WoolWeenies Club

[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.

[Biciclista]

so far as I know, all Ibex "washable" is washable. Sorry about your size small.

[Cataboo]

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.

did you get that at tjmaxx or marshalls? I think that's the brand of a turtle neck that I had bought last year at tjmaxx and the same thing happened - wore it once, it accidently went into the washer on cold and it was miniscule when it came out (it didn't go in the dryer)

Since it was only a week after I bought it or s, I took it back to them and told them that shouldn't have happened. They gave me my money back.

[emily_in_nc]

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).

As the lucky recipient of 7rider's shrunken wool sweater, I just wanted to say again how kind it was of her to send it to me, and how much I love it! It's just my style -- wore it to work today. And in this cold winter, wool is more important than ever!

Thank you again!!!

[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.