WoolWeenies Club

[KathiCville]

Thanks to an unbridled wool shopping spree about two months ago, I've managed (so far) to resist the current High Country Ibex clearance, as well as the higher-end delights of the Ibex Winter Sale.....

BUT I did fall prey last Friday to the Ibex Climawool gloves and the Ibex loden mittens, both of which are on sale! I ordered one set of each; they arrived today. Does anyone have either model? If so, what do you think of them warmth-wise for winter cycling??

Even in Small, they're both a little big on me, but I figure I can add a liner glove and make them that much warmer.......

Temps today were in the low 70s (yes, you read that right) here in Central VA, so no chance to try 'em out until at least the weekend!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

BUT I did fall prey last Friday to the Ibex Climawool gloves and the Ibex loden mittens, both of which are on sale! I ordered one set of each; they arrived today. Does anyone have either model? If so, what do you think of them warmth-wise for winter cycling??
Even in Small, they're both a little big on me, but I figure I can add a liner glove and make them that much warmer.......

Hi Kathi- well oddly enough I have BOTH those items...they happen to be the only Ibex glove items I have, so don't be thinkin' I have them all now!

I got the Climawool glove in 2006 and wore it a lot last winter. It has a lot of nice features, but will not keep my fingers from getting cold on my bike if it's 35 or below UNLESS I wear 1 or 2 glove liners under them. I have not found a glove yet that can do that without liners for biking.
I just bought the Loden mittens and have not had the opportunity to try them out yet. It's not very cold here right now. (30's, 40's). Of course you are in VA and might not need gloves for 20 degree conditions.

Both these items I purposely got a bit large so I could wear other thinner gloves under them. Both of them also have no trouble keeping me warm when snowshoeing or fitness walking down to 10 degrees. It's the wind when biking that's the killer. One combo I use is a pair of thin soft cashmere ladies' gloves or merino glove liners, then my Gore Volcano windstopper gloves (not bulky), then the Climawool glove. This i would typically wear for a 2 hour bike ride at 30-40 degrees. I got the loden mittens for the most severe cold, to wear over other gloves too that same way. Can't wait to try them out- the loden is nice and thick and soft wool.

[Dianyla]

The #1 Reason To Visit the Portland Icebreaker Store In Person...

[KathiCville]

It's the wind when biking that's the killer. One combo I use is a pair of thin soft cashmere ladies' gloves or merino glove liners, then my Gore Volcano windstopper gloves (not bulky), then the Climawool glove. This i would typically wear for a 2 hour bike ride at 30-40 degrees. I got the loden mittens for the most severe cold, to wear over other gloves too that same way. Can't wait to try them out- the loden is nice and thick and soft wool.

Thanks, Lisa! Too bad that even beloved Ibex hasn't been able to come up with the *ideal* winter cycling gloves/mitten!....

I have the Gore Volcano gloves, too. I absolutely LOVE them fit-wise for my small hands, but they sure don't do much to keep me warm! I've been layering a heavy fleece glove over them in temps under 45. Now, I'll use the Ibex gloves or mittens instead, with a Smartwool liner sandwiched in there somewhere, if necessary. The wool is bound to be warmer than the fleece.......

I don't last long on the bike if my hands are freezing, so I even toss in chemical warmers, too, when it's really cold. My rides don't last more than two hours, so I can usually get two to three outings out of a $1/pair, if I wrap 'em up air-tight between uses.

I now have so much Ibex in my wardrobe that friends are asking me why my jackets, sweaters, hats (and now gloves) all have "horns" on them, LOL!

[Natasha]

I get the questions about horns on my clothes too.
I probably shouldn't raise the temptation, but rei-outlet has some great prices on some ibex items, including the pingo, nolita and mollie jackets. Limited sizes and colors. Its their .83 sale.

[sandra]

Anyone have the PINGO jacket? Does it run short? It looks like a short jacket.

[KnottedYet]

For only $49.83, I'd get one of those Pingos... IF I hadn't just spent a gazillion dollars on Ibex this month already. http://www.rei.com/product/756403?vcat=REI_SEARCH

And look at the cozy Nolita for only $69.83. Same color as my full-zip Switchback (the one that didn't shrink) so I'm not too tempted. http://www.rei.com/product/756406?vcat=REI_SEARCH

[KathiCville]

Sandra......I have two Pingos. Yes, it is a short jacket--shorter than, say, the Cirque. That's why I returned the Cirque I got on STP and opted for the Pingo instead. The Cirque hit me at a point on the hip that made the jacket puff up; the Pingo is a little shorter and so doesn't hit the same point.........Given the rock-bottom price on REI, I'd grab one and give it a whirl; at worst, you end up returning it, right?