Our Layers and Systems – IBEX

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Our Layers and Systems

Proper layering involves careful consideration of where you’re going, what you’re doing, and how the weather may change. Our layering systems allow you to mix and match to find the right climate for your comfort. Not sure where to start? Here are the basics.

How to Layer Merino Wool

Much of layering is pretty intuitive, and in time you’ll learn exactly what works best for you, your body, and your outdoor pursuits. Merino layers work well as a team, reinforcing one another’s properties.

underwear

You want all of your next-to-skin layers to be made of merino, which is super-soft, has natural stretch to hug your body, and wicks moisture when you sweat. Merino boxers, briefs, bras, tanks and tees also dry fast when you’re traveling or camping and need to wash them by hand on the fly.

Baselayers

Base layers are your primary insulating layer, and they come in many different styles and weights so you can choose what works best for the activities you’re doing. You want a heavier layer to provide more warmth for colder days and less intense activity, and lightweight layers to help you shed heat on hot days and while you’re working hard.

First Layers

First layers are your do-it-all pieces. These are tops and bottoms that can be worn on their own, or over base layers on colder days when you need a little extra warmth. They range from lightweight, short- and long-sleeved tees that help keep you cool and protect you from the sun to heavier knits that can stand alone on a chilly fall day.

MidLayers

When you need extra insulation, you’ll want to add one or more midlayers to your outfit, or at least have them handy in your pack if conditions turn colder than expected. These layers can be worn over base and first layers and can take the form of lightweight pullovers and cozy zip-ups.

Outer Layers

This ultralight puffy is filled with a proprietary merino wool insulation, keeping your body temperature regulated for peak performance. Layer over our base and mid layers for optimal performance and breathability.

Material Weight

All of our products have a fabric weight listed on their page.

GSM stands for grams per square meter, and is a standard measurement for fabric weight.

Why Wool is the Ultimate Performance Fiber

next-to-skin comfort

Merino wool is particularly well-suited to this challenge, as its fibers are ultra-thin and super-soft, so it hugs your body like a second skin and feels comfortable and smooth, unlike your Grandpa’s scratchy wool sweaters.

moisture-wicking

You may have heard the old adage that “cotton kills in the wilderness.” It’s not an exaggeration. Cotton holds onto your sweat, which can give you a chill—or, worse, hypothermia—if you get caught in the cold without sufficient layers to keep you warm. That’s why a lot of technical outdoor apparel is made from wool, which wicks moisture from your body and pulls it away from your skin so it can evaporate.

Thermoregulating

Wool also regulates your body temperature almost as if you were the sheep it originally belonged to. In warm weather, it helps keep you breezy and cool. And in cold weather, it holds onto your body heat, even when it’s wet. If you get stuck in the rain or if you’re unlucky enough to plunge a foot into a frigid river, your wool baselayers and socks will still trap your body heat and prevent you from getting too cold.

WHEN YOU HIT THE TRAIL, START COLD

When you’re setting off on the trail on a cold morning, the best thing you can do is start cold. If you’re all bundled up and cozy when you hit the trail, you’ll start to sweat immediately once you get moving, which means you’ll have to delayer to manage your temperature. To avoid getting sweaty too soon—which, again, can be a safety risk if you’re in a cold place—start with fewer layers than you think you’ll need.

Always Be Prepared With Extra Layers

Often, if you’re hiking on a mild day, you might not need anything else over your midlayer. But it’s always good to be prepared. Regardless of where you’re going, what you’re doing, and what you expect the weather to be, you should always have spare layers in case you stumble into a freak storm, temperatures drop, or you get lost and have to hike into the night. We recommend carrying an ultralight waterproof jacket or windbreaker that packs down small enough that it’s silly to leave it behind.

New to This? Don’t Sweat It

If you’re new to hiking and camping and building a layering system from scratch, it’s OK to take it slow. There’s no one exact right way to layer, and that’s kind of the point—you want a set of pieces you can mix and match to the exact circumstances you’re heading out to. So go ahead and experiment. That’s at least a good excuse to get out and adventure more, right?