Icebreaker Clothing – from the Southern Alps of New Zealand

Icebreaker clothing is pure 100% New Zealand merino wool clothing - warm, comfortable and fashionable. Icebreaker’s soft fibres are breathable, odour-resistant, easy-care and non-itch, and buffer the body against extremes of heat and cold. Icebreaker garments can be worn solo or layered with other Icebreaker pure merino pieces to create a fine, breathable system.

The world leader in its field, Icebreaker has created an outstanding range of outdoor apparel and accessories for men, women and children using this merino wool. This range of clothing is sought after the world over and most will agree, once you try Icebreaker you'll never go back to your man made outdoor clothing.

The Merino wool fibre is simply incredible. Inspired by nature - Icebreaker merino was created by nature to protect the animal in the harsh environment of New Zealand Southern Alps. To survive his extreme mountain environment, the New Zealand merino has a thin coat in summer and a heavy coat in winter. If his coat didn’t breathe in summer, he’d die of heat exhaustion. If his coat didn’t insulate in winter, he’d die of cold. Icebreaker couldn’t design a better fibre – in fact, they didn’t want to. They saw their role as turning this fibre into a clothing system that enabled another species – us - to return to the mountains with a freedom to push their limits.

Icebreaker merino forms a buffer zone around your body, keeping you at an ideal temperature in all climates and conditions. It’s also lightweight, odour- resistant and soft against the skin – all qualities that will help you to perform at your peak.

The individual fibres breathe as well as the fabric. It is 100% natural - finer, softer, more insulating, and more breathable. The term 'hands down winner" was probably coined for this fibre. Just as the merino wool insulates the sheep against extreme conditions it will do the same for you. Merino wool is much finer than traditional wool and is technically more complex than man made synthetic fibres. Merino fibres are water resistant, however it can also absorb and release up to ten times more moisture than synthetics leaving the wearer constantly warm and dry. All Icebreaker garments and accessories are easy care machine washable, or alternatively dry cleanable if you prefer.

To see Mainpeak's range of Icebreaker products click here

LAYERING SYSTEM

Simple observations yielded breakthroughs. Icebreaker noticed that the merino sheep is shorn in summer, and is left with a thin layer that breathes in the heat before the animal bulks up for winter.

That was the trigger to develop the world’s first merino wool layering system.
When you layer your Icebreaker, the fibres lock together and feel as if they are one garment. This unique layering system designed by Icebreaker is your secret to dealing with changing climates. A single Icebreaker protects you from the sun and still keeps you warm at night. Layer 2 or 3 pieces and you have a lightweight system that not only moves with you as though you are wearing one garment, but breathes in its entirety. Merino wool also shares the same building blocks as human skin – keratin. This is one of the reasons why Icebreaker feels so good against your skin. It’s the keratin in Merino wool that also makes Icebreaker naturally fire resistant.

ABOUT WEARING MERINO WOOL

Icebreaker clothing isn’t scratchy, it doesn’t itch and it is easy to take care of. So easy, that Icebreaker suggests washing them with your blue jeans! They are sustainable and are made by a company that is very environmentally and human rights conscious. Every effort is made to ensure that this translates into eco-friendly and human rights oriented business practices. Your Icebreaker fibre feels better because Icebreaker use the best superfine merino in the world, from the mountains of New Zealand. Compared to yesterday's yarn that comes from sheep that can’t hack the highlands, is heavy, prickly and hand-wash only and synthetics where breathability is limited.

To see Mainpeak's range of Icebreaker products click here

FASHION

A constant emphasis on design and innovation means styling and colours are up to the moment fashion wise, which means your Icebreaker can take you from the mountain to the street.

SUMMARY

So, why Merino wool?

Because Icebreaker merino fibres are so fine, they are naturally more breathable, so you stay cool in the hottest conditions. It feels very different to synthetics where breathability is limited - no clammy feeling.

- wind resistant
- highly breathable so moisture vapour escapes
- liquid moisture is pulled away from the skin and released as moisture vapour
- warm air is trapped between the layers
- warmth is trapped in air packets within each layer

Because wool offers the best heat management, hands down. The tee shirt worn on its own, wicks moisture for summer comfort, and insulates when used as a base layer in the winter. The fibers used are only the softest, combed to perfection and spun extra fine for an incredibly soft fabric that is truly elastic and drapes beautifully. The quality is consistent because Icebreaker don't buy the wool on the open market, choosing instead to build a relationship with a select group of growers ensuring the same breed lines produce the same excellent wool year after year

At the end of the day, what it boils down to is that the Icebreaker range is too good not to try. Start with one and see how you go...one piece will never be enough!

To see Mainpeak's range of Icebreaker products click here