Woolpower - Zip Turtleneck 200 - Merino base layer

This is a brand I keep coming back to as it sets the bar.

I have raynauds so staying warm all year round and in most environments is a challenge.

I personally find them better looking than most other brands so you can get away with wearing them in more situations, than you can with other brightly coloured/logo'd gear, and work better with other everyday clothing, not just for the wilderness.

The long back is one of the first things I noticed when in use - no more exposed back when bending over or otherwise contorting. It's now something I look for in any purchase. Most 'trendy' brands fail in this regard.

I have other brands Helly Hansen workwear used to do a great merino wool 1/4 zip top which was warm, and long lasting, but their lifa stuff these days is not as warm or long lasting. Their regular trendy stuff used to have shorter backs and not be as hard wearing, not sure what they are like these days.

1/4 zip tops are essential for thermal regulation. Going from outdoors to in, or activity levels change.... I'm too old to want to deal with the discomfort and want an easier life.

Another surprising thing is the zip itself. Compared to other brands, it just actually works well. Big enough to get a good hold of, but not so big or with huge tags that it looks silly under a shirt. It actually does the job well without snagging or catching on the fabric. When zipped fully up, or left open, there are no hard edges to scratch your skin. 9 years and counting of regular, reliable use.

The high neck is great if you hate having a cold back of the neck, which can cause migraines. Even with the use of neck gaiters, the cold air will find any cracks to exposed flesh.

The knitting is quite open and not as windproof as other makes. This is good and bad. Good because there's more heat with a windproof mid/top layer, but bad as not as hard wearing in some instances. One summer I went out hiking with this top and in the warm sunny weather I'd strip down to this, pull own the zip and roll up the sleeves and get on with the hike with the heavy backpack. The breeze through the material was refreshing and cooling. By the end of the summer, that top had developed balls where the straps were and the arm pits had come apart at the seams. I still wear that top regularly - with the extra ventilation.

In general, in my findings:
- Merino wool is not that hard wearing so best used for under layers rather than mid-layers.
- Merino wool is warmer than most man made layers
- merino wool doest smell funky until 3-4 weeks of continuous use. Then a simple clean at the wool cycle sorts it back out. Man made materials begin to smell funky within a few days and after a few years use, the smell is never as fresh.
Merino collars and cuffs and neck gaiters will start to sag and get loose after a few days use, but a wash will snap it back into shape. After 6-9 years of heavy use it doesn't snap back as much.

Overall it is a high cost item, but when purchased on sale its great value and will provide fantastic performance for many years.