Due to the spread of COVID-19, I went cherry blossom viewing alone at a nearby park this year.
Given that we can't head out to the mountains for rides or hikes with friends as freely as we used to, I’ve been spending more time either heading out alone to places without crowds or staying at home. The term "stay-at-home time" has become a common sight on social media, where everyone shares the trial-and-error ways they've found to enjoy themselves indoors. I’ve been impressed by just how many ways there are to have a fulfilling time at home, and my wife, whose work has decreased significantly, has become obsessed with muscle training and stretching.
Well, regardless of what you’re doing, I still think home is the number one place where you can be most at ease and relaxed.
Do you pay much attention to the clothes you wear when you’re spending time at home like that?
As for me, I often wear items from RAL or other outdoor brands that are functional enough for various activities but can also be worn as everyday clothes, so my style doesn't change much whether I'm playing outside, working at the shop, or relaxing at home. Many of the items we carry at Circles can be used in that way, but the one I want you to pay most attention to this season is the Cover Crew that just arrived from HOUDINI.
【HOUDINI】Cover Crew
Price：14,000 JPY (excl. tax)
Color : Blue Illusion, Ground Grey
Wish Woven™️ made from recycled polyester
The long-sleeved Cover Crew uses a 100% polyester material called Wish Woven™. While it's 100% polyester, 70% of that is recycled polyester, making it an environmentally conscious material, but this Wish Woven™ is just plain amazing.
Excellent functionality and comfortable fit
Simply put, it’s a material with excellent flexibility, moisture permeability, durability, and quick-drying properties, but the texture is like nothing I’ve ever touched before. It's soft and supple, yet smooth to the touch—it's hard to describe, but the feel against the skin is incredibly pleasant. This comfort is great for activities where you break a sweat, like hiking, running, or cycling, but it’s also something you’ll find yourself wanting to wear while relaxing at home.
Quick-drying performance for intense activity
It also dries quickly when you sweat a lot; even if you’re drenched, you’ll find it’s already dry before you know it. Furthermore, despite having a nice structure, the fabric is thin and has a UPF 50+ UV protection rating without the use of any chemicals, so you can wear these long sleeves comfortably even in the summer.
When I first touched it, I thought I should probably wear a base layer underneath, but I needn't have worried.
Perfect for rides over mountain passes
Keita from Ali-ba was the first to start wearing it, and we went for a ride together shortly after he bought it. Since it was a warm day, he was drenched in sweat while climbing the mountain pass, but by the time we were taking a break at the park, the sweat marks were gone—I was genuinely surprised by its quick-drying ability. I was also able to confirm that even after it dried, the fabric retained its smooth, pleasant feel, maintaining comfort.
Simple, mobile, and beautifully silhouetted
Its simple, streamlined pattern provides a beautiful, slightly relaxed silhouette and exceptional ease of movement, so you can wear it not only at home but also when you go out to your favorite shops or run errands once the current situation settles down. It’s also a piece I want you to wear when you’re out having a blast cycling, hiking, running, or camping.
A convenient extra layer
That said, there are still plenty of chilly days and times when the temperature difference between morning and day is quite large. For such times, I recommend combining it with the Trail Vest or the Weather Tee.
Both are made of durable, highly windproof C9 Ripstop™ and are very light. They also have a UPF 30 UV protection rating and feature a DWR (Durable Water Repellent) treatment. They are great when you need to adjust your body temperature slightly and are also very convenient to carry around.
Naturally, we also have women's models for the Cover Crew. The Weather Tee is a unisex model, and since sizes are listed for both M's and W's, you can simply choose the same size you wear for other Houdini items. By the way, I am 170cm tall and wear M's size S for all of them.
Houdini always has a great lineup of functional, simple, and creative wear, but this season, that appeal is even stronger. Please be sure to take a look at the other Houdini items as well.
By the way, the Daybreak Cap for your head and the Bag It to carry in your hand are also recommended items.
