WHAT IT IS
The Columbia Omni Freeze Degree II Short Sleeve Tee is a soft and lightweight sports tee embedded with tiny blue rings that contain a special cooling polymer. When you perspire, the polymer swells – like goosebumps – and that cools you down.
WHAT'S COOL
1 The T-shirt felt light and snug against my skin, and absorbed sweat well during my indoor and outdoor runs. It was easily the most comfortable running T-shirt I have ever worn.
2 The cooling effect really worked! About five minutes into my outdoor run, when I had worked up a sweat, I felt cooler, especially on my back, than when I wore my regular or moisture-wicking tees.
3 The tee was a tad damp after my half-hour run, but it dried quickly – in five minutes – so I did not feel sticky like I normally do after working out.
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER
1 After about 20 minutes of running, the cooling effect eased off and did not remain effective enough through my entire run.
2 The blue cooling rings and my sweat stains were visible on the T-shirt, but disappeared fairly quickly – five minutes after my run.
VERDICT
It kept me comfortably cool for most of my workout, and it was quick to dry, so I did not feel damp and sticky after.
Columbia Omni Freeze Degree II Short Sleeve Tee, $59.90, from World of Outdoors
This article was originally published in Simply Her October 2014.
All product and pricing information was correct at the time of the magazine's publication. We advise readers to check with the stores for the latest availability and pricing information.