 Poster: A snowHead
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You might be intertested in this source as well ... I picked up some great Icebreaker bargains which I couldn't get here .... less than half-price! from bivouac in New Zealand. Great people to deal with ... free postage, no hassle - just got my delivery & without any taxes this end! (Don't know if I was lucky, or whether there aren't any)
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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2seasons have them half price at the mo too
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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BernardC, why did you have to go and do that - now I've just gone and spent a load of money 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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BernardC, which Icebreakers did you get from the NZ site out of interest?
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That's a very kinky picture with the sheep, and the sheep-girl, isn't it? Which garments do those in the know recommend for skiing - base layer.
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pam w, The jury is out....IMV..some say Merino doesn't dry out as well/quick and I favour this POV.. so I only run Merino as the base on very cold days..
I always use a Micorfleece rated around 100 as a base and then vary the mid layer to account for temp variations. I think this is good down to about -15. I'd put the Merino ( as a 4th layer ) below -20. That is my thinking and works for me...so you would haver to know how you run with the kit you have... All my microfleeces work like that for me...so no surprises/varables there...I just have to get a temp check in the day.
If I am easily too hot walking to the lifts I will have got it wrong...and I prefer to run cool anyway...
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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pam w, JT, when I first bought some sets of thermals I bought Helly Hansen Lifa and I must admit I have found them to be absolutely excellent. I bought Helly Hansen because 1) a friend of mine at the time whose husband was in the army said he wore Helly Lifa when on duty because it wicks when it needs to and is warm, plus they used to ski quite a bit and swore by them and 2) at about £25 a time per top/bottoms they were a bit more reasonable than the other brands, plus I think I managed to get some in the sales for a bit less than that. 
Subsequently I saw an Icebreaker Bodyfit 200 top I liked the look of and some Bodyfit 200 leggings and so I tried them out to see what the difference was, having heard a lot of rave reviews about merino. I didn't find the leggings as warm as my Helly Hansen stuff I must admit and they did look thinner material because I could see my skin through them ever so slightly. The top was lovely and comfy but I felt chilly in it because my back felt wet in the Icebreaker and that didn't happen in my Helly's.
What I have found them to be good for, is for when it's a very cold day and I want to wear two tops or two bottoms, the Helly's are a bit too snug fitting on me to put one over the other comfortably so I've been wearing my Icebreaker top and bottoms as a sort of mid layer over the top of my Hellys if you like instead of a base layer. It has to be pretty cold for me to be doing that though, normally I just wear the one pair.
Thing is, each to their own and I know some people swear by merino, I did prefer the Helly's as I say but it does depend from individual to individual. I've since bought some North Face ones to try as well and they seem like they're going to be comfortable, lovely and soft they are and the leggings in TNF range are as flexible as a pair of 40 deniers and look like that too. Time will tell. I can try them in Tignes pam w and feedback to you on the spot.
Also-some might think I'm mad but I wear my Helly Lifa's whether it's chilly Dec/Jan or warmer Mar/April. I find them ever so comfortable and wicking if warm outside/warm if cold outside, whatever the weather I've got them on. Plus my salopettes are more comfortable with a liner underneath
Oh, pam w, a good tip I've found-I always wear a wicking sports bra and wicking sports style (not the usual M&S cotton briefs for example) under my Helly's. Reason being, a BASI instructor I met once who used to sell Patagonia stuff years ago told me that there's not much point wearing wicking thermals of any kind if people wear their usual cotton pants/boxers underneath them. Either don't bother at all or wear proper underwear that wicks. He was so right about that I found in my experience. I got some cheap fiver each Lowe Alpine's short style ladies briefs in the sales reduced from £15 a pair  and they're blinkin' marvelous, no cold lower back for me anymore! So I'm glad this guy told me that. They're not the sort of briefs I would want to be wearing on a day to day basis mind, only for outdoor sports/skiing.
If I only went skiing once a year though, I wouldn't spend as much money on all this stuff. But with the quite high amount of skiing I do now I find comfort to be of upmost importance.
JT, now onto you, now have I read it right that you wear the 100 microfleece as the base as in next to your skin? I've got a North Face TKA 100 fleece top (is this the same as what you're talking about?) and it wouldn't feel right to me having that on instead of a Helly first? Is that what you do then? I'm a bit puzzled as to what you meant.
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pam w, JT, on the subject of wool though, I do find that Smartwool are the best ski socks I've found so far, lovely and comfortable, very supportive and padding on the shins and ankles. Completely non smelly although I do wear a fresh pair everyday mind, and Falke are really good too in my experience with the padded bits. Wouldn't buy anything else in the sock department now I've found those two brands.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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pam w, depends on how hot/sweaty you are and where you ski and how ..... my mates who are all backcountry guides and spend up to a week at a time in the snow and whatever clothes they are wearing or can carry with them ALL wear Icebreaker... They swear after a couple of days of 24 hour wear you appreciate it...
The whole layering system you wear is important though... any cotton layer anywhere will tend to create a chill layer - I even made a mistake with a large cotton hanky just under my goretex shell which held moisture and then the chill condensed the moisture in it... and goretex shells work best if the layer under them holds moisture in fine vapour still....
