Is there a formula for converting g/m2 into microns? Sometimes they list microns, other times g/m2.

PS--Can someone recommend a summer-weight long sleeve wool baselayer for women that is super comfortable? (My wife couldn't stand the Smartwool lightweight).

david. have you looked into the merino wool shirt that bpl has to offer. i ordered one(it's alittle pricey),but doesn't itch like other wools i've tried. i have sensitive skin also...very light wt...vic

There's no way to convert microns and g/m2 since they refer to different things. The micron size is the thickness of each individual fiber of wool. g/m2 is a function of how the wool is woven. You can have thinner wool woven into a heavier fabric, thicker wool woven into a lighter weave.

As for a woman's top, Icebreaker is generally more comfortable than Smartwool. Here are some of their long sleeve tops that are light for summer:
http://www.icebreaker.com/site/icebreaker_woman_bodyfit150_ls_atlas.html
http://www.icebreaker.com/site/icebreaker_woman_superfine190_airport.html
http://www.icebreaker.com/site/icebreaker_woman_superfine190_mako_crewe.html
http://www.icebreaker.com/site/icebreaker_woman_superfine190_mako_zip.html

Ibex is another possibility:
http://www.ibexwear.com/shop/ProductDetail.php?GID=942&VID=10879&Product=Outback-Long-Sleeve
http://www.ibexwear.com/shop/ProductDetail.php?GID=944&VID=10907&Product=Escape-Long-Sleeve-Zip

At least on those two options, Ibex lists both g/m2 and microns.

Robert,

So...let me get this straight...microns refers to the mass of the actual fiber, while g/m2 refers to the density of the fabric as a whole?

How does Patagucci wool 2 compare to icebreaker and ibex?

That's basically right. Micron the width of the fiber, so a lower micron fiber will have a lower mass (assuming the same length of fiber). g/m2 is the mass of the whole fabric.

I've never worn Patagonia wool. Just touching it in stores makes me think it's not as soft as Icebreaker or Ibex.

If your trying to minimize itch and your not allergic to the fabric then the width of the fiber will have an impact. Ibex uses 17.5 micron in some of their garments, which is the finest I'm aware of for our purposes. There are really expensive suits made of finer stuff. I could be wrong but I believe all the other manufactures use 18.5 micron fiber. It's generally being poked by the ends of the fibers that causes the itch. The finer the fiber the more it bends and the less you get poked. I would imagine that the weave of the fabric could also have an impact but I would guess it would be small compared to fiber width.

I've found Patagonia Wool 2 and Ibex to be the softest and most comfortable wool base layers, with Icebreaker close behind. Patagonia just released the weight of its wool base layer fabrics, and this has confirmed my "ouch test" that Wool 2 is the lightest out there - 111g/m2 for men's and 125g/m2 for women. Ibex is a bit heavier but a much tighter weave and therefore is more resistant to tears and pinholes. You can't go wrong with either (or, for that matter, with Icebreaker or MEC).

if Icebreaker Merino isn't comfortable, I don't know what is

Where did you get those figures? The Patagonia website still lists 148 g/m² as far as I can see.

I emailed Patagonia on the g/m2, still waiting for reply. I recently bought the wool 2 and can't wait to try it on my July trip to Colorado this summer. My only complaint with the wool 2 is a) the price and b) why did they put a big tag in the neck seam? This just adds unnecessary weight and another potential source of irritation for your skin. I also tend to find the seams in Patagonia's clothing (particularly the Capilene 2, 3, 4, etc.) a bit big and irritating.

Oh, and I just ordered the Ibex woolies LS crew for my wife from Backcountry.com. It's 150 g/m2 if I'm not mistaken. (Patagonia wool 2 was not in stock, neither was Icebreaker 150--I prefer to buy from sites with 100% guarantees).

Edited by dgposton on 06/18/2008 14:05:03 MDT.

Tom, see http://www.patagonia.com/web/us/patagonia.go?assetid=2301 Men's Wool 2 is 111g/m2, women's 125.