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Montane Men's Dart Lite T-Shirt: first impressions
The Montane Men’s Dart Lite is – in one important way at least – the shirt I’ve been waiting for. Synthetic running tops are incredibly robust – and for various reasons they perform really well in a wide range of circumstances, punching well above their minimalist weight in terms of providing thermal protection and moisture control.
• List price: $55 (US) / £45 (UK)
• Gender specification: Men’s and women’s versions available
• Sizes: Men’s: XS-XXXL Women’s: XXS-XL
• Weight (large): Men’s: 90g / 3.2oz Women’s: 70g / 2.5oz
• Materials: Polyester (100% recycled)
• Colors: Men’s: Black / Acer Red / Electric Blue / Citrus Spring Women’s: Eclipse Blue / Saffron Red / Allium / Citrus Spring
But their exceptional longevity is also one of these garments’ major drawbacks – if you care about the impact you’re having on the planet with your purchases, that is. Unless it gets burned (which releases toxic nastiness into the atmosphere), a piece of clothing made from polyester will not decompose.
The lack of recycled fabric used was one of my main criticisms about an earlier Montane running top I spent some time reviewing, the otherwise excellent Sabre T-shirt. So, suffice to say, I was delighted to see that the newer Dart Lite T has been made entirely from recycled polyester. Credit where credit’s due – nice work Montane.
With a big running event coming up, I decided to put the Dart Lite T to the test, to see whether if could offer what I needed for a long-distance run, and to assess how it performs compared to the best running tops on the market.
Montane Men’s Dart Lite T-Shirt: design and materials
The Apex PK Eco fabric used to construct the Dart Lite T is made from a yarn that’s sourced from single-use plastic bottles. While this isn’t perfect – because microplastics still get released into the ecosystem when you wash synthetic tops – it’s a whole lot better than creating a load more new polyester that will hang around on the planet long after we’re all dead and gone.
And besides being robust, long-lasting and light, poly-based synthetics are exceptionally good at doing their job when you’re out on the trail, being lightweight, hydrophobic, quick-drying and retaining their ability to keep you warm even after a soaking.
A big downside of synthetic garments, though – especially running tops – is their tendency to collect bacteria from sweat, which leads to bad smells accumulating around the armpits, which can remain even after laundering. The Dart Lite, however, has been treated with polygiene, which provides permanent odor control.
True to its name, the Dart Lite is indeed lightweight, tipping the scales at just 90g / 3.2oz. The design includes low-profile flatlocked seams, which add to the comfort levels, and a crew-cut neck. There is a little bit of stretch and flex in the fabric, but this running T has a competitive, sporty cut, which some people might find a little bit clingy, restrictive and revealing (there’s no hiding those extra pounds if you’re trying to run off a bit of a paunch).
The Montane logo on the front is reflective, but there are no reflective flourishes on the rear, which would have made it extra safe for wearing on lanes and roads where you might encounter vehicles.
Montane Men’s Dart Lite T-Shirt: on the trails
I’ve been trail testing (and road reviewing) the Dart Lite T-shirt from Montane for the last couple of months, through late spring and into summer, as I prepared to take on a 50-mile ultra marathon – the Lakeland 50. I was looking for a top that could cut the mustard during the race itself, but which would also get me through plenty of training runs of varying distances.
On short and medium-distance runs in mostly warm weather, the top performed perfectly. It’s comfortable to wear, wicks sweat away effectively and remained extremely lightweight even when I was caught out in rain showers; the hydrophobic material barely absorbs any moisture so any dampness very quickly dried out. For me, synthetic tops – including this one – just can’t come close to merino gear in terms of breathability, but I didn’t overheat.
On the long day of the ultra run itself, I did start the race wearing a merino base layer beneath the Dart T, because I was a little concerned about getting chilly on the start line. I soon dispensed with the underlayer, however, and did the majority of the miles in just the T-shirt. Happily, although the Dart Lite does have a synthetic feel, I didn’t experience any discomfort or rubbing during the day (or night), even while wearing the Gecko VP 12+ hydration vest I was using for the event.
I appreciated the race-fit cut while out on the trails and fells – the last thing you want during a long run is excess material flapping around, potentially catching on undergrowth. The material also provided good protection from the sun, which made an appearance during the afternoon.
The polygiene treatment has, thus far, proved effective at preventing bad odors building up on the top, and I’ve also enjoyed wearing this T-shirt for hiking and fast packing escapades.
