WoolWeenies Club

[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.

[Cataboo]

Light base layer - ibex woolie, the smartwools, an icebreaker 150 to 190 weight. I don't like the smartwools 'cause they get holes easily, I feel.

Light windproof jacket - i use the arc'teryx squamish. It's kinda on the pricy size, but marmot makes one that's similar for about $60 that's full zip. I can't recall the name.

[SadieKate]

Just a basic review.

Best thing about it is that it's RED since it seems most of the wool companies can't seem to get it through their heads that light long sleeve shirts are great single layers in the winter for cardio sports but black, white, gray disappear.

I've been wearing this lately as a single layer for running and love it. When I first received it I was worried because of the smell. I can't identify it but it was a very familiar smell to someone who walks into a lot of yarn shops, probably a result of the dye process. I washed it before running due to the smell and concerend that it would run on me, but most of the smell left and no dye stains. True to wool, I managed to get two runs out of it before needing to wash. The next wash should remove the rest of the smell.

The fit is nicely tailored for feminine curves so it's flattering. While I normally don't like all the graphics popping up on everything lately, the graphics are nice because I don't feel like I'm wearing an undershirt as an outer layer and they're tastefully just at the hips rather than across my chest.

The red is more on the pink side of red. Deep and luscious but not red red. I'm hoping next year they come out with the same shirt in purple or royal blue or even white. Tad on the expensive side compared to other similar brands, but so far I've been pleased with the purchase. I'd buy a second one if I had some choice other than black.

http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodLU_291366.html