By Cathi Cannon

Yes, I am here to dispel all the myths you have heard about wool — gone are the thick, itchy sweaters from holiday photos. Enter the new and improved wool of today: soft, breathable, and all kinds of comfort.

One of the leading innovators in merino wool performance clothing, Icebreaker, recently provided two items from their summer GT Run lineup for us to test: The Rush Tank and Swift Skort. While I was familiar with their winter collection, this would be my first foray into “summertime woollies”.

A rigorous 3-point test began.

Day 1: Trail Running. Temps were in the mid-90s and we started to sweat just tying our shoes. Perfect testing weather. The first thing I notice about both pieces was how comfortable they were, both in fit and material. I’m not shy about sweating and the Rush Tank did its job in moving it away from my skin quickly, keeping me as dry and cool as possible. (Note: it’s always best to wear a top slightly fitted so that it can transport sweat more easily; a larger shirt flapping in the wind is just not going to work as efficiently.) The Swift Skort was a surprising winner. Made out of slightly heavier 200gsm wool (the tank is 150gsm), it still keeps you cool while maintaining a high level of durability for any unplanned meetings with the ground (or in my case, a crazy bushwack around a hornet’s nest). A slit on the left may be a bit sexy for the uber-modest, but just think of it as built-in air conditioning. On the side is a smartly placed zipped pocket, adequately sized for keys and a few gels or bars. The one thing perhaps missing are gel grippers on the inner short; while they rode up slightly, it did not detract from the overall comfort or “wearability” of the skort.

Day 2: Aprés Bike. Skiers have their aprés gear, so why can’t we?! After a day in the chamois, I can honestly say nothing could be more comfortable than the Swift Skort. Soft and airy, the skort also scores points with a stylish asymmetrical waistband and complimenting panel construction.

Day 3: Hike. I actually started with an hour run, then met up with friends for a two hour hike. I was thoroughly soaked with sweat at the start of the hike, but about an hour in, both items were nearly dry. Using a light pack was comfortable with no chafing or other problem spots. Win!

I can now reveal the secret test I was also performing. Unbeknownst to my hike-mates, I had not yet washed the tank. One of the benefits of wool I had read about was its resilience to the “funk” so common with synthetic performance gear. So, in the spirit of thorough gear testing, I had to indulge. I am happy to report that after multiple uses in the horridly hot conditions of the deep south, the Rush passed the sniff test with a smile.

While I do some laundry, go explore Icebreaker’s website. In addition to purchasing all of their products online, you can learn more about the company and their dedication to sustainability. And while you’re there, say hello to the sheep & farmers that produced my Rush Tank (baacode # 07D1AD41A) and Swift Skort (# 5BAB8B80B).

Check out the full Icebreaker GT Run lineup here: Men’s | Women’s

Cathi Cannon discovered mountains after growing up in Florida thinking the world was flat. She now works in Chattanooga, TN, as a graphic designer to fund her trail running and cycling habits. Cathi is a volunteer race director whose adventures appear at bebackonmonday.com.