WoolWeenies Club

[GLC1968]

Ibex boucle on sale:

http://www.ibexwear.com/shop/Product...Full-Zip-Hoody

Until I went back to the website, I didn't make the connection between the 'boucle' and the Carrie Hoodie...which I own!

It's nice - not as soft as my other ibex lighter weight pieces, but still soft enough for bare arms underneath. I wore this last weekend when I was in Portland and it was cold and rainy. I layered it over a cotton T and I was toasty warm and comfy all day. It is a little more 'sweater like' than my shak (yes, I just got a shak, too ) and slightly (very slightly) more roomy, so it's good for layering. I have the thistle heather one and it looks awesome with jeans! Oh, and the hood fits nicely as well...so should I need more warmth when riding, this piece would totally work.

In fact, here's me wearing it! (excuse the drowned rat look, please ) I wore the t shirt, the hoodie and then that black jacket is just a 'too big for me' shell and I was plenty warm touring Portland when it was about 45F and rainy.

[Triskeliongirl]

What do you guys think of this piece on sale:
http://www.ems.com/catalog/product_d...=1200504852641

Smartwool Womens Routt. I gather from a previous discussion that the quality of ibex is better than smartwool, is that correct?

I am still so confused. Not sure if I should go with mediums to layer over my bulkier stuff, or start buying lighter inner layers to pair with smalls. I did call our local outdoor store to see if they carry ibex, and they said they do and its on clearance now, so I'll drop over there after work and take a look.

Do I need long wool underwear on my bottom for my trip to boston, or will lined wool pants and jeans be OK as is? I do have some old silk stuff.

Also, what do you guys think of this piece also on sale?
Ibex skyline: http://www.backcountryoutlet.com/out...061&mv_pc=r147

This stuff is just so damned expensive! So, I am also reluctant to invest in mediums while I am still losing weight, albeit very slowly at this point.

[Grog]

Hey Triskel',

I don't know what the weather is in Boston right now but unless you're very very sensitive to cold you'll probably be fine with the silk longjohns under your pants, or nothing at all. It really depends whether you're going to be walking or standing outside for long.

I find it generally true that Ibex is nicer than Smartwool, but for me it's mostly superior to Icebreaker (for outer layers). The comparison with Smartwool is less uniform.

What I like about Ibex is that, yes, they are expensive (like the other two) but they are made in the USA for the most part. (Some is made in Hong Kong.) It annoys me to pay over a hundred tomatoes for a piece of clothing that I know was made in China for a handful of dollars, like the Smartwool stuff and even a lot of the Icebreaker now.

[mariposa]

Someone got a Routt for me, for Christmas. I am really pleased with it! I've had mixed experiences with the lighter-weight Smartwool stuff; I've gotten uneven seams or zippers that stick. The Routt, though is extremely well made. It is fuzzy and soft, like heavier-weight fleece. The little stripes on it flatter the figure, and don't look "too" sporty (I can wear it to work). It does run a bit big on me (I'm usually a medium but the small fits me), so size down.

[Triskeliongirl]

Someone got a Routt for me, for Christmas. I am really pleased with it! I've had mixed experiences with the lighter-weight Smartwool stuff; I've gotten uneven seams or zippers that stick. The Routt, though is extremely well made. It is fuzzy and soft, like heavier-weight fleece. The little stripes on it flatter the figure, and don't look "too" sporty (I can wear it to work). It does run a bit big on me (I'm usually a medium but the small fits me), so size down.

Thanks for the input. Can you layer the small over other moderatly heavy pieces, say a heavy cotton ribbed T-neck?
Do you have the oatmeal heather. Is it more heather than oatmeal, i.e. a light gray vs an ecru?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Ibex boucle on sale:

http://www.ibexwear.com/shop/Product...Full-Zip-Hoody

Until I went back to the website, I didn't make the connection between the 'boucle' and the Carrie Hoodie...which I own!

