I got one of these $65 shirts over the weekend, using a return credit to soften the $$ blow. Unlike the $80-90 shirts that Ellesse and Fila used to sell over 20 years ago, the Macro represents the height of technical tennis shirting, and is a very nice although cosmetically it is kind of a plain shirt.
First, know that the fit is just a wee bit closer to the body than the typical Nike fit. It's not enough to warrant upsizing from your normal size, however, although an "L" person can probably get away with either an L or an XL. Also know that this shirt is largely made from a relatively open mesh material, rather than just piecing such material in strategic parts of the shirt. As a result, the shirt tends to highlight your torso's curves, bumps, unwanteds, what have you. Anybody can wear this shirt, but it doesn't hide as much as the typical, high-end Nike technical shirt.
Performance wise, wearing it on 2 hot, humid days while playing, I have to admit I felt only a slight difference in upper back feel (where the 3D fishscales are). The slight diff is caused by the material below the scales being thinner than the average shirt material, and because on a micro though tangible level, the fanning scales ventilate that thin material by their movement. If anything, the inner material below the scales that's in contact with your back tends to cling to your back more than I'd like. This shirt would probably ventilate and dry off speedily if you were to stop playing and continue wearing the shirt. But, if you continue to play and sweat, the shirt, like everything else out there, will remain wet. The advantage to the technical fabrics over cotton is that the moisture gets brought up to the fabric's surface, and doesn't weigh the shirt down.
Cosmetically, it's largely a white shirt with a kind of sunwashed red accent. Nike clearly has made this a function first shirt, and the simple cosmetic reflects this. By keeping it so simple, one can really make out the varied piecings that put the shirt together. The red shoulder accents have a nifty way of making your shoulders broader and look set back, as though you have ideal posture. Publicity wise, the fishscales get their share of attention - you'll probably get about 2 comments each time you wear the shirt. Nobody actually says it looks cool - they just mention that they noticed the scales.
First, know that the fit is just a wee bit closer to the body than the typical Nike fit. It's not enough to warrant upsizing from your normal size, however, although an "L" person can probably get away with either an L or an XL. Also know that this shirt is largely made from a relatively open mesh material, rather than just piecing such material in strategic parts of the shirt. As a result, the shirt tends to highlight your torso's curves, bumps, unwanteds, what have you. Anybody can wear this shirt, but it doesn't hide as much as the typical, high-end Nike technical shirt.
Performance wise, wearing it on 2 hot, humid days while playing, I have to admit I felt only a slight difference in upper back feel (where the 3D fishscales are). The slight diff is caused by the material below the scales being thinner than the average shirt material, and because on a micro though tangible level, the fanning scales ventilate that thin material by their movement. If anything, the inner material below the scales that's in contact with your back tends to cling to your back more than I'd like. This shirt would probably ventilate and dry off speedily if you were to stop playing and continue wearing the shirt. But, if you continue to play and sweat, the shirt, like everything else out there, will remain wet. The advantage to the technical fabrics over cotton is that the moisture gets brought up to the fabric's surface, and doesn't weigh the shirt down.
Cosmetically, it's largely a white shirt with a kind of sunwashed red accent. Nike clearly has made this a function first shirt, and the simple cosmetic reflects this. By keeping it so simple, one can really make out the varied piecings that put the shirt together. The red shoulder accents have a nifty way of making your shoulders broader and look set back, as though you have ideal posture. Publicity wise, the fishscales get their share of attention - you'll probably get about 2 comments each time you wear the shirt. Nobody actually says it looks cool - they just mention that they noticed the scales.
