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A whole thread dedicated to lovers of merino wool???
I wear nothing but merino wool for hiking. My favorite piece of gear is an Ibex merino wool t-shirt.
So, go forth and preach the gospel of merino wool. Mother Nature got it right when she put the merino sheep on the earth.
Found out LS is horribly allergic to sheep's wool, but not allergic to other wools. So if I was going to be nice, and buy her something, any suggestions?
She is not athletic - other than chasing a toddler and 2nd grader around.
Let me be more specific - can you send me to some web sites, please?
Sorry, Beth - I'm not familiar with non-sheep's wool companies! Hopefully someone else here will have some ideas.
I have a question for everyone else who own's the Ibex Shak full zip. Anyone have problems with holes? I own 5 of these and so far, only my black one is falling apart. It probably gets slightly more wear than the others (but not THAT much more because it also shows dog hair more than the others!). In fact, I tend to treat my black one with a little more care since I wear it to work and try to keep it 'professional' looking. It's never seen a dryer and I probably wash it less often than the other colors. I just noticed that it's got a hole in one elbow and a few signs of unravelling in a few other spots. Could I have a poorly constructed one? It's not my oldest shak either as I bought all the others first because they were on sale. The black one is the only one I paid full price for, actually!
Should I contact Ibex or is this just the nature of wool and I need to suck it up (and learn to darn :p )?
gee, call them! you sound like you've spent enough $$ on their stuff to deserve a little customer care!
The elbows on my Shak and Bouclé are both quite worn, and I will get them patched up by a seamstress. My Ultimate Guide Sweater is also very worn at the elbows. Honestly, I won't call customer service about it. I've worn the things A LOT. They're really good wool, but they're still wool, not kevlar...
On the other hand, I've had an Ibex Tarrah showing premature holes, and it was replaced by them at no fee.
I'd call Ibex. It doesn't sound like normal wear.
Update on the shak issue!
I emailed Ibex and they immediately responded and asked to see a photo. I sent a couple today and they told me that they'd put a brand new one in the mail to me! Yay!
Normally I know when I'm hard on my clothing (like the pair of double thick Carhart jeans I wear for farm chores every day that are falling apart at the crotch!), but this just seemed abnormal since it's my newest Shak and the one I treat with the most care. I'm very pleased with their response!
Since I don't have to send this one back, I'll probably try patching it and designating it as 'farm work' attire (since it's no longer work appropriate).
Now that it is about a hundred degrees outside, I'm starting to feel a little warm, riding in my Smartwool knickers.
Ok, I'm also feeling like hiding inside in the dark, because it's just too hot out there.
I believe I am on the way to converting...I found two Smartwool Ewetopia jerseys at Nordstrom Rack a few weeks ago for $35 each...snatched 'em up because hey...can't even find cheap regular jerseys for that, right?
They're nice and long, and quite thin. I'm honestly glad they're darker colors - they might be a little too transparent if they were light.
I've loved them in the heat. No itchies. Awesome.
[QUOTE=northstar;519753]They're nice and long...QUOTE] You can say that again! On me the pockets fell on top of my butt cheeks. Granted I'm short-waisted by about 2", but the Ewetopia still seemed long. I compared it to two other wool jerseys with rear pockets (Swoba and Oregon Cyclewear), and the Ewetopia was 2"-3" longer in the waist. The Ewetopia was also available for cheap on Sierra Trading Post (where I ordered it). If you're long-waisted, could be a great jersey. Seemed well made generally.
Yep, the length is the big thing with me. I have the hardest time finding enough length in shirts in general, so I'm going to keep my eyes open for more of the SW jerseys. I haven't had that experience with their shirts, though...the length of them seems more typical to me. I like the short sleeves, too...they're a flattering length and not too loose, not too tight.
Can you tell I have a hard time finding shirts that fit to my liking? ;) Anyway, I'm a happy girl. Got back from a 32 mile ride this a.m...it's 80 already.
Not wearing wool right now. :eek:
I'm still in wool socks! Even more so when it's hot, I'll get blisters if I wear anything else to run in.
this is a summer where we never stop wearing wool!
I wear my wool Tekkos to run or walk in, even if it's 95 out.
Next week I am going to Little Lyford Pond Camp, about 60 miles north of Greenville, Maine. It will be in the forties at night, even if it's 75 in the day.
I will be taking my Shak(s), wool hiking socks, and maybe some wool base layers. Frankly, I can't wait.
DH wore a microweight SW top under his motorcycling jacket last week and felt it worked fine as a wicking shirt.
I've always felt that keeping cool at moto speeds is a whole different proposition, though - for that matter, keeping cool at bicycle speed is different from running IME.
Oooh, I need a couple more pairs of Teko socks. They're so much more comfortable than SW! I really want to love my wool Injinjis, but I'd rather have the Tekos under blistery conditions.
I still wear wool amost daily. I wore a mixture of wool and other tech fabrics when I was hiking last weekend and the wool stuff was so much more comfortable and non-stinky. It also still looked good when the weekend was over.
I also wear wool amost every day at work and when working around the farm. And ALL of my running socks are wool.
I think I've gone from WoolWeenie to WoolPsycho. :p
Here I am wearing one of my shaks at Goat Rocks Wilderness (at our campsite):
http://i631.photobucket.com/albums/u...oatRocksme.jpg
i have gotten to the point where i will only wear wool ibex bras. they are so much better hot or cold than any other bra i have ever owned.
