WoolWeenies Club

[Crankin]

Elaine, I don't see why you wouldn't be warm enough walking around with a nice wool layer (tights or long underwear) and whatever pants you want...
What did you wear on the bottom when you were here last January? I don't think you would need anything more than that! You had a lot of layers on. People generally don't wear layers on the bottom, here, unless they are going out to do some serious walking; like when I went to work, I just wore my pants or skirt and whatever tights or socks I would normally wear, since you are not normally outside. Outdoor sports in the cold are another thing, but I have never needed more than mid weight silk long underwear and my Ibex pants, even at -10 F. when skiing or hiking.
Today I had to go to Cambridge for a meeting; it is about 30 but feels like 15. I was cold waiting for the train in just my jeans, but if I had had a nice wool layer under them, it would have been fine. You don't want to be too sweaty!
Robyn

[Triskeliongirl]

Wow, keep the tips coming. When I visited Crankin in Boston, I wore a goretex pant over my jeans, and was OK but felt really dorky. I then proceeded to buy a primaloft coat and tall boots which worked fine in Boston over jeans and ibex on top, but I think it was only in the 30s.

But, now I am looking for travel clothes to take me from southern portugal to switzerland with the smallest number of pieces that can be combined in lots of different ways. And I think Switzerland will be colder than Boston was, and I will want to ski. I guess this is getting mixed up cuz its not always clear which responses are good for just walking around vs skiing, and I guess I am looking for clothes that in different combinations will work for both. So, its sounding like if I want to add one more piece the alpstar pant will do it, I just need some sizing help on it from anyone that owns it (do your actual body measurements match the size you ordered?).

But Catriona gave me another idea. The shebeest windpro tight is lined with powerfleece. I have one pair of wool pants that are a size too big, so if its really cold in switzerland I could put the tight on under the pants, and if its less cold pair them with the woolies for walking around.

[Cataboo]

Another thing to keep in mind are wool camisoles - ibex pointelle or the icebreaker ones. Those are great for layering and can be worn alone in warmer climates with a wool zip up over it. Portugal's probably still going to be in the 50's?

[Triskeliongirl]

Oh Catriona, you have me so overwhelmed. I just looked at that arcteyrx tau pant and it looks lovely for walking around.

Maybe I should order both the alpster and tau pants in assorted sizes, and return what doesn't work.....

I do have a number of ibex tank tops that I use for around here under blouses, so I am good with those. But that's another great idea, layering those under one of my base layers.

So, while I know everyone is diff, Catriona tell me another thing, what would be the warmest temperature you would wear the tau and alpster out in (not for sports now, just walking around). I know that I froze in DC in lined wool dress pants in the 30s with wind (I think it was the wind went right through them), but I had no base layer on either.

[Cataboo]

Oh Catriona, you have me so overwhelmed. I just looked at that arcteyrx tau pant and it looks lovely for walking around.

Maybe I should order both the alpster and tau pants in assorted sizes, and return what doesn't work.....

So, while I know everyone is diff, Catriona tell me another thing, what would be the warmest temperature you would wear the tau and alpster out in (not for sports now, just walking around). I know that I froze in DC in lined wool dress pants in the 30s with wind (I think it was the wind went right through them), but I had no base layer on either.

Alright, I live sort of northeast of the dc area, closer to the mountains so it tends to be a little cooler out here. It's snowing out there now and 34 degrees. I just went out and stood outside in my tau pants and I found it doable. I only have ankle socks on, and I've have preferred taller socks because the pants are a little loose around the ankle. So I'd wear the tau pants to maybe 30 degrees and then stick some ibex woolies underneath. Probably the same with the alpstar pants. I was wearing the alpstar pants at Keystone in Colorado last February without base layers underneath them and walking around. (I think without base layers) without a problem. I don't know the temperature, but it was cold and at a ski resort.

On top I was cold, but I'm only wearing an ibex camisole & a patagonia synchilla hoody (also an extremely warm layer), and I just got back from a bike ride so I'm a little chilled in general.

On the bike ride I was wearing the tau pants, ankle socks, and some 3/4 length cycling tights - if I did it again, I'd put longer socks on or some leg warmers. I only stayed out for 20 mins, long enough to start getting warmed up, but to severely regret not taking some sort of face cover or thicker gloves. (so I wimped out and came back to the house)

Last week in the 30 degree DC temps - I think I was wearing my prana fleece lined pants and was fine walking about - but I really didn't do much walking about outside other than back and forth to my car. I think I spent sometime walking around at night on my cell phone because it wasn't working in the house, and I think I was wearing my tau pants then without a problem.

I should really not show you more arc'teryx stuff, because it's a more expensive addiction than ibex...

However a really nice arc'teryx layer is the arc'teryx emissary. There's a hoody version. I'd say it's similar to the shak, but heavier weight and it's wool.
http://www.backcountryoutlet.com/out...rt-Womens.html

[Triskeliongirl]

Thanks everyone for all the help, and Catriona, don't bother to look up the sizing tonite. I was worried the backcountry 20% off sale would end today, and I am gonna be busy tonite, so I went ahead and ordered all three pants you recommended: the ibex alpstar, the praana and the art'yrex tau in a couple of sizes each. I'll only keep what I love. I actually do this a lot, especially until I learn how the sizing runs in brands I am not used to. While I try to get things on sale, I am pretty selective about what I buy, I won't buy something just cuz its on sale, I have to really love it. Hence, the Ibex addiction..................... WHile I love my arc-tyrex parka, I think Ibex will always be first in my heart, the arc-tyrex folks use too many synthetics for my taste. I even bought and returned a fleece they make that is the same color as my parka, but then returned it cuz I didn't really like the fleece and worried it would get stinky traveling.

I must admit though, I am *most excited* about the ibex alpstar pant, but I'll give the others a shot too (afterall this is the wool weenies and not winter apparel thread.......). I really think at this point my bottom is my problem. In fact, the main reason I bought my long primaloft coat last year, was to keep my bottom half from getting cold, and the first thing I noticed when I tried to wear the arctyrex parka in DC last week, was how cold my lower body felt. So, I think this means I've got the top thing down (and I only had 1 shak and 1 light base on, so room for more on top when I go to a colder place). I even own a patagonia down vest, and while it fits under my parka, it does make me look puffier than I like but yeh, it folds down real small so probably is a piece I should bring along.

Another interesting tidbit about owning stuff for very cold weather as a person that lives in a mild climate, is that we don't have central heating either in our house here or in our family home in portugal, so I do need warmer stuff indoors than folks that live in cold places. In fact, what drove me crazy in DC is that stuff I wear here in san antonio everyday at work had me overheating there in interiors. Same thing in Boston. But, then they don't sell this kind of clothing here, so its really hard to get sized, etc. for mail orders. UPS is definitely my friend................. Can't wait to get home tonite and try on my hooded shak. But given I already have 2 full zip shaks, I just know I'm gonna love it.......................

[Cataboo]

Great! I have a huge return box currently to go back to backcountry/sac/chainlove. So as you can with my extensive knowledge of all ibex & arc'teryx pieces, I end up ordering & returning a lot with them as well.

The only fleece from arc'teryx that I think is worth buying is the maverick sv. My all time favorite fleece is the patagonia lw r4 - hands down the warmest fleece for weight.

Arc'teryx does have a wool line - the rho w line, the emissary, and a few other pieces, but it's not really their strong point. Their hardshells, softshells, and packs are.

I have a lot of wool - but I still keep a lot of my synthetic stuff for different purposes.

Is the ibex shak full zip any heavier than the half zip or the hoody? I've got 3 of the half zips & 1 hoody. NOt that I need any more wool fullzips

I hope I didn't lead you astray with any of my suggestions.

[Cataboo]

What I'd take:
Top layers:
Maybe 1 short sleeve wool shirt if you have one in case it's warm in Portugal.

A couple wool tank tops or camisoles

1 full zip wool layer or fleece layer.

At least 2 lightweight wool tops - icebreaker chakra or their 150 weight stuff.

