I’ve written about performance on Spotter Up before, whether it be mechanical and mental performance in the execution of a task such as shooting, or material performance of the physical properties of high quality gear such as rain jackets or lubricant. For those of us who have been lucky enough to use or own high quality, high tech gear, the term performance means something; and when its being used legitimately with respect to equipment or apparel, you know that it means its going to cost money, and that its going to be 100% worth it. Similar to brands like Arc’teryx, when you use the gear and experience the high tech material properties for yourself, you understand where your money is going.
In this case, I’m going to be discussing the high-performance properties of the line of Bamboo/Sarona shirts from Wolf vs Goat, which boast an impressive list of stand out features and is unarguably the highest quality, high-performance t-shirt i have ever worn. First, here is a brief summary of the company from the “About us” section of the website:
“Wolf vs Goat is a luxury men’s clothing brand focused on crafting garments from exceptional fabrics with expert tailoring. With strong roots in traditional design and construction, we’ve grown to offer a full line of men’s clothing and accessories.
You can tell the Wolf vs Goat story in three words: FABRIC, FIT, FINISH.
Everything starts with the fabric. We travel the world searching for materials that are made by master craftsmen and have a unique charm and style. Then we design each garment to have a fit that’s clean, modern and versatile. Finally, the finish, when each garment is carefully made by skilled tailors and seamstresses in Italy and the U.S.A.. It’s a level of quality and care that is unmatched in modern fashion. That’s disruptive luxury. That’s Wolf vs Goat.”
“Disruptive luxury”….i’ve never heard that term before but i like it! To me what it means is that this shirt is unlike other shirts, and when you see it in person you get it. It looks softer, nicer, cleaner and smoother than other shirts. It just oozes quality, and that is nothing compared to how it FEELS. In order to try to explain to the reader what i mean, its important to talk a little about the fabric these shirts are made of. I highly recommend you go read the blog post on WvG about exactly what Bamboo and Sarona are and how they are made, it is a good primer.
Essentially, Bamboo fiber and Sarona are environmentally friendly, “smart” fabrics that when woven together result in a sort of super fabric with the following properties: antimicrobial, hypoallergenic, UV resistant (98%), wrinkle-resistant, moisture-wicking, super-soft, tough and abrasion-resistant when wet or dry, environmentally friendly and sustainable.
The breathability and softness of the fabric makes it truly feel like you are wearing nothing at all, but you do not feel naked or exposed. The fabric helps regulate your core temperature so you are warmer in the cool temps and cooler in the hot temps, basically what you would expect from any high-end performance gear such as Arc’teryx, but this is in a highly fashionable t-shirt. It drapes very nicely and never looks wrinkled or worn. The fabric accepts the color dye very well and it just has a beautiful vibrant look to it.
The owner/designer is a friend of mine and a regular competitive shooter, I’ve seen him on the range wearing his shirts and sweaters and hats, and he looks damn good and never complains about the high heat or freezing temps, and now i know why.
I wore this shirt to the gym for a cardio day just to see how it felt and handled the sweat, and it did great. I would actually put this shirt squarely in the athletic department of apparel categories, except for the fact that it looks so damn good. It really does feel like you are wearing nothing at all, and it hangs off your body in a very flattering way, even when its soaked with sweat. It doesn’t get stretched out or wrinkled, even when you wear it all day or are rough with it. If i could replace all my casual and workout shirts with this material i would do it in a heartbeat.
I highly recommend this shirt to anyone looking for a next-level, high tech and comfortable t-shirt that you can wear on any occasion, be it at the gym, to a BBQ or out on a date. People will ask you where you got it, and they will want to touch it, so be prepared for that. This is unarguably my favorite t-shirt and i expect to buy a couple more in other styles. Currently this exact tee is sold out, but there are many other excellent designs available on the website. Shirts range from ~$50-$90 depending on fabrics and designs. If you like what Wolf vs Goat has to offer, you can sign up for their mailing list to get their designer blog posts and product available updates.
Material Disclosure
I received this product as a courtesy from the manufacturer via Spotter Up so I could test it and give my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal, or implied contract to give this product a good review. All opinions are my own and are based off my personal experience with the product.
*The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Spotter Up Magazine, the administrative staff, and/or any/all contributors to this site.
