By Dan Sanchez
Columbia’s Freeze Degree short sleeve crew incorporates many of the company’s technologies that offer some unique advantages. First, this shirt incorporates Columbia’s new Omni-Freeze Zero cooling technology, that uses cooling rings to lower the temperature of the fabric when they become wet from perspiration. Couple that with Omni-Wick EVAP, that disperses sweat across a broader surface for accelerated evaporation, and Omni-Shade sun protection, and you have a shirt that offers superior performance.
We wore the Freeze Degree crew on day hikes and in the gym. Out in the open, the cooling effect of the Omni-Freeze Zero is evident as soon as you break a sweat. Once the air and a slight breeze hits the shirt, you begin to feel the cooling effects that are a comforting relief on a hot day of hiking or trail running. In the gym, we wore the Freeze Degree shirt on the treadmill and during some extensive conditioning training excersies. We anxiously waited for the cooling to take effect, but didn’t get any. It seems the cooling effect works best with a slight breeze or with air circulation. Our area of the gym didn’t have any fans or air conditioning, so we only managed to get it soaked with sweat. Yet, it dried quickly and felt comfortabe.
Nevertheless, we were glad that the Freeze Degree shirt also had antimicrobial properties, which kept it comfortable and odor free. We also liked that the shirt also has Columbia’s Omni-Shade sun protection, up to a UVB of 50, that helps block UV rays when outdoors. Aside from the technology that went into the shirt, the comfort stretcth fabric allows it to be used for a variety of sports, and doesn’t rub or irritate the skin.
The two-toned shirt is designed to have the Omni-Freeze Zero fabric on the arms and torso to provide the most cooling effect. The sides and back of the shirt features the has the Omni-Wick EVAP fabric that is extremely efficient in keeping you and the shirt dry. Available in six colors, the Freeze Degree crew retails around $45. For more information, visit www.columbia.com.
