Ibex Sweater vs Switchback

[mso]

I'm looking at both these pullovers and trying to decide which one I should buy. Looking for a warm pullover for temps in the 40 to 50 degree range. I somewhat prefer the look of the switchback but I noticed it's hand wash only. Plus what's difference in the two wools? One's Merino the other Felted Merino wool. I'm guessing the 100% Merino might be thicker,unsure. Also Swichback is considered a midlayer does that make it more like a thin capeline shirt?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I'm looking at both these pullovers and trying to decide which one I should buy. Looking for a warm pullover for temps in the 40 to 50 degree range. I somewhat prefer the look of the switchback but I noticed it's hand wash only. Plus what's difference in the two wools? One's Merino the other Felted Merino wool. I'm guessing the 100% Merino might be thicker,unsure. Also Swichback is considered a midlayer does that make it more like a thin capeline shirt?

I think both are 100% merino wool. The switchback is a thick wool material, with a slightly bumpy texture. Not thin at all, but not like a bulky sweater either. You don't say which Ibex sweater you are looking at. The switchback pullover is somewhat form fitting, which makes it good as a mid layer.
Sometimes I wear my switchback vest over my switchback pullover- and then I'm SUPER toasty warm!

[KnottedYet]

I wear my switchback as a jacket. (I have the full-zip) I just toss it in the washing machine and dry it flat. It's survived a year and a half of this mistreatment, no problem.

It's not a lightweight piece, more like a jacket than your average wool shirt.

I love it. If i had the money i'd buy the pullover version that's on sale right now.

[DrBadger]

I have both the switchback pullover and the full zip. Knot is right, they are pretty heavy wool, not so much shirt like, or layering types. I wear the pull over kind of like a sweater with a shirt underneith it. I wear the fill zip as a jacket just like Knot. I think that the full zip is a bit more form fitting. I have mediums in both and the full zip is pretty trim while I have quite a bit of room in the pull over (but not in a bad way). I just washed my pull over for the first time... threw it in the washer on cold and dried it flat. It seemed to shrink down a little, but probably just back to where it was when I first got it (Christmas) after being streached out from wearing it so much. The only way I would really call these midweight in terms of layering is that you could wear them under a shell like you would a fleese jacket. Also, they are a bit "knobby" so aren't as soft as some of the other ibex, smartwool, or icebreaker merino tops.

I do love both of my switchbacks.... would love to get some of the other colors in the pull over that Sierra Trading Post has now... but I really don't need to be spending my $$ on even more wool, especially when I am moving to Houston in 6 months....:rolleyes: