Ibex Arrivee bibs, leg and arm warmers
Manufactured in the Bay Area, Ibex boasts some of the top merino products on the market. For this trip, I put the Arrivee bib ($140), leg warmers, ($70) and arm warmers ($45) to work.
I pride myself on being a merino disciple, but even I was initially apprehensive about wool bibs. Any reservations were quickly left at the wayside, as the blend of 4-way stretch merino through the leg, tops, and waist worked their temperature-regulating, stink-stopping sorcery, while spandex through the seat and inner legs rode smoothly like a traditional bib. The fit was true-to-size, and the cooling effect of the merino was noticeable once the temperature climbed. It’s also worth pointing out that the bibs are 10% nylon for a durability boost.
I came into the trip with a pair of achy knees, so I knew I needed to keep ’em warm in the fluctuating temperatures. I anticipated this being tricky, but it was almost boring how easy it was with the leg warmers — comfortable fit, no chafing issues, and more than enough warmth in the low 40s (I imagine they’d hold up fine down to freezing). While knee warmers would have done the job just as well, the full-leg length came in handy at night, when I kept them on for an extra layer in camp.
The story was much the same with the arm warmers — comfortable fit with a merino-spandex blend and noticeably more warmth than synthetic warmers I’ve used in the past.
