Paddelwolle - Race Weight Tech Top

Haven’t taken it on a paddle out yet, but it’s been a perfect layer while in Ohio’s weather.

My husband and I bought two tops which are similar but the stand out for him is the heavier weight long sleeve t because he gets really cold quickly during the wet launches and exits into Lake Washington at Sand Point. The cuffs that don’t wick water up to your elbow are an additional plus feature.

This is a surprisingly versatile top - the wool gives just enough warmth for cool and damp conditions, the lightweight breathability keeps you comfortable into fairly warm conditions. Plus it dries quickly, so you can keep it in rotation. Two thumbs up!

I had the chance to get my hands on one of these tops early this year and run it through the Pacific Northwest outdoor playground. With the lightweight blend of merino wool and Polartec fabric this top is durable, and the thermal properties are impressive, it keeps you warm and yet help keeps you from overheating.

For spring mountain biking and gravel biking I have been layering it under other running and biking type tech shirts. I like the sleeve design and snug fit. The sleeves stay in place when you are pulling over another top which I think is key.

Unlike some other tech shirts, the merino wool is a natural inhibitor of bacterial growth, translation it just does not smell bad even after multiple rides and paddles.

The thermal properties are excellent for Pacific Northwest wild weather swings. It is great for layering in colder weather. In early spring paddling when the river temps were still low, I was wearing this under the Giant Fish downwind thermal top and staying toasty warm. For late summer paddling I have been wearing this under a short sleeve tech shirt, but it could easily be worn on its own with a PFD.

This top would be an excellent addition to any outdoor wear collection for its durability and versatility.

I really love this top. It's warm, comfy, and wind resistant. I have other similar weight tops from other paddling-focused gear companies and somehow I always reach for this giant fish top when it's a bit on the chilly side. I really like the fact that it stays quite warm even when wet and it's windy. It's not wind-proof but it somehow seems to resist evaporative cooling due to wind better than the other gear I have. When it's really blowing I combine it with a Mocke paddling jacket.
In terms of sizing I'm often between medium and large and ordered the large, which fits well, the medium would have been too tight.