TGO April 2009 Women’s Midweight L/S Zip Neck

This is Polartec with Cocona (activated carbon polyester yarn made from coconut shells), which is becoming all the rage in base layers. The claims for the fibre are that it’s anti-bacterial and anti-odour; the first three times I wore this top it was definitely anti-social, but after multiple washes the pong-factor improved. Comfort levels are high: the fibre, which has a slight grid effect on the inside face, is very soft, wicks well and dries quickly. It has ‘give’ rather than ‘stretch’, more horizontal than vertical. The short front zip is topped by a chinguard and the mid-height collar works well under mid layers. Realistically it’s cut too close and short to work as an insulation garment; it’s definitely more of a base layer. Length is borderline: it’s longer than the last Marmot base layer I tested but I personally think it would benefit from a few more centimeters.