The weather has been cooling down a lot lately. And that might explain why Ornot is using Polartec for their new Alpha Wool Pullover. The new pullover takes Polartec Alpha, the insulation thru-hikers have been quietly hoarding for years, and blends merino wool fibers right into the lofted construction. It comes in both men’s and women’s cuts, and it’s made in the USA.
Some of you may remember, but wool is the original cycling kit material because it adds natural temperature regulation and moisture management. A lot of times, cycling is just a series of easy and hard efforts over an expanded period of time.
I mean, one minute, you’re grinding up a climb, cooking like a rotisserie chicken, then next thing you know, you’re descending into wind that makes you question your life choices.
Most cycling garments with insulation nail one of those jobs, rarely both. But Polartec Alpha combined with wool can handle both: it’ll dump heat fast when you’re working, stay comfortable when you’re not.
It Started with Thru-Hikers
The platform underneath, Alpha Direct, started with thru-hikers. Thru-hikers will cheerfully trim a toothbrush handle to save a gram. And Alpha Direct is magically lightweight.
Then, in comes merino, and you get added natural temperature regulation, moisture management, and a softness level Ornot swears will keep you from ever taking it off. (They claim to know this from experience. I’ll allow it.)
Wool in a performance layer isn’t new, but blending it into Alpha for riding is a fresh idea. It’s aimed squarely at the clammy-at-the-café-stop problem that plagues plenty of synthetic midlayers.
Alpha Wool Pullover Retail & Detail
Retail: $198
- 54% Poly, 6% Nylon, 40% Wool
- Available in Men’s and Women’s silhouettes
- Excellent warmth-to-weight ratio
- Abrasion-resistant fabric in high-wear areas
- Resists moisture and dries fast
- Loose, casual fit
- Sewn by hand in the USA
- Colors: Fog/Ochre
The new Ornot Alpha Wool Pullover is another top-notch product for cold-weather riding or strolling downtown. And it’s made right here in the USA by people who clearly spend a lot of time on bikes in the unpredictable weather of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Hit the link to get yours or check out all of the great things Ornot has to offer.
