Icebreaker sources high-quality merino wool from New Zealand’s Southern Alps, spinning active layers well-suited for adventures in those very same rugged mountains. Not only do Icebreaker’s BodyfitZONE base layers and MerinoLOFT insulated midlayers have a sustainable storyline behind them, but they’re also some of the best we’ve ever tested.
The wooliest of alpine creatures, merino sheep are evidence that, try as we might, humans can’t always beat Mother Nature at her own game. First of all, merino wool adapts to changing temperatures and fights odor much better than its synthetic imitators—which also happen to be significantly more flammable. Plus, the fleecy merino is lighter, more comfortable and dries more quickly than your run-of-the-mill wool.
This isn’t speculation; it’s science. And while the Active Junky team hasn’t spent much time in a lab, we’ve put in enough cold days of testing Icebreaker layers to attest to these claims. [Editor’s note: Except with regards to flammability—we’ve yet to set our base layers on fire, though we’ll keep you posted if anything changes.]
Put it under the microscope, and Icebreaker’s fabric of choice beats out synthetics and conventional wool. Look at the entire brand through an environmental lens, however, and you start to see that it’s about more than just the wool: it’s about where the wool comes from.
Every Icebreaker garment begins its journey high in the mountains of New Zealand with a mob of merino sheep. By signing long-term contracts with small-scale farmers in the region, Icebreaker is able to promise financial security to the farmers while enforcing a strict welfare code that protects the sheep and the surrounding ecosystems. This welfare code ensures that sheep are:
Even the sheep dogs are treated with high regard—after all, they are some of the hardest working and most valuable employees on a free-range sheep farm. And just how big is an Icebreaker sheep farm, you ask? A far cry from industrial, the average sheep station has 15,000 sheep roaming across a 40,000-acre expanse. That means every sheep has a couple acres to itself, and they actually can “display normal patterns of behavior” as they would in the wild. It also means that overgrazing doesn’t decimate the delicate ecosystems of New Zealand’s picturesque Southern Alps. Phew.
The care shown for animals and farmers continues to flow through the Icebreaker supply chain. Factory standards are high and company goals are transparent: workers are paid and treated well; child labor is prohibited; manufacturers are required to minimize environmental impact and recycle whenever possible.
These ethical business practices do more than good for the supply chain: they also guarantee a high-quality product for the consumer.
The brutal truth of the outdoor industry? It doesn’t matter how sustainable your story—if your product is subpar, gearheads will write it off as impractical.
Quality is essential. That, however, is one area that Icebreaker doesn’t need to worry about.
Countless outdoor enthusiasts – from skiers to cyclists – swear by Icebreaker's excellence. In addition to the magical properties of merino wool, they cite longevity, thoughtful design and overall functionality as reason enough for four seasons of loyalty to the brand.
Over the past six months, Active Junky gear testers have had Icebreaker’s new base layers and midlayers on the chopping block. Testing scenarios included: climbing couloirs in the Valle Nevado backcountry at 14K feet, trekking across Patagonia’s iconic alpine terrain, mountain biking snow-streaked peaks and skiing frigid early season conditions in Colorado’s ruthless high country.
In the new BodyfitZONE line, Icebreaker optimizes the temperature regulating properties of merino wool. The base layers mainly consist of a 200gm blend (96% merino, 4% lycra) that adds warmth, while panels of a 120gm blend (85% merino, 14% nylon, 1% lycra) dump excess heat and moisture. The lighter 120gm fabric is reminiscent of mesh: when you hold a panel up to the sun, you can see rays penetrate a perforated pattern that augments ventilation.
Best For: All-season versatility, multi-sport trips, skiing and snowboarding
Best For: Skiing and snowboarding, backcountry travel, multi-sport and/or multi-day trips
Best For: Any snowsport or cold-weather activity
Best For: A midlayer in changing conditions, a 4-season breathable insulator