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Ice Breaker Merino Wool clothing

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Saturday, 02 June 2007

Is that a pair of clippers in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?

Warm in winter, cool in summer and strangely odourless

I've done a fair bit of travelling in my 'meteoric' 35 years, from a trip around Australia as a teenager to numerous trips overseas for work. I've survived the chilly temperatures of Northern America, tasted the dry heat of India and have been saturated by the tropics of various countries in the Pacific Ring. I've spent winters in Tasmania and summers in Darwin. And of course, I've also lived in Melbourne for more than a decade - a place where all these extremes can come in a day. So by now I have a pretty good idea of what kind of clothing is the most appropriate for my upcoming trip. Yet considering the fact that I plan to follow the sunshine as much as possible, I think some people would raise their eyebrows at how often the label 'Ice Breaker ' appears within my soft-luggage wardrobe.

Made from Merino Wool, Ice Breaker clothing comes in the form of base layer garments (such as thermals) to shirts, t-shirts, sweaters, jackets and even beanies and socks. These range from a 150g/m2 thickness right through to an impressive 380g/m2 for the heavier garments. The Icebreaker labelled items I'm taking along with me is an assortment of all of the above. I don't see myself using long johns under many normal circumstances throughout my travels, but I do see myself wearing them under my relatively thin neoprene pants on the kayak from time to time. This was a job I use to relegate to polypropylene thermals but later learned that the Ice Breaker stuff does it better - and with a lot less stink (back to that point in a moment).

Even though I'll be following the sunny weather to the best of my abilities, there will be days that some warm clothing will be useful. I don't plan to carry much, which is why I plan to carry good stuff that can be relied upon. Thats why I included a heavy duty Ice Breaker Landa jacket into the fray, as well as a Pocket 320 beanie. I've also got a couple of t-shirts (of alternative weight), a sweater, a tank top and even a pair of boxer shorts.

Ice Breaker climate control

I know what you're thinking and no, I'm not sponsored by Ice Breaker either. Merino wool might sound like a crazy thing to be wearing in warmer climates but one of the standout qualities of the Ice Breaker range of clothing is that while they do a fine job of keeping you warm when it's cold, they're also pretty good at keeping you cool when it's warm. The thing about merino wool - especially the merino wool used in Ice Breaker clothing (which is sourced from the Southern Alps in New Zealand) is that it breathes really well.

Perhaps the most amazing thing about Ice Breaker clothing is that as if somehow by magic, this stuff just doesn't develop a smell. Not even after being worn for 48 hours during a gruelling 2-day hike, or being worn underneath a wetsuit for 12 hours. I know how ridiculous it sounds, but it's true. And the convenience of not having to wash clothing too regularly will prove to be a big advantage while travelling. You can read more about Ice Breaker clothing core benefits on this page.

If there's anything to dislike about Ice Breaker clothing, it's the price. It's rather expensive to say the least. Sure, Ice Breaker is one of those products that will leave you appreciating the quality long after you forget the price... but I haven't forgotten the price of any of my Breakers yet and I reckon it'll be a while before I do. At the end of the day I'm still confident that will all bring me value for money, however.