Icebreaker Sprite Hot Pant Review
Compare prices at 3 resellers Pros: Very soft, decent drying time
Cons: Uncomfortable fit, heavy, expensive
Manufacturer: Icebreaker
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Icebreaker Sprite Hot Pant | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  | |||
| Price | $40.00 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $16.95 at REI | $22.00 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $22.99 at Amazon | $30.00 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers |
Overall Score  |
|||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Very soft, decent drying time | Breathable, super comfortable, affordable | Breathable, comfortable, inexpensive | Super comfortable, stretchy, inexpensive | Super comfortable, quick to dry, lightweight, breathable |
| Cons | Uncomfortable fit, heavy, expensive | Nothing! | Tight fit | Heavy, bulky | Tight waistband, more expensive |
| Bottom Line | Expensive and uncomfortable, this pair is soft yet heavy and slower to dry | The Active Bikini is a top scorer in every testing category, and its affordable price tag makes it a no-brainer | Breathable and soft, the Hipster finds the middle ground between a great fit and a nice price | An incredibly comfortable, breathable, and budget-friendly favorite | Ready for any lightweight adventure, this merino pair is soft, lightweight, and fast-drying |
| Rating Categories | Icebreaker Sprite Hot Pant | REI Co-op Active Bikini | Patagonia Barely Hipster | Give-N-Go Sport Mesh Hipkini | Smartwool Merino 150 Bikini |
| Comfort (35%) | |||||
| Fit (30%) | |||||
| Drying Time (25%) | |||||
| Packability (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Icebreaker Sprite... | REI Co-op Active... | Patagonia Barely... | Give-N-Go Sport... | Smartwool Merino... |
| Material | 83% Merino Wool, 12% Nylon, 5% Lycra | 86% polyester/14% spandex | 89% Nylon, 11% Spandex | 93% Nylon 7% Lycra Spandex | 87% Merino Wool, 13% Nylon Core |
| Measured Weight - Size Small (oz) | 1.4 oz | 0.6 oz | 0.8 oz | 1.1 oz | 0.7 oz |
| Cut Tested | Hot Pant | Bikini | Hipster | Hipkini | Bikini |
| Flat-lock Seams | No | No | Seamless | Yes | Yes |
| Cuts Available | Hot Pant | Bikini, hipster, brief, thong | Hipster, bikini, thong | Hipkini, full cut brief, bikini, string bikini, bikini brief, 4" boy short | Bikini |
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Value
The Sprite Hot Pant is much more expensive than the bulk of undies we tested. Compared to our favorite wool model, the Merino 150, 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.
— Lauren DeLaunay