Looking for a technical but smart t-shirt? Then a breathable merino polo shirt may be the what you are looking for. Read this review of Hardvark Pique Polo to find out if it is the top for you.
Introducing Hardvark
Back in 2014 Hardvark was launched to create smart, stylish clothing that lasts well and performs in active pursuits. Grown from a passion for the outdoors and a desire to create clothing that works everywhere from pub to piste, the entire range is based on merino wool.
Due to its temperature regulation, moisture wicking abilities, breathability and odour controlling properties, merino has long been the base layer material of choice. So hardvark have woven this magical material into a range of stylish garments that are all made in Portugal.
Starting with a single merino shirt, they proved that merino can be stylish and hard wearing. I reviewed the Hardvark merino shirt a couple of years ago, wearing it has a midlayer snowboarding, to the pub, out for date night with my wife and for hiking and various other activities.
As a fan, I was please to see that they now offer a full range of garments. There is the smart everyday shirt – I have one and it is very good, I am sure it would perform for outdoor activities but it is far too nice for that! Plus the thicker voyager shirt as their original shirt is now known, which comes in five colours.
On top of this Hardvark have a half zip jumper, normal t-shirts, underpants, socks and beanies all made from merino wool. Plus they have the Pique, a breathable merino polo shirt that I have been testing for the last few months.
Review of Hardvark Pique Polo
As a summer arrival in my wardrobe the Hardvark Pique was mainly tested doing warm weather activities. These have included lots of walks, time in beer gardens plus visits to the park and beach with the kids. 2018 was a very hot summer so it encountered a fair bit of sweat, but kept me cooler than cotton and most importantly dry.
As autumn sunk its fangs in I expected to wear this breathable merino polo shirt a lot less. But I have found myself putting it on more as a baselayer. I wore it to a footy match when the weather was expected to stay below four degrees, to the pub (bit of a theme going on here) and for cold and windy autumnal walks.
Overall it has had a lot of wear in varied conditions. I have usually worn it when the smart casual look was needed, but I wanted to benefit from the breathability, temperature regulation and odour controlling properties that 100% merino wool provides.
During this review of Hardvark Pique Polo I have been very impressed by its versatility. My wedding anniversary is in August and it happened to be one of the hottest days ever recorded in the UK. We spent the day in Lewes, Sussex, walking the hilly streets visiting the castle a few bars and restaurants for both lunch and dinner.
Despite walking miles in very hot conditions I avoided sweaty pits. I was hot and sticky, everyone was, but whereas many people has obvious sweat patches the merino wicked all the moisture away leaving me clear of dampness.
If I’d worn a cotton top in those conditions for a day, or even a polyester technical t-shirt, I expect I would have smelt rather bad. But I could have worn this breathable merino polo shirt again for another day. In fact for the purposes of this review of Hardvark Pique Polo I have worn it upto three days in a row.
Throughout the summer I found the Pique kept me cool and dry while looking smart. Moving into colder conditions I have found it feels warmer than a normal t-shirt. It does this by keeping body heat close to the skin, whilst ensuring any moisture escapes.
A review of Hardvark Pique Polo would not be complete without talking about the fit. It is designed with a tailored look, that I find very flattering. And with the stretchy material it always seems to sit well and never feels restrictive.
Breathable merino polo shirt
This is not a normal polo shirt. It is head and shoulders better than any I have owned. It combines a stylish smart-casual look with technical features that make it a pleasure to wear. The 17.5 micron, S120s stretch merino, is soft on the skin and after around 15 washes it looks as good as new.
The Hardvark Pique not just for active people – it works well in everyday life. The breathability, moisture wicking, temperature control and odour resistant properties of merino all come in handy on a night out, a trip to the park on a hot day, or as a baselayer when it is cooler.
This is an exceptional polo shirt and I thoroughly recommend it.
Costing £120 it comes in blue, navy or black, you can buy the Pique Polo direct from Hardvark here: www.hardvark.co/pique-polo-shirt
