Reviews > Clothing > Underwear > Ibex Climacore Ribbed Woolies > Rick Allnutt III > Field Report

Ibex Woolies
Field Report by Rick Allnutt

PERSONAL BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Rick Allnutt
51 Year old male
6' 0'' (183 cm) in height
198 lb (90 kg) in weight
Chest size is 44 in (112 cm)
Waist size is 40 in (102 cm)
Inseam is 34 in (86 cm)
Email address: ra1 (at) imrisk (dot) com
I live in Dayton, Ohio

BACKPACKING BACKGROUND
Over the last 24 months, I have gone from being a heavy-weight (2 Duluth Pack) canoe camper to a three-season base pack weight of about 11 lb (5 kg) and skin out weight of 20 lb (9 kg). I have completed many section hikes on the AT in all four seasons, with a total mileage of nearly 450 miles (725 km). I am an ultralight hiker, a gearhead, a hammock camper, and make much of my own equipment.

PRODUCT INFORMATION
Manufacturer: Ibex Outdoor Clothing, Inc.
Year Manufactured: 2004
Manufacturer's Link: www.ibexwear.com
MSRP: $52.50 (top) $50.00 (bottom)
Listed Weight:  top - 7 oz (198 gm); bottom - 4.5 oz (128 gm)
Measured Weight: XL top - 6.7 oz (190 gm); XL bottom - 5.8 oz (165 gm)
Review Date: 3 June 2004

REVIEW
For a detailed look at the construction of the Woolies, it would be helpful to review my Initial Report.

Lying here in the AT shelter, as the thunderstorm passes, I feel the cold draft of altitude-super-cooled air, blowing around me. I have wrapped my feet in my down quilt, but the maroon colored Ibex Woolies top is just perfect for keeping me warm in the moist air.

Even though daytime temperatures have been going above 80 F (27 C) every day, this evening the red column on my thermometer is not quite reaching 50 F (10 C).

That weeks-ago planning, which resulted in my carrying the Woolies up all those climbs, seems especially well thought out now. With a self-satisfied and smug glance, I look down at my wool covered arms and chest. 

It is not only for this use I carry the long underwear base layer. I have used at least the top, every evening of the past ten days on the trail. Some nights I have slept in my hammock with nothing over me but the Woolies. But, with or without additional cover, every night they have been my sleeping garment. 

Comfortable against my bare skin, with not even a little scratchiness or itch, I look forward to the evening change into my night gear. Just thinking about the change out of my day clothes makes me relax and close my eyes. As I sit here looking at the evening fog gather, I feel my eyes getting sleepy, sleepy, sleepy.

I have carried other long underwear in my ultralight kit. But none of them have given me the tactile pleasure of the Ibex Woolies. Against my skin, the Ibex product feels good, and feels natural, and feels like luxury. (I once sat in a leather upholstered Mercedes sports car - these "high end" long underwear give me some of that same emotional-tactile tingle.)

Perhaps it goes without saying, but to be very clear: the workmanship of the Woolies is superb and has stood the test of several hikes, including a continuous two week trip on the Appalachian Trail. There have been no loose threads, no unraveling seams, no irritating knots digging into my skin. Nothing except exceptional comfort. 

The Woolies have been washed by hand in the field with Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Soap, rinsed in cold spring water, and dried on a line or on my body. Even when moist, they continue to provide warmth.

I chose to receive top and bottom of different colors. This arrangement has worked well when searching through my clothes stuff sack. I would choose to do the same again in a heartbeat. 

The Ibex Woolies have earned a permanent place in my 4 season ultralight pack list. Try to take them out of my pack and put them into yours only over my dead body. 

TEST PLAN for LONG TERM
-As we enter fall weather, I will use them as a reserve and active layer defense against cold. 
-The Woolies will sometimes be worn as an under layer, and sometimes worn as an outer layer. I will not be breaking through brush with them as my outer layer, but they will be seen by other hikers on the trail.

This plan will allow me to evaluate the Woolies for warmth, perspiration wicking, speed of drying, ease of washing, and ability to keep me warm even when wet.

In the 3 months of summer, the long underwear will mainly be carried on AT section hikes to ward off the cold of early morning, while coffee and oatmeal are cooking. Soon after beginning a hiking day, they will be stripped off and mainly appreciated for their light weight. 

As the fall approaches, and temperatures here in Ohio dip into single digits, these underwear will become my skin surface line of defense against the cold, while hiking, and while doing cold weather experiments on hammocks and other new camping gear.

Reviews > Clothing > Underwear > Ibex Climacore Ribbed Woolies > Rick Allnutt III > Field Report