Icebreaker Mondo Zip Tested

Icebreaker Mondo Zip Tested

The Mondo Zip is made from 200-weight pure merino which is around 25-percent lighter than Icebreaker's 260-weight and, because it's thinner is cooler, making it more of an all-year round mountain baselayer.

Like all baselayers, it's intended to be comfortable next to the skin and manage moisture to keep you comfortable.

Merino wool is the subject of some confusion. Its fibres are much finer than 'normal' wool making it non-scratchy and it's also good at handling moisture. Many users say that it 'wicks', this isn't really true, but what it does do is absorb a lot of moisture and hold it away from the skin meaning that it stays comfortable even when damp.

The 200-weight version used in the Mondo Zip is lighter than previous technical Icebreaker tops making it more useable in warmer conditions and lighter overall as well.

The long-sleeved zip-neck layout is our favourite design for technical use - the collar and sleeves give some sun protection, but the sleeves can be rolled up and the zip undone to improve cooling if needed.

We've used the 260-weight version in the past, but that felt a bit warm, even in cold conditions and has a weird, floppy collar and a slightly loose fit. The Mondo addresses all those points - it's slimmer fitting, has a neater, smaller collar and with contrast, flatlocked stitching it looks great. The little NZ map logo looked great too, giving a bit of an All Black flavour to the top.

In use it was excellent for walking, climbing and biking in anything other than really warm conditions. It's close fitting and comfortable against the skin and the light/medium weight of the fabric means less overheating. When things do get moist and sweaty, the merino handles it well and it's only when you really hammer things that the fabric gets properly damp - even then it's not uncomfortable against the skin.

Another massive merino bonus is that it has great anti-stink capabilities meaning you can use it for multi-day trips without smelling like a mule. For that reason, it would be our first choice for, say, Himalayan trekking. It does get a slight wet sheep aroma when damp, but it's not unpleasant.

Downsides? Merino's quite good at handling heat, but the black colour of ours did tend to soak up the sun and we'd suggest a lighter grade for really hot days plus the neck zip could be slightly longer for better venting. If you're really sweaty, you may be better off with a high-wicking synthetic in certain situations, but there's really not much in it - merino still handles moisture and keeps you comfortable, just in a different way.

Like we said, the zipped long-sleeved design is our choice for all-round use and add in the moisture handling capabilities, comfort, lightness and multi-day anti-stink properties and you have one excellent base-layer top. And at £45, while not exactly cheap, it's only a little more expensive than top end synthetics.

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