My Wooly Tale: Wool Sweater vs. Windbreaker
 

I'm not sure what convinced me to try a new way--it could have been the clammy feel of the coat or its bulk or the die hard woolies on this website--but I gave the wool sweater a good run for the money this fall. No, I'm not trying to run for Mayor of Bike Forums ;)--I just wanted to see what would work and it's limitations.

I was very skeptical, given the basic problems with a sweater when compared to a coat. My Helly Hansen windbreaker has velcro straps and the sleeves, a vent in the back, bungie type adjustments at the waist and bottom, and adjustments at the neck, which can be done while riding, and I really like this coat. The wool sweater has none of these--just some ribbing at the ends of the sleeves and the waist. It's not long, either, so it could come up on my back as I bend over to assume my riding position. Plus, it seems that the wind would just come on through.

So, I shopped a bit, to expand my wool collection, and bought three wool sweaters at Goodwill (it seemed silly to buy new when I just wanted funtionality). Two are merino, which are the best (not only softer, but it seems to block the wind better than the other). I had one wool sweater before, plus two cashmere sweaters, only one of which I'd wear bicycling (the other one is too nice).

I wore the wool early in the fall and immediately liked it. I tried it when it got colder--I just added a tee shirt (over or under, depending on its and the sweater's fit), and still liked it. I don't sweat nearly as much as I do with the windbreaker. Plus, it seems to work over a pretty good temperature range.

So, I bought a pair of wool gloves to go with it. My plan was to try it on a chilly rainy day and see how I did, as I know it still retains warmth when wet. I've come in to work 2 or 3 times in a slight rain wearing this, and I like it. It's easier than using the rain cape and works much better than my "water resistent" windbreaker. I just wish I owned some wool pants (besides those that go with a suit).

This past week, given the impressive warmth I've felt, I tried it again. This was stretching it, as it's been in the low to mid 30's when I leave for work. Clearly, this is beyond the capabilities of a sweater!

Yep, it is.:o My neck got too cold and my trunk, while not freezing, felt the drafts. Yeah, I could have worn a think bacalava and might have made this work, but today, I put my windbreaker back on, with two tees under it, and I was just right. But, I'm wearing wool socks, as I only have sandals to clip in with this bike, which I ride on sunny days. Plus, I found some wool and thinsulate fingertip gloves, with a mitten top that comes over the tips, and love them.

In the future, I plan to use the wool down to approximately 40 deg. F. :D

I've had wool in my closet for a good while now unused. After moving from Midatlantic region to Socal i haven't had the need. I decided to use it riding this month and it is definitely much nicer than a jacket. I sweat so easily that a jacket leaves me dry on the outside and wet on the inside so it's kind of a waste.
I'll be scoping out some cheap Merino alternatives as well.

I never thought of that, I have switched to wool socks all year all day long, and wool jerseys on the bike. I don't know why I never tried wool before this year. It's like some magic fabric.

I had lots of foot dryness/sweating and odor problems for years which I was taking all sorts of things, even steroids for. The wool socks cleared it all up. wow.

Way back in scouting they kept telling us to wear wool socks but we wouldn't because they were too scratchy. With all these new wools (and now that I can afford better I suppose) there is no scratchiness.

The funny thing is all my sweaters are cotton, i have no wool ones. I'll have to hit up some thrift stores before it gets too cold and try it.

I'm in NYC which is usually warmer than Cleveland (Go Jets).
But Wool is my go to winter gear except when the temps start at 10-20 degrees, then maybe a wool base layer.

It is Important to know that wool can be different as night and day so understand a few things:
a) Thickness of stiching
b) Weight of Thread
c) Quality of manufacturer

A tighter sttich/weave will block wind and keep you warmer
A heavier thread will do the same and keep you toasty warm like a HEAVY sweater should
The wool should NOT be too baggy or loose on you.

Check IBEX and they can explain what the difference is from a 150 to a 325 weight sweater or jacket.
I wear 230 weight base layer with a shortsleeve 300 weight jersey for 37-50 degrres. If its's windy I use a Standard vest with a mesh back. I commute 23 miles EACH way and it does the job. It has been really
windy lately so at times it's a bit challenging. If I wear a wind breaker I tend to get too sweaty which is always an issue with me.

Good Luck

Wool, wool, wool. If I could afford it, everything in my cycling "closet" would be wool.

I do, however, have a killer Descente jacket I got for a great deal on bonktown last winter. And it does repel the rain pretty well. But breathability sucks. If I wear a good wool base layer, it usually isn't an issue, but the baselayer will be drenched because even with the built in ventilation, it just doesn't move air fast enough.

I need to hit some more thrift stores for wool sweaters. I hear about you guys finding killer merino wool stuff in thrift stores, but every time I go, it's usually no wool or old school scratchy wool.

