Cool down with these shirts

In the sweltering heat and cruel humidity of recent days here, exercising can be punishing. Staying hydrated is paramount, but a "cooling" shirt can be an advantage.

Digital Life tried out the Adidas Climachill, Columbia Freeze Degree and Under Armour HeatGear Flyweight Run in the 3pm heat and again at midnight.

The night run was to nullify any advantage a shirt of a lighter colour might have.

Starting each test with a 1km run in a regular T-shirt to work up a sweat, we took each of the test shirts in turn for an equidistant spin, and repeated the sequence randomly.

Adidas Climachill Tee

This short-sleeved running shirt utilises Adidas' latest Climachill fabric which is said to deliver an instant cooling effect, thanks to its titanium-blended fabric and 3-D aluminium cooling spheres.

The fabric is supposed to be 36-per-cent better at cooling than Adidas' older Climacool fabric, according to its maker.

These 3-D spheres are aluminium dots sited to cool the body's "hot zones" by conducting the heat away. The dots are on the back, just below the neck and shoulders.

The shirt used for this review is dark green. It is also available in blue, orange, dark grey or lime.

Design-wise, the Climachill Tee looks simple but chic - Adidas' signature three stripes mark the right shoulder, with the Adidas logo on the left shoulder.

Slipping on the shirt, I feel the cooling effect straight off, like a gentle waft of air-conditioning on the back. The fabric and the spheres are smooth, and comfortable and do not chafe.

The Climachill does feel cooler than my older Climacool shirts. The fabric wicks away perspiration readily, except around the neck area in front.

As I run, the cooling effect is more evident on the upper back due to the cooling spheres. The rest of the body feels the difference.

The Adidas Climachill Tee works as advertised to keep you cool and dry. Hopefully, Climachill will find its way to tennis shirts and football jerseys soon.

TECH SPECS

Price: $59

Fabric: 100 per cent polyester with aluminium cooling spheres

RATING

Design 4/5

Performance 4/5

Value for money 4/5

Overall 4/5

Columbia Freeze Degree Short Sleeve

This top boasts three of Columbia's fabric technology smarts.

First, those tiny circles on the fabric are not just for decoration. When the sweat hits the tiny circles, they expand to let the moisture out and thus cool you down. This is Columbia's Omni-Freeze Zero technology.

The second is Omni-Wick Evap moisture management technology which disperses sweat quickly across a broader surface area for faster evaporation.

Finally, the shirt fabric gets the Omni-Shade treatment which is supposed to protect you from the burning ultra-violet rays of the sun.

Omni-Freeze Zero is found on the arms and torso area; Omni-Wick Evap in the underarm and down the centre of the back.

This shows up in the two shades of orange of the review shirt. The shirt also comes in grey or red.

Where the different pieces of the high-tech shirt are sewn together, the seams look a bit thick. The chafing may be uncomfortable for some users.

Oddly enough, the shirt actually felt warm when first worn. This may suit runners in colder climes, but not here. However as I began perspiring, the expected cooling did kick in.

The wicking does spread the perspiration but the evaporation seems no speedier.

The Columbia Freeze Degree Short Sleeve running shirt is great for those who travel and may run in colder countries. For Singapore weather, the cooling effect is not really worth its price tag.

TECH SPECS

Price: $79.90

Fabric: 92 per cent polyester and 8 per cent elastane

RATING

Design 4/5

Performance 3/5

Value for money 3/5

Overall 3/5

Under Armour HeatGear Flyweight Run Short Sleeve

This shirt uses the latest, lightest and most breathable fabric, according to the company.

It is supposed to wick sweat away from your skin and keep you dry. Mesh panels on the back and underarm area aid ventilation.

On closer examination, you will find that these panels have plenty of tiny little holes in them. The shirt's smooth flat-lock seams allow a full range of motion without chafing.

The running shirt uses anti-odour technology to inhibit the growth of odour-causing microbes.

The design is minimalist. Some may feel it looks surprisingly plain but I think it is neat and tidy.

The shirt we tried out is bright yellow. Black, red and green versions are expected to be available by the middle of this month.

When I put on this shirt, it was a pleasant surprise to find that it does feel cool. When a breeze blows, you can just about feel the air travelling through the vents. The shirt also feels totally comfortable, like wearing a seamless piece of cloth.

Even under the afternoon sun, the shirt remains light, cool and comfortable.

The Under Armour Heatgear Flyweight Run Short Sleeve may be the least pricey of the three we tested, but it provides the best cooling solution for your workouts in sweltering Singapore.

TECH SPECS

Price: $55

Fabric: 100 per cent polyester

RATING

Design 4/5

Performance 5/5

Value for money 5/5

Overall 5/5

trevtan@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on July 02, 2014.
Get a copy of Digital Life, The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.