EField Test
APPAREL GUIDE
BEST T-SHIRT- Smartwool Women’s Merino Sport 150
Short Sleeve
Dayhikes, overnights, mountain bike rides, ski tours—if
we were sweating, we wa nted t his breat hable top. It ’s
made of 56 percent merino wool, wit h mesh a nd per fo-
rations in key areas across the back and sleeves, which
helped us dump heat fast. (The 44 percent polyester helps
it dry quickly when it does wet out.) Beyond that, it’s all
about the fit: The Merino Sport 150 Short Sleeve is more
f lowy than a typical shirt, which our testers appreciated
for air circulation and not being too constrictive when
worn under a pack. (Note: Size down if you want a closer
fit.)$65; 4 oz. (w’s M); w’s XS-XL; smartwool.comBEST TROUSERS- Foehn Women’s Brise Jogger
For pants that you could easily slide into your workday
rotation—that’s how good they look—the Brise packs a
surprising amount of tech chops. The difference-maker
is a cotton/Cordura/spandex blend, which means that
despite how light and airy the fabric feels, it’s tough and
stretchy. “No scuffs, snags, or pilling,” says one tester,
who wore the Brise for a season of rock-climbing, includ-
ing off-width routes in Vedauwoo, Wyoming. The tight
weave repels light rain, and our testers praised the three
pockets (two hand, one zippered), rare in a pant of this
cut. $129; 8 oz. (size 4); 0-12; wearfoehn.comBEST BRA- Kari Traa Sol Bra
This is not your mother’s sports bra. The Sol’s slim straps
look great, but they don’t sacrifice support when it comes
to eliminating “trail bounce.” A superwide section of
elastic on the chest also helped keep the bra in place
during trail runs throughout Colorado’s Front Range, and
mesh sections on the sides prevented us from getting too
sweaty. Bonus: Removable cups and a ton of adjustability
ma ke it ea sy to dia l in a custom f it. $30; 4.8 oz. (w’s M);
w’s XS-XL; karitraa.comBEST SUN HAT- Conner Hats Bird and Feather Wool Hat
This hat may look like it’s made for Instagram, but it actu-
ally has the tech for multiday backpacking trips. The
merino wool adds warmth on cool days, yet also breathes
wel l enoug h to ha nd le wa rmer hi kes. A nd whi le our tester
was nervous to test the crushability of such a handsome
piece, after months of stuffing it in duffels and catching
her toddler chewing on it, she says it still bounces back to
its original shape. Bonus: It fit our tester’s self-described
“oversize dome,” a nd it a lso includes a n interna l adjust-
able ba nd to shrin k down to a traditiona l size sma l l.
$65; 8 oz.; one size;connerhats.com1423WOMEN’S KITS
By Maren Horjus