Outdoor Research recently introduced their new hybrid tech fabric—a smart mixture of merino wool and synthetic material dubbed drirelease—in a small array of warm-weather products. And next fall they’ll double down on the tech by releasing a big cache of colder-weather base and midlayers. The chemists at OR have melded together poly and merino into one yarn, which blends 88 percent of the synthetic fabric and 12 percent wool at the fiber level, creating base layers that they claim dries four times faster than all-merino products, with a higher thermal insulation value than other all-wool fabrics. Odor-neutralizing technology should prevent the funk that often develops with poly base layers, arguably the weakest element of higher-cost synthetics. The 11 new products will be divided into three tiers, a handful of base layers (tights, zip tops, and boxers), some mid-weight tops and hoodies with decent stretch, and the burly men’s and women’s Constellation Hoody ($150) with ripstop panels in the shoulders, thumb loops, and a zippered chest pocket targeted to become your best, high-performance mid layer.
—Nathan Borchelt
