The material of the Ether zip neck from Arc’teryx is a curious thing, minutely thin and light – so much so that you feel wonderfully naked with it on - yet sturdy and durable.
The Helius fabric has been specifically designed to withstand extended pack strap abrasion so is great for extended backcountry treks. The strategically placed flatlock seams minimize irritation – in fact it’s very difficult to pinpoint the seams with the top on as you can barely feel them at all.
Next to skin comfort on this top is like nothing we’ve ever felt before – I personally find merino base layers to be a little itchy and normal polyester can also irritate me but you can barely feel this fabric even during heavy activity with lots of movement.
The Ether zip neck is also truly versatile – we’ve worn it as a base layer, mid layer and top (only) layer for activities from trekking to cycling to running to kayaking – it seems to handle everything with an ease that only comes with an attention to detail and quality of construction that very few companies seem to be able to achieve.
The zip neck is long enough to be useful as a temperature regulator – dump heat when you need to and zip up high onto the neck when you want to retain some warmth. The mesh side and underarm panels further aid temperature regulation, these have been carefully placed to deliver optimal performance.
Yes, we’ve been quite gushing about the Ether zip neck but it really does deserve high praise.
