WoolWeenies Club

[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.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Triskell- I don't have any Ibex Kates, but I sure would have some if I found them for 1/2 price! I'd say grab what you can there. I think Kates are very chic. They are also all merino and so will make a fine base layer, except the the scoop neckline might not keep you covered up as much as an Ibex "woolie" top. But if you have your full zip shak or a snuggly wool vest to go over it, who cares?

I agree with Knot in that silk long johns/base layers were not nearly as warm for me as thin merino under layers. Also, I remember silk as feeling cold and clammy if I got sweaty. It also smelled under the arms lots sooner than wool.

Capilene warmer base layer than merino?- not in my experience. Plus it will stink bigtime after just one wearing if you are doing active things, whereas you can wear your merino base layer quite a few times before needing to wash it. I bet your salesperson who was pushing the capilene is another one of those who "can't" wear wool....

Wool keeps you warm when it's cold and keeps you cool and dry when you're overheated and sweaty...how can you beat that?

You can stop anytime you want......yeah....that's right........

[Triskeliongirl]

Well, I did go back to the store, and they had already sold the purple Kate, so I kept my two in black. AND I DIDN"T BUY ANYTHING ELSE!! At 50% off that stuff isn't going to last long, even in san antonio. I'll keep the tags on one and test one tomorrow. Do I dare to cycle in my new wool? Its gonna be in the low 40s, and I usually wear a shebeest long sleeve drifit jersey under my PI gavia jacket, with shebeest drifit tights in those temps. I am thinking to try my Ibex Kate base under my shak, topped with my terry headwind vest to get a little more warmth on my chest and some back pockets. Does that sound warm enough if its really only 40-41?

I also realized that my small shak really is fine even with my heavier cotton ribbed t-necks, at least with my newer smalls. Its only my older mediums that are really too big that it doesn't layer over. So, I hope the new sweater I ordered in medium isn't too big. It was nice to try a lot of stuff on in the store and see I am really a good small. Part of my problem is that since I lost so much weight this year I have a bit of a problem with body dysmorphia. I have a hard time believing that I need the sizes that I now need, and often buy things that are too large. Well if I don't like the ibex organic sweater I'll return it (but then I lose $15 on all the postage), but maybe as a medium it will be good to layer over my shak when I go to a really cold place.

Again, I have my shak on now, third day in a row. Even though I didn't wear it to work (I cycled and changed into clothes there), guess what I put on when I got home? If I don't like the organic sweater I guess I could just get another shak in a different color. What I am finding interesting is how I am comfortable over a wide range of temps. I have it layered over a heavy ribbed cottom t-neck, so when I went out tonite I didn't bother with a jacket (its in the mid-40s). I was OK outdoors, yet when I went into a bookstore and stayed about an hour reading, I was also comfy. I am so tempted to just get me another shak. That baby blue is so pretty, and matches my bike............ If I like it on the ride tomorrow I may very well do that.

Boy, did you guys hook me!

[Triskeliongirl]

Well, I read just read Lisa's response after my last post. THANKS for reassuring me about the Kate. According to the Ibex website its the same weight as the woolies, only that even finer wool. It also seemed to me that it had to be warmer than silk but the sales girl just picked it up and it felt so light she said, oh this must be for summer. But, she also told me she'd never worn ibex so I knew to not believe her (she was all decked out in fleece).

I am amazed that I have worn my shak for 3 days in a row and it has no body odor. It did small a tad last night, but I just hung it up and by morning it had no odor at all.

Yeh, my concern too that the Kates don't have a high neck, but the advantage is that if I am layering them under somthing that does, as you said not only doesn't it matter, but it often looks nicer, especially with my scooped neck ribbed cotton henleys. I figure when I go to a cold place, I may want several layers....... But, I can see that it would be nice to have some of both types of pieces. So maybe one of those pico-Ts is in my future.....

So, all that's left to decide is if I keep the organic sweater or exchange it for another shak............ But, it has to arrive first.

[sandra]

Girl, don't doubt yourself. Unless it arrives and doesn't fit or you hate it, it may work perfectly for what you are going to do ~ meetings and walking to restaurants. It will be something different.

You can always keep it and pick up another shak next year, or next month, or next week....

The sweater is very pretty.

[KnottedYet]

I've been really coveting that sweater. It is just gorgeous!

Got all excited when it went on sale, but I've had to restrain myself as I already bought my sweater for the season.

[Triskeliongirl]

OK, thanks for the encouragement. In fact, I almost ordered it instead of the shak but was worried it would be too big (they sold out of the smalls). But the women at Ibex did say it runs smaller than the shak so maybe it will be just what I am looking for. She told me she had one on while we were talking, and it was so cozy. I liked talking with her, felt a lot like the TE gals, and just like TE that order went out lickity split. Even though I tried to cancel the order today, now I can't wait to get the tracking number so I'll now when it is getting here. They said it would be emailed at the close of business today, but nothing yet....... Seeing how nice the quality is in all of the Ibex pieces at the store, if this originally sold for $225 it must be really nice.

So, no comments on tomorrows planned experiment to cycle in wool? I've never tried it.....

[madscot13]

I actually don't like silk long underwear. If I get warm in it, I sweat. And then it sticks. And then I am gross.

wool all of the way.

[KathiCville]

So, no comments on tomorrows planned experiment to cycle in wool? I've never tried it.....

Go for it! I loaded up on wool pieces about three months ago, thanks to this thread, and now that's what I wear for almost 100% of my rides. I love it! I have some silk base tops, but I haven't put one on since discovering wool.

Yesterday I rode 10 miles in temps that hovered around 30 degrees. (Colder w/wind chill.) Wore one Smartwool base layer under an Icebreaker sweater (similar to the Shak), and a Gore windblocker jacket on top. Ibex wool hat under my helmet. (Gloves, etc.) My core was perfectly warm!

I like wool so much that I've now started picking up sleeveless and short sleeved pieces when I spot 'em on sale, so I'll be ready for spring and summer riding!

The only wool piece that I've had any 'trouble' with is the Ibex Switchback, bought on Sierra Trading Post at a ridiculously low price about three months ago. It shrank quite a bit (just air drying!), and is now so snug that it feels too tight around my shoulders and arms for riding. So I wear it for hiking instead.....

[KnottedYet]

KC - I had the same problem with a Switchback. Ibex told me in an email that the Switchback fabric is unstable, which is why they phased it out. (the Shak is the replacement). Mine is unwearable, so I'm going to try to send it back. (my much older Switchback is fine, but my newer one is a disaster.)

[Triskeliongirl]

Oh no about your switchback shrinking. My shak fits me perfectly as is, but there isn't any room for shrinkage (assuming you followed the instructions). Was I supposed to plan for that? I thought they say they don't shrink. If so, shouldn't you be able to return it to them under the warranty?

Well, I could try to ride today with my goretex jacket over the shak and kate, but its now 36, 27 with wind chill, and I usually don't ride much below 40 and am not feeling great (?something is brewing in my intestines) so I think I am gonna pass. Its tempting to try out the new clothes, but right now my house is so cold I don't even wanna get out of bad. Looks like its day 4 in a row for my shak though. I hope the new sweater arrives soon!