Icebreaker Men's Merino Amplify T-Shirt Review

Icebreaker describes their Merino Amplify T-Shirt as ideal for high-energy activities and travel, wicking away moisture, highly breathable and able to remain smell free. We asked Mike our Website Manager to put it through its paces and let us know how it performed.

Initial Thoughts About The Product

I tested this tee for two days straight on a family camping and hiking trip in the Howgill Fells between the Yorkshire Dales and Cumbria. It seemed the perfect opportunity to put it through its paces good and proper – plenty of chances to work up a sweat and test Icebreaker’s famed odour resistance!

The first thing that struck me was how light the tee was. The fabric was really soft too.

130gm jersey: 52% merino wool/35% Tencel/13% nylon 135gm eyelet merino mesh: 51% merino wool, 34% Tencel, 15% Nylon 130gm jersey corespun is featherweight, wicks moisture and dries quickly Corespun – merino fibre wrapped around a superfine nylon core for extra durability

Cool-Lite – merino/Tencel combination stays cooler and wicks better in the heat Offset shoulder seams for comfort Drop tail hem Slim fit

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How Did It Perform?

Fit: 10/10

Size-wise, I’m a 39” chest, meaning I could have opted for a small for a more ‘performance’ fit, or a medium for something more relaxed. I went for the latter, but the slim fit meant it wasn’t particularly baggy. The drop tail hem also meant it sat well at the back – there was no riding up that I’d usually experience when wearing a backpack.

Performance: 10/10

Even when hiking with a weighty pack, the Amplify’s eyelet merino mesh wicked sweat away faster than any top I’ve ever owned. My back was actually dry for once! I can see this being the perfect top for long haul journeys when you need something to stay feeling cool and fresh for multiple days at a time.

In the evening as the temperatures dropped it made an ideal base layer when worn under an insulated jacket. After two days of use it still smelt passably clean.

Comfort: 10/10

I don’t think I could rate the Amplify more highly for comfort; I wore it solidly for two days - including sleeping in it - and there was no itchiness or clinginess. The superlight Cool-Lite fabric felt great. There was none of the itchiness that you’d expect from inferior Merino wool blends.

Durability: 9/10

The only Icebreaker I’ve owned is a 260 weight base layer that has seen me through the past 12 winters, so I can’t question Icebreaker’s ability to produce quality clothing. Two days in the field isn’t quite enough to truly test a product’s durability, but there was no sign of any bobbling, snagging or fraying from my backpack’s shoulder straps.

Weight: 10/10

As I mentioned before, the real stand out feature of this tee is its weight (or lack thereof!).

Materials/Construction: 10/10

The seams were well stitched and there were no loose threads or bobbling. The offset shoulder seams meant the tee sat nicely beneath a backpack with no chafing.

Aesthetics: 9/10

Icebreaker’s designs always err a bit on the subtle side for me, but I liked the raglan effect of the darker sleeves and back.

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Pros & Cons

Pros

• Incredibly versatile
• Lightweight
• Fast drying

Cons

• Genuinely can’t think of any

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About the Author: Mike Humphreys - Online Content Mike is a keen cyclist, snowboarder, hill walker and Land Rover tinkerer. He has travelled extensively, spending a year living out of a van in New Zealand before joining Ellis Brigham eight years ago. Can usually be found walking his dogs or tortoises.