Review of CRAFT ACTIVE EXTREME X CN LS M
I reviewed the the above mentioned shirt from Craft, thanks to RockPoint.cz.
If you are thinking to buy one, you can get 15% discount from 12. 2. to 12. 3. 2021.
More info and the review on below link (Czech only):
https://www.rockpoint.cz/test-trika-craft-active-extreme-x-cn-ls-m
Alongside photography, sport is also one of my great passions. Both photography and sports become more demanding in winter, but often also more magical. And apart from equipment, high-quality clothing is an essential and important part of the kit.
That’s why, at the end of autumn, I was very happy to accept Rockpoint’s offer to test a Craft thermal shirt. Since my activities are usually quite intense, I chose the ACTIVE EXTREME X CN shirt. As a freediver and diver, I also appreciate that the shirt contains 40% SeaQual polyester, which is recycled plastic waste collected from the ocean. Moreover, Craft has long been one of my favourite brands, and their clothing has accompanied me on adventures and sports activities for many years.
At the beginning of December, a small, inconspicuous package arrived, containing the shirt mentioned above. When I opened the box, I was a bit surprised by the colour of the shirt in the picture. I usually buy clothes in dark colours, but both the image and the sticker on the box showed a bright yellow-green shade. I thought it was just the packaging, as I had only seen this shirt online in black and dark blue. However, the shirt I received was indeed in this striking colour. But I don’t mind at all – as the saying goes, colour doesn’t affect performance, and besides, it’s the first layer. I really don’t care about colour, plus it matches my running sweatshirt or cycling windbreaker, which are also from Craft.
I was curious about the size, because even though I have quite a few things from Craft, some are size L, others XL. For this shirt, I chose L and it fits perfectly. It’s elastic, with panels under the arms for better cooling, the sleeves are just the right length, and it fits well at the shoulders. When I first tried it on, I thought it could be a bit longer. Then I noticed that the back is extended by a few centimetres, which is absolutely ideal.
The very next day, I went to the Jizera Mountains at sunrise, where the temperature in the morning was below -10°C. I walked about 10 km in the first snow, with occasional stops for photography, so not a very intense activity. Even so, my first impressions were positive. Nothing was tight, the seams didn’t scratch, the shirt didn’t itch as is common with this type of garment – I simply didn’t even notice it. When you mention snow and the Jizera Mountains, most people probably think of cross-country skiing. It wasn’t a fifty-kilometre trek, but it was still a very pleasant ride in the rising sun on the first snow. The activity was already more intense, but again, I didn’t notice the shirt at all. I appreciated the extended back, the shirt didn’t ride up, it wicked away sweat well, and provided a slight cooling effect. But it never felt cold, as sometimes happens with other shirts when they get soaked with sweat – it really just felt slightly cool.
The next activity was a trip to the ridges of the Krkonoše Mountains. It was freezing, with a dusting of snow and windy, but the sun was shining, so about 1.5 hours of climbing required lighter clothing. I had a photo backpack with gear on my back, weighing about 15 kg. Again, I didn’t notice the shirt at all on the way – I wasn’t too cold or too warm. Only when I changed clothes at the ridge was I surprised at how much I had sweated – the shirt was completely wet. But I didn’t feel it on my body at all.
I was curious how the shirt would perform when running, which is really a high-intensity activity. When getting dressed for my first run in this shirt, I wasn’t entirely sure how to combine my clothing, as the temperature was about +3°C. With some hesitation, wondering if I had underestimated it, I wore only the test shirt and a running sweatshirt over it. At first, I wasn’t completely warm, but after warming up, I felt just right. Again, I noticed that the shirt never felt cold and provided a slight cooling effect, which is ideal for me when running. In temperatures around zero, I ran several dozen kilometres in this shirt, from shorter runs to a half marathon. As I mentioned earlier, I was completely satisfied with the shirt. After running, the shirt was completely soaked, but I was never cold while running in it.
The current snowless weather is not ideal for cross-country skiing, so I also tested the shirt on my bike. Just like when running, I was satisfied with how the shirt wicks away sweat and pleasantly cools, but never chills. I also wore the shirt at temperatures from +5°C upwards, and whether running or cycling, I was already quite warm. I was also pleasantly surprised after washing it. After taking it out of the washing machine, it was almost dry, and after drying it did not change its size – it looked as if it had just come out of the box.
The ACTIVE EXTREME X CN shirt has instantly become my favourite first layer for high-intensity activities and has become a staple in my Craft sports wardrobe.
