Not so long ago, people still went skiing and touring in the tried-and-tested woolen undershirts and pants. Nowadays, it's normal for ski underwear to consist of dozens of different textiles and be adapted to the body's different requirements in terms of breathability and heat capacity. We put the Arc?teryx Phase SV Comp LS functional shirt under the microscope and subjected it to extensive wear tests during ski tours and freeriding.
Technical details and manufacturer information
According to the manufacturer, the Phase SV Comp LS is ideally suited for sweat-inducing sports at low temperatures. This means that its advantages should come into play on ski tours, alpine tours and ice climbing. This is guaranteed above all by the fact that it has been adapted to the requirements of the body and two different thicknesses of the in-house fiber (Phasic SV "severe" and Phasic AR "all around") are used. The thicker Phasic SV (160 g/sqm) was woven into the top of the arms, neck, chest and shoulders, while the thinner Phasic AR (142 g/sqm) was woven into the back and under the arms. To make the functional shirt comfortable to wear both as a first and second layer, flat seams have been used without exception to connect the individual textile parts. Other product details: half-length FR zipper, roll-up cuffs to protect the hands in extremely cold conditions, longer cut back, UV protection factor 50+.
A novel composition of two different materials is intended to ensure significantly more efficient moisture transport: hydrophobic polypropylene strands are woven into polyester fibers. This combination is already elastic enough in itself and the elastane used in conventional stretch materials can be dispensed with. Elastane is known to counteract efficient moisture transport by storing water. Silver ions are added before the spinning process to prevent odors from forming.
Dry and practical test
First things first: We used the Phase SV Comp functional shirt as a first layer without exception during the test. This was mainly because it was already warm enough for freeriding in 'normal' winter sports temperatures (down to around -10°C), meaning that we could completely dispense with the second layer and only had to wear the third, water-repellent layer on top. Only in extreme temperatures was a warming layer (thin fleece or Pimaloft vest) added. For ski touring, it was also only covered with a thin layer (either a vest or jacket).
You notice how warm it is the first time you try it on. It is pleasantly soft to wear and you don't feel any scratching from seams and the like. The zipper is the only thing that gives you a bit of a hard time, even during the dry runs on the chin. In the right size, the Phase SV fits snugly, but not restrictively. The sleeves are long enough and trying to get it to slip by bending over, twisting, lifting your arms or other typical sports movements fails - it simply doesn't slip.
We mainly used the Phase SV for freeriding and medium to long ski tours. We did this in a wide range of weather conditions, from low temperatures and snowfall to sunshine and spring conditions. Admittedly, the latter conditions represent an extreme test for the Phase SV, as the Phase SV (severe) is not made for these temperatures and the Phase SL (super light) or the Phase AR (all around) are offered in the product range.
Good moisture transport and extremely quick drying
During all activities, moisture was transported noticeably quickly and you never had the feeling of being in a really clammy shirt. The breathability seems to work surprisingly well, because despite the warmth produced by the shirt, you don't sweat any more (or even less) than with other functional shirts. Compared to these, the Phase SV dries surprisingly quickly and much faster than usual at room temperature (at the hut), but also during a well-earned rest at the summit in the wind. The Phase SV is too warm for spring temperatures, but surprisingly, the breathability and moisture transport also work extremely well here.
The roll-off cuffs prove to be very useful on ascents. If the temperatures are right, you can do without gloves altogether and don't have to carry a thinner pair for the ascent. However, an extra opening for the thumb would allow even more function here, as it is notoriously difficult to grip without the thumb. The longer cut back does its job perfectly and the shirt does not slip out of the trousers unintentionally. Surprisingly, it took quite a long time to bring this feature, which has long been known from cycling, to functional ski touring clothing.
After several tours and repeated freeriding, the Phase SV still doesn't start to stink. For the ultimate smell test, we wore the garment for seven days in a row in perfect weather and snow conditions for ski touring in Norway and found that even silver ions sometimes take a break. Especially after repeated, long and sweaty ascents, the odor is not absent, but compared to other synthetic shirts it remains within acceptable limits - as long as you don't forget to air out and dry it in the evening.
Conclusion
The Canadians seem to have found the right mix of ingredients to strike a balance between the demands of warming and breathable functionality. The Phase SV really comes into its own during stop-and-go activities (ski touring, ice climbing and the like) and in low temperatures. The extras (e.g. roll-up sleeves, longer cut back) enhance the functionality of the top, but could still be improved (e.g. hole for thumb). The shirt is in the upper price range, which is acceptable in our eyes due to its high functionality. Room for improvement: zipper closure.
Additional information
- RRP: €80
- Weight: 167 g (manufacturer's specifications)
- Sizes: S-XXL (note: larger than the standard Arc'teryx fit; athletic 180 cm fit in size M)
