Icebreaker Women’s Merino Sphere II Short Sleeve T-Shirt
Women's Top
Rating
| Rating: | 9.1 / 10 |
| Value for Money | 2.3 / 2.5 |
| Durability | 2.3 / 2.5 |
| Comfort | 2.4 / 2.5 |
| Weight | 2.1 / 2.5 |
Icebreaker Women’s Merino Sphere II Short Sleeve T-Shirt Review
This is the first review of an Icebreaker T-shirt I have done in a very long time. I’ve been wearing the Wilderness Wear COOL Merino Tencel 155 Short Sleeve Scoop Women’s Tee for many years so I was pleased when I had the opportunity to see how well Icebreaker’s Merino Sphere II T-Shirt stood up to the kind of heavy wear my hiking gear has to withstand.
I am a big fan Merino clothing for hiking. Icebreaker Merino is sourced from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, but this one isn’t Aussie (or NZ) made. Icebreaker does have a lot information on its website about its ethical and sustainable sourcing of labour and materials so that is great to see which is an increasing trend by hiking manufacturers.
This t-shirt is made from Icebreaker’s Cool-Lite fabric which is a combination of Merino and Tencel which is sourced sustainably from Eucalyptus wood fibre. Icebreaker’s pitch is that these fabrics provide ‘extreme natural comfort, breathability and next-to-skin softness.’ I couldn’t agree more – this t-shirt is light to wear, super soft and cool.
The body length will suit those with a longer torso. The hem of this t-shirt is stylishly tapered so if you’re wearing it over the top of your pants, you won’t look ‘boxy’. The fit is what I would call ‘standard’ – not form fitting but also not over-sized or baggy.
I wore this t-shirt on the Kiama Coast Walk on a very hot and humid day and was very glad I did. It kept me cool and the (very heavy) sweating I did on this day wicked away quickly. This t-shirt has a ‘mesh yoke’ at the front that has a more open weave and a slightly lighter weight which doesn’t appeal to me but it does add to the tee’s coolness. By the end of the walk I still looked presentable and didn’t feel at all grubby.
The Sphere II comes in five sizes – XS, S, M, L and XL. I wear a size S and have plenty of room to move. The sleeve length is good with a comfortable circumference for those of us who don’t have skinny arms!
There are two colours – Fresh Heather (e.g. pale green) and Midnight Navy Heather which most of us would call grey! I have the Fresh Heather colour and while I wasn’t initially a fan of the colour, its is growing on me.
The price varies depending on colour – the RRP of Fresh Heather is AUD $85.54 but you can get it on sale for $78 and the Midnight Navy Heather version RRP is $100.79 and is on sale for around $91. The difference in pricing perhaps suggests that some colours are more popular than others and I’m not the only one who isn’t keen on Fresh Heather!
In terms of the after hike clean up, this tee is surviving my washing and clothes drier routine – there is no sign of pilling or hem rolling.
I’m a fan of the Sphere II tee and you’ll see me wearing this one until the weather starts to cool!
We Like
- A combination of Merino and Tencel fibres which mean you’ll stay cool and won’t smell after days of wear
- Super soft and comfortable to wear
- Retains its shape after hard wear and many washes
- Stylish standard fit
- Tapered lower hem adds to the styling
- Generous sleeve size and body length
- Versatile given it can be worn as a standalone or as part of your layering system
We don't like
- Limited colour range
- Traditional seaming rather than flat-lock seams
Best Uses
- Great for any warm/hot weather outdoor activity
Investment
AUD $100.00 RRP
Buy One
You can purchase Icebreaker Merino Women’s Sphere II Short Sleeve T-Shirt online from Wild Earth
Disclosure: We may earn a small commission, at no additional expense to you, if you click through and make a purchase. Please note that our affiliations do not influence, in any way, the independence of our reviews. If we don’t like a product, you’ll hear about it from us!
Other Versions
Icebreaker produces a range of both women’s and men’s clothing
Icebreaker Merino Women’s Sphere II Short Sleeve T-Shirt – front view, Fresh Heather colour
Icebreaker Merino Women’s Sphere II Short Sleeve T-Shirt – rear view, Fresh Heather colour
Icebreaker Merino Women’s Sphere II Short Sleeve T-Shirt – Midnight Navy Heather colour
Gill wearing her Icebreaker Merino Women’s Sphere II Short Sleeve T-Shirt on the Kiama Coast Walk
Disclaimer
This review was done with product provided by Icebreaker for testing
Last updated
17 March 2024