I’m a sucker for merino wool just about anything. It washes up nicely, wears for a very long time, doesn’t itch, and doesn’t get the weird smell that synthetics and synthetic blends can have after a good sweaty workout. I was psyched to pick up a couple of little extras for an upcoming trip to Antarctica (I’m blogging for TravelWild) — a headband, some glove liners, and a pair of super fluffy socks.
A headband takes up hardly any space in your luggage (or on your head, for that matter. I suffer from cold extremities — my ears complain a lot when I’m cycling on even slightly chilled days. The Icebreaker Quantum Headband fits well under a bike helmet, a baseball cap, a knit cap that doesn’t cover quiet enough, or a perfectly ridiculous exhibition hat. Essentially, it’s a base layer for your head.
The Glove Liners have fast become a favorite piece of gear. They keep the chill from getting at my fingertips right away, but — and this is a key benefit for me — they’re cut tight enough and light enough that I can work all of my camera controls without taking them off. (No, you can’t work your touch screen gadgets with them on.) They take up next to no space either — they fit in the wallet pocket of my jacket. My biggest fear is that I’m going to lose them because they’re so small, but I’ll be keeping an eagle eye out — they’ve become an essential piece of gear in my cold weather kit.
I like a big fluffy boot sock as much as the next person. The Mountaineer Mid Calf is a cushy, warm, well designed sock with thicker padding where you’d expect to want it, a bit lighter material where you don’t. While they’re a bit bulky in the bag, they felt great inside my wellies on a cold day — definitely worth giving up space for if you’re heading somewhere cold.
New Zealand based Icebreaker makes other high quality outdoor gear out of merino wool. Get yours on Amazon: headband, 19.99, glove liners, 25.00, socks, 18.95.
#1 by Janelle - February 4th, 2011 at 22:27
I just hope I don’t turn into a zombie like that woman at the top if I wear that headband!
#2 by Spencer - February 6th, 2011 at 17:36
Perhaps not the sexiest piece of fashion but these are a must for anything wanting to hike in Montana!
#3 by J - February 7th, 2011 at 23:41
What are the advantages to glove liners as opposed to just a good pair of gloves? I have a warm pair of gloves that are too tight to have anything underneath. If I were to need to add something to them, I’d return them to REI (<3 to their return policy) and pick up a warmer pair of gloves.
For me, there are two stages to gloves: need, and not need. I don't really understand "slightly need" as hands can go naked, unlike bodies.
#4 by Tim - February 8th, 2011 at 08:38
J, I think the idea is that it’s hard to do some things with bulky ski gloves: zip and unzip zippers, adjust goggles, press the shutter release on a camera, or to take a whiz in the woods. But if it’s 10 degrees outside, maybe you don’t want your hands to be bare until you’re bellying up to the bar in the lodge. I get what you’re saying though; I hardly ever use liners myself.
#5 by Pam - February 9th, 2011 at 09:55
Tim’s absolutely right. I shoot a lot of photos and it’s hard to do with gloves on. Combine that with the fact that I get cold… glove liners are, as I said, thin enough to work the camera controls and still keep my hands warm enough so I’m not miserable.
If you don’t get cold or you’ll only be barehanded for a very short period of time, you don’t need them. But I recently shot a ton of pics in a very cold National Park and I was sorry I didn’t have those liners.