WoolWeenies Club

[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.

[OakLeaf]

Me (just back from a run): I smell like a wet sheep.

DH (walking past me while I'm stretching, a couple of minutes later): You do smell like a wet sheep. I thought you were joking.

Me: I never joke about wet sheep.

[Crankin]

SkierChickie, see my above comments about wool and itchiness, etc.

I've been taking Claritin and Zantac for 10 days to calm down my body's response to wool. Although I've had this issue with hives/itchiness before, it hasn't occurred in a long time. It's definitely calmed down and I've been avoiding wool as much as possible in the winter. Yesterday, I got itchy again when I put on a very soft merino dress for an interview. That was fine. But, when I put on my wool coat, over the dress, the prickles and stinging started immediately. It's like the weight of the coat and its wool made the dress irritate my skin more.
I also wanted to get a wool bra for x country skiing, but I think I'll stick with my regular sports bras. I wear Craft base layers, too. They keep me super warm. Sure, they stink a little, but they work. The thought of a wool base layer now isn't good!
I am wearing a very light weight wool sweater over a lycra/cotton shirt right now. So far, it's OK.

[ivorygorgon]

I need a recommendation for a base layer.

I live in San Diego. I tend to feel cold a lot. I am a newbie biker. I need something to wear underneath my jersey to keep me warm in the mornings, but that won't be too hot when it gets a bit warmer, so of course I am thinking Smart Wool.

I also need a recommendation for some kind of light windbreaker that I would be able to take off and either put in my jersey pocket.

Thanks in advance.