Berglar
- Fabric:
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL (see chart)
-
Colours:
Supersize
Reviews
What Mountain Bike - Oct 10
Merino wool is popular for its wicking and insulation properties. Given that it comes from New Zealand, it's no surprise to find it favoured by Antipodean clothing company Ground Effect.
The Berglar uses a cunning layered fabric, with merino on the inside and more conventional polyester on the outside, a combination that works well across a wide range of temperatures.
If it's warm, there's a three-quarter front zip to open, and the sleeves stay pushed up. The contrasting panels on the outside of the arms lead to slightly distracting seams, though. If it gets cold, put another layer on top - the Berglar works best by the skin.
Zipped rear pockets keep things safe and, as with most Ground Effect gear, there's a puncture patch stitched in. Export prices aren't as impressive as they were a few years back, but the Berglar is still good value.
"Clever engineering of merino wool gives a soft jersey that works well across a range of temperatures"
3.5/5
By Mike Davis, What Mountain Bike
Mountain Biking Australia - Jul 10
Ground Effect has gone through a few incarnations of their 'Lightwave Merino' fabric over the past couple of years. To begin with, this summer weight fabric was quite cool indeed but very stretchy and saggy once you chucked a tube and a few gels in the back pockets.
The next generation was more supportive but a little too warm to be considered a warm weather garment. In its latest guise, Ground Effect has blended the merino with polyester; 50% New Zealand merino against your skin with the polyester on the outside (it was previously a merino/nylon blend). While you still can't overload the pockets in the same way as you can with a study full synthetic jersey, the new fabric is a lot more supportive and you can pack a reasonable amount of stuff into the rear pockets - a handy thing if you don't always ride with a pack. As with the earlier incarnations, the Merino fabric remains relatively odour free and remained comfortable in warmer conditions - say up to 25 degrees.
By John Hardwick, Editor of Mountain Bike Australia magazine.
UnderGround - Feb 08
The Speed of Light...
For outdoor clothing historians the 80's marked the arrival of technical fabric... polypropylene and polyester thermal underwear, fleece tops and waterproof-breathable rain jackets. These synthetic fibres were a giant advance on traditional solutions. The revolution appeared to fly straight by the mainstream cycling establishment. And so Ground Effect was conceived amidst the premise that technical fabrics deliver increased comfort and performance for cyclists in hot and cold weather. Apparently a novel idea in 1994. During the 90's a 'natural counter-trend' occurred with down jackets and then merino bodywear re-emerging as popular options.
We've always liked the idea of combining natural yarns and synthetics to release the best characteristics of each fibre. Our first revelation was the excellent hot weather performance of Intercool - a blend of polyester and cotton used for our summer tops. Then while playing with different merino thermal fabrics we struck on Heatwave Merino - merino against your skin wicks away sweat, while polyester provides a durable non-pill outer. And more importantly the polyester avoids total saturation - helping the fabric to dry faster than 100% merino.
Three or four years ago we wondered if merino could work as a summer fabric. A vocal minority had long advocated it in hot weather, but our testers couldn't replicate their enthusiasm. Merino next to skin is great for soaking up moisture, but we needed a lighter fabric (not too hot) that was still strong with a soft handle. We experimented with combinations of fibre, weight and textures. Last year the Median Strip, crafted from Lightwave Merino, joined our range of summer tops. 55% superfine merino sits against your skin. The outer is 45% microfibre nylon - soft yet tough. The finished weight is an ultralight 175 grams per square metre. This summer we added the long sleeved Berglar (an obscure reference to stealing mountain stages) and the women's Flying Nun. All classically styled in a range of sharp colours.
Lightwave Merino garments are slightly warmer than their Intercool siblings but cover a wider temperature range - delivering comfort in both hot and chillier climes. Not your first choice on a blistering day, but preferred by everybody at Ground Effect when summer is not fulfilling its promise.
Frase,
Ground Effect Product Designer.
Fabric
A bi-component thermal fabric combining 51% merino wool and 49% polyester. Superfine 18.5 micron New Zealand merino wicks sweat away from your skin while the polyester provides a durable, non-pill outer. Lightweight at just 160gm/m2 and machine washable. Developed by Ground Effect and knitted for us in New Zealand.
- Composition: 51% merino; 49% polyester
Man vs Wild
Merino is unrivalled for comfort as a body layer. It absorbs more moisture than synthetic fibres, mopping up excess sweat rather than letting it settle and cool on your skin. However high-aerobic activities like cycling will often overload ordinary merino. Heatwave's polyester component repels moisture to avoid total saturation of the fabric - so it dries faster to keep you toasty.
