We want good things to reach lots of people, and for that very reason we want to keep making them for a long, long time.
This is the third year of the merino wool tee we make at Circles, and the second for this version. That's right, we've made it again this year!
RAL Merino Coolmax L/S Tee V2!!
We chose this fabric again this year, of course🐏
This long sleeve uses a fabric that is 50% merino wool and 50% polyester. We still think this blend ratio is a really good balance for us.
Merino wool is a natural material that excels at moisture absorption, warmth and odor resistance. It draws moisture off the skin and lets it escape, so it doesn't get clammy when it's hot and doesn't let your body get chilled when it's cool. And because the fibers are fine and supple, there's little of wool's characteristic itchiness, and it feels good to wear right against the skin.
However, a 100% merino wool top is inevitably delicate. It feels fantastic, but when you think about wearing it almost every day, riding in it, washing it and wearing it again, you start to want a bit more toughness.
That's where blending in polyester starts to make sense.
The added strength and shape retention make it easier to handle both as everyday wear and as ride wear. What's more, the polyester used here is COOLMAX, which excels at wicking and quick drying. By drawing up sweat and letting it escape quickly, it keeps you feeling dry.
The pleasant feel of merino wool (= the comfort of a natural material) and
the quick drying of COOLMAX (= the easy care of a synthetic fiber):
rather than going all in on one or the other, this fabric draws out the best of both from right around the middle, and that's what makes it interesting.
The secret to working as both a base layer and a top on its own🐏
Another feature of this fabric is that it's engineered so the polyester sits on the face and the merino wool on the back. The outside gives you the reassurance of drying easily and holding its shape. And the inside, which touches your skin, offers the softness only merino wool has and little discomfort when you sweat. The placement of the materials plays to the strengths of each.
That it can be worn not just as a base layer in the cold months but on its own between seasons. That you can stay in it not only on the bike but after you get off. That although it's a technical fabric, it doesn't look too obviously like sportswear. This “as a base layer, or on its own” positioning is something we've held dear ever since we first made this series.
Sizing revisited
On top of that, this time, because we want more women to wear it too, we've added a women's size (size S).
The difference in proportions between men's and women's cuts, it turns out, is overwhelmingly in the body length. In this size S, the sleeves are longer than the body. Personally I'm also partial to a loose, slouchy oversized fit, but this is a nice balance in its own right.
It comes in four sizes, from the women's size S through M to XL, which are the men's sizes. That's quite a wide range of sizes.
| Size (cm) | Shoulder width | Body width | Body length | Sleeve length |
| S | 43cm | 47.5cm | 56.5cm | 57.5cm |
| M | 51cm | 53.5cm | 69cm | 60.5cm |
| L | 54cm | 57.5cm | 71.5cm | 63cm |
| XL | 57cm | 60.5cm | 74.5cm | 63.5cm |
On Maru-chan, 170cm
On Kosei, 175cm
We've added a back pocket
We've added a back pocket, that mark of a cyclist's identity.
It's made from the same fabric, so it never feels stiff while you're wearing it. A phone, a towel or some ride food go in with no trouble, and it's really quite practical to use.
Eye-catching color pairings
For the first time, we've finished the ribbing at the neck and cuffs in a contrasting second color.
It makes a nice little accent. Cute, isn't it?
Black x Beige, Green x Red, Purple x Navy, Lilac x Purple
There are four colors in all.
I think it's turned out well again this year.
Do pick one up in store or in the WEB SHOP.
RAL Merino Coolmax L/S Tee V2
Material：50% merino wool, 50% polyester
Color：Black x Beige / Green x Red / Purple x Navy / Lilac x Purple
Size：S / M / L / XL
Price：¥17,600 (tax incl.)
