In this review I paid for this item and I do not get a commission for sales from the link in the blog. I never endorse products I don’t use as my credibility is more important. Thankyou for helping to support my blog and adventures so I can keep buying gear to review.
Super Speedy Summary Review
The Vollebak Carbon Fibre T Shirt is a lightweight 6oz T shirt with enormous abrasion resistance that’s breathable and rain repelling. This is the lighter ‘Summer’ brother to the darker Ceramic Condition Black T Shirt, both using Hi-Tec fabrics to make them hard wearing. The fabric is super stretchy and incredibly well made with flat locked stitching and all the usual military level of build quality and future fabric innovation that Vollebak have built their reputation on.
The T Shirt is sold out for the second time running so join the email waiting list on the website and jump on the pre launch email the moment you get it. Generally I’m now seeing Vollebak gear selling out within 2 hours of launch in recent months.
Full In Depth Review
Vollebak aren’t shy about using space age fabrics in their clothing line. I’ve already reviewed their ceramic coated Baselayer, a Kevlar Hoodie and a Glow in the Dark Jacket on this site. I’m now seeing a recent trend in their gear and its that the level of stock released and demand leads to a fever pitch buying frenzy when new gear is released. The last two launches of a clothing line have seen all stock sold within hours. These days its not a matter of if you want one, but if there is one left when you go on the Vollebak website.
Carbon Fibre
There is something luxurious yet high tec about carbon fibre. You see it on high end race cars because of its outstanding strength to weight ratio. Woven as a fabric it has a tensile strength five times higher than steel. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a piece of clothing made with carbon fibre so there were the usual ‘ooooohs and aaaaahs’ as the exclusive pre launch email arrived from Nick and Steve at Vollebak.
Build Quality
Size and Fit
I bought mine in size medium and the fit is identical to all the other baselayers and T Shirts that Vollebak make. The sizing chart is perfect and the fabric has a high elastane content so is also very stretchy. The T shirt weighs a total of 6oz which makes it great for the hot Summer months.
I recommend washing at 40C ( low temps) and hang drying. After a few washes the T Shirt shows no sign of wear and tear as expected.
Gripes
I rarely have a gripe about Vollebaks stuff. Whilst they are using a new factory in Lithuania I am seeing the identical high build quality as before with their previous Portugal factory. I know that Vollebak gear cant simply be made anywhere and needs a specialist factory to work with their exotic fabrics. I seem to recall a story about them having to wait a year once for the factory they wanted to say yes.
If its one small gripe I miss the fully attached labels in the clothing now. I also miss the little black ‘blurb’ label near the base of the clothing. I love these small reminders about what makes these pieces of clothing so special.
Verdict
So I’m basically a Vollebak ‘Pavlov Dog‘ now. When I see an email arrive from Nick and Steve at Vollebak I reach instantly for my wallet as I open the email. I predicted this company would become a Boutique Clothing Cult and they are now in full cult status as far as I’m concerned. I find myself no longer reviewing their gear so much as telling you about something you can’t have. With Vollebak you get a wearable piece of exotic art, that’s practical. These are like high tech electric guitars designed to be played hard and not left in a glass case in a Hard Rock Cafe.
You are either all in or you aren’t. If this or one of my other blog reviews convinces you then don’t get hung up on price or practicality. Just buy one item and join a very unique club.
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Hi,
Thank you for your detailed review!
I just got the Carbon fiber t-shirt in small. When I tried it on for the first time, it feels a bit too tight around the chest area.
In your experience, has the shirt shrunk or loosened up further after few washes?
Appreciate your response!
Hi Manish,
I also felt the fit on the T shirt was slightly smaller than im used to from Vollebak, but I found after afew washes it ‘molded’ better to my body. I actually found the same with the ceramic condition black tops, they felt tight round the neck when zipped up the first few times but now they fit perfectly .
hope that helps
L-S
Hi there, I’ve long been a fan of Vollebak’s stuff from a theoretical perspective but this is the first piece I’ve actually bought. Agree with your thoughts here, but was expecting a bit more analysis of how the shirt is to wear rather than discussing the product launch, company’s history, changes in labels tbh!
I’m usually a merino t-shirt man, and the feel of this is just wildly different to those or anything else really. It has a hardness to the hand which speaks of its resilience, but the feel when wearing is not uncomfortable – not as comfortable as cotton/wool/bamboo/polyester etc but not something you keep feeling as you wear it. As I was first putting it on I thought it would feel restrictive, but the stretch is just crazy so that was definitely not a problem. Haven’t worn an item of clothing with this much stretch before.
I won’t be putting it on as an base-layer unless I’m fighting an alien invasion or similar, but as a top to go mountainbiking in or similar (where you’d worry about ripping a more delicate fabric) it is bang on.