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Plastic is in all places. It’s in our kitchens, in our clothes, within the clouds above our heads, and even in our our bodies. At this level, it’s basically unavoidable. However these days, I’ve develop into (OK, possibly just a little obsessed) in reducing down on the quantity of plastic I exploit each day, particularly with regards to attire.

That’s why the Icebreaker Shell+ windbreaker caught my consideration. Whereas virtually all outerwear is comprised of artificial textiles, this layer is crafted totally from cotton and merino wool handled with a water-repellant PFC-free sturdy water-repellent (DWR) end. I cherished the model’s merino working shorts. They’re by far the finest working shorts I’ve ever worn. So I made a decision to offer the Shell+ a strive.

Dig round in your drawers or gear closet and pull out a number of jackets, base layers, or efficiency T-shirts. Most of these things shall be comprised of petroleum-based materials like nylon and polyester. These supplies are particularly frequent for technical efficiency attire as a result of they’re sturdy and breathable, they usually don’t absorb water. However in addition they shed microplastics and require a number of fossil fuels to provide.

It’s the good irony of outside attire: Many of the gear we use to benefit from the outside is contributing to the degradation of our planet.

Icebreaker was based in response to this drawback. Since its launch in 1995, it has pioneered a extra sustainable strategy to technical out of doors attire. It minimizes its plastic use by counting on pure materials like merino wool as a substitute. For those who assume pure materials can’t measure as much as synthetics in technical out of doors conditions, the icebreaker Shell+ would possibly make you reevaluate that stance.

Briefly: After a number of days of testing in chilly and moist Michigan fall circumstances, the Shell+ jacket impressed me. It’s a succesful, light-weight layer that’s supreme for cold-weather climbing and working. The windproof materials cuts chilly air, whereas the water resistance gives simply sufficient safety to maintain you dry in a really mild rain. The pure merino-cotton mix of the Shell+ proves that pure materials could make technical attire too.

icebreaker Shell+ Windbreaker: Evaluate

(Picture/Michael Charboneau)

Match and Really feel

The Shell+ jacket is designed to be a light-weight layer for cover from wind and gentle rain throughout high-intensity actions. Once I pulled mine out of its packaging, I used to be shocked at how acquainted it felt — the DWR-coated cotton material has a clean texture just like the artificial windbreakers and rain jackets I’m used to.

It’s paired with merino wool mesh in key areas: Lengthy strips beneath the sleeves from the armpits to the cuffs, and one other lengthy strip working vertically down the again of the jacket. The merino has a super-soft, comfy texture, and it additionally provides some stretchiness to the jacket.

(Picture/Michael Charboneau)

I examined my jacket on a number of brief runs on neighborhood trails whereas visiting household in Michigan over Thanksgiving. Even only a few steps into my first check jog, the Shell+ impressed me with its light-weight really feel and suppleness.

The versatile Merino mesh panels and raglan sleeves gave wonderful freedom of motion. I may swing my arms freely as I ran and the jacket’s streamlined match saved it from blowing round within the wind or feeling cumbersome. The elasticated cuffs saved the sleeves in place over my gloves, and the form-fitting hood didn’t blow off or flap round.

At 9.4 ounces for a males’s medium, it’s actually not ultralight. The truth is, at that weight, it’s heavier than each one of many windbreakers on GearJunkie’s Finest Windbreakers of 2023 roundup. The typical weight on that listing is 4.16 ounces, and most of the jackets included are lower than 2 ounces. That is among the nice advantages of artificial material: it’s mild. On that entrance, naturally primarily based options are nonetheless catching up.

However even at 9.4 ounces, the Icebreaker Shell+ by no means felt heavy or overly cumbersome. Its weight didn’t sluggish me down.

(Picture/Michael Charboneau)

The zippered chest pocket had loads of house for my telephone. Regardless of some minor jostling, it stayed safe and I didn’t discover it an excessive amount of whereas working. Nevertheless, that’s the solely pocket on this jacket. There are not any facet or inner pockets.

