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Ortovox, a company I'm familiar with because of avalanche hardware like this beacon, will be offering its clothing line in North America beginning this fall. The company will launch two separate base layers just in time for winter.

Looking like much better product than the cheaply-made base layer with Ortovox label on it you may fear, the SuperSoft base layer is a Merino wool shirt finished off with Lenzing Modal, an eco-conscious yarn from sustainably farmed European Beech trees. The combination is supposed to give it a plush, comfortable feel. The shirts will be $120 (long sleeve) and $110 (short sleeve).

The second product that will launch this fall is the Merino Competition, a Merino-nylon blended layer that features various thicknesses based on your body's needs. Where you tend to get hot (presumably the pits), the shirt features lighter mesh, and where you tend to be coldest it offers more insulation. This one will retail for $130. The shirt took home the European Ski Award and the OutDoor Industry Award of 2009.

I just got some samples in yesterday, and they feel pretty plush. Unfortunately, it's been about 90 F lately, but hopefully it will get cold enough before they hit the market, and I'll be back with a report.

• Ortovox
• clothing
• base_layers