Even in the summer? I would not have thought that comfortable, but obviously wool bras aren't what I am thinking of :)Quote:
Originally Posted by moonfroggy
I am hoping for a few pre-winter sales - I would like to pick up a pair of wool tights/knickers, a base layer that fits, and one or two bras for the winter. I did pick up two wool short-sleeve jerseys at the end of last winter cheap (and they were too small then, which I hope means they will fit now). I would love to get a wool long-sleeved jersey for the winter, but since I already know I will have to replace my much-too-large jacket for the bike I doubt I will be able to afford both...
I seem to have been converted to the dark...errrrrr...wool side :D
http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodPA_36533.html
This looks good to me for a winter base layer - has anyone any experience with their wool base layers? I know that there is a lot of support for Ibex here, but the price is nice :D
I wore wool socks for 3 days and my Shak one night, as well as a short sleeved wool top for hiking and mountain biking last week. I noticed after wearing the top one day, I felt itchy the next day when I tried wearing another one. I hope this doesn't start again, as I was having some pretty annoying allergy stuff going on with wool at the end of the winter. I decided to wear a regular wicking top, so I didn't end up ruining my vacation. I also wonder if the 2 heavy wool blankets I was sleeping with increased my sensitivity.
I have invested in so much wool for the winter, that I will be devastated if I can't wear it. Although, my Shaks don't bother me, as long as there's a long sleeved shirt under them.
Catrin, I have Patagonia wool bottoms which are fine.
[QUOTE=Crankin;530650] I also wonder if the 2 heavy wool blankets I was sleeping with increased my sensitivity.
I have invested in so much wool for the winter, that I will be devastated if I can't wear it. QUOTE]
Crankin, I wear wool more out of necessity than comfort, and I have some of the thinnest, finest wool money can buy. It's super when you need wool's qualities, but after a few days skiing or camping wearing wool 24/7 I am very happy to get home and put pure cotton next to my skin. But I haven't grown more sensitive over time or anything, I just don't wear it all day.
I see more wool and less linen in my future :rolleyes: Or I'm going to freeze after living in southern latitudes for several years. Was 80 (and muggy) when I walked out the door this morning.
I'm sure y'all will be more than willing to help me out with shopping advice ;)
Anyone know what the *lightest weight* Ibex t-shirt is?
I have an ancient Ibex t-shirt, *so* very light (even lighter than my Icebreaker 140 weight). But it's ripped to shreds. Time to replace!
Mariposa
I have two Ibex t-shirts that are 17.5 microns (I think that is the correct terminology). Anything more than that on my skin itches me. I wear them hiking or doing errand riding. Sometimes they bother me, but I go them on sale at 50% off, so they are worth it.
I think the lightest they make now is 150 g/m²
Fiber diameter is different from fabric weight - they make a couple of different weight cloths from the 17.5u thread.
Maybe they make something lighter that I'm not finding - maybe they used to - or maybe your old T was worn to a lighter weight!
Just to clarify - I'm not looking for the softest, or a certain weave. I just want it as a running shirt for hot weather.
The Icebreaker Tech T Lite 140's are my other faves...but the Ibex one lasted longer. I wonder if Ibex has a 140 weight.
Mariposa
Mine are very light weight, but I think I would heat up too much wearing them running. Last time I wore it was hiking, between temperatures of 55-75.
Call them and ask. I've always been pleased with their phone help. If they don't have exactly what you are looking for, they can suggest something that might fit the bill.Quote:
Originally Posted by mariposa
Ordered the Indie crew in salsa. Couldn't resist the color.
A company rep from Ibex answered my question:
The lightest Ibex shirts are the 150/gram ones, namely the
Peak Sport Zip,
Echo T,
and the U-Sixty T
Anyone have any experience with these shirts?
I have a couple of echo t's. They are nice! Very light weight - totally acceptable for summer use. My only beef with them is that the neckline is kind of high. I think it would bother me for athletic wear (it's fine for every day use though) but I'm a bit picky about that. I also have two tanks and a t-shirt made from their older pointelle knit that seem lighter in weight, but I don't think they sell it anymore.
Speaking of Ibex, has anyone else noticed that their new full zip shak design has changed? For fall, it looks like it has two pockets more to the side instead of the one at the zipper. And the zipper looks a little sleeker. I haven't seen them in person yet but I'm thinking about adding a new color to my fall wardrobe!
I wish I could see it. I've been having trouble with their website since they updated it, and can't view anything up-close. Anyone else having trouble?Quote:
Originally Posted by GLC1968
saw these yesterday in a wool store. BEAUTIFUL!Quote:
Originally Posted by GLC1968
Oy, if I get another Shak, I won't live it down with DH. I have 3 and he has one.
I am riding tomorrow at 7 AM. Predicted temperature 49. Out comes the wool!
Although, I did wear a very light weight wool jersey early sunday morning. It's a Performance jersey DH bought me years ago. I can't find it anywhere. It's too bad, because I wear this jersey constantly in the fall and spring.
I don't know much about Patagonia, because most of their stuff just doesn't fit me, but they have a 4.4 oz T-shirt (125 g) on sale on TE...Quote:
Originally Posted by mariposa
I totally NEED another Ibex tank, and they've been discontinued. :(:( Can't find one anywhere. The SW tank just doesn't fit me as nicely, nor is it the same quality.
She's right. The new style Shak full zip is lovely and is more versatile (easier to dress up for work). DH bought me the dark purple--I love it (color and style, of course). This purple is very dark, almost black, like an eggplant. Couldn't resist and ordered another in the turquoise green! Shaks in two of my favorite colors!Quote:
Originally Posted by Biciclista
By the way, the turquoise comes in the "original" shak full zip style. It's $10 less than the new style, if that matters! I went nuts and got the more expensive one. :):):)
Ugh, damn you! Now I'm shopping for Shaks again and I've got that purple in my cart! :eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by Selkie
(I really want a nice, bold red. Maybe next year?)