WoolWeenies Club

[Triskeliongirl]

Oh Catherine, you got me going again........ I had resisted, but I was on the Ibex site, and noticed two outlet items that had been sold out in S were now available, the red razel and the blue zepher. They'll look so nice with my professional clothes (grey and black suits), so I had to buy them. Probably returns since only one of each available, lets hope they're not dirty like Knot's or they are going back!

While I was there, I'd been coveting the bella vest (thistle to layer over thistle shak) and pingo jacket (blue to match my bike), so after learning that I do like Boucle after all, into my shopping cart they went. I ended up ordering everything in small, although then I remembered Catherine recommended I size up to M in the pingo. But, with spring riding season here (I did my first long ride last sunday, a 72 mile 'metric' century) my weight has started to fall again (and my boobies have started to shrink, so I am now already less 'busty'...). So, I decided I am not willing to buy anything larger than a Small, so if anything is too tight I'll just send it back. Even if I lose another 10 lb, I can't imagine ever needing an X-small so I think I'll be OK with buying more smalls now. I also think the smaller jacket will be better for layering under my M PI screaming yellow vest for commuting. Also, every item of ibex I own in Small, and anything I have ever ordered in M I sent back.

I also like the pingo as an everyday winter jacket for san antonio, and for my trip to japan this summer since its so water resistant. While I didn't really need another cycling jacket, I've been wearing my daughter's hand me down columbia jacket from middle school (only small in the house) for rain/mild days, so decided I do deserve a pretty new jacket for those middle of the temp days (not new england cold, or texas summer heat, but those times in between). I was especially impressed that Knot noted its exceptional combo. of water resistance and breathablity, always an issue here.

The 17.5 polos I bought a while back at the outlet site are great for spring here. Not hot at all, quite the opposite. I still need to layer them under a shak indoors, since things are overly airconditioned here (imagine, its 88 outside and I am still wearing my shaks, and now my new boucle.......). They still have some left, at much better prices than the new Ts, and they look more professional too. So, wool really is a year round fabric, even in the south texas heat!

[Grog]

I have just received my Boucle Full Zip and the polo I ordered from the outlet. I already regret just getting one polo - silly me - as it WILL be a wonderfully versatile year-round piece.

The Boucle Full Zip is great and fits fine in Small - although I would like it to be a tiny bit more close to my waist - and there will be some room for layering with a black tshirt under. I chose it in Currant Heather and I like the dark shade of "purpled fushia". It will be an awesome piece of clothing for travel. I bought it because I am going to Istanbul in July. It will most likely be way too hot to wear it there but I need something on the plane that I can take off easily (unlike my Shak hoodie, alas), and that I can wear during my stopovers in Montreal and Europe along the way, that won't need to be washed for the two weeks I'm traveling, and that looks good enough. This wil totally be it. I would have loved a Shak full-zip in black instead, because I find the fabric a bit softer on the outside, and I like the versatility of black, but they are no longer available.

The polo shirt, as expected, is great. My husband had one already and I was envious so I got a lagoon one for myself. $39 is not enough for this, I almost feel like sending them more money back in the mail! (Although I'm glad I did not pay the full retail for this, as $89 is a bit steep.) It is a bit wrinkled right now but will look fantastic after it's washed. I wish I had gotten a currant one, too. Oh well, next time!

Now I need a light black wool t-shirt but I'm almost sure I can find that locally.

[Natasha]

Grog,
Backcountry.com has full-zip Shaks in black in stock in S,M and L. They have a 20% off coupon right now too.

I have not really been a big Icebreaker fan as most of their stuff seems to be made in China, and does not have flat-lock seams. But I wanted a merino hoody, so I got the Icebreaker conquest hoody. It seems very well made and is full-zip with mostly flat-sewn seams. It is very soft and warm. I had tried the Ibex shak hoody but found it too scratchy and didn't fit right. Guess I'll have to try more Icebreaker.

[GLC1968]

Grog,
Backcountry.com has full-zip Shaks in black in stock in S,M and L. They have a 20% off coupon right now too.

I have not really been a big Icebreaker fan as most of their stuff seems to be made in China, and does not have flat-lock seams. But I wanted a merino hoody, so I got the Icebreaker conquest hoody. It seems very well made and is full-zip with mostly flat-sewn seams. It is very soft and warm. I had tried the Ibex shak hoody but found it too scratchy and didn't fit right. Guess I'll have to try more Icebreaker.

20% off coupon? Where, pray tell??!! I actually *need* a black full zip shak...really, I do! ---- Nevermind - I found it!

Trisk - I think a S Pingo will probably be ok. Mine's a medium and except for those two Kate's you sent me, all the rest of my Ibex stuff is M and the Pingo fits fine.

And I have an old Outback in that plum color - it's beautiful! I'm actually kinda glad I missed the Norgie on SAC, this is getting out of hand.

[Triskeliongirl]

Thanks Catherine, I'll find out soon won't I? I'll only keep the pingo if I love it. BTW, I did order a plum norgie crew on SC......... The thing of it is, that it is April in Texas, and I am sitting in my office, in my green Kate and black Shak........... So, I use this stuff year round. I probably wear my black shak more than any other piece. Catherine, you know you want one (and it looks amazing with a green kate underneath...............).

[GLC1968]

Ahem...I ordered the black shak. Gotta do my part to stimulate the economy, right? $115 is a good deal for something I'll likely wear almost daily!

Funny thing is, about 10 minutes after I submitted my order, I got an email from backcountry.com saying that they knew I was a repeat customer, so they moved my order to the top of the queue and it's shipping this afternoon. How cool is that?

[Triskeliongirl]

Gosh Catherine, some day we have to ride together in our matching bikes and pingo jackets...... Sure would look cute!

[mariposa]

hurry...

[sandra]

hurry...

that was my first time ever to order from SAC. I almost did it without thinking. After I paid, it was already over! Now tell me about what I just bought!

[Natasha]

Icebreaker sport320 rock zip on SAC.

[GLC1968]

Ibex Pingo jacket on SAC - $78!!

[DebW]

I was in the Berkshires this weekend and stopped at the Arcadian Shop twice. My main purpose was to check the sizing of their Ibex bike jerseys and leg warmers. They had the women's Spin Jersey and the men's Beezer and Fausto. I found the women's Spin too snug in medium (when they say form fit, they mean it) but fine in large. The men's Beezer in small was also a good fit, the Fausto in medium a little big (no smalls in the Fausto). I wouldn't buy a Spin jersey because the hidden zipper is too small and hard to operate. I wouldn't buy the Beezer because it's a full zip. A Fausto in small would have tempted me, but I don't really want to spend $125 on a jersey. In leg warmers, both the medium and small fit me. I'd probably buy the mediums if I were buying. In arm warmers, medium was too large and small just right. Now I can look for sales since I know what fits me.

No more Ibex winter garments on display in the store. Now it's T-shirts (Echo, Cadence, Qu Tee, Fish, Cross-Over). There was a 50% off rack that contained Smartwool salesman's samples and Ex Officio and Royal Robbins. I ended up buying two Smartwool jerseys and one Smartwool polo top for $20 each. Couldn't pass up those deals. The Smartwool jerseys are thin summer-weight merino with 2 rear pockets and sheep down the side. I'll have to post a picture of the sheep. I'll feel like a rolling billboard for Smartwool.