Posted: 3/20/2013 4:24:47 PM EDT
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Anybody have any experience with it? I can't decide on whether to purchase smart-wool as a base layer or go with something else such as underarmour, any advice or suggestions from previous/current users?
-Dep |
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My wife is now a convert. I’ve been using varieties from Icebreaker, Ibex, Smartwool, REI-brand and Stoic, another retailer brand. Smartwool is at the top and close to Ibex and Icebreaker. As a base layer, I’m a convert. I’ve used them in Afghanistan and now even wear wool T-shirts in the hot, humid condition of Georgia during the summer; from single-digit mountain weather to 100 degree and near 100% humidity conditions. Most fear the dual-edged sword aspect of wool; it insulates when wet, but takes forever to dry. The thinner base-layered garments dry almost as fast as most synthetics and even if they’re soaking you can dry them over a fire whereas you can’t with synthetics. My wife loves the feel of Smartwool and Ibex and she’s pretty picky and has never much cared for wool in the past.
You can’t go wrong and the price is worth the investment and performance. Don’t buy cheap alternatives (I’ll just mention the “Stoic brand) as they are not constructed to the same level of attention as the top tier versions and they just won’t last. I have Icebreaker, Ibex and Smartwool T-shirts that have been worn dozens to hundreds of times in the field and numerous washes without failure. Oh, and wool doesn’t smell like your granny’s panties after a couple days of sweaty field time either! ROCK6 |
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Quoted:
My wife is now a convert. I’ve been using varieties from Icebreaker, Ibex, Smartwool, REI-brand and Stoic, another retailer brand. Smartwool is at the top and close to Ibex and Icebreaker. As a base layer, I’m a convert. I’ve used them in Afghanistan and now even wear wool T-shirts in the hot, humid condition of Georgia during the summer; from single-digit mountain weather to 100 degree and near 100% humidity conditions. Most fear the dual-edged sword aspect of wool; it insulates when wet, but takes forever to dry. The thinner base-layered garments dry almost as fast as most synthetics and even if they’re soaking you can dry them over a fire whereas you can’t with synthetics. My wife loves the feel of Smartwool and Ibex and she’s pretty picky and has never much cared for wool in the past. You can’t go wrong and the price is worth the investment and performance. Don’t buy cheap alternatives (I’ll just mention the “Stoic brand) as they are not constructed to the same level of attention as the top tier versions and they just won’t last. I have Icebreaker, Ibex and Smartwool T-shirts that have been worn dozens to hundreds of times in the field and numerous washes without failure. Oh, and wool doesn’t smell like your granny’s panties after a couple days of sweaty field time either! ROCK6 I'm not even going to ask how you know what your granny's panties smell like 
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Quoted:
Quoted:
My wife is now a convert. I’ve been using varieties from Icebreaker, Ibex, Smartwool, REI-brand and Stoic, another retailer brand. Smartwool is at the top and close to Ibex and Icebreaker. As a base layer, I’m a convert. I’ve used them in Afghanistan and now even wear wool T-shirts in the hot, humid condition of Georgia during the summer; from single-digit mountain weather to 100 degree and near 100% humidity conditions. Most fear the dual-edged sword aspect of wool; it insulates when wet, but takes forever to dry. The thinner base-layered garments dry almost as fast as most synthetics and even if they’re soaking you can dry them over a fire whereas you can’t with synthetics. My wife loves the feel of Smartwool and Ibex and she’s pretty picky and has never much cared for wool in the past. You can’t go wrong and the price is worth the investment and performance. Don’t buy cheap alternatives (I’ll just mention the “Stoic brand) as they are not constructed to the same level of attention as the top tier versions and they just won’t last. I have Icebreaker, Ibex and Smartwool T-shirts that have been worn dozens to hundreds of times in the field and numerous washes without failure. Oh, and wool doesn’t smell like your granny’s panties after a couple days of sweaty field time either! ROCK6 I'm not even going to ask how you know what your granny's panties smell like
Granny aside, he's right about the scent control. I can wear wool socks for 3-days strait without any noticeable funck. Can't do that with anything else. All I wear is wool socks now. Even my kids are stealing them to use in the winter. Likewise my wife now cherishes the smartwool I got her. We both wear them for jammies in the colder months. A good silk base-layer is nice too in combo with a wool mid or top-layer. For Extra cold activities I'll wear the silk+wool base layers. I went hiking today in about 25-F temps, 15mph winds and Wet snow for about an hour. Was comfy as a clam in my silk bottoms, merino wool top, and Columbia Gellatin Wool bibs + Jacket. I alwys sweat when hiking but the wool keeps me comfy and well thermally regulated. Never had a chill. Btw- you find that Columbia Gellatin wool at very good clearance prices this time of year. I got my bibs almost 1/2 off at Cabela's last month. http://www.cabelas.com/product/Home/Columbia-3x-Points%7C/pc/105625080/c/112559580/Columbia174-Gallatin-Range8482-Wool-Bibs/753778.uts |
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Quoted:
I'm not even going to ask how you know what your granny's panties smell like
Ha! Both Granny's are all long gone, but both would have gotten a kick out that. My wife was proving to her co-teacher about the funk-fighting properties of wool and wore the same pair of Smartwool socks to school for a whole week...
ROCK6 |