What's It For?
Designed to be worn next to skin, baselayers like the Discover Tech Tee are intended to move moisture away from the skin. dry quickly and this particular version, uses coconut-based Cocona fabric to resist odours even with repeated use.
The Techy Bits
The Discover feels like a straightforward Polyester baselayer top, but what marks it out is that 50% of the fabric is called Cocona. It's made from coconut husks which are first carbonised and then steamed to enlarge natural pores in the material before being embedded into a polyester yarn so it can be used to produce clothing.
The secret to Cocona is the pores inside the carbonised coconut husk. Think of it as being like the inside of a crunchy. One gramme of Cocona effectively has the same surface area as a football pitch.
That means fluid has more surface area to spread out onto and is evaporated more quickly. In addition, the pores trap odour producing molecules and stop them stinking... Because the technology is embeded in the fabric, it doesn't wear out and no maintenance is needed other than normal washing and drying.
Sounds miraculous huh? Faster drying along with no pong... As a bonus, it also gives good UV protection.
How It Performed
So far we're really impressed with the fabric. It dries uncannily fast and clears moisture away from the skin as rapidly as the best baselayers we've used making it feel comfortable even in hot conditions when you're sweating hard. Rapid drying is great as well.
The other thing that's impressed us, is the odour control. It really is very, very good even when used on consecutive days and, if Sprayway is to be believed, the benefits are permanent. It's like having the moisture management of good synthetic fibre combined with the anti-pong qualities of merino wool.
Otherwise there's nothing particularly radical about the Discover - there doesn't really need to be. A short collar gives some sun protection, cut is nice and loose making for a cooler feel on really hot days and feel is like polyester in fact. Stitching is flatlocked for comfort and there's no seam on the top of the shoulder for happy pack use. All good.
Finally there are no internal labels to scratch against your sensitive skin.
Initial Verdict
So far we're amazed. Cocona really does seem to do what it says on the box by combining impressive moisture management qualities with a welcome lack of odour. On top of that, it uses green technology in the sense that it recycles coconut shells. And the garment itself is nicely designed and looks good. Result.
Buy if... you want a baselayer top that wicks fast and dries really quickly plus doesn't pong with repeated use and offers good UV protection into the bargain.