The general match and really feel of the Shell+ felt spot on. The jacket felt as if it disappeared on my physique as soon as I began shifting. For efficiency outerwear, there’s no greater praise.

Breathability

(Picture/Michael Charboneau)

Throughout my testing, temperatures ranged from the excessive 30s to the excessive 40s. The Shell+ appeared ideally suited to working in that climate (I paired the jacket with a technical base layer beneath, in addition to a beanie hat and gloves).

I at all times admire working jackets which have vents to dump warmth. And the merino mesh panels did a great job of shedding extra heat whereas I used to be working. As I warmed up, I unzipped the entrance zipper on the high and backside to create extra airflow, and that saved me comfy.

On the finish of my check runs, I did discover some mild moisture buildup on account of sweat across the again of my shoulders. However total, the jacket felt nice whereas I used to be shifting. Attire designed for high-intensity exercise has to strike a tough stability between heat and breathability. I’d say the Shell+ nailed it: It minimize down the wind and chill, however it additionally breathed nicely. So, I by no means felt like I used to be roasting.

Climate Efficiency

(Picture/Michael Charboneau)

Icebreaker doesn’t declare the Shell+ is waterproof — solely water repellant. Even so, it carried out nicely in mild precipitation in gentle temperatures.

I wore the Shell+ over a base layer for a run on a 40-degree day with mild, regular rain. Whereas I used to be comfy all through my route, it didn’t block the water totally. I seen some gentle dampness on my base layer as soon as I made it residence. However the DWR end brought on a lot of the rain to bead up and roll off the outside of the jacket. I didn’t get completely soaked, which is spectacular in a cotton-based jacket.

Closeup of damp merino mesh after bathe check; (picture/Michael Charboneau)

However how wouldn’t it maintain up throughout a storm? To simulate a downpour, I examined the Shell+ for a couple of minutes beneath a bathe head at full blast, and, predictably, this was the place the jacket reached its restrict.

I didn’t expertise any leaks on the entrance zipper (a storm flap on the again saved water out). However my base layer acquired soaked on the arms, and water rolling off the hood entered the wool mesh on the again and soaked my again as nicely. No shock right here: For heavy downpours or lengthy runs in regular rain, you’ll want a totally waterproof jacket to remain dry. The Shell+ can be nice beneath a rain jacket.

Room for Enchancment

(Picture/Michael Charboneau)

My largest gripe with the Shell+? The entrance zippers. I discovered the jacket annoyingly tough to zip open or closed whereas shifting. The underside zipper was particularly cussed, and I had to make use of each my arms (one to carry the hem of the jacket regular, one to yank on the zipper) to get it open for extra airflow.

The zipper pulls are additionally fairly small. So it was tough to get a great grip whereas sporting gloves. Each time I attempted to unzip my jacket, it devolved into a clumsy two-handed operation that required me to decelerate and take my eyes off the trail in entrance of me. Not supreme whereas working.

The elastic hem on the Shell+ labored superb throughout my check runs, however I feel a drawcord hem might be a great addition to this jacket. That means, in very windy circumstances, you possibly can cinch it down tight to stop it from blowing round and letting in chilly air.

And it will be remiss to not point out the burden of the Shell+. At 9.4 ounces, it’s on the heavy finish of windbreakers.

icebreaker Shell+ Windbreaker: Conclusion

The Shell+ makes a compelling various to artificial windbreakers. Whereas it received’t exchange a water-resistant jacket, it affords a comfortable match and nice breathability, and I feel it’s a stellar selection for cold runs or hikes in dry to mildly moist climate.

Cotton and wool would possibly sound like an odd combo for outerwear, however the Shell+ proves these pure supplies can measure as much as their plastic-based rivals. For many who need to cut back their use of plastics (and aren’t frightened about maintaining issues ultralight), this jacket is a strong midlayer possibility.