Smartwool NTS Midweight Zip T: Works Great, Looks Great

I was shocked the other day to return from a sunny week in California to freezing temps in Seattle. Still, I'm a glass half-full person, so the silver lining for me was: I get to wear my Smartwool NTS Midweight Zip T now!

Made out of 100% merino wool and available in men's and women's sizes, this long-sleeved zip top is the perfect insulating layer for cold weather outings. It's also incredibly soft against my skin. It's been awhile since I reviewed a midweight Smartwool top, and I'm pretty sure that this one feels softer than earlier versions from years past. It almost feels cottony.

I love the mock turtleneck style combined with a quarter-length zip. When I'm cold I can keep my neck warm with the mock neck (it's a bit more than two inches high), which fits snugly but not tightly. When I need to cool down, I can unzip.

Of course, like all Smartwool garments, this top features flatlock stitching so I don't have any problems with chafing. Smartwool has done an interesting thing with the shoulders of this top. While maintaining a set-in sleeve design, they've added a shoulder panel that operates like a raglan sleeve. No seams along the shoulders means more comfort when I'm carrying a pack.

Because I'm rarely in temps colder than 40 degrees F, the NTS Midweight Zip T is ideal for outdoor activities where I'm not working up much of a sweat but spending long hours in the cold. I tend to wear super lightweight wool tops under wind or rain shells for fall and spring workouts, then switch to a heavier wool top for winter hikes and power walks. I like being able to ditch heavier jackets by wearing a warmer wool baselayer.

For 32 F temps and below, the NTS Midweight is an essential garment for me because wool is so effective at wicking, insulating even when wet, and breathing. I wore it the other day in freezing temps under a shell, and I was perfectly comfortable. I've also worn this top over a micro weight wool tee on chilly days where I don't need a windbreaker - just warmth and breathability. The top is perfect for outdoor activities as well as travel. For its weight and easy packing, it provides a lot of warmth.

For the record, it's not that I'm nonchalant about the cold; I can't stand being cold. It's just that I'm from Minnesota, where temps drops to -20 or lower. So even though I get cold easily, if I'm moving (as in, snowshoeing or power walking or hiking), all I need is Washington's cold mountain air is a midweight top and a lightweight shell.

Style-wise, I really appreciate that the NTS Midweight Zip T comes in a variety of fun colors and patterns. I tested a men's T that has navy blue and gray micro stripes. It goes perfectly with my Smartwool Sanitas skirt. (Yes, I'm a lady, not that I would limit any man who wanted to wear the Sanitas skirt - it's gorgeous.) The women's NTS Midweight Zip has an even funkier stripe pattern option.

Sizes: Men's S-XXL. Women's XS-XL. (Note on size: I'm almost six feet tall, so I usually wear a L in women's tops. I tested a men's size M. Both men's and women's styles have a nice length in sleeves and torsos - long enough to cover my arms and belly.)

Bottom LIne: I love this top for its versatility, performance, fit, and good looks.--E.D. (Nov 09)

BUY ONLINE: $85, click here for women's top , click for men's t , save $10 on men's t at rei.com

Manufacturer's Site: www.smartwool.com

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