In this review Alex Roddie gives his thoughts on the Tierra Men’s Templet Midlayer.
Tierra is a Swedish brand with a history dating back to 1983. They offer a full range of technical mountain clothing – including some with highly innovative qualities. The Tierra Templet Midlayer fleece stands out in this regard by its use of bio-based materials: an interesting blend of non-mulesed wool and Tencel lyocell (fibres made from sustainably sourced, responsibly processed wood).
Alex Roddie’s verdict
It performs fine for day hikes in relatively good conditions, or as a casual sweater. But I’d want something with more consistent performance for winter or multi-day use.- Bio-based materials
- Soft and comfortable
- High stretch
- Heavy for warmth offered
- Can get damp with perspiration
- Slow to dry
| Quick specs | |
|---|---|
| Price: £120 Weight: 454g Materials: 60% merino wool, 40% Tencell lyocell with grid backer Hood: none Front closure: one-way zip with internal flap Pockets: 2x zipped external handwarmer Hem: no adjustment Cuffs: simple Womens/mens version: both Sizes: men: XS–XXL; women: XXS–XXL trekitt.co.uk |
The garment itself is styled like a simple, relatively thin fleece jacket. Fit is relatively athletic across the chest and arms, but there is more room in the belly and waist. I can’t fit another midlayer underneath. Twin handwarmer pockets and front zip complete the basic feature set. There is no hood, but there is a high stretchy collar that helps to cut out draughts.
The fabric on the Tierra Men’s Templet Midlayer has a little stretch but much less than the Montane Fury Lite also tested. It has a grid backer to improve breathability and moisture transfer, and is delightfully soft and cosy (thanks to the lycocell). The outer surface is smooth and glides well under a shell.
It offers less warmth than you’d expect for the weight, being distinctly less warm than the Montane Fury Lite. It’s fine for summer or mild spring/autumn use, but I’d reach for something warmer in cooler conditions. Unfortunately I found that moisture transport was not as good as expected. On a cold outing in the Southern Cairngorms I found that the fabric readily trapped perspiration, leading to feeling cold and damp. It’s slow to dry when it has absorbed moisture, too, which in my opinion makes it a poor choice for multi-day backpacking. It’s also the least windproof of the layers I tested.
Tierra are to be applauded for their use of RWS-certified wool and sustainably produced lyocell fibres. This makes it potentially the greenest choice out of all the jackets I tested. The Tierra Men’s Templet Midlayer performs fine for day hikes in relatively good conditions, or as a casual sweater. But I’d want something with more consistent performance for winter or multi-day use.
