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Western Rise continues to impress, with their innovative clothing designs for travelers. I’ve been a huge fan of their gear, since the early days, and this latest batch of clothing may be their best yet! In this article, you will get a first look at their just-announced Diversion Pants, with four-way stretch. We will also cover the Limitless Button-Down and Polo shirts, along with the X Cotton Everyday Tee, Strongcore Merino Hoodie, and Strongcore Merino Socks.
If you haven’t seen our previous articles about Western Rise, you can follow these links:
- Evoluation Pants, Boundless Shorts, and Sun Hoodie
- Airloft Quilted Jacket, Techwool Flannel, and Henley
- AT Slim Pants, Airlight Shop Shirt, and Strongcore Merino Tee
Let’s dive into the new stuff!
Diversion Pants
Sorry, all other pants… these are the new daily-drivers. The brand-new Diversion Pants from Western Rise are definitely their best yet, and they’re my new go-to “one pant” for travel. If you’ve never owned pants with 4-way stretch, you’re in for a real treat with these! The fabric has been completely engineered for the perfect blend of comfort and durability. A durable, woven canvas exterior pairs with a soft, sweatpant-like interior lining, to bring you the best of both worlds. Elastine fibers in the cloth provide that wonderful 4-way stretch.
These pants are a classic 5-pocket cut, with a flattering slim fit. You may be thinking that slim pants don’t sound great for travel, but the stretch allows them to move with you. Additional travel-friendly features include the durable water repellent treatment, to prevent stains or dirt, and the back zipper pocket for added security. The Diversion Pants are also lightweight, with a fabric weight of 286 grams per square meter (gsm). For reference, a standard pair of Levi’s jeans is about 500gsm.
The Diversion Pants will absolutely be my new one-pant for all of my travels. They’re so light, that they add little weight to the bag, and they’re fit for all four seasons. They come in flat black or bluegray, which should easily blend into your travel wardrobe.
Grab a pair of Diversion Pants before they sell out!
Limitless Button Down
We first previewed the Limitless Button Down shirt when it was on Kickstarter and raised over $277,000. The full production run is in, and the shirts will be available on the Western Rise website on 2/18/20 at 6am EST.
The shirt is woven from a blend of 53% Merino wool and 47% polyester. I’ve written extensively about the benefits of Merino wool, but I’ll summarize them here. Merino is the optimal fabric for travel clothing, because it’s naturally odor and wrinkle resistant, breathable, soft, and stretchy. The polyester blend increases durability and enhances the fabric’s ability to regulate temperature.
Now that I have the shirt in my hands, the fabric is so much better than I anticipated! Not only is it soft and airy, but it’s got the perfect amount of stretch and a wonderful drape. The cut of the shirt is a nice, tailored fit, and the stretch keeps it from feeling too tight. The collar and cuffs are sturdy and don’t droop at all.
The Limitless Button Down shirt is a no-brainer addition to my travel packing list. It’s perfect for a business trip, a nice dinner, or just for a casual day exploring. Roll up the sleeves, loosen a few buttons, and hang out on the beach. You simply can’t go wrong with this shirt.
Grab your Limitless Button Down here. (Link will be live after 2/18/20)
Limitless Polo
I don’t have a whole lot to add for the Limitless Polo. It’s built from exactly the same fabric as the Limitless Button Down. One thing that you will notice about this shirt immediately, is that it has an unconventionally-modern design. The collar is a button-down, with a few extra center buttons, and the bottom of the shirt is cut like the button-down version, only with a solid bottom. It’s not like any other polo shirt I own, but I love the look. It also goes very well under a light blazer, given the collar style.
Grab your Limitless Polo shirt here. (Link will be live after 2/18/20)
X Cotton Everyday Tee
A great tee shirt is essential to any packing list. The X Cotton Everyday Tee is a fantastic candidate to round our your travel gear. I usually stick to merino tees during travel, for obvious reasons, but this shirt checks many of the same boxes.
It is built from a blend of 60% cotton, 35% polyester, and 5% elastine, giving it an extremely soft handfeel and substantial stretch. Additionally, it’s been treated with silver-chloride antimicrobial technology, to reduce odor during extended wear. The fabric weight is relatively heavy, at 220gsm, giving this tee shirt a substantial feel, and good insulating properties. I call it a true three-season tee shirt.
This tee has quickly become one of my favorites. I’ve literally worn it for a week straight at home, with no hint of odor. I love the slightly heavy feel of the fabric and the softness of the cotton.
Grab your X Cotton Everyday Tee here.
Strongcore Merino Hoodie
The Strongcore Merino Hoodie is a lightweight hoodie that feels like a sweater. It’s woven from the same core-spun Merino/nylon thread as the Strongcore Merino Tee, giving it the qualities of Merino wool, without the durability concerns of most wool sweaters.
The fabric weight is a mere 170gsm, making it light enough to wear comfortably in most environments. When temps drop, the wool can act as an insulator to keep your body heat in. It’s got a relatively-slim cut, for a polished look, and it works great alone or as an outer layer.
Grab your Strongcore Merino Hoodie here.
Strongcore Merino Socks
Everybody, shut up… Western Rise finally made socks!! Hard to believe it took them so long to bring their talents to the sock game.
These babies are made from 40% Merino wool, 30% nylon, and 30% elastine. Wool keeps your socks smelling fresh for multiple wears. Nylon adds durability, and elastine holds them firmly in place, without slipping off the heel.
The top of the sock is a breathable mesh, while the bottom has extra padding to keep your feet comfortable during long days of exploring new cities. I put twelve miles on the socks during a couple days in San Diego, and my feet felt wonderful. It’s also great to be able to pack just a couple pairs for a long trip. Wear one until they stink (at least 3-4 wears), and then wear the other while you wash the first.
Grab a pair of Strongcore Merino Socks here.
Final Thoughts
Western Rise has always impressed me with their offerings, but they’ve really outdone themselves with the latest run of products. The Diversion Pants and Limitless Shirts, in particular, show significant growth in design and fabric quality. These will become absolute staples of your travel wardrobe for years to come. Place your orders before the new batch sells out! Cheers!
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Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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