Smartwool dilemma

[pooks]

Hey Pooks, Send it back! One of my core philosophies is that if we feel good about what we're wearing (and how we look in it), then we are more likely to continue the activity (in this case cycling, or hiking, or whatever.)

Thanks, Susan. Usually I don't mind returning something, but this one was just so nice!

Lisa and Grog -- thanks for the links and info. I'm trying to decide between the very nicely priced t-neck and the regularly priced zip-neck plum!

[pooks]

Update. I bought one of the Ibex midweights -- very nice, very pretty. However it was way heavier than the midweight Smartwool. It was warm and fuzzy on the inside and a little nubbier on the outside, and it fit, and it was simply heavier than I anticipated. More of a wear-alone sweater for my use than an underlayer.

And I'm sending it back, and keeping the Smartwool. It's warm, soft, pretty and as an underlayer, perfectly presentable. And if I decide to strip off the jersey, it's not any worse looking than a couple of my jerseys, so what the heck! I'm happy with it, after all.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Pooks, just curious- which of the Ibex midweights did you buy?

The Ibex "base layer" weight stuff would have been more matched to the SmartWool zip-T.

[pooks]

You know, now that I look at the description again, maybe it was meant to be worn alone. It's the Ultimate Guide Sweater:

http://www.ibexwear.com/F06/View_Pro...&CategoryLine=

No matter now. I'm very happy with the Smartwool!

[Grog]

You know, now that I look at the description again, maybe it was meant to be worn alone. It's the Ultimate Guide Sweater:

http://www.ibexwear.com/F06/View_Pro...&CategoryLine=

No matter now. I'm very happy with the Smartwool!

It is a heavy sweater indeed. I LOVE it. I wear it with a very light wicking top usually so I can take it off if I get too warm.

It's the nicest sweater I've ever had... The only problem now: dear partner is jealous.

[Bad JuJu]

Oh, that is one gorgeous sweater--the Ultimate Guide Sweater, I mean. Is it really really heavy? Believe it or not, I do wear wool occasionally, even though I live in the south--in fact, I could've worn wool today. I'm a little quirky in my clothing habits, admittedly, but wool is such an adaptable fabric--I wear Smartwool socks all year round. So I'd love to have that sweater, but not if it's a very heavy one. Comments? Advice? Thanks!

[Grog]

Oh, that is one gorgeous sweater--the Ultimate Guide Sweater, I mean. Is it really really heavy? Believe it or not, I do wear wool occasionally, even though I live in the south--in fact, I could've worn wool today. I'm a little quirky in my clothing habits, admittedly, but wool is such an adaptable fabric--I wear Smartwool socks all year round. So I'd love to have that sweater, but not if it's a very heavy one. Comments? Advice? Thanks!

Hummm... It's pretty heavy. Definitely heavier than, say, your average polar fleece sweater. I wear it with a light top underneath. I could imagine wearing it for a walk by the ocean in Florida in January. It's pretty good at breaking wind too.

At the price the women's version is right now, I would order it if I was you.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I could imagine wearing it for a walk by the ocean in Florida in January. It's pretty good at breaking wind too.

Hmmm...you might want to stay upwind of it in that case.....

[SouthernBelle]

Drat, Lisa. You beat me to it.

[pooks]

We all have the same inner 10-year-old boy, huh?

[alforfun]

You ladies are quick. Took me two reads to catch the joke. Must be time for me to toddle off to bed!

[Bad JuJu]

Guess that's one way to avoid the crowds on the beach, eh?

Well, even with its bad digestive habits, I ordered the sweater anyway--in that delicious blue. I'll post a report when I get it.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Guess that's one way to avoid the crowds on the beach, eh?

Well, even with its bad digestive habits, I ordered the sweater anyway--in that delicious blue. I'll post a report when I get it.

Maybe it has a high fiber content, contributing to it's "airiness".

Let us know how you like it! I'm tempted by the Ibex turtlenecks on sale myself....

[jobob]

I bought myself a black Smartwool Microweight long sleeve crew (from TE of course!) and it's now my most favorite article of clothing. It's silky-soft and cozy, but not heavy. It folds up tiny and weighs next-to-nothing so it's easy to travel with, and it doesn't wrinkle. It washes easily, dries quickly, it didn't shrink when I washed it (maybe a tiny bit but that was OK), and it looks really good on me (if I may say so myself). The sizing is pretty much perfect for me, I'm a run-of-the mill medium with no chest to speak of, and it's not loose, not tight. And there seems to be more room in the chest area for those better endowed than I.

I took it with me on our trip to Solvang and Big Sur. It was nice enough to wear out to dinner in Solvang, and it was a perfect base layer for camping in Big Sur.

While in Big Sur we took our bikes out on a fairly warm day on Highway 1 and then down to Pfeiffer State Beach, and then back up, up and up some more to the restaurant at the Ventana Inn which is on an overlook with a lovely view of the Pacific. While we were having lunch on the terrace the fog rolled in, so I changed from my sleeveless jersey to my Smartwool crew which I had very wisely taken along with me, even though Lee said it was going to be too warm. I was so glad I had it because for the descent back to camp I wore my sleeveless jersey over the crew and my bolero on top of that. My teeth were still chattering on the descent down Highway 1 back to the campground but thanks to my trusty Smartwool at least I didn't get hypothermia

Amazingly, I've worn it off and on for the last 6 days, almost continously for the last 3, and it doesn't stink. OK, that might be TMI ...

[KnottedYet]

I love that wool can be worn multiple times without stinking.

Won't give any details of my Ibex wool boxers, but to say that I luuuuuuuv them! (who'da thunk wool would make great underwear?)