Icebreaker - Pure Merino

When I heard I had won a merino cycling top from the Travelling Two website I was pretty excited.  I have been a big fan of merino for the last few years, but tended to stick to thermals for skiing and using it in sports where I wouldn’t get too sweaty, so I was intrigued to see what a cycling top would be like.  The parcel soon arrived and inside was an Icebreaker SS Halo Jersey.  On first impressions the fabric seemed quite thick (200 weight) so I thought it would be good for winter riding – I was living in the Austrian Alps at that point.  But then I wimped out of doing much <0 deg.C riding so the testing never quite got going…

Since mid May 2011 I have been doing a bike tour around the western part of the USA; going from desert and temperatures above 30 deg. C in southern Utah, to mountain passes over 3,700m and with snow banks 5m high in Colorado.  The merino cycling top has performed brilliantly in all places – it does what Icebreaker says it will: it keeps me cool in the heat and warm in the cold.  I have two short sleeve riding tops with me on this tour and I reckon I wear the merino top five days a week.  Normally I try and rinse it out at the end of the day, but I have gone five days without it seeing a drop of clean water and it hardly smelt.

I am really pleased with this top and I think having this one, in combination with a lighter weight (and quicker drying) top, is perfect for me.  If I was doing a trip with just one cycling top this Icebreaker SS Halo top would be the one for me.

- Helena, Icebreaker Fan

“I just completed an unsupported trekking traverse of the Himalayas this past week.  The hike was over 2,600 kilometers and a whole lot of elevation gain and loss, at least the equivalent of summiting Mt. Everest over 20 times. I hiked from the easternmost 8,000 meter peak to the westernmost 8,000 meter peak averaging about 40km per day and hiking for the past three months.

Thanks to Icebreaker merino I  was able to wear the same baselayers for the entire trip only washing them out in creeks and rivers, never even using soap!  Three months, 10-15 hour hiking days through hot and humid and cold and snowy, and using only 2 shirts and 1 pair of boxers!”

- Justin Lichter, Icebreaker Athlete

Icebreaker ambassador, Mark Campbell visited our Montreal TouchLab last week  and talked about his own running adventures at our Montreal-NYC run event. Below he shares with us his thoughts about the run and the crew.

I am back at home in Nova Scotia after a trip to the kick-off for an Icebreaker-sponsored running adventure from Montréal to New York.  The two teams, organized by Montreal trainer group Esprit de Corps are a diverse bunch and include former NHL tough guy Georges Laraque, who has taken on a new role as an enforcer for positive change and goodwill.  The run raises funds for Esprit de Corp’s charity helping disadvantaged families experience outdoor adventure. I was inspired by the runners’ positive energy and it was great to see first-hand a partnership between a company like Icebreaker and cause. It was also great to meet the Icebreaker crew who are without exception, dynamic and amazingly friendly.

Many in the Montreal-NYC group have made life changes and trained very hard to be able to accomplish this challenge. I was invited to present a bit of my own story of going from out of shape, unemployed and without purpose, to becoming physically active and involved in many projects and charities – in particular the Brigadoon Kids Camp for chronically ill kids.  Years ago, I had an epiphany about how my own activities were really me “playing”, and how many people and kids never get that opportunity. I decided to try and help others find opportunities to discover that same joy.  You don’t have to be a superhero to have a great impact: I feel we are all blessed with our own superpowers and using them for good, enriches our lives. The Montreal-NYC runners are definitely some of that breed.  I was honoured to meet them and spend a little time with them.  Good luck, enjoy the experience, and thank you. You definitely don’t stink!

- Mark Campbell – Dartmouth, Nova Scotia