Lesswet.com merino wool/polyester zip collar T-shirt review

This technical T-shirt from Lesswet.com mixes synthetic and natural fabrics in a bid to produce a great combination of breathability, comfort and fast drying. And it comes pretty close to succeeding, with only an odd cut dashing its chances.

The relatively low merino content – 22 percent, compared to 78 percent polyester – means it doesn’t have the same warm, soft feeling of base layers made entirely from the wool. But it certainly feels nicer next to the skin than many synthetic tops, and doesn’t smell quite as bad after use.

The shape is akin to a polo shirt, only without the floppy collar. A quarter-length zip adds versatility and cooling options. The look is stealthy, with the only branding a small reflective ‘water droplet’ logo on the front hem. It’s also available in white and red.

So far, so good – but there’s no escaping the fact that the sizing is a bit odd. The medium size was a fraction narrow on the shoulders but otherwise a good fit on the torso. The stumbling block was the length.

When wearing Lycra cycling shorts, the hem of the shirt ended below the crotch – even on testers well over 6ft. When we compared it to one of our BikeRadar cycling jerseys, it was a whopping 12cm (4.7in) longer.

If you have an unusually long torso, this could be ideal. If not, it looks odd over Lycra, and while it goes okay with mountain bike baggies, there’s a high risk of snagging it on your saddle – not something you want when negotiating technical terrain. Definitely one to try before you buy.