El Cap
feels a little on the warm side.
Still an effective base layer though and much better than a cotton
tee-shirt.
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Performance
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Value
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Pushed for
time: The slightly heavier grade of Powerdry used
in the El Cap feels nice and hangs with a pleasing loose
drape, but sacrifices some funtional efficiency as a result.
Thinner, stretchier grades of Powerdry seem to wick better
particularly in very hot conditions where the El Cap feels a
little on the warm side. Still an effective base layer
though and much better than a cotton tee-shirt.
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Know more or want to?
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Richard Gear or try a posting to our gear
forum.
John Corteen
