As summer season dwindles and temperatures cool off, ’tis the season for the common-or-garden midlayer. At its finest, a high quality fleecy prime can preserve your puffy in your pack by offering breathable heat that you just may not thoughts getting a little bit bit sweaty. Early begin or late end? Keep comfy with a light-weight midlayer. REI’s Swiftland Pullover was designed with runners in thoughts, however don’t allow them to have all of the enjoyable. The half-zip and low weight are options that even the 2mph crowd can respect.
REI Swiftland ½ Zip Run Pullover At-a-Look
MSRP: $89.95
Supplies: 91% Polyester, 9% Spandex (bluesign accredited)
Weight: 7.2 ounces
Nation of Origin: El Salvador
Colours: Teal, black, and a discontinued yellow
Availability: Males’s, Ladies’s, Plus Sizes
Supposed Use
Per REI, the most effective makes use of for the pullover are working, path working, and health. As that is The Trek, I felt it must also be examined whereas tenting and mountain climbing.
Circumstances of Assessment
I acquired the REI Swiftland ½ Zip Run Pullover in mid-summer and have been utilizing it increasingly because the climate right here within the Midwest has begun to chill down. It has traveled with me on mountain climbing, tenting, and backpacking journeys to Pictured Rocks Nationwide Lakeshore in Michigan’s higher peninsula, Massive South Fork Nationwide River and Recreation Space in Tennessee, and a number of spots in Ohio. And, as “Run” is within the title, the pullover has gone path working as nicely. I’m 6’ 2”, 180 lbs, and really feel the dimensions giant matches very nicely.
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REI Swiftland ½ Zip Run Pullover Options
Stretchy heat: This midlayer was positively designed for runners. The fabric itself is Polartec Energy Grid fleece. It stretches comfortably whereas shifting. Whereas the skin end is easy, the inside has ridges designed to lure air for heat.
Breathable: The fabric is skinny sufficient to breathe and launch warmth as you run. (At 65 years outdated, I’m unsure I can nonetheless run quick sufficient for the warmth to be pulled away, however the idea is nice.) As well as, the lengthy entrance zipper will be adjusted for temperature as nicely.
Fancy material: The fabric is bluesign-approved and acquired a Polygiene antimicrobial therapy designed to cut back odor.
Thumbholes: Thumbholes can be utilized to maintain the sleeves from using up, although the match is nice and I’ve not had that challenge.
Reflective particulars: The emblem and particulars on the sleeves are reflective to enhance visibility when working in low gentle.
That’s so far as I obtained.
Pockets: There’s a zippered pocket on the chest for small gadgets; assume key or bank card. A typical cellular phone can match, however weighed closely as I wore it. As well as, REI states that the “prime packs into chest pocket for storage.” Whereas which may be theoretically attainable, I gave up after about 5 minutes of attempting and wasn’t even shut.
How’d it do?
REI states that the most effective use for this pullover is working and I couldn’t agree extra. It provides a bit of heat earlier than, after, and initially of shoulder season runs whereas being very breathable and light-weight in the course of the run itself. I stayed comfy when a tighter weave midlayer would have had me overheating. As well as, it has been only a comfy pullover to put on. I see the Swiftland ½ Zip Run Pullover turning into my favourite midlayer working prime.
Funk administration
That is purely subjective, however after a number of wearings, I nonetheless felt it smelled advantageous. Chalk one up for the Polygiene antimicrobial therapy. To date, it hasn’t proven any in poor health results from washing both.
REI Swiftland vs. my different fleece
For backpacking and tenting, I in contrast the Swiftland ½ Zip Run Pullover to my go-to midlayer, a 100-weight fleece pullover. On the plus aspect, the Swiftland is a bit lighter (7.2 oz versus 7.8 oz) and takes up much less room within the pack, even when I can’t get it crammed into the chest pocket. Its breathability allowed me to put on it longer as soon as I began mountain climbing.
Nevertheless, when tenting, I worth garments that may deal with a wider vary of circumstances than the Swiftland. In spite of everything, throughout most journeys, I’m each sitting round camp and dealing exhausting up steep trails. As well as, the climate forecast tends to shift whereas within the backcountry, which makes versatility all of the extra vital so that you just’re not caught out unprepared.
A breezy morning at 60 levels had me digging out my rain jacket to placed on over the Swiftland, the place a 100-weight fleece by itself would have been advantageous. Beneath about 50°F, the pullover and a rain shell would haven’t been sufficient. Due to this fact, in my expertise, the temperature vary of the Swiftland appears a bit too slim to hold on something however mid-summer backpacking journeys.
And for the brief, tough life my tenting garments endure, I additionally respect that I can at all times decide up a 100-weight fleece for lower than the $89.95 of the Swiftland.
REI Swiftland ½ Zip Run Pullover Execs
Light-weight breathability: The Swiftland ½ Zip Run Pullover is a handsome, comfy, light-weight midlayer particularly designed for working. It fills that area of interest extraordinarily nicely. Designed to present just a few further levels of consolation earlier than and after runs, the weave may be very breathable in the course of the run.
Considerate options: The thumbholes, reflective touches, lengthy zipper, and chest pocket are the sort of particulars that preserve the Swiftland on the “prime of the pile” of my working garments. Using environmentally acutely aware bluesign-approved supplies is an enormous plus. The funk-reducing Polygiene therapy is as nicely.
REI Swiftland ½ Zip Run Pullover Cons
Over-specialized: Not a lot an precise con, however in my expertise the Swiftland ½ Zip Run Pullover’s running-centric design shouldn’t be fairly as nicely fitted to shoulder season backpacking. When placing as little as attainable right into a backpack, every article of clothes must deal with a variety of circumstances. The Swiftland’s nice benefit of sunshine breathability throughout a run shouldn’t be so useful whereas taking a break on the prime of a windy climb or when breaking down camp throughout a cool morning.
Restricted colours: One different minor level; the pullover is simply accessible in black or a darkish teal. (The yellow is being discontinued.) As whoever is now sporting my outdated forest inexperienced fleece can attest, it’s a lot simpler to note and keep in mind the garments that you just set down on the campsite if they’re a vibrant shade.
Total Worth
The Swiftland ½ Zip Run Pullover is a high-quality, well-made product with a number of added particulars that enhance its efficiency for runners. At $89.95, it isn’t low-cost, however is an effective worth for this degree of clothes. As well as, should you like yellow you may decide it up for 40% off, whereas provides final.
Store the Males’s REI Swiftland Half-Zip Pullover
Store the Ladies’s REI Swiftland Half-Zip Pullover
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Learn our assessment of the Senchi Merlin right here.
The REI Swiftland Pullover was donated for the aim of assessment.
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