Snug-as-a-Bug Fit
Heatwave™ Merino tops are intended to hug your body, ensuring the fabric sits against your skin to wick sweat away - keeping you dry and not chilling out.
Hot 'n' Cold
As a single garment Heatwave™ Merino regulates your temperature through a wide range of conditions. Delivering comfort in all but the hottest climes. Yet it is versatile enough to layer under a WindFoil™, Vortex™ or HydroFoil™ shell in winter.
Sizing
This chart is a guide only – if you fall in-between sizes, the right size for you will depend on your body shape and how loose or tight you like to wear your clothes. It's no hassle to swap it, if your first choice is not the best fit.
| Unisex | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
S |
M |
L |
XL |
|
|
Height |
163 -
172 cm |
169 - 178 cm |
175 - 185 cm |
183 - 191 cm |
|
Chest |
91 -
97 cm |
98 - 104 cm |
105 - 111 cm |
112 - 118 cm |
|
Waist |
73 - 79 cm |
80 - 86 cm |
87 - 93 cm |
94 - 100 cm |
|
Hips |
87 - 95 cm |
96 - 103 cm |
104 - 111 cm |
112 - 120 cm |
Unisex vs Women's Sizes
Most Ground Effect designs are unisex. The jackets, tights
and baggy tops generally fit both men and women equally well.
Fitted garments like cycle shorts and some tops are more gender
specific so there is generally a women's version in the Outskirts
range.
Steal a break to the summit in this all-mountain, all-conditions merino top. Perfect year round when worn solo, and toasty when layered under another top or rain jacket as a thermal base layer in winter.
> Lightwave hi-performance bodywear combines a merino inner layer with a fast-drying polyester outer.
> Long sleeves protect your forearms from both the sun and the cold.
> Long front zip for venting.
> Raglan sleeves.
> Rear security pocket and twin elasticised angle-pockets.
> WhaleTail™ covers your back.
> No-elastic hem.
> Sewn in emergency tube repair patch, because you can never be too well-prepared.
> Made by us in New Zealand.
What is the difference between the Berglar, Zip Tie and Rock Lobster?
> All share similar design features: long zips, high collars, three rear pockets and full-length sleeves. The main difference is in the fabric.
> The Heatwave merino used in the Berglar is used extensively in our clothing range, for use in both hot and cold climes, and is versatile enough to wear as an insulation layer in winter.
> The Zip Tie and Rock Lobster are summer specific designs, utilising fabrics designed to wick moisture away from your skin in the heat of summer.
> The Intercool in the Rock Lobster combines the functionality of synthetic fibres with the familiar look and feel of cotton. While the HyperActive in the Zip Tie is a lightweight summer fabric from Italy packed with technology to keep you cool and dry as. The fabric dries at the speed of light - great when reduced to hand washing on tour.
Why is Heatwave Merino so comfortable next-to-skin?
> Heatwave combines the comfort, warmth and low-odour properties of merino wool with the durability of polyester. Merino wool absorbs more moisture than synthetic fibres like polyester or polypropylene. This makes it very effective in dealing with excess sweat - it is absorbed into the fabric rather than settling (and cooling) on your skin. The polyester component repels moisture which avoids total saturation of the fabric - helping it to dry faster. The strength of the polyester also maintains the shape of the garment and minimises wear 'n' tear and pilling.
> The Baked Alaska and Popsicle are intended to be used as a stand alone cycle top in cool, as opposed to cold, conditions.
> The Ristretto, Model T, Robin Hood, Submerino and Hot Toddy are all base layers - best worn directly against your skin.
> The Median Strip, Berglar and Flying Nun are riding jerseys, with additional features including three rear pockets and long front zips. For use in both hot and cold climes and versatile enough to wear as an insulation layer in winter.
Washing Instructions?
> Try to avoid cold-water detergents, those with bleach, fabric softener or 'oxygen whitener'. Bleach rots natural fibres like wool. Sodium Percarbonate (the main ingredient in oxygen whitener) can make colours run. Fabric softener can do both.
> Warm machine wash, 40°C.
> Where possible look for a product with a neutral pH level (pH 7) to avoid damaging the wool. As a rule of thumb, product that is easy on the planet is also easy on your body. Select a mild plant-based soap like Ecover, Ecostore, Earthwise or Aware.
> Wash colours separately.
> Most Ground Effect gear dries super-fast so drying on the line or hanging over the bedpost does the trick. Or use a dryer on a warm (not hot) cycle.
