Cooped Up? Get Uncooped.

As long as I've been playing outside, I've been looking for performance gear that's comfortable on the trail, keeps warm when it's cold, and cools me off when I get hot. I've spent a lot of cash on all kinds of synthetic gear (polypro, or neo-whatever) but I couldn't find anything that was versatile enough to handle the temperature swings that come along with playing in the outdoors.

Turns out the answer was in nature after all-I just got Icebreaker's Velocity Crewe and Quantum Zip midlayer. A New Zealand company, Icebreaker is nothing if not abitious. They've made it their plan to deliver comfortable, lightweight, and versatile outdoor sports gear made from 100 % merino wool. Also, they want the gear to look good on or off the trail. And they want to do it in a sustainable, sheep-friendly way (their clothes feature an individual "Baa code" that allows wearers to see online exactly where each garment came from).

And what the heck, while they're at it, they're going to make gear that doesn't reek after a workout. Piece of cake, right?

Apparently, it is-on my first run with Icebreaker gear, it was a brisk 45 degrees, so I layered up with both the Velocity and the Quantum Zip. The wool felt great-really soft against the skin, and I loved the fit. Their attention to detail is great (flat seams, thumbholes in the sleeves and a soft liner in the collar of the Quantum were a bonus), but my main worry circulated around the temperature. Usually, I heat up like a furnace when I run, so being warm at the outset usually means I'm broiling in my clothes at the end of it.

Not so with the Velocity Crewe and Quantum Zip-the wool stayed warm throughout the run, but kept me from overheating. The cold didn't touch me as I started out, and wicked venting along the high-heat areas (upper back and around through the armpits) really let the heat out as I got into my run.

Instead of tossing them in the hamper when I got home, I let them hang dry to test their purported anti-stink properties. They dried quickly, and they still smelled new(!)...this may be huge.

I'm going to see how long I can last without washing these guys and I'll let you know how they (and I) hold up.

• outdoor apparel
• Icebreaker