Supreme Vest - First Look

Supreme Merino Baselayer ss Vest First Look

Price: £30.00

Weight: 153 grammes (medium)

Features 100% 18 micron 200g superfine Merino. Vee-neck. Flat-seamed construction, available in back and white. Unisex fit.

Soft, comfortable, natural, great anti-stink properties. Moisture management not as good as synthetics.

---

The Concept Oh no you're thinking, another merino wool baselayer. Yep, it's made from the wool of merino sheep which has incredibly fine fibres, so doesn't itch like traditional, coarser wools and is a natural baselayer alternative to petro-chemical derived synthetic fabrics.

Like any baselayer it's intended to be comfortable against the skin and help transport moisture away from your body to keep you comfortable.

So what makes Supreme different from say, Icebreaker or Smartwool merino? Importers Chocolate Fish point out that unlike other merino garments, which are now made abroad, the range they sell is still made in Christchurch New Zealand available in the UK, which means you know it's ethically produced in a country with no human rights abuses. The range was orginally made for the New Zealand army back in the 80s, so it has an established heritage too.

---

Features We've been using the Supreme short-sleeved vest, which is a simple vee-necked, lightweight merino made with flatlocked seams for comfort. The 18 micron fibres are very fine making for added softness. The baselayer vests are also available in long-sleeved versions and come in a choice of black or white.

If you hanker for brighter colours, Weft Indurstries, who produce the Sureme range, also make the Mount Cook range in the same weight fabric, but in a choice of brighter colours for the non-monochrome inclined.

---

In Action If you're an OM regular, you'll know that we like merino wool and the Supreme vest is no exception. Chocolate Fish say that they reckon it has a softer feel than other merino brands and we'd go along with that. It's really nice against the skin and comfortable in both cool and hot conditions.

As usual we don't think it handles moisture as well as a good synthetic, but it's not bad and, even when damp, still feels comfortable and warm. The other big plus with merino is that it has natural anti-stink properties which mean you can wear it for day after day without becoming a trekking pariah. That's a massively useful on multi-day trips when it helps to keep pack weight to a minimum.

The vee-necked tee isn't really our favourite configuration, but like we said, Chocolate Fish sells lots of other styles and colours in the same weight of clothing, both tops and bottoms as well as some rather attractive women's options like a camisole. The option we'd go for would be a Mount Cook 'skivvy' - same fabric, but long sleeved with a collar and zip-neck at a very reasonable £34.50.

---

Provisional Verdict Merino's a real feel good fabric, both ecologically and physically. With Supreme and the other ranges from Chocolate Fish, you also have the reassurance that it's been made in New Zealand.

It's comfortable across a range of conditions, natural and has fantastic anti-stink properties. The only real downside is that good synthetics do handle moisture better and dry quicker, however, with merino staying warm and comfortable even when damp, that's not necessarily a major problem unless you really churn out the perspiration.

It's also very decent value compared to merino alternatives from other brands, the long-sleeved Skivvy with zip-neck is only £34.50. And you can buy the women's stuff in hyacinth... What more cold you ask for?

Finally, we have a confession to make, we like merino so much, that we've started wearing it as a general, everyday top outside of the summer - can you imagine doing that with any synthetic baselayer you've used?

Chocolate Fish web site

Know more or want to?

If you'd like to add your own experiences of this product check out our user review system and post your opinions to the world. If you have questions you can mail us direct, ask Richard Gear or try a posting to our gear forum.