Starfish
- Fabric:
- Sizes: WS, WM, WL, WXL (see chart)
-
Colours:
Supersize
Reviews
UnderGround - Dec 06
Earlier in the year I had the opportunity to pedal 500km from Vietnam to Cambodia as part of the Oxfam Cycle Challenge. Wahoo. With the outlook for temperatures upwards of 40 degrees, I wanted a top that would offer sun protection but not cause me to boil over. I bought a Starfish long sleeved top, but was sceptical - surely I would cook. On day one I opted for a top with short sleeves. I fried my arms and nearly died from heat exhaustion. Hardly good form, so I elected to try my Starfish the following day. What can I say - the top was bloody brilliant. While my buddies were moaning about the heat, I was cycling with a smile, felt cool and had heaps of energy. I had to stop raving to them for fear of my life. But here's the catch - I now had just a single top to get me through the trip. Not a problem in the tropics though. At the end of each day my Starfish and I headed for the shower, got clean and hung ourselves out to dry for the morning.
Fabric
Summer fabric combining the functionality of synthetic fibres with the familiar look and feel of cotton. A bi-component knit couples an inner layer of polyester with a textured cotton outer to help manage hot-headed moments. The polyester wicks sweat away from your body while the cotton draws it to the outside, ensuring super-efficient evaporation to keep you cool. Developed by Ground Effect and knitted for us in New Zealand.
- Composition: 33% polyester; 67% cotton.
UPF 50+
Intercool's UPF 50+ rating extends your no-burn time by 50 times over bare skin. Designs with a stand-up collar and long sleeves maximise protection from the sun's UV rays. Yank 'em up if it gets too stifling.
Relaxed Fit
Intercool™ tops enjoy a looser fit with no-elastic hems... a good look both on and off the bike when matched with baggy shorts. Plus fresh air can blow up ya kilt so you don't lose your cool.
Sizing
Check out the chart to suss out where you fit. This 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.
| Women | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WS (8-10) |
WM (12) |
WL (14) |
WXL (16-18) |
|
|
Bust |
88 - 92 cm |
93 - 97 cm |
98 - 102 cm |
103 - 107 cm |
|
Waist |
63 - 69 cm |
70 - 76 cm |
77 - 83 cm |
84 - 90 cm |
|
Hips |
89 - 95 cm |
96 - 102 cm |
103 - 109 cm |
110 - 116 cm |
Unisex vs Women's Sizes
If you're struggling to find that certain something in the Outskirts™ women's range, then check out Ground Effect's standard range of unisex gear. As unisex items tend to be larger than our women's designs selected products are also available in XS (approximately women's small) to provide a more complete range.
Swerve 'n' curve your way through summer's multiday expeditions and training rides at both ends of the day. Long sleeves provide shade from the sun and fend off early morning chills. A stand-up collar blocks excess rays while Intercool fabric wicks sweat away to keep you composed.
> Stand up collar for UV protection.
> UPF 50+
> Long front zip for maximum venting.
> Raglan sleeves for a performance fit.
> Long sleeves protect your forearms from both the sun and the cold (how does it know?).
> Limelight option for maximum visibility on the open road.
> No-elastic hem.
> Rear security pocket coupled with twin elasticised angle-pockets for on-the-go access.
> Secret tube repair patch.
> WXL size option.
> Made by us in New Zealand.
What is the difference between the Tip Top, Starfish and Flying Nun?
> All share similar design features: long zips, high collars, rear pockets and full-length sleeves. The main difference is in the fabric.
> The Heatwave merino used in the Flying Nun 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. It has twin zipped rear pockets.
> The Tip Top and Starfish are summer specific designs, utilising fabrics designed to wick moisture away from your skin in the heat of summer.
> The Intercool in the Starfish combines the functionality of synthetic fibres with the familiar look and feel of cotton. While the HyperActive in the Tip Top 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.
Tell me about the fit of this garment.
> Intercool tops enjoy a looser fit with no-elastic hems... a good look both on and off the bike when matched with baggy shorts. Plus fresh air can blow up ya kilt so you don't lose your cool.
> HyperActive tops feature a closer multi-panel performance fit with flat seams. There's less flappin' at speed and the rear pockets are more stable when loaded with cargo.
What is the difference between the Intercool and HyperActive fabrics?
> Intercool combines the functionality of synthetic fibres with the familiar look and feel of cotton. A bi-component knit couples an inner layer of polyester with a textured cotton outer. The polyester wicks sweat away from your body while the cotton draws it to the outside, ensuring super-efficient evaporation to keep you cool. Intercool was developed by Ground Effect and knitted for us in New Zealand.
> HyperActive is a lightweight summer fabric from Italy packed with technology to keep you cool and dry as. The bi-component knit backs a sharp-looking polyester outer with a smooth layer of next-generation polypropylene microfibre against your skin. The polypropylene yarn absorbs almost no moisture, driving sweat away from your body. It even performs its magic in the wet under a rain jacket. The fabric dries at the speed of light - great when reduced to hand washing on tour.
> Intercool is a bit more rugged and more capable of withstanding the use and abuse of pack wearing and bush-crashing, but lacks the lightweight meshy nature of HyperActive.
How is the Starfish different from the unisex Rock Lobster?
> Both share similar design features and use our Intercool fabric.
> The Starfish is a more fitted garment - tighter at the waist and flared at the hips.
> The women's sizing fits down to a smaller size than the unisex range.
What's the SPF Rating for this top?
> UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) is a rating for sun protective textiles and clothing. Unlike SPF (Sun Protection Factor) that measures only UVB, UPF measures both UVA and UVB.
> Both our Intercool and Hyperactive fabrics have been tested as providing the maximum UPF 50+ protection. In practical terms this extends your no-burn time by 50 times over bare skin. Designs with a stand-up collar and long sleeves maximise protection from the sun's UV rays. Yank 'em up if it gets too stifling.
Washing Instructions?
> Intercool and HyperActive tops enjoy a warm machine wash. Try to avoid cold-water detergents and those with bleach. The cold-water varieties have little enzymes that are super-charged to brave the cold but can damage technical fabrics and cause skin irritation. And bleach rots natural fibres like cotton, strips the dye and may also cause irritation. 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.
> Hand washing is sometimes the only option on tour, but a washing machine rinses more thoroughly and is preferable if you have the choice.
> Intercool and HyperActive tops will be almost dry out after the spin cycle of your washing machine so using a dryer is unnecessary - if you must then choose a warm (not hot) cycle.
