Icebreaker is a trusted brand that delivers time and again on travel wear for my outdoorsy self. Every time I review an Icebreaker product, I can feel sure it will be high quality, live up the hype, and be both stylish and performance-savvy. Icebreakers base, mid and outwear layers are made with merino, which is perhaps the perfect travel fabric. It’s lightweight, soft, non-itchy, non-clammy, warm in the cold and cool in the heat, and manages to resist odor. Here’s what I’m checking out this fall.
Cardigan Sweater Pants:
These pants are exactly what they sound like. I’m wearing them as I type this. I’ll similarly be wearing them on my next long-haul flight. They are soft and breathable merino wool, and designed more like jogger pants than leggings. These pants are not skin tight, but they’re not baggy, either. You get a ribbed waistband with an external drawcord, and my absolute only complaint is that I find it hard to get the drawcord tight enough…these pants always fit me a little loose at the waist. But see above to my flight day plans…this is okay with me for the most part. When I’m wearing these pants, it’s because I want to be warm and comfortable.
They have a tapered leg opening and ribbed cuff bands to give them a finished, more tailored look than your average sweat pants, and the inseam is 31″ on the women’s medium. I would normally need a 28″, but since these pants are cuffed, it’s no biggie. Pick up a pair on Icebreaker for $150 in heather gray or black.
Momentum Hooded Pullover:
This hoodie is absolutely a classic. It fits loosely (in fact, my teenaged son has adopted mine, which is actually a women’s medium) and is both technical and casual. The wool wicks away moisture well, so this is your hoodie for a light hike or a jog, but it can also do fine with long stretches between washings on your next trip.
The patented Cool-Lite fabric is comfortable in warm to hot temperatures, so this hoodie can be a good cover-up even at the beach, and the hood has a drawcord for usability (not just for looks). You get a kangaroo pocket and dropped front and back hem for added coverage, making this hoodie perfect for pairing with leggings, too. Pick it up in XS-XL for $180. Yes, this is a steep price, but this classic hoodie will be in your closet for a very long time.
This mid-layer jacket is perfect as a stand-alone piece on chilly fall days (it keeps coming with me on my morning walks), but it’s thin enough to serve as an effective mid-layer under a puffy jacket or shell. I plan to wear this jacket while ski touring, because I know the merino will wick away sweat while remaining breathable, and it’s coming to Europe with me this winter too, because I know it will remain looking great even when it could probably stand a washing.
The fleece lining offers temperature regulation and the lycra built-in gives the jacket added stretch. The fold-over cuffs keep your hands warm when you don’t quite need gloves yet (or don’t want to dig them out of your bag) and you get a drop tail, which I always appreciate. This jacket comes in three colors: heathered gray, black, or a bright pink and fits snugly in size XS-XL. Pick it up for $225.
Cardigan Sweater Pants: