WoolWeenies Club

[Cataboo]

Backcountryoutlet.com has swobo merino wool cycling jerseys, short sleeve, for $18.99. If you go through bing cashback, you get 12% back.

http://www.backcountryoutlet.com/out...ve-Womens.html

[Crankin]

I've been having more and more problems wearing wool. Even 17.5 merino. Yesterday I wore my Kate after coming home from hiking, taking a nice shower, and settling down to relax. I was itching after a couple of hours and this morning my arms are bright red. Wearing my Smart Wool ski socks is also bothering my legs.
Since I am going x country skiing up in the Northeast Kingdom in 10 days, I need to get this to settle down. It's a place where wool is mandatory!

[Dianyla]

I've been having more and more problems wearing wool. Even 17.5 merino. Yesterday I wore my Kate after coming home from hiking, taking a nice shower, and settling down to relax. I was itching after a couple of hours and this morning my arms are bright red. Wearing my Smart Wool ski socks is also bothering my legs.
Since I am going x country skiing up in the Northeast Kingdom in 10 days, I need to get this to settle down. It's a place where wool is mandatory!

What kind of laundry detergent are you using? It might not be the wool.

But it would really suck if it were. You would have to give all of your wool to us. (So what size are ya? )

[Crankin]

I have been using the same detergent for years... All Free and Clear or Arm and Hammer Free and Clear. I only get this in the winter, so I suspect the wool. Or, I could just be going through one of my weird allergy/asthma stages where everything bothers me.
No, no, no. I will not give up my wool. I'm an x-small.

[Cataboo]

Can you maybe get some silk underlayers or silkweight type underlayers and just put that underneath all of your wool? It's not wool, but still feels nice.

[Crankin]

Well, I *don't* have wool long underwear. It's silk. I have a couple of smart wool base layer tops, which I can wear occasionally. I never wear wool next to my skin, except for the Kates and these smart wool base layers. But I am finding that on days when I wear my Shaks with a lycra or cotton shirt underneath, the itchiness develops over the course of the day. Also, when I wear regular sweaters with wool, with something underneath.
I am definitely going through some allergic thing that is being set off by something, maybe even stress (I am searching for my internship position for my last year of grad school). I am taking a wait and see attitude and trying to just let it pass. It's to the point that it's becoming even more than wool; regular cotton seams are bugging me, too. Guess I am just a princess!

[Catrin]

.....I am definitely going through some allergic thing that is being set off by something, maybe even stress (I am searching for my internship position for my last year of grad school). I am taking a wait and see attitude and trying to just let it pass. It's to the point that it's becoming even more than wool; regular cotton seams are bugging me, too. Guess I am just a princess!

In graduate school I had something like this happen as well - and it got so bad that I couldn't even scratch myself without breaking out in terrible red welts that itched to the bone. Most fabrics were irritating as well, and I do have asthma and allergies.

Sadly the only thing that helped was time, my doctor thought that my stress levels were adding to my skin sensitivity. She tried me on several allergy medications, but nothing helped much - eventually the problem rectified itself. I do think the combination of asthma and allergies can cause hyper skin sensitivity in times of stress, and the dry skin in winter doesn't help...so hopefully this isn't about your wool at all.

Have you tried an intensive lotion or cream? I have found at such times that this can be temporarily helpful, but of course there are so many out there that just don't help the problem even if they are marketed for "extra dry skin".

[Catrin]

Backcountryoutlet.com has swobo merino wool cycling jerseys, short sleeve, for $18.99. If you go through bing cashback, you get 12% back.

http://www.backcountryoutlet.com/out...ve-Womens.html

Thanks for this, I ordered two of them, though should have probably purchased brighter colors. My first jersey purchase

[Catrin]

Backcountryoutlet.com has swobo merino wool cycling jerseys, short sleeve, for $18.99. If you go through bing cashback, you get 12% back.

http://www.backcountryoutlet.com/out...ve-Womens.html

My two jerseys arrived yesterday They are a little small, but that is good as I am dropping inches right now like they are on sale or something...so I don't want them too large come spring.

Sadly they do seem just a little itchy, which isn't my experience with my Smartwool long-sleeve base layer. The label states that it is 100% Merino wool. I am hoping that the itchiness is simply from it being a little tight or from winter dry skin - or am I in denial? I do like the cut and look of the jerseys...

[Cataboo]

My two jerseys arrived yesterday They are a little small, but that is good as I am dropping inches right now like they are on sale or something...so I don't want them too large come spring.

Sadly they do seem just a little itchy, which isn't my experience with my Smartwool long-sleeve base layer. The label states that it is 100% Merino wool. I am hoping that the itchiness is simply from it being a little tight or from winter dry skin - or am I in denial? I do like the cut and look of the jerseys...

Congrats on dropping inches! It might just be winter dry skin, i didn't notice them being being itchier than smartwool...But I typically don't notice itchiness in merino wool unless I've been wearing it several hours.

[Catrin]

Congrats on dropping inches! It might just be winter dry skin, i didn't notice them being being itchier than smartwool...But I typically don't notice itchiness in merino wool unless I've been wearing it several hours.

This is good to know. I noticed the itchiness as soon as I put the new jersey on, whereas I have had my smartwool base top on for much of today and there is no itchiness present at all. I will probably just keep the two new jerseys and pray that come spring, when they are looser and my skin less dry, that I can wear them. If not I will find them a new home at that time - thanks for your input!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I have some particular style Ibex tops that feel a bit itchy, while most of them don't feel itchy at all.
It may not be you, it might well be the item.

[Cataboo]

This is good to know. I noticed the itchiness as soon as I put the new jersey on, whereas I have had my smartwool base top on for much of today and there is no itchiness present at all. I will probably just keep the two new jerseys and pray that come spring, when they are looser and my skin less dry, that I can wear them. If not I will find them a new home at that time - thanks for your input!

I think you'll still be able to return them to backcountry if they feel itchy come spring - last I checked they had an unlimited return policy. But they did tighten the restrictions on returns to sac lately, so it's possible they did on their main site.

[Natasha]

Ibex added a bunch of winter stuff to the sale outlet on their website. Seems to be a fairly good selection.

[PamNY]

Timberland has Smartwool tights on sale for $19.95. Only one color (deep purple) and size (medium) is listed.

Pam