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Icebreaker Sprite Hot Pant Review

The Sprite Hot Pant is a soft pair of wool undies with an awkward fit and expensive price tag.
Icebreaker Sprite Hot Pants
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Price:  $40 List | $29.99 at Backcountry
Compare prices at 3 resellers
Pros:  Very soft, decent drying time
Cons:  Uncomfortable fit, heavy, expensive
Manufacturer:   Icebreaker
By Lauren DeLaunay ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Apr 3, 2019
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66
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#6 of 8
  • Comfort - 30% 7
  • Fit - 30% 6
  • Drying Time - 30% 7
  • Packability - 10% 6

Our Verdict

We were quickly impressed with the Icebreaker Sprite Hot Pant. With a super soft material plus a cute fit and a naturally odor-resistant material, what more could you want? Well, after just a few outings, we had an answer to that question: fewer wedgies! The major disappointment with the Sprite was the fit: with too-high leg openings, these undies were always riding up on it. And with a bit heavier design that wasn't as quick to dry, the Sprite and its steep price tag fell to the back of the pack.


Compare to Similar Products

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Awards  Editors' Choice Award Top Pick Award  Best Buy Award 
Price $29.99 at Backcountry
Compare at 3 sellers		$15.93 at Amazon
Compare at 3 sellers		$14.08 at Backcountry
Compare at 3 sellers		$18.97 at Backcountry
Compare at 2 sellers		$8.99 at Backcountry
Compare at 2 sellers
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Pros Very soft, decent drying timeSuper comfortable, breathable, inexpensiveBreathable, comfortable, inexpensiveGreat fit, comfortable material, inexpensiveInexpensive, soft, quick-drying
Cons Uncomfortable fit, heavy, expensiveHeavierTight fitSlower to dry, thicker materialAnnoying fit
Bottom Line The Sprite Hot Pant is a soft pair of wool undies with an awkward fit and expensive price tag.As kind to your budget as it is to your body, this hipkini is an all-time staff favorite.The Barely Hipster is a super comfortable and affordable product made to stand the heat.The Active Hipster is a stand-out product that excels in fit and comfort.The UA Pure Stretch Hipster is soft, stretchy, and quick to dry, all at an amazing price.
Rating Categories Icebreaker Sprite Hot Pant Give-N-Go Sport Mesh Hipkini Patagonia Barely Hipster Patagonia Active Hipster Pure Stretch Hipster
Comfort (30%)
10
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7
10
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9
10
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9
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8
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7
Fit (30%)
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6
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6
Drying Time (30%)
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7
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9
Packability (10%)
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9
Specs Icebreaker Sprite... Give-N-Go Sport... Patagonia Barely... Patagonia Active... Pure Stretch Hipster
Material 83% Merino Wool, 12% Nylon, 5% Lycra 94% Nylon, 6% Lycra 89% Nylon, 11% Spandex 81% Nylon, 12% Spandex 68% Nylon, 32% Elastane
Weight (oz) 1.4 oz 1.1 oz .8 oz .9 oz .7 oz
Flat-lock Seams No Yes Seamless Yes Seamless

Our Analysis and Test Results

Despite being one of the heavier pairs of undies we tested, the Sprite was incredibly soft and quickly became our favorite for lounging around the house. Unfortunately, without a tight pair of pants to keep them in place, we couldn't stop the Sprite riding up on us, making them dysfunctional while traveling or for any active use.

Performance Comparison


Soft materials and a burly waistband complete the Sprite Hot Pants.
Soft materials and a burly waistband complete the Sprite Hot Pants.

Comfort


The Sprite Hot Pant from Icebreaker is soft, soft, soft. One of our favorite pairs for lounging, going to the gym, or casual wear, we adored the blend of merino wool and Lycra. A combination of both great stretchiness and next-to-skin comfort, we were immediately impressed with this product's materials and wide waistband.

Our testers loved the soft merino wool of the Sprite undies.
Our testers loved the soft merino wool of the Sprite undies.

The wool is thin and not stifling, and we found a decent though not exceptional amount of breathability. The thick waistband wasn't our favorite, but it wasn't nearly as imposing as we guessed it might be. Overall, we found these to be way more comfortable than an average pair of cotton undies though not quite as stellar as some other models we tested.

Fit


After just a few uses, we had one major problem with the Sprite: wedgies. Unless we were wearing them under tight leggings or pants that helped keep them in place, the Sprite Hot Pant caused us constant annoyance whether we were walking through town or hiking in the hills.

While we found the cut cute, the higher leg openings on this model had a hard time keeping still. While the waistband was thick and sturdy, the leg openings lacked support and a defined band. We like our undies to be hidden from thought, and this unfortunate design feature overrode our initial impressions. We often found the loose leg openings riding up on us, and the surprisingly high waist added to our disapproval. This high-rise made for an incompatible fit with some of our low-rise pants.

Though comfortable the burly waistband of the Sprite isn't enough to keep these skivvies in place.
Though comfortable, the burly waistband of the Sprite isn't enough to keep these skivvies in place.

The Sprite is decently stretchy though not the most impressive. The thick waist band's elasticity is limiting, and for active use requiring a full range of motion, we'd look elsewhere.

Drying Time


After our rounds of drying time test, we found that the Sprite was in the middle of the pack. To get to the bottom of the drying time problem, we first soaked each product in water, hang-wrung it, and then used our towel-drying method to speed things up. All you have to do is roll the undies up in a towel like a burrito and squeeze! By forcing a little extra water out of the undies, we found much faster drying times.

Just hangin' out with the Sprite Hot Pants!
Just hangin' out with the Sprite Hot Pants!

There were three categories of drying times: those that came in under an hour, those that were just over an hour, and those that took longer than an hour and a half. Of the three wool products in this test, the Sprite ranked right in the middle.

Packability


At 1.4 ounces, the Sprite is one of the heavier pairs of undies we reviewed. We don't necessarily think you'll notice portions of an ounce, but for the exceptionally weight-conscious among us, the Smartwool Merino 150 is a very soft merino wool that is much lighter. As far as packing goes, the Sprite's bulk is noticeable when compared to some of the mega tiny products we tried.

The Sprite Hot Pants were a bit bulky for our taste.
The Sprite Hot Pants were a bit bulky for our taste.

Best Applications


At the end of the day, the only time we wanted to wear the Sprite Hot Pant was when we were lounging around the house. Without the ability to control the ever-present wedgie, we sadly had to leave these soft undies behind for any big adventure. If you're looking for a great wool product, we highly recommend the Smartwool Merino 150, which is both comfortable and quick-drying.

Value


Coming in at $40, the Sprite Hot Pant was much more expensive than the bulk of undies we tested. Compared to our favorite wool model, the Merino 150, which runs at $30, we have a hard time justifying the steep price tag of the Sprite. While the material was one of our favorites, we just couldn't get behind the annoying cut, heavier weight, and slower drying time.

Conclusion


If wedgies weren't an issue, we'd love the Sprite. The merino wool is both soft and breathable, but the fit didn't work for us. And as far as traveling goes, some products are both lighter and faster to dry, making it difficult for us to recommend the Sprite.

Drying out the Sprite to get ready for another adventure in the Eastern Sierra California
Drying out the Sprite to get ready for another adventure in the Eastern Sierra, California


— Lauren DeLaunay