Your ibex shaks or comparable 260-320 weight icebreaker.

If you need more warmth - bringing a vest along would be useful. A lot of the down ones fold in on themselves and don't use up a lot of space. You can sometimes get the kids north face nuptse vests pretty cheap and the kids large & x-large are actually quite big.

You seem to like jeans, so take your jeans.... They'll be fine for portugal and with your woolies or your sheebeast tights underneath them you'll probably be fine. But if you were putting your goretex pants over the jeans in boston, maybe you won't be.

1 pair of either goretex shell pants or some sort of softshell pants for skiing - You can probably do it in the ibex alpstars, but if you've already got the goretex shell pants, just stick with those. Softshell pants are more comfortable than goretex, they're warmer and you won't look as goofy just walking around town in them.

A couple pairs of ibex woolies (I dno't know how long your trip is and how many times you want to wear the same wool over and over - so if you don't want to change clothes to much - you can leave this off) or smartwool or icebreaker tights. If you had to, you could make them layer over each other for more warmth.

1 thicker pair of baselayers - your sheebeast tights if you want, or whatever

Wool hat of some sort.

A balaclava of some sort - I like the seirus windproof ones (this is for skiing)

Scarf

Gloves - I usually use a thin liner glove - there's the arc'teryx delegate ones that are wool, or patagonia capilene, and then a thicker layer over that (arc'teryx has nice fleecy ones and REI's got some nice midweight gloves), and then a goretex or waterproof shell over that. I also sometimes just use a softshell type glove with a shell over that. If you buy an insulated glove and bring it - if you need to adjust anything while skiing you get cold when you take them off. If you need brands or suggestions of these, let me know and I can go look.

Socks:
If you bring tall smartwool socks for skiing - remember those can also be used for layering when you're going around town in your jeans & woolies. I usually use a capilene liner sock under my ski socks. I don't like wearing more than that while skiing.

And you can decide on whatever other casual clothes you want.

It's going to depend somewhat on how windy it is and how you acclimatize to the temperature. I find after a few days skiing, I'm walking around town with my jacket & fleece completely unzipped because compared to the top of the mountain, it really doesn't feel all that cold.

[Biciclista]

yeah, 50's is like a warm Seattle winter day (as opposed to a cold Seattle winter day) and that sounds like a lot too much to wear while riding.
When the temp is 40 degrees, I need a light hat, warm gloves (or double gloves)
a light-medium wool inside layer (think of a cashmere sweater) then on top of that, a bike jersey and on top of that a raincoat. add booties and that's really it for that temperate. when it's in the 50's I wear just that inside sweater and a jersey on top and maybe a light vest - while riding.

m

[Triskeliongirl]

Thanks for the input Mimi! I do understand what to wear to ride my bike at any temperature. Its how to deal with trips to very cold places (i.e. teens to 20s) and skiing that I am working out now, or trips that take in a wide range of climates. But with everyones help here, I've got a plan! Another problem for me is that when I travel, I am not acclimated, so often I need to dress warmer than folks that live in a place. But the breathability of merino works so well even if I overdo I am usually still OK.

yeah, 50's is like a warm Seattle winter day (as opposed to a cold Seattle winter day) and that sounds like a lot too much to wear while riding.
When the temp is 40 degrees, I need a light hat, warm gloves (or double gloves)
a light-medium wool inside layer (think of a cashmere sweater) then on top of that, a bike jersey and on top of that a raincoat. add booties and that's really it for that temperate. when it's in the 50's I wear just that inside sweater and a jersey on top and maybe a light vest - while riding.

m

[Triskeliongirl]

OK, I know you are sick of my posts, so I promise this will be the last one. While my woolies feel so comfy, when I took my pants off I realized the fit is rather loose. Then I noticed they come in XS. Never in my life have I been an XS in anything, but should they hug the body, or should they feel a little loose? Will they shrink? I also don't want them to be too small or they'll tear more. Any thoughts? I know the smartwool fits more snugly in the same size, but I read reviews that they tear quite easily.