Ibex Shak Jacket : Fall is Calling

At first, I just tossed my Shak jacket in my pack - I'd wear it at outdoor parties when it cooled down late at night. Then, without realizing fall was here, I was walking out the door enveloped in my toasty merino wool Shak, with a rain jacket stuffed into my pack.

As I've mentioned in many reviews in the past, merino wool is always the right choice. Wherever I go, whatever I do, whatever the temperature, I'm always happiest in wool. So for me, the Shak jacket (available in women's and men's sizes), made out of a mid-weight, middle layer wool (also available in a half-zip jersey style) is perfect for cool and cold weather.

I've worn it on my cool nights (down to 50 degrees) over a cotton t-shirt (organic, of course); on cool, breezy nights over a micro-weight wool t-shirt; and on colder, wet nights under a rain shell. Every time, it does an incredible job of keeping me warm. More important, when I'm active, it does a great job of breathing and wicking, so I don't overheat.

My women's Shak jacket is a rich, plum color that is just too beautiful for outdoor pursuits alone. I love that it's more fitted than a baggy, boxy fleece or sweatshirt. It's stylish and simple, with a mock neck and a raglan sleeve design that give it a flattering fit. The sleeves are cuffed and slightly tapered, which is comfortable and functional whether I'm playing or hunched over my computer in my cold office. All this, plus flat seams, make it ideal as a middle layer for colder weather. It's lightweight and less bulky than a fleece, and it performs better.

The Shak jacket is one of those must-have items that I wear every day. One day it's a cardigan, another day it's a jacket, and one day not to far in the future it's going to be a middle layer on a snowshoe outing. Best of all, it's wool, so it's naturally odor-resistant. I can wear it for weeks without washing it, maybe all season! And when it is time for washing, I can wash it by hand or in the machine; no dry cleaning necessary (or recommended.).

Bottom LIne: Lose the bulk, get some class, and get yourself a multi-purpose that will outperform your old boxy fleece jackets.--E.D. (Oct '07)

Price: $145

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Manufacturer's Site: www.ibexwear.com

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