This is the other Ibex boucle item on sale until Jan 31:
http://www.ibexwear.com/shop/Product...uct=Bella-Vest
(but the black one is not available until Jan 23).
That's you on the right in the blueish Carrie hoody just visible under the rain jacket, right?

Triskell- I have that Ibex Skyline top and I like it very much. It is somewhat "Stark Trek" looking. Very soft and slightly lighterweight than the shaks. Here is a pik of me wearing mine:
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/attac...achmentid=4883
(I have a weird look on my face because it was really hard trying to take a picture of myself in the mirror at the right angle and without flash glare. )
Like how that Smartwool sweater looks too, that you pointed out.

[GLC1968]

That's you on the right in the blueish Carrie hoody just visible under the rain jacket, right?

Yep! That's a very bad photo of me.

And I agree with Lisa - I like the smartwool sweater. It's really sharp looking!

What types of things will you be doing in Boston? I mean, if you are mostly just in and out of meetings or lectures, you may not need any additional layers on the bottom. I never wore underlayers when I lived up there unless I was going to some event where I'd be outside and not moving much all day (like a football game).

Another source for gorgeous wool sweaters is Neve sweaters. Terry carries them and has a few on sale right now for good prices. I have the one at this link and it's absolutely BEAUTIFUL but not really as 'active' in styling as my Ibex or Icebreaker stuff.

http://www.terrybicycles.com/detail.html?item_no=5134

[Triskeliongirl]

So how does the sizing run at smartwool. I guess I could just order the small and medium and send back the one I don't like. It says its 'boiled wool.' What does that mean? WIll it be scratchy? Will it pill?

I don't mind spending this much for good pieces that will last, but I cannot stand it when they start pilling.

Do you guys know if ibex direct sends shipping confirmations? I haven't gotten one yet so maybe I could still stop the order on the 'organic sweater' which I gather you guys don't like so much. Its also more $ than I really wanted to spend, but it does look quite smart to me.

[Triskeliongirl]

In DC I will be just attending meetings in a hotel, and maybe walking at night to a restaurant. In Boston I am staying with my son at MIT, and no car, so we will walk a lot, say to to and from the subway, and maybe spend time waiting for buses outdoors. I'll just bring along the silk long undies I have, and play it by ear.

I've noticed that since my body is used to a milder climate (coldest it usually gets is the 40s, sometimes it drops into the 30s, rarely below freezing) that when I travel to a really cold place I need warmer clothing than folks who live there. I also need warm to stuff to wear in my house on those 30/40 days since our gas radiators can't really heat well in those temp ranges (no central heating). But, a day that starts in the 40s can end in the 60s, which is why I like pieces I can take off and have the inner layers be good on their own. Another thing I like about that ibex organic sweater. Maybe I'll just let them send it, and return what I don't like.

[GLC1968]

I like the organic sweater. I wish I could afford to buy one for myself!

Boiled wool is usually a bit denser than regular wool. And isn't boiled wool usually woven, not knit? Or do they make knit boiled wool as well? When I think of boiled wool, I think of thick wool blazers or winter coats...that dense, thick, warm fabric that doesn't have much stretch.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Boiled wool is usually a bit denser than regular wool. And isn't boiled wool usually woven, not knit? Or do they make knit boiled wool as well? When I think of boiled wool, I think of thick wool blazers or winter coats...that dense, thick, warm fabric that doesn't have much stretch.

I have a boiled wool jacket from last year that is soft, thick and stretchy.
I love boiled wool. Boiled wool is not quite as dense and heavy as loden wool, and has a very pleasant micro-knobbly texture to it. Loden wool is sort of felted, and VERY warm because it's so dense.

Tri, if you are not going to wear a sweater over bare skin, then why worry about it being scratchy? I doubt that Smartwool would be selling anything with their name on it that is too scratchy in any case- non-scratchyness is one of the things they crow about.