Long hikes through the rainforest, epic ski days that leave your face kissed by the wind and a permanent smile on your face, a long paddle that inspires your soul and tires your body.  These are the moments where we discover ourselves.  The wrong clothing can keep you worried about staying warm and dry, where the right layers allow you to enjoy your adventurous lifestyle in comfort.  I set out on a search to find the perfect outdoor attire for women with the question, “Where do fit, function and fashion meet when it comes to women’s performance outdoor clothing?”
On my search, I came across many synthetic fabrics (polypropylene, etc) that claimed to be the most wicking or most breathable around.  I have experienced some of the down sides to many of these fabrics, causing me to wonder if there really is a performance material that can wick moisture away from the body, provide breathability and insulation all at the same time.  I have had fleece ball up after minimal use, and synthetic base layers develop a smell after an hour of hiking.  Craving a fabric that would leave me free of these frustrations, my search ended when I found none other than the natural fiber…WOOL.  Turns out those first mountaineers were right. 
The old wool provided great insulation, along with a lot of itchy experiences.  The new wool is as soft as cotton, with no itch factor.  Forget the itchy feel of a bulky, square cut sweater, and say hello to wool that is soft and cut for a woman’s body.  As far as comparing this wool with a similar weight synthetic, all I can say is that it outperforms in every aspect.  (The major one being that due to the natural anti-microbial properties of wool, the stink associated with synthetics is completely lacking in the wool.  Translation…pull it out of your dirty laundry at the end of your outing and no one will know the difference). 
We all know that wool is a great insulating material, but what most people don’t realize is that it is also very effective in temperature regulation.  Because wool pulls moisture vapor away from the body and stores it in the core of the fiber, it keeps you warm in cold weather and cool in warm weather (acting the same on you as it did on the sheep).  Dressing in wool from the base layer outward keeps your body temperature at an even keel, eliminating the need to shed and add layers.  Wool is also able to hold 30% of its weight in moisture before it feels wet, meaning that you feel drier longer, no matter what the conditions are.
Ibex, (a Vermont company that produces wool clothing in the USA), uses super fine merino wool to create deliciously comfortable and stylish garments from base layers to outer layers. Ibex’s wool definitely fits the function and conquers the fashion.  These garments will outlast any other item in your wardrobe by three times, as wool fibers are more durable than cotton or synthetics.  And great colors never hurt.  The dyes used in creating Ibex wool will never fade…deep red will stay deep, and black won’t turn gray, even after years of machine washing.  Yes, that’s right, machine washing…(I even throw mine in the dryer with no problem).  Whether you need women’s boxers, a feminine cut hiking shirt, or an outer layer jacket; I highly recommend Ibex products.  So, for all the miles you log, the trails you explore, and the places yet to be discovered…don’t forget to bring along your wool. 

Source: www.ibexwear.com