I/O Bio Contact Crew : For Women and Men

These days, it's not enough to be good, you also have to look good. I'm talking about my standards for apparel, of course. My favorite garments, including I/O BIO's Contact Crew, perform well on the trail and on my daily power walks, as well as serve double duty as casual wear when I'm traveling, working, or socializing.

I/O BIO is one of my favorite gear companies because their super soft merino wool apparel is high-quality, versatile, durable, and attractive. Merino wool is my favorite fabric because it's so effective at wicking away moisture, regulating my temperature, and drying quickly. It's naturally odor resistant, so I can wear my Contact Crew top for days in a row before I have to wash it. Seriously, it doesn't smell, even after I exercise in it.

Now that the cooler, almost-fall air is arriving, I/O BIO's Long Sleeve Contact Crew is an ideal base layer. The other day I wore it out to for my sushi lunch date and for a walk along Lake Union to check out houseboats. Later that day I wore it for a power walk. On the way out, I needed long sleeves because it was pretty breezy despite the mid-60s temps. Then, on the way back, with the wind at my back, I started to heat up....but then felt just fine because the top did such an excellent job of breathing. I powered on home and hardly broke a sweat.

I tested the women's version of the Contact L/S Crew, and was very impressed with the design and fit. This slim-fitting (but not tight) top is constructed out of a front panel, a back panel and two side panels that each form a raglan sleeve. This design provides a custom fit through the shoulders, a sleek fit through the torso, which is ideal for a base layer, and makes it perfect for layering because there are no seams around my shoulder or along my sides. Instead, the seams, which are all flat locked to prevent chafing, are offset on either side of my torso.

I'm 6' tall and have a hard time finding women's clothing that's long enough. I was very pleasantly surprised by this elegant, hard-working top because it's plenty long through the torso and sleeves. I love how the sleeves are tapered, too. The material is so thin that I can wear this top in 60-65 degree temps now, and it'll be all I need for fall under a wind jacket. (I'm usually a size L in tops, but found that an XL fit me best in this style.)

I/O BIO makes merino wool apparel for women and men. (See shopping link below.)

Colors: Black

Fabric: 96% merino wool (160g/m2), 4% elastane. Wool is a renewable resource.

Sizes : Women's S-XL, Men's S-XL.

Bottom Line: I love this top. I get a lovely body-hugging fit that never feels snug, it looks fashionable with jeans, it performs well during exercise, and it's ultra lightweight. I look forward to wearing this top year-round.--E.D. (Aug '10)

BUY ONLINE : $64.99, click to shop (some colors/sizes on sale)

Manufacturer's Site: www.io-bio.com

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