In a colder climate breathability is less of an issue than in OZ - in Oz you will chill from the wind and your sweat very quickly - so breathable and adjustable is the aim... I rarely need to think about this in Colorado (except spring)...
I'm going XC skiing next week and will probably just wear thin body layer icebreaker and goretex shell if needed
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You know it makes sense.
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VolklAttivaS5,
Yes, that is right, 3 layers does me for most temps... so 100 micro, a midlayer Velocity jacket or Monkey man 200, which is the warmer of the two, and a packlite shell.
If really cold I'd put an icebreaker as the base to make up a 4 layer sys but never have to do this. I carry the icebreaker in the pack ..just in case.. and I find the pack makes a difference to the overall of my clothing.
All this has been worked through and thought out over the years and it works for me. I prefer fleece as a wicker over Merino but that is just personal preference. People could use this thinking to devise their own layering system but each person would run at different temps, so would have to fine-tune.
Some of my tops have poor-ish thermal qualities if used on their own ( the Velocity jacket, for example) but when used with other wick layers, really start to warm up collectively. You might have to play around to find what works best for you
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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| pam w wrote: |
| That's a very kinky picture with the sheep, and the sheep-girl, isn't it? Which garments do those in the know recommend for skiing - base layer. |
I bought some Icebreaker thermals last season. I skied on warm days and very cold ones. On all of them I wore the merinos. ONly on a damp warm April day with deep heavy snow on the pistes did I feel warm in them, but I wasn't sweaty.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Helen Beaumont, yeah that is what I find... I feel the cold and often layer up a lot.... but I don't usually feel too hot nor sweaty in my icebreaker...
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I should have said that I never felt HOT in them. I was always a comfortable temperature, even though in the past I have worn about four layers under my ski jacket.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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VolklAttivaS5,
I don't often get the layering drastically wrong so I have never had to put the icebreaker on on the hill... The situation I envisaged would be if I REALLY needed that extra warmth layer and therefore I would just have to put it on in whatever circumstances there were at the time. I don't say I don't feel the cold but I have my little system and it works comfortably from about -5 to -20 maybe... If it is really cold at the top, I'd cater for that with the fleece 200..which is real toast machine layered.
I would aim to be not too hot and not too cold...so keeping the body temp manageable most of the time. In the event of really working hard...like a boot pack or something, then cool down the other side, and then carry on. I don't want to run too hot or too cold so being able to regulate with pit zips etc is good.
MY polar 100's are designed to be worn next to the skin and I use about 4 for the week. All are efficient and work... and more importantly, I know in what temps they work for me..
I use polartecs 100's as I know what that warmth level means to me..and I buy like for like kit. If they weren't around the same as my best garments, then I would have binned them ages ago.
It is no real secret, you just have to work out what works for you in the context of what you do and you might have to put a bit of testing and maybe trial and error time in.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I was very disappointed as I was all ready to invest in Icebreaker this winter but having gone to MK Ellis Brigham to try the sizes of the verious styles and weights of Icebreakers tops I was glad I did cos the arms are all wayyyyyyyy to long for me even with the thumb thingie 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Linds, I know what you mean. My top isn't an Icebreaker one though, it's a trekmates one , and yes the sleeves are still too long.........
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Linds, Helen Beaumont, hmmm yes, my Icebreaker hasn't got the thumb loops-ooh couldn't bear to put my thumbs through there anyway-just wouldn't "like" it but anyway, yeah the sleeves on my Bodyfit 200 are really long as well. 
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VolklAttivaS5, I quite like the thumb loops, as it stops the draught getting up your arms when it is cold and windy. Only trouble is the sleeves wrinkle up inside my jacket then. Come to think of it, my new jacket has really long sleeve (and thumb loops) too. perhaps the Dragons would like to lend some of us the cash to start a new ski clothing line for pixies.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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VolklAttivaS5, I find them quite comfortable, but it's a bug when you get them in your dinner.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Helen Beaumont, don't you get your thumbs out when you're having your dinner?
Last edited by snowHeads are a friendly bunch. on Sun 31-08-08 19:05; edited 1 time in total
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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VolklAttivaS5, I forget sometimes 
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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VolklAttivaS5, they are no worse than having your fingers in a pair of gloves. I do usually remove them at lunchtime, I just forgot the first time I wore the thing. Normally just turn the things back to shorten the sleeves and use the ones on my jacket instead.
Bones, sandwiches are normally eaten with the fingers.
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Poster: A snowHead
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VolklAttivaS5, I know what you mean, I feel a bit that way about hats, I absolutely hate them. It was pleasant to discover that helmets are actually more comfortable/less annoying than hats, for me anyway, though I'd much rather ski bare-headed.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Hurtle, I hate hats with a vengeance, and haven't found a helmet I'm comfortable with either. None of them fit my head properly,usually they are too big, but kids hats, are well, too childish. I had a nice one that fitted me, and I left it in a restaurant in Les Arcs.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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FAQ
.... you are saving money ...... 
) I have relagated my HH to cycling to work but even then if I've been sweating and I don't change out of it right away I will feel a bit chilly, something I never feel with the Icebreaker.
