Australian Hiker

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Wilderness Wear MerinoFusion 190 Long Sleeved Zip Neck Top Review

For the majority of my hiking adventures I only ever wear a thin long sleeved top. I find once I’m on the move I heat up and if my top is too thick I start to sweat. Like most hikers I use a layering system that provides a high degree of versatility over a wide range of temperatures. For me my layering system consists of four seperate garments:

1. A base layer
2. A mid layer
3. A down/synthetic jacket
4. A rain jacket

Funnily enough my mid layer is usually the last layer that goes on for me. My usual pattern is to use my base layer then add my rain jacket which reduces airflow and keeps me warm first thing in the morning when its still a bit cool. If I am using my mid layer its cold, really cold, but on occasions I will decide to wear the mid layer as my stand-alone top. I also have very specific preferences as far as mid layers go. Because it is a cold weather garment, I like to have a neck tube and zip that keeps my neck warm but allows me to open the zip up if needed.

I have been using the Wilderness Wear MerinoFusion 190 Long Sleeved Zip Neck Top for around 4 years and when I started using this garment it surprised me for a number of reasons. The first time I wore this top it was a particularly cold Canberra’s winter day and I used this as a stand alone top. I only glanced at the packaging and made the assumption that this garment was a 100% wool garment like the thinner Wilderness Wear Cumilo Merino 150. This assumption was bolstered as the top gave off that Lanolin smell that you often get with wool garments. It was only after number of months of wearing this top that I bothered to read the garment specifications. I discovered the ‘MerionoFusion’ part of the name means that this top is a combination of Merino Wool and Polypropylene.

The idea here it that this hybrid material provides the best of both worlds in that the smell often associated with wearing synthetic garments over long periods is minimised. The garment stays soft to the touch and feels very comfortable on. It continues to keep you warm even when wet but at the same time wicks moisture away from your body on the days when you start to sweat. In addition, the use of a synthetic hybrid material means that its cheaper than garments that are 100% wool.

I have a preference for snug fitting tops and the cut on this garment is classed as slim fit so the XL size fits me quite nicely. Given I will also wear this top as a second layer, I wouldn’t want it any smaller. As with the other Wilderness Wear tops I have reviewed, the body and sleeve lengths are very generous which is often a shortcoming of many other brands – causing them to ride up or become untucked.

As mentioned, I like having a zip neck on my mid layer as I lift weights at the gym my neck is on the thicker side. I often find that garments made overseas have a skinny neck and can give me a choking sensation which means the zip is often left open which defeats the purpose. Not so with the Wilderness Wear MerinoFusion 190 Long Sleeved Zip Neck Top. The neck is a bit bigger so ends up being quite comfortable for me.

The other feature worth mentioning here is the additional underarm panel on this garment. Rather than having a seam that runs straight up under the armpit, this additional panelling makes it feel very comfortable even on long days. This garment currently comes in just a single colour choice, called Fusion Black, although this colour is better described as a ‘mid grey’.  For many people they won’t care about the limited colour selection though.

I struggled to find any other negatives with this top and the only fault I could find is that there is some slight pilling occurring. Given I tend to  ignore the care instructions when washing my garments as I did in this case. I put it through a dryer – I’ll accept he blame for this – but this top is holding up very well.

The Wilderness Wear MerinoFusion 190 Long Sleeved Zip Neck Top has now become a firm part of my layering system. I’m very happy to recommend it for those looking for this style of top.

Wilderness Wear Men’s MerinoFusion 190 Long Sleeve Zip Neck Top – Fusion Black colour

Wilderness Wear MerinoFusion Long Sleeve Zip Neck Top on

Wilderness Wear MerinoFusion 190 Long Sleeved Zip Neck Top – side view. Note the generous length of both the sleeves and the body

Wilderness Wear MerionFusion 190 Long Sleeve Zip Neck Top – rear view

Wilderness Wear MerionFusion 190 Long Sleeve Zip Neck Top – under arm view

Wilderness Wear MerinoFusion 190 Long Sleeve Zip neck top – neck zip open

We Like

• High quality merino blend fabric that feels so comfortable to wear
• Double sewn flat seams prevents chaffing and keeps this garment comfortable no matter how heavy the pack or how many layers you wear
• Excellent length in both the body of the garment as well as the sleeves which is great for those of us with a bit of extra height
• Australian wool blend that keep you warm and minimises smell
• Australian owned, Australian made

We Don't Like

• I have had some pilling occurring on this top but I do put my clothing through a dryer which is not recommended so I’ll claim the blame for this issue
• Limited colour choice, just a single colour

Best Uses

As a standalone layer in cold weather or as a second layer in layering system

Buy One

You can purchase the Wilderness Wear MerinoFusion 190 Long Sleeved Zip Neck Top from Wilderness Wear

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!

Investment

AUD $140.00 RRP

Other Versions

Wilderness Wear produces a large range of tops in both short and long sleeves, as well as thin to thick materials. Depending on your tolerance for cold and your layering system there is a garment to suit your needs

 

Disclaimer

This review was done with product provided by Wilderness Wear

Last updated

23/11/2023

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