WoolWeenies Club

[GLC1968]

I think I need to admit to being a wool weenie.

I've always touted the benefits of wool, but until recently, I would wear wool sweaters (my favorite all winter) with cotton underneath.

My conversion started last winter when the only jerseys I liked wearing in the winter (while biking) were my wool ones. They just worked SO much better than all my synthetic ones! A month ago, we went for a mountain bike ride and I threw on an Ibex crew (lightweight) that I had. It was perfect for the ride. Then, for whatever reason, I kept it on for the rest of the day running errands and such. One day and I'm a convert.

I've since bought a few more lightweight wool tops (and dug out a couple of ones I bought last year) and that's all I wear on the weekends, biking or not! I just told my husband that I need more wool tops to wear and lo and behold, there was an icebreaker style on SAC this morning (I bought 2).

OMG, I'm addicted! They are particularly suitable here in the south in the winter where the temps change all day (30's in the am, 60's at noon, 40's at night) and where the sun is hot but the breeze is not.

Now I need to know, does anyone make wool bras?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

GLC,
Don't you feel better after confessing your weeniedom?
Now that you are wearing your wool around all day for whatever....the next step is to wear it to sleep in. MMMmmmmmm......wool tights or knickers, wool top baselayer....snuggleeee under the covers....... There's something wicked and yummy about wearing merino wool without any underwear or bra at all...I love to sleep that way! (not sure I'll be doing it in the summer though)

I don't know about other brands of wool bras, but I hear Ibex will be coming out with a new line if wool undies, camisoles, and bras this winter sometime. Maybe others will know of some more brands with wool bras.

Also, Ibex is having a sale on some of its "Ribbies" lightweight base layer tops:
http://www.ibexwear.com/shop/Product...LW-Ribbed-Crew
Not all sizes available in all colors.

[xeney]

A question about Smartwool socks (and I'm sorry if this has been answered, this thread is too long for me to keep up): all of the Smartwool socks I bought last year are wearing out in the toes, and since I do not darn socks I'm going to have to throw them away. I've never had socks wear out so quickly so I am sort of irritated. Is there something I should have done to make them last longer? Hand washed them? Used a special detergent? I don't dry them in the dryer but I'm not sure that would have made a difference anyway. They aren't too small, but they are nearly see-through at the toes after just one season of wear.

These are my last Smartwool socks, I think, I just would like to know if I could have avoided this somehow.

[mimitabby]

I have not had that particular problem with my smartwool sox. (I have had that problem with a leading chain of socks and no longer buy my sox there)
the socks I am wearing today are on their 3rd season now and i wear them all year round. (taking off shoe to examine sock)
the bottom of the toe and heel areas are noticeably thinner but all stitches are completely intact.
maybe it's your shoes (I have no idea)
my biggest problem is some kinds of "smart" wool are not so smart; and they shrink. These however, did not

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Oh wow, Mimi, I am wearing those exact socks RIGHT NOW! except mine are with brown base color, not black.

Polyester and nylon socks do last longer than wool socks in terms of going "bald" at pressure points. Wool does lose some of its fuzz in places like toes and heels because of friction. I had some merino blend socks 2 years ago (not smartwool but another good brand) that went bald at the toes much too quickly for my liking. But so far I have had good luck with SW socks.

Xeney, part of the problem might be that you live in CA. No kidding!- it never gets so cold there that you need more than one pair of socks at a time usually, right? Much of the winter here I wear 2 pairs of wool socks every day, one of them usually fairly thick, too. And in Fall and Spring I might typically wear 2 pairs of thinner wool socks. I like to layer the colors sometimes and turn the outer cuff down. I think that keeps things cushier and keeps my toes and heels from grinding too hard at the socks.

One thing I have found that is funny is the different people wear through socks differently. A few years ago, a girlfriend and I bought the very same socks and wore them all the time. We also wore mostly the same clogs. Her socks went bald and wore holes in the toes quickly yet mine were still perfectly fine. Go figure!

