If you consider yourself to be an outdoorsy person, chances are, you own a plaid shirt. It’s one of those unspoken combinations, like craft beer brewers and gnarly beards. Plaid shirts are a way for outdoorsy folks to spot members of their tribe out in the wild, and Ibex Outdoor Clothing is making one of the most functional and fashionable plaid shirts that we’ve ever worn. Made up of a merino wool blend, the Ibex Taos Plaid Shirt kept me nice and toasty as a mid layer in below-freezing weather in several Colorado mountain towns this winter, and I looked good doing it. The stylish shirt comes in three different color combinations, and includes snap buttons all of the way down the front of the shirt, as well as small slits on both sides of the hips making it easy to wear over jeans, tights, or even bulky snowpants. It’s a versatile piece of outdoor clothing that can go from the slopes, to the bar, to work, to the campfire, and just about anywhere that you need a warm, long-sleeved shirt. The Taos Plaid Shirt is also available in men’s sizing, and it’s just as fashionable and functional as the women’s option.
Pros: The warmth factor. The wooven wool blend is made up of merino wool and nylon, making the Taos Plaid a mid layer that will keep you warm in cold temps. It also means that the shirt’s material is smooth and very durable. The plaid is also quite fashionable, and has a relaxed fit, which makes it easy to add an additional layer underneath for those really cold days. Ibex also recently opened a retail location in Denver where shoppers can check out the Taos Plaid (and Ibex’s other quality merino wool products) before they buy.
Cons: While the wool fabric is smooth to the touch, it can be a little itchy when worn for long periods of time. On regular days, I wear the Taos Plaid over a thin t-shirt to thwart the scratchy feeling that comes with the territory of wearing wool apparel, and on really cold days, I add in a long-sleeve base layer underneath.
Where We Took It: Snowshoeing in below-freezing temps in Crested Butte, Co. and winter fly fishing in Breckenridge, Co.
