John Hughes wearing an SIR jersey made by Woolistic. Victor Gallo photo

Wool is one of the most comfortable materials for cycling clothing. You can wear it from the coldest temperatures up to 80+ degrees and be happy with appropriate layering. You can stay warm even when it's wet. Although expensive, wool clothing lasts a long time when well cared for. One of the best characteristics is it almost never smells—no more polypro stink!

Fifteen to twenty years ago, most cycling jerseys and shorts were wool. If you hunt around you can find wonderful old team jerseys, many of them rather scratchy.

Here's a primer below to help with your search for wool. Most of it isn't cheap. A typical jersey is around $90, tights are $100+ and leg warmers are $45. A lot of high quality wool underwear available in various thicknesses; a typical midweight long-sleeve top is $60. In some cases I hesitate to call it underwear because it's nice enough to wear around town.

Most wool clothing is hard to find, in fact you'll probably have to order it to try it on. Wool clothing is even harder to find on sale. The clothing is pretty plain, usually just a couple of solid colors though still quite nice looking.

How do you care for wool? Caring for wool is easy since most of it is machine washable now (just be sure to air-dry it!). Choose a soap worthy of wool—Ivory Snow Liquid works really well. For more tips go to www.seattlerandonneur.org/info/woolcare.html.

When you search for wool, check out how much wool is in the clothing. Wool has started to become a buzzword and some of the new stuff is a wool blend.

Now that you know what you're in for, here's what's available and where to get it. Good luck in your search for some of the best clothing out there.

Ibex
www.ibexwear.com
Summary: An American company in Vermont. They have really nice stuff though pretty pricey. Their website has good information about wool and its history.

• Price: Probably the most expensive stuff out there. Some of it is in line with other cycling clothes, some of it is way out there.
• Where to buy: You can buy Ibex at their website. Occasionally REI Outlet and Sierra Trading Post have some. I've occasionally seen a few pieces at REI, but you really have to look.
• What do they sell: They sell almost everything cycling- and outdoor-related: arm warmers, leg warmers, knee warmers, 3/4 tights, tights, long- and short-sleeve wool jerseys, vests, jackets/windjackets, and underwear.
• Quality: Top notch!
• Softness: The clothing is pretty soft while the jackets and vests are a little rougher, but they aren't next to your body either.
• Tips: Get their stuff on sale during their twice-yearly end-of-season clearance sale. Many items are 40-50% off.
• Cons: The sizing can be odd at times. Their lineup changes from year to year so it's hard to recommend something from a year ago or to get it again. Also the jerseys can have weird pocket angles, or no pockets so check it out first.
• What do I have: I have an equal mix of cycling clothes and general wear clothes.

Portland Cyclewear
www.portlandcyclewear.com/home.html
This is one of the best new sources of wool jerseys! I looked at their stuff at Interbike and it's pretty well done and not that expensive (in the $70 range for a jersey). They specialize in custom/team orders complete with embroidery!

Woolistic
www.vintagevelos.com
Summary: A really, really nice brand from Italy, aka Alessandro.

• Price: On the upper end.
• Where to buy: Vintage Velos. You'll see some custom jerseys (e.g. Seattle International Randonneurs, Palo Alto Cycles, River City Cycles)
• What do they sell: Long- and short-sleeve jerseys, trainers, underwear, socks, headcap.
• Quality: Awesome—some of the nicest and heavier stuff available.
• Softness: Great!
• Tips: None
• Cons: Takes awhile to get custom jerseys!
• What do I have: Couple SIR jerseys

John Hughes wearing a Bouré jersey. Victor Gallo photo

Bouré
www.boure.com
Summary: Bouré in Durango, CO, makes high quality cycling and Nordic skiing clothing.

• Price: Fairly reasonable
• Where to buy: At their website.
• What do they sell: Wool underwear, socks and skull cap.
• Quality: The wool clothing is made by Woolistic, which is very high quality.
• Softness: Woolistic quality.
• Tips: None
• Cons: None
• What do I have: Bouré cycling vest and shorts, although none of their wool clothing.

Smartwool
www.smartwool.com
Summary: Mostly known for their socks though they have some underclothes as well.

• Price: Not as pricey as Ibex, but still a minimum of $60 for underwear.
• Where to buy: You'll have to search various websites to find exactly what you're looking for. Most places don't carry the full line.
• What do they sell: Socks, gloves, underwear, outdoor clothes.
• Quality: Top notch!
• Softness: Their stuff is really soft!
• Tips: Rarely seen on sale except socks at Sierra Trading Post. Most of the underwear looks good enough to wear around town.
• Cons: Their stuff used to be more than 80% wool, but some of it is now closer to 60-68% wool, so check each item.
• What do I have: Socks, gloves, a few pieces of underwear.

Craft
www.craft-usa.com
Summary: They make popular lines of cycling and athletic underwear and recently added a few wool items.

• Price: Unknown
• Where to buy: Any local shop that gets stuff through Quality Bicycle Parts (QBP) should be able to get it. Otherwise, search the web.
• What do they sell: underwear
• Quality: I'm not sure.
• Softness: Unknown.
• Tips: None
• Cons: Wool seems to be a niche, and not their regular thing.
• What do I have: None

DeVold
www.devold.com
Summary: A Norwegian company than makes clothes and underwear. They are just starting to make in-roads in the US.