[Dianyla]

Lisa, I have the Skyline top. It was advertised as a warm mid-layer but I personally find it to be more of a light mid-layer or even a heavy base-layer. Otherwise, the color contrast is very snazzy and it's a great piece. And the long sleeve/thumbhole thingies are kinda cool, too.

One thing I have found that is funny is the different people wear through socks differently. A few years ago, a girlfriend and I bought the very same socks and wore them all the time. We also wore mostly the same clogs. Her socks went bald and wore holes in the toes quickly yet mine were still perfectly fine. Go figure!

Yep, I always wear bald spots through my socks at certain places due to the large wide shape of my feet. Doesn't matter if it's cheap socks or expensive socks, it's all the same.

[elk]

maybe it has something to do with
a. how long you keep yr toenails
b. how your shoes fit...is yr toe right up against the leather or not...

[KnottedYet]

maybe it has something to do with
a. how long you keep yr toenails
b. how your shoes fit...is yr toe right up against the leather or not...

+1

[DebW]

A question about Smartwool socks (and I'm sorry if this has been answered, this thread is too long for me to keep up): all of the Smartwool socks I bought last year are wearing out in the toes

All of my light hiker Smartwool socks have gotten holes at the right big toe. The medium and heavy hikers haven't had this problem. Since I usually don't punch holes in my left socks, I just wear the holey ones on my left foot so my big toe doesn't stick out. I figure it must be my right big toe nail that's shaped funny. I do keep my nails trimmed.

[mariposa]

Icebreaker midweight something on SAC

[GLC1968]

I don't know about other brands of wool bras, but I hear Ibex will be coming out with a new line if wool undies, camisoles, and bras this winter sometime. Maybe others will know of some more brands with wool bras.

Also, Ibex is having a sale on some of its "Ribbies" lightweight base layer tops:
http://www.ibexwear.com/shop/Product...LW-Ribbed-Crew
Not all sizes available in all colors.

Go Ibex! Can't wait for wool underwear!!

Ok, I love that top in the link but I've put off buying it because I can't decide on color. Unfortunately (or fortunately), every color appears to be available in my size - so that's no help. I LOVE the plum, but my other shirt is that color so that's the only one I can immediately rule out. Now what? My coloring is similar to the model...which color looks best on her (besides plum)???

Lisa, there is no way I could sleep in wool unless Ibex does camisoles really soon. I get too hot sleeping in anything but a thin tank top because my husband is a furnace.

Anyone have any suggetions for wool work wear? Dressier ribbed t-necks or sweater sets perhaps? Business-y looking long sleeve tops?

"Hi, my name is Catherine and I am a wool addict"

[Trek420]

"Hi, my name is Catherine and I am a wool addict"

Hi Catherine!

I'm in Wool'anon, that's for family and friends of Wool Addicts.

No offense meant to any 12 step members on and/or reading this thread. These are important programs that work but I just could not pass up the joke.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Lisa, there is no way I could sleep in wool unless Ibex does camisoles really soon. I get too hot sleeping in anything but a thin tank top because my husband is a furnace.

Yes my husband is a furnace too.
I can "sort of" understand you not wanting to sleep in wool if you live in NC.

"Hi, my name is Catherine and I am a wool addict"

In moments of weakness, review post #4 of this thread.

[GLC1968]

Yes my husband is a furnace too.
I can "sort of" understand you not wanting to sleep in wool if you live in NC.

In moments of weakness, review post #4 of this thread.

I'm working on relocating somewhere cooler - so I'll keep the wool jammies in mind when that happens.

OMG, and #4 is awesome! Thanks for bringing it to my attention (and for posting it originally).


I'd also like to mention that wool has given me a winter riding partner again. My husband (the furnace) is a cold weather wimp. A true southern boy! I bought him two smartwool tops last year and not only did he never wear them, but he hardly ever rode with me. I thought I'd be riding alone again this winter, but last weekend he pulled out the wool and he's convinced! He loved it and it's inspiring him to try colder temps with me! Yay for wool!!

[mimitabby]

steep and cheap ibex switchback full zip 58% off!!!