WoolWeenies Club

[jessmarimba]

Have any of you guys ever bought the ibex dresses? I really want the hoody one but I'd like a personal review

[Grog]

Have any of you guys ever bought the ibex dresses? I really want the hoody one but I'd like a personal review

I did try one on, I can't remember what it was called, but it definitely had a hoody, and definitely did not fall nicely on me, especially the pockets, I had to return it. I wasn't particularly impressed with the feel of it, a bit too thin for my taste. I would have wanted it a bit more structured.

This being said, I am very small on top with solid hips and thighs, so maybe that didn't help.

[Crankin]

I felt much better today, wearing thinner layers. Although, I was so cold when I first got in my car, I had to crank up the heat. I wore the Smart Wool base layer and a thinly lined Athleta quarter zip t-neck. I wore my Gore cycling jacket instead of my Golite. I didn't have to open the pit zips, though. The jacket is thinner than the Golite, but much shorter; some of my mid layers would be hanging out.
I spent some time perusing soft shells, recommended x country jackets on line before I left to ski today. It seemed confusing to me. Some people use soft shells as a mid layer and some use them for the outer layer? Some were on sale now, but I am not sure I want to order on line. For now, I will stick to the wool base layer, no matter how my skin feels and perhaps invest in some lighter weight mid layers. There's a new store in town that sells Ibex and I will probably head over there to buy the bra later in the week, since it will be impossible to find it on sale.

[Cataboo]

Way back when I first bought a softshell, I used to use it layering under a hardshell to ski.


It took me a long time to realize that, it really was okay to use a softshell as an outer layer skiing, I just remember back when I was learning to ski and my not fully waterproof pants would be soaked from me falling in the snow all day.

But now I pretty much ski (cross country or downhill) in softshell pants (my ibex backcountry pants rule) exclusively and on warmer days I ski with a softshell, and on windy days or colder ones, I put a hardshell on.

I still have one medium bio merino wool bra in purple that I listed on here to sell a while back if medium fits you. Ibex does make some nice merino wool/softshell mixture jackets. I know one of mine has pitzips. Okay, 2 of them - one I got new, and another one I got used off ebay that seems to be a really old model that I love.

[Crankin]

OK, one of the jackets I saw on sale was an Ibex combo jacket... the Shak Freestar? Is that what you have? It was a very good price. Now I have go back through my search history to find out where I saw it.
Thanks for the offer of the bra, but I need an x small or small .

[Cataboo]

No, the shak freestar just looks like it's all wool.

Try the vim hybrid maybe, climawool on front, merino wool on the back:
http://www.altrec.com/ibex/womens-vim-hybrid-jacket

(Hey Rebecca, that'd be a good one for you as well)

If you want all climawool, try the "tuck"

http://www.altrec.com/ibex/womens-tuck-jacket



I guess i'm a few models behind on my ibex jackets, i think I've got the neve and... I don't remember what else. But that speaks well of my shopping habits if I don't know the names of the new models!

[Crankin]

OK, the Vim hybrid looks more like what I would want. And I can't find the Tuck on sale anywhere. But, I read several reviews that the jacket is not windproof... what's your take on this? Could I wear it as an outer layer in the teens or lower, assuming I had appropriate mid and base layers?
Last year I thought I had forgotten my GoLite jacket when I went to Craftsbury VT. So, I wore one of my Shaks as an outer layer, until I realized my jacket was buried in the bottom of my suitcase. I was warm enough, but it definitely did not help in the wind.
Edit to add:
Deb, my Go Lite jacket is not waterproof at all, just windproof. It definitely is not breathable enough for me. When I "restarted" x country skiing about 6 years ago, my DH ordered it on line for both of us. I really didn't pay too much attention, as frankly I am not a good "researcher" on line for this kind of stuff. He loves doing this kind of research and he barely sweats. What he wears for outdoor activity is much heavier than what I wear. Of course now, I am much more knowledgeable.
Too many choices.

[DebW]

I wore my Gore cycling jacket instead of my Golite. I didn't have to open the pit zips, though. The jacket is thinner than the Golite, but much shorter; some of my mid layers would be hanging out.
I spent some time perusing soft shells, recommended x country jackets on line before I left to ski today. It seemed confusing to me. Some people use soft shells as a mid layer and some use them for the outer layer?

Cranking, I was going to ask if the Golite jacket was maybe not as breathable as it should be for your level of exertion. A lot of shells these days try to be waterproof or waterpepellent and breathable, but nothing waterproof is very breathable. Sounds like you're looking in that direction anyway. Don't get anything that claims to be waterproof or even waterresistant by adding a coating to the nylon. You might look for a lightweight shell of plain pertex nylon. Marmot used to make the perfect windshirt like this but discontinued it. I can't speak for any of the newer softshells, and I don't sweat alot anyway.