WoolWeenies Club

[short cut sally]

OK ladies, I have read and read your posts and am amazed at how many items you all have and how you sing the praises of wool. I must confess-The ONLY items I own are wool socks. Don't ban me please! I just went to a website and put 3 items into a shopping cart. BUT before I order. I need to ask a question. The items say that they are a base layer item, all 1/4 zip top. I thought I wanted to wear something like underarmor next to me then this top. I am under the impression that this is a no go correct? I use this wool as my baselayer and then what do I put over that (see below first)? If they are a base layer, how heavy are they? I am in the wool-less club here. I am looking at these items for x-c skiing, walking, and perhaps snowshoeing. I usually wear a heavy biking jersey and a soft shell jacket for walking/x-c skiing and find it okay and haven't had any problems. Would I use the wool top instead of my biking jersey? I have read the advantages, I just need to be sold now. i know- too many questions.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Tell us exactly which zip base layer tops are in your cart (brand, item name description), then we can advise you better.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

sigh.....I got my red pepper Ibex shak Hoodie.....and I'll have to send it back.
It fits me perfectly- but I wanted it to wear over some base layers and it's too snug for that. It's a LARGE, for goodness sake! What is up with that??- I'm just a medium average sized woman and a large fits me perfectly?? Sadly, they do not seem to be available ANYWHERE on the internet in an XL red pepper.
I have to give up my quest for the red shak.
Time to rethink again.

[elk]

yeah...those ibex jackets run SMALL!
sorry! maybe a men's S would do it?

[elk]

Wool. I'm wearing my Rivendell merino crew under a flannel shirt right now...I'm findin it easier on the skin than I did. But....what and how do you layer that wool? Is it right next to your skin? What do you wear for wind and wet over it? If you wear a waterproof shell, does the wool still breathe? HOw many layers ?

How to dress, is the question, for riding in this wet 35-50 degree climate of the NW in winter?? give me some specific stuff to shop for...
please.
oh! and I find Ibex runs a little small...anything good that runs more true to size?

[KnottedYet]

Wool. I'm wearing my Rivendell merino crew under a flannel shirt right now...I'm findin it easier on the skin than I did. But....what and how do you layer that wool? Is it right next to your skin? What do you wear for wind and wet over it? If you wear a waterproof shell, does the wool still breathe? HOw many layers ?

How to dress, is the question, for riding in this wet 35-50 degree climate of the NW in winter?? give me some specific stuff to shop for...
please.
oh! and I find Ibex runs a little small...anything good that runs more true to size?

Buy one size up in Ibex if it runs small for you.

Buy Icebreaker if you can't afford Ibex, but buy Ibex any time you can get it on sale. (check the Ibex Outlet and BackCountry.com and Sierra Trading Post and REI-Outlet)

Wear a bra under the wool. Ibex is coming out with wool bras this winter, but until then wear a regular bra.

Treat your wool t-shirt like you would any other t-shirt for layering. Put your favorite warm goodies on over it. It'll be just fine.

Wool just keeps on breathing, but how much vapor gets out your waterproof shell is entirely up to the SHELL. (not the wool)

When it's wet and in the cooler temps here in Seattle I like to ride in wool Ibex capris, wool socks, bra, wool longsleeve t-shirt, and wool sweater. I might put a shell on over the sweater if it's *really* raining, but tend not to. I generally wear just my PI visiblity vest cuz I sweat so much.

I have a wool helmet liner and wool gloves for those really cold days.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I like to wear the thin Ibex longsleeve crew "Woolie" shirts as a base layer underneath (over a bra), then a thicker wool shirt over that, like the Ibex Shak or the Ibex Zephyr. Then I'll either wear a wool vest or a screaming yellow windbreaker jacket or vest. On the bottom if it's really cold I'll wear my regular chamois tights and then my wool Ibex tights over them....or vice versa.

Sometimes i wear an Ibex woolie longsleeve to sleep with my ibex wool tights....yummy!
I find the new soft merinos are too soft to be itchy, but they have a nice subtle springy texture that feels like i'm getting a skin massage. Cotton doesn't have that effect somehow.

Always check Ibex's "Outlet" section too, for discounted items, and make sure it's showing "all" outlet items, not just the tops. The link to the outlet alway sseems to start with showing just the tops on sale.

[Dianyla]

How to dress, is the question, for riding in this wet 35-50 degree climate of the NW in winter?? give me some specific stuff to shop for... please.

Here's what's been working for me this winter:

Morning or late night commute (sub 40 degrees)
I usually wear about three woolly layers, varying them for the temps.
1 light wool layer next to skin (Smartwool or Ibex underwear layer)
1 light wool shirt layer (not much thicker than the baselayer) (e.g. Smartwool Zip-T, Ibex Pico)
1 warm wool layer (either a sweater like the Ibex Long Trail or a jacket like the Ibex Pingo. I don't actually have the Pingo, I have something from a few years back that's a lot like it.)
Outer shell varies by weather - for wet the Showers Pass rain jacket in Mango color, or for dry the PI Whisper jacket or vest for high visibility and wind-blocking.

Bottom (I'm sadly wool-deficient in these areas):
Bike shorts or knickers (PI, Sugoi, etc. For wool I just got the Ibex Calais shorts and love them. The El Fito's just don't fit my legs at all for some reason.)
Fleece tights or pants (PI Amfib, Craft storm pants, etc)
Alternately, I may just combine my PI Sugar knickers with knee-high Smartwool ski socks. Classy!
If rainy, Craft Rain Pants over shorts + baselayer

Extremities:
Thick wool socks (Smartwool snowflake, adrenaline, or ski socks)
Balaclava (Smartwool, or some off-brand wool-blend thingy I bought from Sierra Trading Post)
Gore Vulcano Windstopper gloves
Gore-tex overshoes
(Helmet has rain cover)

Midday commute (~50):
Stash one or more warm wool layers and the balaclava in my panniers to prevent overheating.

