Kit review: Finisterre Brisa Quarter Zip Baselayer
Sometimes you may buy a product for its brand name. Sometimes it’s purely based performance or price, or both. And sometimes, just sometimes, you might buy a product because you like the company and what they represent…
Well, when Gregor sent me mail asking if I’d like to test-out the latest base layer from UK company Finisterre I was intrigued to know a little more – as to be perfectly honest, I had never heard of them.
No crime in that though is there, and what’s more it’s probably further testimony to this great little brand which has been growing organically over the last 5 years in the town of St. Agnes, Cornwall, and are now ready to perhaps make their mark in trail and off-road running.
The Finisterre team
The Finisterre team seem a great bunch, the team webpage makes them out to be the sort of people you’d perhaps like to share a coffee with, as much as buy their kit! They specialise in the surf industry, and Merino products.
The Brisa Quarter Zip Baselayer is a lovely piece of kit, made from 100% recycled polyester. If you are someone who likes brand names plastered on your garments, look away now, as you almost have to search for the little label on this top. And to be fair the garment is black and, dare I say it, relatively bland to look at.
But hey, it’s base layer and never was the term ‘dont judge a book by its cover’ more appropriate! As you slip this top on the feeling is of luxury and comfort. There was no snagging, no rucks and no itching – straight out of the box. The arms were the right length, the body snug and glove-like and the neck cuff one of the best bits, as it give the feeling of warmth for those days when the a cold wind tugs at your collar.
The build quality is high, and the flat-lock sticking which binds it all together is really well done. On the run it was a delight too. I wore it on reasonably high ground (500metres), with a cold easterly wind, but had to also contend with shaded valleys and a warm sun thereafter, often meaning that garments have to be discarded or unzipped.
Not with the Brisa 1/4 zip. It was excellent and at no point did I feel too hot or overly cold. The powers of polyester!
At 35 quid it is not cheap, but for the what you get well priced in my opinion – and I am sure that (unlike some companies out there) if there were any issues with this top you would be able to pick up the phone and speak to one of the guys at Finisterre. Oh and the best bit? It was delivered with a little square of Green and Blacks chocolate. Class!
SRP: £35
