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Ibex Woolies
Initial Report by Rick Allnutt
PERSONAL BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Rick Allnutt
50 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 18 months, I have gone from being a heavy-weight (2 Duluth Pack) canoe camper to a three-season base pack weight of about 9 lb (4 kg) and skin out weight of 20 lb (9 kg). I have completed
eight ultralight section hikes on the AT with a total mileage of 228 mi (367 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: 4 April 2004
REVIEW
I opened the box containing the Ibex Woolies with great anticipation. I
had read the web site description of the Ibex long under wear and was looking
forward to find out how warm and soft the "superfine Merino wool"
felt. After all, these long underwear cost more than any other top or pants I
own.
Within minutes, they were on, against my bare skin. My, they are
smooth! I have worn many wool shirts and wool pants. Some of those wool
items were rough and scratchy. However, these long underwear feel good to my
skin.
They look good too. They fit against the skin like a set of bicycle racing
pullovers. The long sleeve top is designed without a seam on the top of
the shoulder. The wrists do not have any elastic in the cuff, but the
material is naturally stretchy.
Each garment comes with a hang tag identifying it as a baselayer.
"The first layer on and the last off so it has to be comfy." I
will do my best to test the Woolies this way, right against my skin. Other
times, the top in particular, may be worn over a polyester tee.
The bottoms have a piece of 1 in (2.5 cm) elastic in the waist, fully covered
with the wool fabric inside and out. A white tag is in the rear, helping
to identify the back from the front. There is no opening in the front of
the bottoms, increasing the utility of the garment as outerwear. There is
also no seam in the middle of the groin area. The designer thoughtfully
moved the seams to either side by inserting a diamond shaped piece of cloth 2.5
x 8.5 in (6 x 22 cm) in size. I will be paying particular attention to
whether this design detail helps to reduce chafing as the test progresses.
All seams are very well done, inside and out. All are reinforced and are
sewn so that the seam can stretch with the garment. There are no loose
threads. All thread ends have been trimmed expertly.
Each garment has a care tag which suggests either hand washing or gentle machine
wash and laying flat to dry or "tumble dry low (40 deg C)." For
Americans not accustomed to SI units, that is 104 F.
TEST PLAN
I will use the Ibex Woolies set in several ways:
- I will use them as a reserve and active layer defense against cold for the remaining winter weather.
- As the spring progresses, I will reduce my carried clothing to the short sleeve top and nylon shorts
(or a hiking kilt) I normally wear, the Ibex Woolies, and a rainwear top and bottom set.
- The Woolies will sometimes be worn as an under layer, and sometimes worn as an outer layer while hiking. 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.
The wool used to make these underwear is renown for not itching. I will certainly evaluate the feel of this layer on my skin, when my
skin surface is cold, or hot, or dry, or wet.
In April and May I will be able to test the Woolies on the cold tops of the southern Appalachians. Wind and altitude enhanced cold, along
with the moisture of being "in the clouds" of the Smoky Mountains will give the
Ibex Woolies a real challenge.
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. But 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.
I look forward to the testing months ahead. Thanks to BGT and Ibex Outdoor
Clothing for allowing me to participate in this test.
Read more reviews of Ibex gear
Read more gear reviews by Rick Allnutt
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