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Wool – the base layer of choice for this Mountain Diva

I’ve been seeing some snow! That’s right, it’s starting to look a bit white up high. The temperatures are really starting to cool off up in the mountains, and a bit lower down in town the overnight lows sure to hit the freezing mark within the next couple of weeks. So what does this mean for an active mountain diva? It means it is time to start dialing in a layering system to keep comfortable during the cool evenings and mornings, but blissfully warm days of fall!

Early morning starts to go rip on the mountain bike or take advantage of the sending temperatures means you want to have a layering system that will keep you warm in the morning, but not over-heating and sweaty come mid-day. Equally important is staying warm on one of those grey, drizzly days you may be spending out with the kiddos on the football field. No matter the conditions, one of the best ways to structure a layering system for any fall weather is with wool.

In a base layer I prefer wool over synthetics or silk because it is moisture-resistant, extremely breathable and warm. And, unlike other synthetic base-layer products, it has natural odor resistance! Back in the old days, yes, wool was a scratchy, itchy fabric you didn’t want touching your skin. However, these days a finer merino wool blend is actually soft and surprisingly comfortable.

Ibex base layers are definitely my go-to choice this fall (NOTE: Ibex is a Verde PR client, the agency I founded and serve as president of). The fibers Ibex uses are so small that their products – even the under, under layers – are nice and soft. Ibex wool is also exceptional at drawing the moisture away from my skin. It pulls the sweat up and into the outer layer of the fabric where it evaporates, helping to keep my body temperature regulated even as the day warms up. This is especially great on long days when I’ll start putting the layers back on as the evening approaches, because you know there’s nothing worse than trying to get warm when you’re wet underneath it all; using wool as a base layer really prevents that from happening.

Wool is also perfect for keeping warm if you happen to get caught in a downpour without raingear because it can retain its insulation properties even when wet! It also has the ability to shed or resist water to some degree (like a mist, or light rain). So really, wool is a dual-wonder because it can both absorb moisture from the inside out, and resist water from the outside in.

However, one of the biggest benefits to the Ibex base layers is that when I get all the way down to wearing just that one base layer, it looks good! Ibex base layers have cute feminine cuts, and a variety of really sweet colors. Just look at the Woolies Crew Stripe in pinked vino rojo – how cute is that?! Or the Hooded Indie complete with thumb holes – perfect for keeping your hands and head as warm as your core!

Ibex base layers are also pretty easy to keep clean – they’re machine washable and are really good at repelling dirt when you’re out in the backcountry for a few days.

And of course, I love the fact that wool is a natural and renewable product!

Really, the only downside to structuring your layering system with wool is that it costs a bit more than synthetic. But, because of wool’s natural ability to keep out the funk, you won’t be looking to make a new base layer purchase for a while simply to get a fresh-smelling piece! So, given that along with the many other moisture-related advantages, make starting with a wool base the obvious choice for this mountain diva.