Backcountry magazine reviews Voormi Freatured

VOORMI Thermal II Baselayer

The merino/polyester construction of this baselayer top offers cold-busting insulation.

Warmth

VOORMI's wool comes from Rocky Mountain sheep, a subspecies of merino that produces especially crimped wool fibers. VOORMI says this makes for more insulating air pockets when worn under a layer and better breathability when worn alone. We say this midweight top felt toasty even in punishing temps. "I felt comfortable at -8°F on a snowshoe trip," says a tester. A high, snug neck locks in heat. But it's too warm for anything above the mid-40s. Wicking A superfine inner layer of polyester siphons moisture off the skin and into the wool outer layer. There, water evaporates without leaving you with that cold-fish feeling. The pull-push action worked, but if you sweat it out, the merino takes forever to dry.

Stink resistance

The high wool content (90 percent) kept this shirt smelling fresh for three to four days of sweaty mountaineering at a time (better than the Westcomb, which uses wool/poly with the opposite construction).