As with all things, there can be a bit of a learning curve when discovering the most appropriate gear for comfort and performance in the outdoors. For instance, it took me a few years of avid backpacking before deciding that down sleeping bags are far superior to synthetic. Around that same time I realized how much better my merino wool socks performed than all my others, not to mention their soft, cozy feel. Upon making such discoveries, a backpacking buddy and I used to take up the cheer, “Go Nature!” (Yes, we were dorks, and possibly hippies, but that was nearly 15 years ago. I’m sure things have changed. A little.)
Given such insights, it was only a matter of time before I discovered the benefits of merino base layers over that of synthetic. It wasn’t until recently, however, that I learned for myself the very best of these woolen mavericks, Icebreaker.
Jeremy Moon and Friends
Icebreaker is a New Zealand based company started in 1995 by Jeremy Moon. He discovered the soft feel and high performance of merino wool, and wanted to create clothing that was both natural and high-performance—something that could compete against, and provide an alternative to, the petroleum based synthetics that dominated the market.
Aside from the luscious feel of the fabric and beautiful fit, the first thing I noticed was a little thing on the tag called the baa code. No, that was not a typo, and yes it’s a cheesy pun. Brilliant, no? By entering the baa code into the Icebreaker website, I found the group of farms raising the sheep that grew the wool for my particular shirt. It turned out to be from a group that included, among others, Irishman Creek Station. I loved that I could click around and see pictures of the station, the workers shearing the sheep, the location and the family who owned and operated the farm. There’s something pretty awesome, and humbling at the same time, about having that much knowledge of exactly where your clothing comes from. It feels like the next best thing to making it yourself, except of course the quality and performance is far superior to anything I could ever make.
In fact, the Icebreaker website is packed with information about exactly how and where their garments are made. From the sheep station to the ethics on manufacturing to their philosophy on animal welfare, the company gives you the opportunity to see the ins and outs of everything they are doing. Not only does this clearly display the ethics of the company, but it also makes you feel a little bit closer to the people creating the clothes that you love. When I see a photo of three generations working the family farm that produced my merino, I can’t help the warm smile it elicits. (But, as we’ve already established, I’m kind of cheesy that way.)
I tried out two different tops from Icebreaker, both from the Bodyfit 150 line. This is an extremely light weight merino, suitable for running in all seasons. My highlights for both tops can be summed-up as follows:
- comfortable and flattering fit
- wide range of temperatures for which they are suitable
- the “no stink” factor
The Dash Crewe
My short-sleeved shirt was the Dash Crewe. The moment I put this shirt on, I knew I was going to love it because (and here’s where I display my utter vanity), it looked great! I am truly picky about fit, and often find myself frustrated with “unisex” style clothing. The Dash was made to fit an athletic woman (thank you!) but with plenty of stretch in the fabric for those with a few more curves. It was also incredibly comfortable – as in, I barely noticed its existence while running. Could there be a bigger compliment for a piece of gear?
GT150 Shortsleeve Dash Crewe
This shirt was comfortable in temperatures ranging from 45 to 65 degrees, depending on the intensity of the workout. It also worked well as a layering piece under a jacket or windbreaker on colder days.
The Atlas Half Zip
The long-sleeved shirt I tried was the Atlas Half Zip. Normally I’m not partial to zip-necks in my running tops, but I found this one to be extremely effective in adding versatility to the top. Having the zipper up or down made quite a difference in heat loss or retention, and made the comfort range quite wide –about 20 degrees to 55 degrees, again depending on the intensity of the workout. I also loved this top for other aerobic pursuits in cold weather, like back-country skiing and skate-skiing.
My standard complaint about long-sleeved tops is that they are never long enough in the sleeves or torso. Have you ever run with a shirt that allowed a stripe of skin to appear between the bottom of your glove and the end of your sleeve? Those shirts go straight to the Goodwill. No such problems with the Atlas, though. Both sleeves and torso were a comfortable, practical and flattering length.
Here I am posing while totally trying to look like I'm not posing.
One of the biggest selling points for merino as a base layer is the fact that it doesn’t retain odors. If you’ve never had a merino shirt, you probably don’t understand how true this is. I mean it really doesn’t smell. At all. Do I smell? Yes. Does the shirt smell? No. This is great news for people like me who sometimes end up in stinky running clothes because we’re such laundry procrastinators.
In fact, have you ever read one of those high-end outdoor clothing catalogs where the product description says something like “wear it from climbing to clubbing,” and then they show the sexy-yet-athletic girl sending a V10 in her stretchy skirt and then having drinks with friends later? I hate that kind of marketing silliness. But still, I always wonder, does anything really work that way? So yeah, you guessed it – I tried it with the Atlas. Post-run, no shower, I traded the tights for jeans and headed off to a party. Good thing it doesn’t stink, right? And did I mention it looks good? The only comment I received was from my husband who felt that the neck could have zipped down a bit farther. (Yeah, I’ll be sure to pass that feedback on to the company: “not sexy enough.”) But aside from the lack of décolletage, it totally works for a night out if you live in a casual mountain town.
Possibly the one barrier to owning an entire closet full of Icebreaker clothing is the price tag. (The Atlas generally retails for $70.) Perhaps you’ve heard the phrase “you get what you pay for”? The clear reason to me for the higher-end pricing is that they are putting out an amazing product while trying to follow the highest ethical standards. The truth is, these shirts will last, and in the end that makes them much less expensive than a lower-priced item of inferior quality.
For myself, I love having a product that looks good, feels good, performs, and makes me feel good about how it was produced. Go nature!
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