Ibex introduces two new shirts for the outdoors: one for exercising hard, and one for just about anything else. Built with typical Ibex quality and, of course, Merino wool, these shirts have been on some great adventures.
Trip Shirt Features:
- Regular fit
- Fabric: 100% wool, 19.5 micron Rambler fabric
- Fabric gram weight: 170 g/m2
- Garment weight: 8 oz
- 5 1/2″ chest pocket with bar tack detail
- Seaming detail at yoke
- Center back length: 31″ (size L)
- Four color options
- MSRP $145
Ringer Shirt Features:
- Regular fit
- Fabric: 100% merino wool, 18.5 micron fabric
- Fabric gram weight: 150 g/m2
- Garment weight: 5 oz
- Center back length: 29″ (size L)
- Contrast binding at collar and sleeves
- Two color options
- MSRP $90
From Half Dome to office duty
The merits of wool fabrics are well-established, and in this category few companies have a product line as extensive and diverse as Ibex. Their lineup ranges from high-performance athletic wear to rugged multi-use items to fashionable polos and button-downs; occasionally, these three categories overlap to create products that you’ll find yourself using day after day.
Such was the case with the shirts we tested. We wore the Trip shirt as everyday casual wear, and also used it for day hikes and a three-day backpacking outing in Yosemite National Park. The Ringer was used every day for about 7-10 days between washings, for casual trail running as well as warm-weather track workouts. We also ended up combining the two shirts when conditions warranted, as we’ll explain shortly.
Both of these shirts are innovative in their own way. The Trip is made from Ibex’s new Rambler fabric, which is a lightweight woven 100-percent wool material. It doesn’t feel like traditional wool fabrics, and actually has a somewhat synthetic touch to it. It’s a somewhat thick fabric that proved highly durable with every activity we threw at it, and the relatively long center back length helps it stay in place underneath a backpack without creeping upward. The plaid styling of the Trip is right at home on the trail, while the regular fit and button-down construction are perfectly suitable for more sophisticated settings.
There are two aspects of the Rambler fabric we would like to see improved: it has very little stretch capability, so range of motion might be an issue for activities like rock climbing. It also has a coarser overall feel than many button-down trail shirts we’ve tested, and is definitely coarser than the other Ibex shirt we tested.
The Ringer is innovative in its old-school simplicity: the style is a throwback to 1970s P.E. class shirts – only way more functional and about 50 times more comfortable. Contrast-color cuffs at the neck collar and sleeves help create the look, while 100% merino wool construction provides the feel.
The fabric on the Ringer is exceptionally soft, moves well with activity, and wears like your most comfortable cotton t-shirt. Although the merino wool fabric naturally wicks moisture, the transport mechanism is slightly slower than with synthetic fabrics. In our testing, the fabric never felt saturated or heavy, but you do get an obvious sweat pattern before the fibers dry, especially on the stone gray color we tested. The sweat pattern is a purely cosmetic issue – and if you’re really into mimicking the 1970s P.E. class look, it’s completely authentic.
The obvious benefit with each of these shirts is that you can wear them over and over again with complete odor resistance. The only way we knew when to wash the Ringer was when it started getting stiff from salt buildup. The Trip can probably be worn for a full through-hike without getting funky, although we found the fabric less comfortable for full days on the trail. Our solution was to combine them, wearing the Ringer underneath the Trip. Both fabrics breathe well enough to prevent overheating in warm conditions, and they provide strong insulation in cool temperatures. On our Yosemite trip, temps ranged from high 30s in the early morning to low 80s during the day, and we very seldom had to reach for a jacket or peel off a layer.
A rundown of the Trip Shirt
The Good:
- Highly durable
- Great trail styling
The Bad:
- Uncomfortable against skin for long active days
A rundown of the Ringer Shirt
The Good:
- Soft comfortable fabric
- Full range of motion for exercise
The Bad:
- Avoid the gray color if you don’t want to look like a sweathog
Bottom Line: Ibex Trip and Ringer Shirts
We love the Ibex Ringer shirt for staying comfortable during high intensity aerobic exercise. The Ibex Trip is a durable, versatile layer with great styling for casual use, but it’s definitely more comfortable as a second layer.
Buy Now: Find Ibex at Backcountry.com
