WoolWeenies Club

[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

[Selkie]

Couldn't resist this: http://www.ibexwear.com/shop/product...-shak-full-zip

I've been hoping this color would go on sale! After all the snow, figured it would cheer me up. My shak collection grows. Next year, I hope they do some other colors---teal, blue, purple.

Edited to add---the color--Cherry Red---is now sold out.

Haven't opened my b'day presents yet because we've been so busy shoveling but the UPS guy left an IBEX box addressed to my DH last week. I "hinted" about a couple items---purple shak jersey and a freestar shak---so we'll see.

Edited to add: DH got me the purple shak jersey and the red/grey freestar shak.

[Crankin]

I thought I had forgotten to pack my Go Lite jacket I wear for winter sports when we got to our inn in Vermont Thursday. But, I had 2 full zip Shaks with me, which turned out to be a fine substitute for my outer layer. Not as windproof as the jacket, but still, with a base layer and a fleece mid layer, it was fine.
I found my jacket, neatly folded on the bottom of the bag with my hats, hiking boots, and mittens on Saturday, but I was sure glad I didn't have to go buy something out in the middle of nowhere...

[Skierchickie]

Okay - prepare to drum me out of the club.

I have 2 Ibex wool bras that I bought about 2 years ago. I wear them all the time for skiing - still get sweaty & wet, but maybe don't chill down quite as fast, and still more comfortable than my others.

The problem: on my last few long skis, I've been getting chafing. First it was in front, where the gathers in the fabric chafed. Then, on Sunday, a line down from the top of my shoulder, where the stitching is. Now I realize that the sort of dry-skin-patch-feeling spots on my back are the same thing. Most of this is where the little bit of stitching is. I'm covered with red splotches & lines. Last week during a breast exam my doctor asked what the scratch was on my left one.

Now I don't know what I'm going to do. Body Glide helped in the first spot, but I'm not sure what is up in the back, since it doesn't have any binding along the bottom edge. Can't really afford to splurge on new bras at the moment (DH unemployed for over a year, and he went back to school last semester). GRRRRRR.

To complete my expulsion from the Woolweenies club, I have decided I prefer my Craft long underwear shirt to all my Smartwool ones. Feels warmer against my skin (if I'm cold, and I put on a Smartwool one, it still feels cool against my skin). I still love wool, but I'm just not finding it to be the miracle I once thought.

[Cataboo]

I've been wearing wool all week with this snow - all of a sudden last night I just felt itchy as all get out, had to go find myself some nice non-itchy synthetics.

[Dianyla]

Tax return + Ibex winter sale =

Waiting for my thistle heather Shak hoody. And, um, the Mollie jacket. And, um, some undies. Whups.

[bmccasland]

unseasonably cold winter, not well insulated house, high gas bill (again ).... and knowing I have a week long camping event coming up in a couple of weeks.... I just ordered 3 pairs of SmartWool Socks from TE. I am tired of cold toes, and have been wearing the one pair of smartwool cycling socks I own to bed most nights. I hate having cold toes.

Can't wait for me TE order to come in.

[Dianyla]

I am tired of cold toes, and have been wearing the one pair of smartwool cycling socks I own to bed most nights. I hate having cold toes.

At home, I'll use hot water bottles and/or an extra fleece throw/blanket just wrapped around my feet in addition to the socks. When camping, I'll often use chemical handwarmer packets stuffed inside my socks - just make sure the kind you use is approved for direct skin contact.

Also, sometimes when camping in the cold I'll stick all of my unworn clothes down in the bottom of my sleeping bag for more foot insulation. Also, that's a lot nicer in the morning rather than having to put on a freezing cold damp bra.

[OakLeaf]

Aw heck, I've been sleeping in my wool base layers all winter long....