• Price: About average.
• Where to buy: A few items at Rivendell.
• What do they sell: Underwear at least. Their website is in Norwegian so I can't tell what else they have.
• Quality: The items I've seen are top notch.
• Softness: Awesome.
• Tips: Could be a hidden gem in the world of wool.
• Cons: Not much to say.
• What do I have: One short-sleeve base layer that's wonderful.

Rivendell
www.rivbike.com
Summary: The retro-grouches of the world. They have really helped to bring wool back into style.

• Price: Some of the best-priced stuff available.
• Where to buy: At their website.
• What do they sell: They have some clothing under their own brand name of Wooly-Warm (which seems to be dying) and a few random items they get here and there. They have long- and short-sleeve jerseys, arm/leg warmers, tights, and head bands. They also sell some DeVold clothing.
• Quality: It varies depending on the item, but usually above average. The Wooly-Warm stuff isn't as heavy as some others.
• Softness: Again, it varies, but usually above average.
• Tips: Get it while you can. Once it's gone, it's usually gone for good.
• Cons: Inventory is inconsistent. The one jersey I have tends to stretch a bit.
• What do I have: Arm warmers, jerseys, headband.

Kucharik
www.kucharik.com
Summary: The original wool clothing company in the US—they go back a long way.

• Price: Fairly reasonable
• Where to buy: At their website.
• What do they sell: Everything bike related: jerseys, tights, shorts, arm/leg warmers.
• Quality: I have one pair of leg warmers and I'd call them medium quality.
• Softness: The one pair of leg warmers I have aren't soft, but not itchy either.
• Tips: None
• Cons: My leg warmers have shrunk a bit.
• What do I have: Just the leg warmers.

Icebreaker
www.icebreaker.com
Summary: A New Zealand company that makes really nice clothing.

• Price: Pretty well up there, especially considering the exchange rate.
• Where to buy: Not sold in the US. Here's one New Zealand dealer: Run 79
• What do they sell: General outdoor clothing and underwear, but nothing bike specific.
• Quality: Awesome!
• Softness: Some of the best out there!
• Tips: The website has good descriptions of different thickness and layering. Lots of great colors.
• Cons: Other than price and trying to find it, none. You'll just have to order it and hope it works.
• What do I have: Quite a bit. I was paid for cat-sitting for eight months with Icebreaker clothing.

Salsa
www.salsacycles.com
Summary: Salsa is one of the brands of QBP.

• Price: Average
• Where to buy: Any shop that orders from QBP.
• What do they sell: Jersey, arm warmers, leg warmers
• Quality: I saw these at REI and the quality was above average.
• Softness: The item I saw at REI was not soft, but not itchy either.
• Tips: None
• Cons: You have to order it to see it.

Surly
www.surlybikes.com
Summary: Surly is one of the brands of QBP.

• Price: Average
• Where to buy: Any shop that orders from QBP.
• What do they sell: Black wool jerseys.
• Quality: Unknown.
• Softness: Unknown.
• Tips: None
• Cons: You have to order it to see it.

Windsor
Summary: A Canadian company that makes lightweight wool underwear.

• Price: Relatively inexpensive.
• Where to buy: Occasionally Sierra Trading Post; otherwise I'm not sure.
• What do they sell: Lightweight wool underwear.
• Quality: Decent.
• Softness: To me, it's on the slightly itchy side.
• Tips: None
• Cons: Hard to find, not well known.

Pearlizumi
www.pearlizumi.com
Every once in awhile, Pearlizumi makes wool tights. If you ever see them, get 'em-they are the best wool tights I've ever had. About 10 years ago, they made a wool jacket—haven't seen it since though.

Sportwool
A 50/50 blend of wool/polyester used by Bellweather, Zoic, and a few others. Ok stuff. Keeps you warm though mine is starting to get their polypro stink a little.

Swobo
www.swobostore.com
Ah—one of the originals. A small company in San Francisco that made some of the best wool stuff in the US. They went under a while ago, but you can occasionally find some stuff on ebay. They are supposedly making a comeback as their website is active again. For more information, see: http://bikemag.com/news/newsarchive/051805_swobo and http://www.santacruzbicycles.com/news/index.php?NewsID=0104.

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REI
www.rei.com
Summary: REI has added a line of 100% Merino wool tops and bottoms to their MTS brand of underwear. The Seattle store is loaded with them! They are really nice and several great colors! They are still in the price range as all other wool though. If you search the REI site for wool, you'll find a few more wool clothing items as well from REI and others.

DeFeet
www.defeet.com
They sell some nice wool socks in various thicknesses.

Sock Guy
www.sockguy.com
You've seen all the cool designs The Sock Guy does, now he can do them with wool as well! He has basic socks in wool or you can custom design wool socks.

Spot Cycles
www.spotcycles.com
They have a few wool items but I don't know anything about them.

Santini
I've seen them at the Seattle Bike Expo, but don't know where to get their stuff and don't know much about their stuff. I think it's only 80% wool, but I'm not sure. They also have heavier cycling sweaters which are really nice. You can also order custom jerseys.

Ebay
Search for wool under cycling stuff. A big mixture, but some cool old designs.

Other
I also know people who get cheap wool sweaters from Target or such and just use those. There are a few European companies starting to make wool clothing though I wouldn't expect to see much of it in the US.