I find it much easier to dress for cold 30's rain than warm 50-60's rain. For warm rain, often just a thin longsleeve wool underwear top under the rain jacket (with pitzips wide open) is enough.

[Trek420]

Wools socks are the gateway drug.

I just got myself an Ibex Breakaway jacket from Sierra Trading Post. Merry Christmas to me

[Sheesh]

I got wool for Christmas! Mr. Sheesh bought it on SteepandCheap a couple of weeks ago.

[KathiCville]

I just ordered that Ibex Breakaway jacket, too, when it hit @$53 on STP a couple of days ago. I'm hoping that the "yellow green" color of the description is same or similar to the two yummy Ibex "Tonic" yellow-green pieces I already have.....And if not, I'm sure I'll love it anyway---at that price, it was tooooo tempting to resist!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Wools socks are the gateway drug.

OMG Trek that is TOO funny- and too true!!!

Those jackets you guys are getting so cheap are SO tempting!! That maple red Pingo jacket.....mmmmmmm....
But I am RESISTING!!!- I just bought myself the Ibex Cortina wool vest AND the Ibex Bregenz jacket this month.....and there is NO way I can, make further excuses to buy yet another jacket right now.
Besides, when I'm biking down in the 30's I seem to stay just fine and toasty with my merino base layer and 2 Ibex shaks AND a vest, etc. I think I would be just too durned sweaty in a wind proof jacket like the Cirrus material. I like the way the wool sleeves breathe -I can feel cool breeze on my arms, yet I never get cold and my core stays toasty. I've done this same layering while snowshoeing too, and it seems to be the perfect layering for me.
Of course some of you ladies, like in Seattle, are riding in cold rain- that's different and I can see a weather-proof layer jacket for that. I usually do not go riding in the rain- we don't get rain as often, so it's easier to avoid it here.

[elk]

So...I havn't read backwards yet...but I am assuming you gals got some nicey wooly presents this year???

I got this: http://www.rei.com/product/757199?vcat=REI_SEARCH
in black...and I have been wearing it practically 24/7....
It fits beautifully and is muy soft...

p.s. to Sandra....I DO have to send that "form fitting" icebreaker top back...now I know!
this smartwool sweater in XL is sexy!

pps to all Woolweenies ( why WEENIES??? it takes a tough woman to chose wool!!) Are you ready for the onslaught of SALE!!! emails you are about to recieve??? I'm afraid to look...

[short cut sally]

Ok Lisa, went to the Backcountry.com and went to the womens tops/jerseys and then when that page came up I put in a search for wool. On pages 1 and 4 are the items I was looking at. IcebreakerBodyFit200 OASIS crew long sleeve and also was the IcebreakerBodyFit260 Altitude Zip. Page 4 was the Kuhl Ridgerunner 1/4 zip long sleeve. I would post their links-I am not computer savy. The last 2 items are similiar and it looks like maybe the first item is thinner? THanks

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

....BUT before I order. I need to ask a question. The items say that they are a base layer item, all 1/4 zip top. I thought I wanted to wear something like underarmor next to me then this top. I am under the impression that this is a no go correct? I use this wool as my baselayer and then what do I put over that (see below first)? If they are a base layer, how heavy are they? I am in the wool-less club here. I am looking at these items for x-c skiing, walking, and perhaps snowshoeing. I usually wear a heavy biking jersey and a soft shell jacket for walking/x-c skiing and find it okay and haven't had any problems. Would I use the wool top instead of my biking jersey? I have read the advantages, I just need to be sold now. i know- too many questions.

Hi,
I'm afraid I am not familiar at all with Icebreaker stuff- can someone else help Shelly with the style/thickness question about the Icebreakers?
I only know about Smartwool and Ibex items.
I tend to wear the thin 17.5 micron "base layers" underneath, next to my skin. Then in cold weather I might put a heavy mid-weight wool layer on over that. You *could* wear a jersey over your wool base layer too. Usually two wool layers are enough. But if I'm biking in 35 degrees or less, then I'll put a 3rd layer on- either a jacket or another wool mid-weight or maybe just a vest.

The Smartwool lightweight base layers and the Ibex "Woolies" base layers are quite thin and soft, and best as an underlayer, or for warm days, or for sleeping in . The mid-weight stuff in both brands are more appropriate for wearing alone with just a bra, or over the base layer.
The "shak" line from Ibex that I like now is a thicker-midweight that feels good either alone or layered.

I personally don't recommend wearing your wool over a polyester/manmade base layer like Underarmor. Why?- because the wool works with your skin to keep it ventilated and insulated- put a fake layer between the wool and your skin and the wool will not be doing what it does best. Also, the man-made stuff will smell under the arms. If you put wool first, THEN the other layers, you will smell less after a workout and save some laundry energy! 100% wool can be worn several times before it gets smelly.

For leg layering however- I do sometimes wear an Underarmor winter tech or a chamois legging, then I pull my Ibex wool tights over that because they stretch softly and easily over anything I have on already- no tugging. And I don't need to consider the underarm odor factor for bottom items. It's just an extra layer that's soft and easy to get on and off.
When I'm not biking in the cold I like to wear my wool tights alone- they feel so good on the skin!