Disappointed with Ibex Woolie top

[itself]

I have two Woolie zip tops, both which I wash by hand and let air dry. Both which have developed holes in them. For $75 I don't think I will be buying Ibex clothing anymore, time to give Icebreaker a try...

Lisa

[Tri Girl]

boo!!

[Cataboo]

You're actually going to have that problem with any of the merino wools brands with the very thin/fine wools. Smartwool is the worst for it. But icebreaker and ibex do it as well. So, you're really not gonna do better with icebreaker necessarily. The thicker layers, especially in ibex don't do it as much - but I have developed holes in my thicker icebreaker, especially around zippers.

If you contact IBEX, they may help you with them - there's an email address on their website, and they tend to be very helpful and to stand behind their product.

[OakLeaf]

Wow, how long have you had them?

[KnottedYet]

I've stayed away from the Woolies line because they are imported, and I've had bad luck with Ibex's imported lightweight stuff.

Meanwhile I have 2 VERY lightweight Ibex T-shirts made in USA which are about 6 years old and still going strong. I wear them a lot and thought for sure the tissue-thin one would show thin spots or holes, but it looks just as good as new.

[itself]

I have had them less than a year....good information about this being common with many brands. Thanks for the heads up!

I have two smartwool tops that are over ten years old and still holding up strong. Perhaps the quality was better back then.

Lisa

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

My own experience is-
I've never tried the Ibex woolie zip tops, just the crew neck long sleeve ones.
Mine are 3 years old, both worn about two hundred times, washed maybe 75 times in gentle machine with Woolite, dried in machine drier on gentle. No holes.
Go figure.

[Cataboo]

I have a pair of woolies tights that I pulled up one day I guess a bit too vigorously and my fingernail went through them. My woolies shirt doesn't have any holes - but I have a few ibex polo type t shirts that have developed holes after a couple of months. I have a couple ibex hats that have developed holes.

Smartwool - generally with it, I find that you either get holes in the first few washes or holes don't seem to come up. I don't know if it's just an implicit weakness or flat in the wool... I have some smartwool socks that developed holes the first time I wore them, yet I have several other pairs that I've worn a ton without problems. I just don't buy smartwool anymore, cause it's a pain.

[Grog]

I've had a few micro-hole events with Ibex tops recently (of the very fine variety) and I'm starting to suspect that the holes are caused by my Ibex Bouclé jacket. The holes are all at the same spot, which would be about where the lower part of the zipper of the Bouclé would rub against the wool, near my waist.

I'm very annoyed, because layering wool is my way of life. I have at least 3-4 pieces with a mini-hole problem. (And I still need to find proper wool thread to fix them.)

[bmccasland]

And I still need to find proper wool thread to fix them.

Grog - if a bit of wool thread for repairs didn't come with the item (little cards with thread wound on it), then do you have a yarn shop in your area? Look in the phone book under embroidery or yarn - and you might have some luck there. Wool yarn is used in crewel embroidery, and sold by the piece, so you wouldn't have to buy a whole skein of yarn for just a bit to fix your sweater.

If all else fails - there's a good shop here in New Orleans, and with a sample thread, I'll go on a snipe hunt for you. No, no, please, don't force me to go back to that shop, no noooooooooo.

(you should see the mardi gras rhinestone studded reading glasses I have from there)

[lph]

(you should see the mardi gras rhinestone studded reading glasses I have from there)

Hey, I want to see those! Pretty please..?

[Grog]

Grog - if a bit of wool thread for repairs didn't come with the item (little cards with thread wound on it), then do you have a yarn shop in your area? Look in the phone book under embroidery or yarn - and you might have some luck there. Wool yarn is used in crewel embroidery, and sold by the piece, so you wouldn't have to buy a whole skein of yarn for just a bit to fix your sweater.

Thanks BMC! Good idea. There are actually two wool shops within 5 minutes of my home, and I think they'll be nice. I won't force you into that evil shop of yours.