WoolWeenies Club

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Well, until I wore the shak, I thought I was allergic to wool. All the other wool sweaters I have make me itch, even with a silk or cotton layer directly on my skin. But something about the shak is different. So, if I am going to aquire a second wool sweater, help me decide between to smartwool rouett and the ibex organic sweater. While the organic sweater is very expensive, its also reduced more so is it a better 'value' or is that just how they fool you into spending more $ than you should really spend on this stuff???

Merino wool from merino sheep has the finest texture of any sheep wool and so is the softest and least itchy of all sheep wool. Many people who find regular wool too itchy can comfortably wear merino wool.
When a product says "wool", it usually means sheep wool. "Wool blend" means wool mixed with other fabric fibers that are not wool. Fabrics with names like "Woolicious" or "Wooltastic" are usually blends with only part wool. I once laughed because my dopey brother was bragging to everyone about his "genuine Cashmaire" scarf, which actually was about 20% cashmere and 80% polyester. If it's alpaca or cashmere or angora (wool not from sheep but from other animals), it will usually say so. And if it's 100% merino wool, it usually says so because that's something they'd want to brag about.

In terms of warmth, fleece is pretty darned good, a good price, and certainly easy to wash. It does not breathe quite as well as wool though, so it does not regulate your body at an even temperature when moving between hot and cold. Wool also takes sweat off your skin and evaporates it out so you feel drier, also wool does not get stinky like man made fabrics do. But yeah I have some fleece things that I love.

[Triskeliongirl]

OK. I am starting to get it. So, even though the shak appears to be thin, its really warm because its a tightly woven wool knit, right? Does that also mean that a base layer like the "Kate" http://www.ibexwear.com/shop/Product...=Kate-17.5-L/S
would be warmer than say silk long underwear? If I paired a Kate with a shak, how warm would I be?

Why all the questions. Well, after work I went to that local outdoor store that I just found out carries Ibex and Smartwool. It was nice to see and try on this stuff. My first observation was that in general, I thought the quality of the Ibex was better than the quality of the smartwool. I was able to try on the smartwool Routt and didn't like either the color (it is more oatmeal than heather) or fit (arms were very baggy more like a jacket than a sweater), AND the zipper was broken on it. I also realized that the shak is a lot softer than the carrie hoodie, so a lot of variation within the line. It just made me all the more pleased with my shak. But then they had on sale some base layers, these 'Kates' so I bought 2 at 50% off. But they still have tags on so they can be returned. I want a sense of how warm they are gonna be from you guys. The clerk at the store said they would be no warmer than the silk long underwear I have already, but I thought tightly woven wool would be more insulating? She thought for going up north I needed something called capilene 4 but I didn't like it. I also thought the Kates would be good as a base if I wanna cycle in my shak, and I can always put my terry thermal vest over that (on or off bike) to add another layer. What do the wool weenies think? Is the Kate a keeper or return? It also really changed my opinion of wool. As I said, I thought I couldn't wear it next to my skin but this stuff felt soft as silk. It looks so pretty it can be worn alone (unlike my 20 year old silk LLbean underwear) too, prettier than at the website pic.

I tried to stop the order on the organic wool sweater based on Lisa's remarks, but it had already shipped. The women on the phone indicated that it runs small, and if the full zip shak fit me in small but without a lot of room for layers that the M in the organic really should do what I want it to. She also said while its not merino wool, its a very soft wool that can be worn next to the skin, and a really lovely piece. She assured me I can return it if I don't like it, but sounds like maybe it will be a keeper.

But this is it. No more buying anymore wool for me!

[Dianyla]

But this is it. No more buying anymore wool for me!

Uhhuh. Okey dokey, whatever you say....


I think we've got her, gals!

[Triskeliongirl]

Uhhuh. Okey dokey, whatever you say....


I think we've got her, gals!

Hmmm, you know me better than I do. I was already contemplating returning to that store with the 50% off ibex sale for more base layers after dinner. First it was to exchange one of my black kates for a purple, then it was to keep the black AND get a purple........

But what do you think of the Kate. Was the clerk wrong that its no warmer than silk. Doesn't wool have to be warmer than silk????? Come on, I need a reason to back there and get some more........

[sandra]

You don't happen to have a twin named Elk do you? You are reminding me very much of Elk in her quest for her wool.

I hereby proclaim Lisa the QUEEN OF IBEX. If you want a review on almost any piece, she can pretty well help you.

[Triskeliongirl]

I know, I was in the store, wishing I knew how to phone Lisa and ask her about the stuff they had. The sales staff new nothing.

Oh, but I wish she were online now, cuz I gotta decide if I should exchange it for purple, or get another one. If they have my size I think I'll exchange it, and wait to perhaps get one that has a zip turtleneck, like the pico-T is looking pretty nice to me right now too. But this 17.5 merino wool is sooo sooooft and its 50% off...........

[KnottedYet]

Wool vs Silk

I've had both, as I am a long-underwear kind of gal. I have DEFINITELY found wool to be more comfortable over a wide range of temps. It is also absolutely warmer than similar silk.

My favorite long underwear are Ibex. I've tried a few other wool longies, but Ibex wins hands down.

Ibex vs Smartwool vs Icebreaker

Ibex has had the best quality in my experience. Icebreaker is close second. Smartwool (their clothes, not the socks which are awesome) has come in third for me.