Advnture Verdict
A comfortable, partly recycled, versatile top suitable for a range of outdoor activities, and imbued with apparently performance-enhancing technology.
Pros
- +
Stylish
- +
Good price
- +
Recycled materials
Cons
- -
No odor control
- -
Cotton content heavy when wet
- -
No reflective safety details
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Craghoppers Men’s Dynamic Short Sleeved T-Shirt: first impressions
The good-looking and versatile Craghoppers Men’s Dynamic Short Sleeved T-Shirt is not just a lightweight running top but is great for a whole variety of outdoor activities. It’s been made using a fair chunk of recycled poly material (around four plastic bottles’ worth per T-shirt, according to Craghoppers), which is a definite step in the right direction.
It also employs an Dynamic 12000 Innovative fabric, which, it is claimed, employs six natural minerals to reflect your own body's natural infrared rays (yes, humans do give off radiation). Allegedly, this process improves blood circulation (and therefore oxygen intake) and encourages cell regeneration, leading to better performance and all-round wellbeing.
The price is reasonable, and the style is classy, with a nice cut and a crew neck. Made from a tough mix, this T feels like it will last the distance too, although with no odor control treatment we wonder whether it may accumulate some sweat smells after a few tough trail running sessions. Also, a couple of reflective details (so vehicle drivers can see you running at night) would make a good addition.
• RRP: £30 (UK) / (Not currently available in the US)
• Style: Short-sleeve T
• Weight: 158g / 5.6oz
• Sizes: S-XXL
• Materials: Polyester (61%), cotton (36%), elastane (3%)
• Colors: Magma Orange / Poseidon Blue / Ocean Blue / Sriracha Red
• Compatibility: Running, hiking and biking
Craghoppers Men’s Dynamic Short Sleeved T-Shirt: on the trails
I’ve been wearing this short-sleeved top for both running and walking escapades, and I think it’s best suited to the latter, with the material being a tad too heavy for running, especially when it gets wet (either from the elements, or with sweat). The relatively high cotton content doesn’t help with this.
As a walking or fastpacking top it feels comfortable next to the skin, but there is no odor eating treatment, so over time it could well end up with lingering sweat smalls (this hasn’t happened so far, but it’s something to be aware of).
In terms of the supposedly performance-enhancing Dynamic 12000 Innovative fabric – well it’s very difficult to assess the true efficacy of such claims even after repeated wears, but we will continue to monitor this on our longer-term test.
What we can tell you immediately is that this is a very comfortable T to wear for running and walking, regardless of whether you hit the trails or the roads, and it can be worn for climbing adventures too.
The mix of cotton and synthetic gives it a smooth, cool, next-to-skin feel, although the relatively high cotton content would make us nervous about relying on it for warmth in a mountain situation – but as a spring and summer running top, it certainly cuts the mustard. There’s a decent dash of elastane in the fabric mix, which makes it stretch dynamically when you move.
