Super Natural SS Tee

There’s an ongoing battle in the technical apparel industry between merino wool and synthetic fabrics like polyester. Wool is touted for its breathability and anti-stink properties, while synthetics are popular for their fast-drying and sweat-wicking capabilities. Gear companies are starting to recognize the merits of both camps, and blending the two in an effort to make a super fabric. No one is doing a better job with this difficult task than the company Super.Natural. Their SS Tee is a 50/50 split of wool and polyester that feels as soft as cotton, stretches like lycra, and regulates body temperature like wool. On 80-degree trail runs, we never overheated, and the shirt wicked and dried like a pure synthetic. It’s tough as well – we logged over 100 miles in the shirt, most of which with a pack – and the shirt hardly showed any piling. And anti-stink? We took the shirt out on a trail run every day for 10 days straight without any overwhelming odor buildup. The only signs of use were dried salt patterns on the chest and back, and a hint of deodorant in the armpits. “I’ve never had a shirt handle this kind of reek without absorbing it,” one tester said. This bodes well for tossing this tee into your travel wardrobe or your adventure race kit, since a shirt that doesn’t smell like a wet Yeti is less likely to make your travel companions and teammates hate you.