Wool: take the plunge

“New Wool” has been cool for a few years now. So what’s the big deal with Icebreaker? And why am I posting this with mercury rising in the Northern hemisphere?

Because if you're into natural fibers against your skin, the time to switch to wool is in the spring, when it will truly amaze you. Unless you’re heading to the tropics, you’ll get more wear out of your wool t-shirts this summer than you ever dreamed of. This wool performs great as a base layer when you need it, and offers insulation when you need that. Great for travel too: the stuff always looks fresh.

Overpriced merino wool base layers and insulation from New Zealand? At twice the cost of Smartwool? Am I kidding?

Super thin, great fit, quick-dry:
totally worth the sticker shock

Nope. It really is the bomb. I am no wool specialist. But I can say from experience that whatever they’re doing out there down under, this is now my underwear of choice. By far. 

I’ve never had better-wearing, faster-wicking, sweeter-smelling or warmer socks for their thickness (VERY thin) than these. And I've done head-to-head tests against Patagonia and Smartwool. The feel of this specific wool against my skin is much softer than comparable garments. So I’ve replaced all my silkweight Capilene t-shirts with Icebreaker ultralights.

Here's a sneak peak of the new
styling for the GT series

There’s no stink. No itch. The temperature range far exceeds competitors. I work out in my ultralite GT on all but the hottest days. It's even got mesh side panels for breathability, 3M reflectors and a GU pocket. Very simply the coolest technical shirt ever made. On cold mornings, pulling on one of these is like adding a radiator to your core. The ¾ length tights go with me everywhere. Yep, I much prefer wool to silk now.

Stick with weights in the 150 range. The midlayers (240-weight and up) take on too much water when you sweat. They’re warm when wet and handsome but slow-drying. My backcountry skiing pal did a parallel test and he agrees.

The big bonus is how easy it is to launder this stuff. On the road, hand wash with Woolite, roll it up in a towel then lay it out to dry. At home, throw it in your front-loading washer and set it on wool or delicates. Don’t put in in the dryer. At room temperature, the thinnest layers will be ready to go in a matter of hours. You’re done. Now get out there.

When in doubt, Woolite