Qik Cool Essential Winter Extra Warm Wool base layer

A winter jersey for the best performance in the coldest winters. High percentage of fine MERINO wool, inner layer of insulating, breathable LightDry and Puresilver antibacterial, anti-odor, anti-static, with high thermal conductivity.
Made with the best technologies and designed with denser/thicker fibers for cold weather conditions, this jersey provides the first layer of skin contact that helps keep the body dry and at the right temperature. Suitable for both training and competition, it prevents cooling during rest or recovery and overheating during efforts. This is possible by weaving merino wool, with its well-known thermal insulation properties, with LightDry, an insulating, hydrophobic polypropylene with a low specific weight. A special fabric composition that promotes the evaporation of sweat from the inside out, conserving body heat and dissipating excess heat. This process of heat management is called thermoregulation and is of fundamental importance during sport performance.
Comfortable and stable during movements in every direction, thanks to a calibrated elasticity, the jersey adheres perfectly to the body remaining in its position without moving or rising. Even the ergonomic collar wraps without choking or annoying and protects from cold wind.
The fabric is made mainly of extra-fine merino wool, which is non-irritating and non-bacterial: a natural, insulating and antibacterial fiber. In the inner layer, in contact with the skin, there is also LightDry, which as well as being insulating and light, helps sweat evaporate to the outside. The entire jersey is interspersed with Puresilver, antistatic, antibacterial, anti-odor pure silver with high thermal conductivity.
Silver, in fact, allows to distribute heat evenly along the fabric and together with the other yarns, helps in the management of thermoregulation and excess moisture.


Features

  • Stealth: every structure, yarn, technology have been inserted trying to minimize the impact on the design of the jersey. A style as clean as possible without sacrificing performance.
  • NoSeam: single tube with no seams, a source of irritation due to friction and chafing.
  • Ergo Neck: soft fabric collar that wraps around the neck without choking.
  • Body Fix Moving: inserts, elasticity and length of fabric calibrated according to the yarns used. This allows the jersey to stay in its position leaving freedom of movement.
  • Mid Comp: medium compression, adheres to the body without being uncomfortable.
  • Flex Zones: fabric structure differentiated between inside and outside elbow area. This allows the fabric to follow the movement of the arms.
  • No-Sweat-Arm: inner arm area with differentiated fabric structure to promote the perspiration of excess sweat to the outside.
  • No-Sweat-Abd: abdomen area with differentiated fabric structure to maintain warmth and promote the evaporation of excess moisture.
  • No-Sweat-Back: inner back area with differentiated fabric structure to promote perspiration.

72% Merino wool    20% LightDry    5% Elastane    3% PureSilver


Technologies

Puresilver

The Puresilver technology consists in the application of a nylon wire with 99.9% pure silver incorporated, whose properties have been verified by clinical tests carried out by several universities (State of Pennsylvania, Cornell, New York, Namsa and Tokai) and used by the special forces USA, NASA, Olympic athletes and in the medical field. It is not a chemical product nor a nanotechnology, but simply silver whose properties will remain even after several washing cycles (tested on 250), being irreversibly bonded to a polymer, all in one with the fiber and not treated superficially. Soft and flexible, it eliminates bacteria, fungus and consequently bad smells that arise in combination with sweat (reduction of up to 99.9% in 1h). Due to the catalyst effect, the higher the heat and humidity, the more effective it is. Sweat, in combination with air, oxidizes silver which releases positive ions attracted by negatively charged bacteria. By entering the cell membrane, they attack the DNA, inhibiting proliferation and mutation. It has a thermoregulatory function and thanks to its thermal conductivity that allows to dissipate excess heat. Antistatic, it absorbs and neutralizes surface electrostatic charges.

Merino Fiber

The sheep from which merino wool is obtained, live in environments with strong temperature fluctuations, such as wind, humidity and parasite proliferation, so they have developed particular characteristics for a perfect adaptation to this climate. The fiber is externally covered with overlapping scales (such as roof tiles), which prevent the spread of bacteria, parasites, mold and odors, as well as acting as an anchor between neighboring fibers. These, together with the numerous elastic corrugations, give the curl, whose structure allows the air to be incorporated (excellent insulation), without releasing it towards the outside. An excellent thermal insulator, which insulates the parts inside it, without losing excess heat, but maintaining the heat produced by the body. In summer, it prevents external heat from coming into contact with the body, while in winter, it prevents body heat from dissipating into the environment. Merino wool has a remarkable breathability and hygroscopic power: absorbing moisture and transporting it to the core of the fibre of up to 33% of its specific weight, leaving the surface dry and without any sensation of moisture. The friction generated by the rubbing movement between these 2 types of cells forms the nucleus, in this mechanical transfer process, which also helps to “clean” the cell. Bacteria and unpleasant odors are thus eliminated. Keratin, the natural protein of wool, also helps this antibacterial action. Merino wool even if wet, because of sweat, continues to produce heat. During absorption, through the exothermic process (a transformation that involves a transfer of heat from the system to the environment), the proteins contained in the fibres heat up as soon as they get wet. This happens until the fibres are saturated with moisture, so it is advisable to wear the garment completely dry. It has elastic properties (ability to stretch and shorten to its original size without breaking) and is resistant, able to resume its original shape after being subjected to bending and tension. Compared to normal wool, with a diameter greater than 25 microns, after which the skin begins to become irritated, has a diameter of less than 20 microns, which allows it to give a pleasant sensation of softness and to adapt perfectly to the body even during movements. In fact, fibres larger than 25 microns (e.g. hair is 30 microns), when they come into contact with the skin, not curling up, irritate the hair follicles causing a feeling of discomfort. It dries quickly, it is electrostatic, natural, sustainable and very light (weight). Washing: it is recommended to use detergents that do not contain softeners or enzyme proteases (contained for example in normal wool detergents). These enzymes can divide and damage the protein molecules of the finest merino wool, leading to swelling of the fibres and felting. A rinse after each wash is recommended to remove all detergent residues. If these are not removed, bacteria may attack and lose their anti-odour properties.

Light Dry Fiber

This is a high-performance yarn in terms of breathability, insulation and lightness. During situations of non-intensive activities, it allows the heat to evaporate outwards, in the form of steam, however during intensive activities, thanks to the low coefficient absorption of liquids (hydrophobic action) and the triboelectric action, the sweat produced in the form of liquid is transferred from the warmest part (skin) to the coldest part towards the outside, always keeping the skin dry and the temperature constant. The thermoregulation is favored by the very low thermal conductivity which makes it more insulating than wool. Therefore results as a barrier towards the outside climate but yet at the same time breathable keeping the skin warm in winter and cool in summer. Body temperature management is an important factor in sports performance: the body produces more heat under stress, ranging from 1-1.5 kcal per minute to 6-7, up to 15-20 kcal per minute, depending on the sport. To this, adding the variation of the temperature from the external environment in relation to which, the body reacts by dissipating heat, especially in the form of steam above 18 °C. Under extreme conditions of high humidity and external ambient temperatures, the body loses heat through skin vasodilatation (resulting in increased blood flow to the skin) and increased sweat production. The muscles will therefore have a lower blood supply which consequent to lack of oxygen. Another fundamental characteristic is lightness, due to its low specific weight, without sacrificing comfort and thermal insulation.