Best brands for comfortable sweaters / jumpers?

A snowHead

I've been on my fair share of ski holidays, but never really owned anything that was exceptionally comfortable to ski in. Well, I have a season lined up, and so I'm wondering what are the cosiest tops people here have worn under jackets? I'm especially interested in wool, as I hear again and again that it's the best common material for ski clothing, but I've always found wool to be a bit itchy.
Would never really spend more than £30 on a top, so nothing too high end or exotic please.

A snowHead

Icebreaker Merino base (sorry - might not fit you budget, but is the best base I've used)
Arcteryx Atom Coreloft mid layer (definitely doesn't meet your budget!))

You get what you pay for. If you're doing a season, might be worth spending the money.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

@cailian, Wool? Is that to match your tweed plus fours and leather boots? Puzzled

You do know about “layering” don’t you?

Almost any “200” weight fleece will be a good mid layer but a more important question is what your outer layer is?

Wool is useful if you are likely to get wet and vastly superior in that regard over cotton. But you wouldn’t see me skiing in either. (Nor getting wet).

You need to Login to know who's really who.

Just get a fleece top, maybe a size up so its loose.

People recommend merino wool for a base layer, but i prefer burton baselayer. You can pick them up on sale often cheaply if you don't mind mixing instead of matching tops and bottoms. There is a burton sale on atm.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Decent merino base, something like Mons or icebreaker. Doesn’t get stinky and stays warm when it’s wet. Easy (in Nz at least) to pick up cheap in sales.

I have just bought in end of season sales a polartec alpha direct mid layer. Have used it the last two days and it’s really good. Yesterday in some brutal wind and snow under a goretex shell, kept me toasty and more importantly not clammy on 8am to 4pm non stop pow laps. Wore it today on its own in sun and wind, and kept me ridiculously warm considering how light it is. Skinned up 800m vertical and wasn’t sweaty either. Weighs 350 grams and packs down small.

Considering it cost me 100bux, I’m very happy with it - swung by the shop on the way home today and bought the other half one.

You'll need to Register first of course.

Decent merino wool base layer (needs to be decent as the cheaper/coarser fibres can be itchy) - Norrona's online outlet has top and bottoms for €40/piece atm.

Re jumpers for mid layers, any standard fleece will do the job. If you pay more you'll get something a bit more breathable and technical ((or heavier duty for reeeally cold days), but you probably won't notice much real world difference between that and a cheapo fleece (unless you're hiking a lot - or out in -20°C, but then you'd just add another layer if need be).

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

I'm a big fan of Decathlon. Base layers starting from €5 a pop, plus fleeces for not much more. I don't like wool as I find it too itchy. Most countries have Decathlon online/mail order if you cannot get to a store.

After all it is free

I haven’t found any merino base layers that don’t make me itchy. Which is a shame.

I always wear merino base layers and don't find them itchy, but some people have more sensitive skin. I've also got a merino wool mid layer, but don't use it for sports. The main reason for this is the weight – when compared to my usual fleece top, it is a lot heavier, and as it would usually spend half the day in my bag, the lighter one is better. The fleece will also dry really quickly. The main difference I can tell between the cheap and pricier ones, is the styling. Functionally, they are pretty similar.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

Helly Hansen have a life/merino hybrid base layer (Warm Ice I think) which is the best ski garment of any kind I own. Seems not to deliver any itch and on a spring day is all I wear under a shell jacket (on the top half for those of you sniggering at the back)

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

@cailian, wool, ah, that takes me back. I still have some beautiful wollen jumpers but would't consider them for skiing - far too heavy. Wool has a reputaion for being warm when wet but that is only really in comparison to cotton and other natural fibres. modern man made fibres are really so much better: warmer, lighter, dry quicker, longer lasting and cheeper. However, you will not get that lingering wet dog smell as the wool dries. A reminder of my youth.

snow reports

@johnE, I have two Norwegian oiled wool jumpers I bought in 1977. I still sometimes wear them when I go fishing on my boat; 43 years on. I think I've had my money's worth out of them. wink

@Awdbugga, It must be me but I tend to wear the elbows out. 43 years is probably a good life span.

You know it makes sense.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Thanks to everyone who offered a genuine answer! Ended up getting Icebreaker merino wool bases - seem to fit fine and cope well with cold on a hike, hopefully should be fine in the alps too

Help!!

Best brands for comfortable sweaters / jumpers?

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