WoolWeenies Club

[GLC1968]

I think Ibex runs big, in general and their sleeves are always quite long (which I know is a godsend for many!).

Icebreaker generally runs slightly smaller than Ibex in my experience (and tops are usually very long in the body).

I have also gotten specific items from both makers that buck this trend completely AND items that become totally distorted after one washing (clearly due to some defect). It can really be a crap shoot!

Smartwool seems to run smaller but I have limited Smartwool experience unless you count socks (which I think run big!).

Trisk - I don't know what size my Pez vest is (I'm at work, it's at home!), but I can check for you tonight. I do know that my vest fits looser than my Shak's, so if they are the same size, then it could be that the Pez runs larger. That's my guess, but I can't say for sure without checking (plus, vest sizing could be different than sweater sizing, of course)... I'm not much help, am I?

[Triskeliongirl]

I think Ibex runs big, in general and their sleeves are always quite long (which I know is a godsend for many!).

Trisk - I don't know what size my Pez vest is (I'm at work, it's at home!), but I can check for you tonight. I do know that my vest fits looser than my Shak's, so if they are the same size, then it could be that the Pez runs larger. That's my guess, but I can't say for sure without checking (plus, vest sizing could be different than sweater sizing, of course)... I'm not much help, am I?

If you could check tonite I would appreciate it, as I am still waiting for my coupon to arrive for doing a gear review on altrec.

p.s. Acutally I have have just gotten an answer. I phoned Ibex, and they told me the pez runs similar to the shak and is sized to fit over a light layer. They recommend a medium to layer over a small shak.

[GLC1968]

If you could check tonite I would appreciate it, as I am still waiting for my coupon to arrive for doing a gear review on altrec.

p.s. Acutally I have have just gotten an answer. I phoned Ibex, and they told me the pez runs similar to the shak and is sized to fit over a light layer. They recommend a medium to layer over a small shak.

I think a medium makes the most sense. I checked and mine vest is a medium and when comparing it to my medium Shaks, it's almost identical in the body in terms of size. I obviously can't compare shoulders/sleeves though...

Anyway, I think you'll be good on size AND I think you'll really like it!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I scored a black 100% merino ribbed turtleneck at GoodWill last week for $3.50.

[Triskeliongirl]

Thanks for everyones comments on the pez. Size M is on the way!

To chime in on the sizing discussion, my personal experience has been that Ibex runs smaller than Icebreaker which runs smaller than Smartwool.

For example, in Ibex and Icebreaker tops I am a small, and in smartwool a medium. In bottoms, I am an XS in Ibex, a S in Icebreaker and a M in smartwool. But, I should warn you that my bottom is really smaller than my top (for example while most of my clothes are size 6, I have one suit I bought as separates where I bought the pants in 4 and jacket in 8). I am slim hipped but have a broad back, broad shoulders (size 40 handlebars!), and big bust (36C).

In terms of quality, I found my ibex looks the best over time, no holes, no pills, etc. on stuff I have now had for several years. I bought my husband a nice icebreaker sweater last christmas and it already has a hole in it. My smartwool looks more worn than my ibex as well. For me, routine care is to machine wash and drip dry.

[Eden]

I got my Walz wool cycling caps!! I placed an order for the team - we got custom embroidery with our logo on the sides. They look great and are totally cozy. I got a regular 4 panel and an earflap cap for myself. I wore the earflap cap yesterday. Love it - warm and cozy, yet not bulky under a helmet - doesn't seem to block as much of my hearing as my old thin fleece beanie.

www.walzcaps.com

[OakLeaf]

that's so weird about sizing, because I have way too many Ibex pieces and a few SW, and the fit seems to be consistent. I'm a true Small in Ibex topss. Compared to athletic wear it's true they run large, but compared to street wear and anything I have from SW, they're smaller. I have a Small SW tank that just hangs on me, where my Small Ibex tank ... I hate to even wear it because it's so perfect for everything, and they don't sell them any more!

[Jolt]

I think Ibex runs big, in general and their sleeves are always quite long (which I know is a godsend for many!).

Icebreaker generally runs slightly smaller than Ibex in my experience (and tops are usually very long in the body).

I have also gotten specific items from both makers that buck this trend completely AND items that become totally distorted after one washing (clearly due to some defect). It can really be a crap shoot!

Icebreaker tops are definitely on the long side. As far as "outliers", I have a pair of Ibex pants (Izzi, I think--yoga-type pants) that are SHORT...so much for the general trend of Ibex pants being long (I have a pair of the Loose Tights which are the perfect length). I got them for ridiculously cheap on Amazon and maybe that's why...maybe they were selling some "irregulars" on there. Because they are so short and therefore look kind of funny, I have been using them mostly as pajama bottoms!

[Crankin]

Ibex bottoms are usually long on me, but I have to wear a small instead of an extra small, in the hips. I have a pair of Ibex wool/wind proof tights that DH bought me years ago, before I knew what Ibex was. The length on those are OK, but any other bottoms I've tried on are really long. The extra small tops fit me perfectly, although as in most things that aren't petites, the sleeves are a bit long.
I find Icebreaker itchy. I have 2 Smartwool base layers that are really nice, but are quite long.

[Grog]

I am just back from a trip to Seattle and I went to Feathered Friends, the outdoor gear store on Yale just half a block away from REI. Ibex's web site says that they have an Ibex "store-in-store" there. No kidding! I tried on about 10 different pieces of Ibex clothing and they had more. I ended up with a Carrie hoddie, a new Indie shirt, a pair of Izzi pants and a Kurta top. My husband got a Shak vest. Everything Ibex was 20% off.

Totally worth a visit!

[bmccasland]

I am just back from a trip to Seattle and I went to Feathered Friends, the outdoor gear store on Yale just half a block away from MEC.

I had to look it up. MEC = REI, for those of us "south of the border". Maybe folks here already knew that, hangs her head in shame, but I'm still learning y'alls language.

I found some nice wool blend turtle/roll/necks at Banana Republic. Still need more WARM things - light enough weight to wear inside as a layer. Guess I'll be adding to my wool wardrobe for a while, right? Not much chance to wear my sleeveless tops year round like I used to - topped with a lightweight wool sweater in the winter. See, I do own wool - just what I have you'd classify as "summer weight."

Bought myself some LLB boots - so I can do field work in this wet squishy ground and keep my toes dry. Now I need more hiking socks.

[Grog]

I had to look it up. MEC = REI, for those of us "south of the border". Maybe folks here already knew that, hangs her head in shame, but I'm still learning y'alls language.

Oops! I really did mean REI but you're right that MEC is the Canadian equivalent. (I edited the post above.) They are totally unrelated businesses, though. Thanks for pointing that out!

[7rider]

A downside of washable Ibex and other brand merino sportswear....
not ALL wool is washable!!
A certain someone put my brown wool turtleneck (for dress wear, not sports wear) in the washing machine. And it shrunk from a size Large to a size Small!!!

I tried it on after that debacle. I really can't wear it...

If you want it...it's yours. PM me and I'll send it to you (domestic US please).

1 Kenar "100% Italian Merino" (made in China ) sweater.
Brown, 3/4 sleeves, rolled edges.

Measures as such:
from base of neck in back to bottom: 20"
Across the chest under arms: ~16"

pix available upon request.

[jessmarimba]

Ok. Maybe this Icebreaker one is just cut weird - it came from Sierra Trading Post. It barely comes to the waist of my jeans and it's pretty loose for being the smallest possible size. But it's a short-sleeved shirt so its not like I need it to keep warm this winter. I think the I/O Bio shirts run long too, maybe I'll just stick with those from now on.