WoolWeenies Club

[Dianyla]

I'm back from New Zealand. OMG, wool heaven! Accidentally *cough* wandered into an Icebreaker store located right in the Queenstown airport. Accidentally *cough* found various pieces here and there on clearance racks in various sporting goods stores in Auckland and Te Anau. Accidentally *cough* came home with, erm, about *cough* 10 *cough* more wool garments than I left home with. Whoops!

OMG...an Icebreaker store in Portland!?!?! Where?

Yes, it's true! Icebreaker actually moved their main US headquarters to Portland a few months ago, and the Portland storefront is their only retail presence here in the US. Just opened about a month ago.

The Icebreaker "Touch Lab" is located downtown in the Pearl District on NW 11th, right across the street from Powell's and right on the streetcar line. They have all sorts of yummy woolies in stock, and they have one of those big pictures with face hole cutouts to stick your head through. So you can even get a photo of yourself as a sheep humping or being humped by another sheep. Classy!

[Triskeliongirl]

Hey Lisa, thanks for the sale tip. How do the sizes run on top? I am a small in shebeest and a med. in PI? Any idea what size to try in IBEX? Is it really not itchy to wear?

[Grog]

Hey Lisa, thanks for the sale tip. How do the sizes run on top? I am a small in shebeest and a med. in PI? Any idea what size to try in IBEX? Is it really not itchy to wear?

I don't know about Shebeest and PI, but I find that the Ibex pieces are not very consistent. Based on my narrow experience, pieces like the Carrie Hoodie and the Ultimate Guide Sweater and the cycling stuff from 2006 are bigger than I expected for a size S. I was told (by Ibex people) that the 2007 cycling gear would be made a bit smaller, but I haven't seen any. I have a size S Shak, however, that is just fine with me (I am a boobless but broad-rib-caged 5'4" 120lbs). The rest was too big. (Although I love the Guide Sweater, even if it's a big big.)

[Triskeliongirl]

I am in love with the strato sweater
http://www.backcountry.com/store/IBX...1&swatch=SSBLK,
pricey, but I don't own any wool sweaters and if I'm gonna buy just one........
From what you say I am tempted by the S. The hip measurements on the M are way too big, but I am borderline in the bust. Do they usually stretch? If they stretch then the S will probably work for me.

[mimitabby]

Nice sweater Trisk. Wool does stretch, sometimes a lot more than you want!

[Triskeliongirl]

Thanks Mimi. But I'll hold off, its still too expensive. The sale ones aren't in my size and I can only find my size at full price. I also wish it were gray instead of black, as I want it not just for sports, but as an everyday non-bulky but warm cardigan and gray goes best with my clothes. But, I'll watch this thread for sales alerts. Its really hard to buy wool sweaters where I live, but on cold days we really need them since we don't have much for indoor heating systems (or at least my 100 year old victorian house doesn't). Maybe I'll have better luck if I visit a ski store. It is nice to also try stuff on, especially since I am between sizes on top right now. My bottom is reliably a small, but top can depend on the garment.

[itself]

Well we received the Woolie shirts from Ibex, gosh they fit really nice! Question: does it soften up as you wear it? It feels slightly itchy, not bad, but I suspect that washing will soften it like my smartwool.

Lisa

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Well we received the Woolie shirts from Ibex, gosh they fit really nice! Question: does it soften up as you wear it? It feels slightly itchy, not bad, but I suspect that washing will soften it like my smartwool.

Lisa

Yes, the ibex woolies do soften up just a bit as they break in.
The other factor is rather subtle- but I found that as I wore merino more often, I began to develop a real liking for that very slight scratchy surface on my skin- it's almost like a soft delicate skin massage, and I have become such a fan of it that I love to sleep in my merino woolies and tights now, just because they FEEL so good on bare skin. Wait and see if the same thing happens to you.

Here's a skin ritual i love to do about once every 2 weeks or so:
First I take a hot shower and scrub all over with some fine grain loofah-type shower gloves and shower gel. Then when i get out of the shower I massage some Dr. Hauschka's Arnica & Birch oil all over from head to toe. It's a very fine light silky oil that smells a bit like a forest. It feels satin-y and warming, never oily. Then I slip into some fresh soft merino duds and enjoy the tingly luxury. Aaahhhhhh
It's my own "home spa" and the rejuvenating satin effect lasts me for days.

[itself]

All right, I admit it, I wore my new Ibex Woolie all day yesterday...we went to REI in our matching green Woolies to get our Ibex Pingo Jackets. I was surprised to see how light these jackets are...do they really keep you warm? They are super comfortable, and we can't wait to try them on the bike.

Thanks for all of the great info on Ibex!

Lisa

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

All right, I admit it, I wore my new Ibex Woolie all day yesterday...we went to REI in our matching green Woolies to get our Ibex Pingo Jackets. I was surprised to see how light these jackets are...do they really keep you warm? They are super comfortable, and we can't wait to try them on the bike.

Thanks for all of the great info on Ibex!

Lisa

Next on the long slippery slope you need to experience the Ibex Shak ....here are some on sale, both men's and womens....:
http://www.udans.com/istar.asp?a=6&id=619!IBEX