Welcome to EN’s Product Review series! Who doesn’t love shopping, especially when the object of your search is new gear for yourself or your horse? As an enthusiast of all products equine, I LOVE trying out new gear. Please join me as I narrate my personal journey of trying out all of the products featured. While I will make no recommendations, I hope you have fun reading about my many adventures of trying new products, and that hearing about my personal experiences helps you on your own quest for new gear. Go Shopping.
Just the other day when I walked out to my hay barn, I noticed that the stack is really starting to dwindle down low. Normally, a barn that is nearing empty would not be a good thing. But since it’s almost the middle of May, an almost empty hay barn is basically right on schedule for us here at the farm.
Sure, it is a little sad to se the blossoms dropping off of the flowering trees, and the spring flowers all blooming out. But the days keep getting longer, the temperatures are warming up, and the grass hay in the field is getting taller and taller. And all the while, I just keep thinking ‘grow hay, grow.’
Pretty soon, it will be time to fill up the barn with enough hay to last us until next June. When the first cut is mowed, I always stress out until it is baled and in the barn (because when hay is drying is just one of the few times when rain is NOT a good thing!). Stacking hay is hard work. Especially it’s on an extra warm day.
I try to dress appropriately for the job though — jeans, boots, and a good sturdy pair of gloves. And as for the top, I usually end up wearing a fitted cotton tank, because it is not overly warm, and doesn’t let too much hay down my shirt. But by the time I’m done, I still usually end up looking like I went and jumped in the creek, because my shirt is totally soaked.
I’ve tried wearing long sleeved shirts in the past, but they’ve been shed in favor of a tee or tank shortly after I start, because they are just too warm. Of course, that could have just been my mistake of trying to wear cotton, because cotton is usually the enemy when looking for a performance fabric.
Recently, I’ve had the chance to wear a long sleeve shirt that feels soft like cotton and is fast drying to support performance, and that shirt is the women’s Performance Quarter Zip Pullover from Dickies.
The Quarter Zip means that it is made with an active lifestyle in mind. And, it will also coordinate with other pieces from the DPS collection, such as the Performance Softshell Jacket that I tried out recently (you can read all about that experience here).
The first thing that I noticed about the Quarter Zip Pullover is the soft and comfortable feel of the fabric. I actually got the impression that the fabric felt like that of a soft cotton, but when I checked the tag printed on the inside, I found that it is an 85% polyester / 15% cotton blend.
All I know, is that the fabric feels soft and comfortable when I pull the Quarter Zip on — and I always appreciate a printed tag instead of an itchy or scratchy normal tag.
True to name, the Quarter Zip Pullover has a quarter zip front, which also features a mock neck collar. I also like that the zipper is actually a contrasting color, and it stands out nicely from the rest of the shirt.
Actually, the contrast color along the zipper includes a reflective properties to help it stand out when worn in dawn or dusk hours. The fit of the Quarter Zip Pullover works really nicely for me. It is comfortable, and not too loose or too constricting, and it features princess seams for a feminine and flattering fit.
I also find that the sleeves are long enough for me — which can be difficult to find in a shirt for me, as I’m 5’9″, with long arms. So I was (very) happy to find that the sleeves of the Quarter Zip Pullover are long enough for my arms.
But let’s get back to the fabric, because the Quarter Zip Pullover includes drirelease, which helps it be so well suited for an active lifestyle.
Not only does the fabric include moisture wicking properties, it also dries 4x faster than cotton does, in order to promote the wearer staying dry and comfortable during their activity of choice.
For me, the activity just happens to be working around the barn & farm, or going out for a ride. Along with being fast-drying, the fabric also includes FreshGuard, which helps to control odor, which is unfortunately one of those unavoidable side effects of sweating.
The Quarter Zip Pullover’s fabric is also resistant to wrinkling and perspiration stains as well. The fabric also does not have static cling, which my horse appreciates, for sure. And I am definitely a fan of the fact that the fabric offers UPF protection from the sun’s harmful rays.
I’ve found that I like the way that the Quarter Zip Pullover looks because the fit looks nice, and the flat seams, princess cut and small reflective Dickies logo are all attractive. But more then that, I like the way that the shirt feels.
Sure, the polyester/cotton blend has a soft and natural feel against my skin, but the performance qualities of the fabric are what make the Quarter Zip Pullover so well-suited for life around the barn and in the saddle.
As someone who is notorious for forgetting to apply sunscreen, the long sleeves and UV protection properties are a good way of protecting my skin. And preventing a farmer’s tan. Just saying. Plus, the Quarter Zip Pullover is a nice way of preventing stray pieces of hay from falling down my shirt (and being super itchy).
I also find that I can really appreciate fabrics that dry so quickly, to leave me feeling comfortable after a strenuous ride, or after moving some hay and bedding. I also find that I really like the dropped back hem of the shirt, because on days that I choose not to tuck the shirt in, it provides some extra coverage in the back.
The Women’s Performance Quarter Zip Pullover with drirelease is available in a whole family of colors, all of which retail for a very reasonably priced $33.99 each. And you can find them all here.
Go Cool & Comfortable Performance. Go Dickies. Go Evening.