I'm in the all wool all the time camp. Not sweaters, just smartwool shirts, alone or w/ a coat as conditions require. Below 20F I need 2 shirts (usually T + long-sleeve) and close the pit-zips on the coat, and I'm good to go (seldom out for more than 45 min). In the summer it's just a t-shirt

I don't get the sweater thing. Too much fabric.

When the temps get colder you need something to block the wind. In our current lower-mid 30ish morning temps, I use a wool/poly blend LS base, poly ss shirt and my J&G wind jacket with the huge pit zips. When it gets colder, I'll swap my ss poly mid layer for a merino wool sweater and wear some wool longies under my wind pants. My gloves are windstopper too.

Merino wool sweaters can be quite thin.

Wool, silk and cashmere. Diff weaves and weights. Layer as needed and throw on a wind/water proof shell as needed. Works great for outdoor activities all winter long.

In college decades ago I wore a beautiful wool turtleneck on really cold days (down to 0F). I had purchased it in Denmark - it was hand-knit with undyed unbleached wool from beige or brown sheep. The wool had a high lanolin content so it was relatively water-resistant. It was kind of scratchy and too hot to wear indoors so I put a [cotton] turtleneck under it. My bike rides were very short commutes so I was not riding more than 30 minutes at a stretch. I also had a "snorkel parka" on top so I was still toasty during snow and wind. It must have been a sight.

When I moved to TX, the movers "lost" the box my winter clothes were in. I did find an actual wool sweater in a thrift store here once, but most sweaters around here are cotton. I had a comfy 33F drizzly 2-hour ride wearing that medium-weight sweater under a cycling rainjacket with rain pants over cycling tights. Then I made the mistake of drying that wool sweater in a clothes dryer, which shrunk it from XL to XS.

Wind/water proof shells ... the jury's out. They do keep the you cleaner (roadsplat) and pack small. Pit zips help a lot. As long as I'm moving they will keep me warm even though I'm sweating underneath. But when I stop pedaling, I still can get very chilled very fast.

Wool socks rock. I had a very comfortable 2 hour ride wearing DeFeat Blaze wool socks with my Keen bike sandals starting in low 40's F temps. It was much warmer than synthetic or cotton socks in my ventilated too-snug MTB shoes.

Thin, yet still warm. I have a nice one from JA Bank's that was $34, about half the price of a Smartwool, and yet it's nicely made and looks great.

I don't know why this is, but I don't plan to buy Smartwool (even though I own a pair of their socks).

The ones from the thrift store are a better bargain still--duh!

More wooly tales--

I've worn these sweaters all fall and they don't stink. I've worn the one grey one ~15 times--no stink! :love:

It gets better... don't read on if you are easily disgusted..:o:twitchy:. I'm wearing the same wool socks for the third time this week. No smell! Love it!:lol::twitchy: (yes, I'll wash the socks soon. not sure when I'll wash the sweaters.)

Watch Target for their Merona branded merino wool sweaters too.

I had one from Target last year. It looked like crap after three or four wearings--it just pilled up badly.

Alas, my wife washed and dried it without my knowledge so now it would fit a 4 year old, which is just as well.

For me, the main advantage of wool is lack of stink. I wear my merino base layer for a couple weeks of everyday riding without washing it and still no stink. However, if synthetic fabrics didn't stink after 30 min of exercise I'd use them instead. They're lighter, more durable, don't absorb as much water, and are cheaper. When it's 50 and raining I usually wear a wool baselayer and 100 weight microfleece sweater (synthetic). The dense knit of the sweater blocks a good amount of wind and sheds water pretty well. If it gets colder I add another layer in between.

Spring is the time to pick up sweaters at the thrift. Hard to find this time of year. I have a wool cap that covers my ears that I LOVE. it looks like it is covered with frost when I get into work from how efficiently it moves the sweat. I have a red Merino sweater I picked up for $3 at the thrift. By far my favorite for the 40's with a base layer tech fabric compression shirt. for as light as it is I'm toasty warm and feel reasonably dry.

check out TJmax and AJ Wright for cheap wool sweaters. I got some there for 14 bucks, they have held up remarkably well and they have a zippered collar so you can protect ya neck. I wear them all the time riding and in the big freezer at work. The sweater and a tshirt is all i need until the temp goes below freezing, then I add some time of poly long sleeve base and thats good for me until it dips below 25

Geez...?? 29 bucks for a 100% Merino Wool Sweater? And I can get it in an XXL? What's the catch? Not all 100% Merino Wool is the same? It does say Dry Clean Only, but I'm assuming if I put my wash cycle on Handwash and then hang it up to dry, that should be okay? "thdave" does it just pile up like a cheap fleece blanket over and over again, or did one good wash stop that?

I was wondering if location was a factor. I guess because it doesn't get really cold here, us Texans generally don't know how to really do winter clothing. This would explain the lack of wool in the thrift stores I usually find.