icebreaker tops comfy?

scoobs

04/03/2006 at 12:19

Am i the only person in the world who finds icebreaker tops unbearably uncomfortable? I bought a 260 slalom crew and whenever I put it on I turn catatonic!
Did I buy the wrong weight? (I'm quite thin, and the 200 makes me look like Freddie Mercury did in Bohemian Rhapsody, so I paid some small deference to looking cool, I admit!)
Will it be better after washing?
Help!

Peewiglet

04/03/2006 at 12:28

Mine's always been very comfy: it's the lighter one, but I don't know whether that's the reason.

I'm sorry to hear you're wriggling! As you say, maybe things will improve after a wash?
(And if not, just email me for my address. Waste not, want not! :-)

Edited: 04/03/2006 at 12:29

ptc*

04/03/2006 at 12:29

The first washing should remove all the little loose fibres from manufacturing. I think washing it along with a sturdier bit if kit helps this.
The 260 wt is really warm, it would give me prickly heat climbing a hill, and be soaked with sweat, great for less active stuff in the cool though.
I wear 200 wt all year round and have no problems at all, yes it's a spray on fit but it performs all the better for it. Anyway, you're on the inside looking out so it's not offensive :o)

SuperKat

04/03/2006 at 12:49

I used a 200 weight one in +30C heat in Spain and was increadibly comfy.

Having said that I tried on one of the heavier weight ones in the shop and found it a bit hot and itchy. I think the heavier ones are better left to layer over the thin ones for extra warmth rather than right next to skin.

scoobs

04/03/2006 at 13:24

thanks for that everyone, I think I'll return it for lightweight one (sorry peewiglet!) as the reason I wanted one was to minimise what I take on camping trips, and any other fabrics will def smell manky after a hike up a hill!

ptc*

04/03/2006 at 15:10

Harder to find but just as good are the Smartwool tops and boxers. The fabric comes in similar weights but the lightweight is less stretchy and a bit softer. I alternate between Icebreaker and Smartwool long sleeve zipnecks, but always use the Smartwool boxers or longjons, the lack of stretch means they don't ride up.

scoobs

04/03/2006 at 16:41

cheers, i still can't believe i'm the only one that has a problem with merino wool though.I feel the cold more than average and am into lightweight hiking, so i thought these would suit me perfectly. Have to stick to good old powerstretch tops I suppose.

druidh

04/03/2006 at 16:53

Any recommendations then for a 200-weight long sleeved merino top with a zip neck??

ptc*

04/03/2006 at 16:57

Smartwool lightweight zip t, the neck is high.
Icebreaker mondo zip, the neck is lower.
Other details as above, but the fit is different as is the construction, seams are in different areas, so some might irritate and others won't.
Both have good body and sleeve lengths. I'm usually a large, but I wear a medium in both of these tops.

druidh

04/03/2006 at 17:02

cool - thanks.

Away to look at online prices.

Daytona

04/03/2006 at 17:23

No, you're not - the Icebreaker Skin 200 range made me itch so I sent them back - http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/forum/forummessages/mps/UTN/6766/URN/2/dt/4/srchdte/0/cp/1/v/1/sp/

It seems as if around 5-10% of people itch when wearing merino.

scoobs

04/03/2006 at 18:00

thanks D, from reading that looks like smartwool may be better - it's got to go some to be more comfy than powerstretch though

Richard Middleton

04/03/2006 at 19:23

Comment made to me in a gear shop: Icebreaker uses a coarser wool in the heavier 260 weight than in the lighter 200 weight. So the 200 may not itch even though the 260 does. (By contrast, Smartwool uses the same fine wool in all clothes no matter what weight.) Of course that shop sells Smartwool not Icebeaker but it may still be true.

Edited: 04/03/2006 at 19:29

scoobs

04/03/2006 at 19:49

thanx Richard, there's hope for a me-and-wool combo yet !

SimpleSimon

05/03/2006 at 00:03

Splashed out the majority of my first wages on Icebreaker gear the other day. A long sleeve crew, shortsleeve, and a couple of pairs of boxers all in the 200 weight. The tops were mildly itchy the first time I tried them on, however I wore one the other day and it was fine after a minute or so, think there were just some loose bits... I am mildly disappointed, however, in that while the merino itself doesnt smell, I could catch the odd whiff of the moist body underneath from time to time!

john fitzpatrick 2

05/03/2006 at 09:49

I wear a Smartwool long sleeved blocked crew,winter/summer,i've never felt anything but totaly comfortable in it.

Can't comment on Icebreaker tops as i don't own one but from the sounds of Philly Gee's experiences with them i don't think i'll bother.

rewrite

06/03/2006 at 09:45

i live in icebreaker and don't find it itchy at all.

i use the 200wt long and short sleeve crew neck for 'activity' and live in the 190wt 'T-Shirt' design (you can't get them in the UK, but find some long-lost relatives in OZ to sort you out). i found the 190 to be perfectly cool while in melbourne in the middle of summer with days regularly reaching 37c.

wouldn't swap them for the world.

scoobs

30/04/2006 at 16:55

took delivery of a smartwool microweight top last week and have worn it about 3 times. The verdict...

...comfy as heaven

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