Gear of the Week | Mons Royale Olympus 3.0 Half Zip

Mons Royale designs the merino clothing for mountain sports in New Zealand. Their ZQ Merino is the world's leading brand for ethical wool. This stands for a better quality of life for animals, careful treatment of our planet and fair working conditions for people. The ZQ standards are also very important to the farmers who keep the sheep. So if you value animal welfare and quality fibers, Mons Royale is a good companion!

Olympus 3.0 Half Zip

I noticed the thick and cuddly soft material as soon as I unpacked and touched it. Apart from my thermal merino leggings, I've never had such a thick merino item in my closet before. The Olympus is the warmest baselayer from Mons Royale. It was specially developed for cold days in the mountains. The frosty temperatures of down to -20°C in February were just what I needed to test its warmth retention function when ice climbing and ski touring. The longsleeve definitely scores points for warmth, even on very cold days I didn't freeze on my upper body. The breathability doesn't suffer thanks to the thick material and the mesh inserts under the armpits ensure even better vapor exchange.

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Where I was a little skeptical at first, but am now an absolute fan, is the half zip at the neck with the fabric insert. You can get in and out of the shirt without any problems. If you leave the zipper open, it serves as ventilation. Furthermore, the neck doesn't feel tight and yet the neck and throat area remains protected from the wind and cold. I also like the thumb loops. They prevent the sleeves from riding up and keep the wrist warm.

The Olympus has a comfortable and feminine cut. Fitted, but still not quite as tight as a second skin. The raglan sleeves mean there are no seams on the shoulders, which prevents pressure points when carrying a heavy backpack for long periods, and the sleeves are comfortably loose. Despite the three colors used, it still looks simple and casual, but not boring. The slightly offset zipper on the side and the pink accents give the longsleeve the right amount of pep.

A 250 merino wool with additional elastane is used, making the shirt more durable and ensuring it retains its shape.

Mons Royale Olympus 3.0 Half Zip

Stefanie Höpperger

Conclusion

A casual, warm longsleeve for cold days, with a nice cut. For me, it's ideal for sports where you don't sweat much, such as ice climbing. For sweaty ski tours, you need cold temperatures to avoid overheating. The features such as thumb loops and the half zip at the neck are really good for me personally. The only small flaw I can think of is the rather heavy weight for a baselayer.

Fabric: Merino single jersey

Blend: 97% merino wool, 3% elastane

Weight: 250g /m²