WoolX Women’s Rory Quarter Zip Sweater
Size Tested: Small
Fit: Regular fit
Materials:
- Body: 100% merino wool
- Arms and panels: polyester/spandex mix
Stated Features:
- Flattering quarter zip
- Discreet thumbholes
- Side zippered pocket
MSRP: $69
Reviewer: 5’8, 130 lbs. Typically wears a size Medium base layer
Days Tested: 8
Locations Tested: Taos Ski Valley, Taos backcountry, & Santa Fe, New Mexico
Intro
WoolX describes the Rory Quarter Zip Sweater as “the most stylish and flattering ¼ zip you’ll ever wear,” and “one of the best performing pieces of outdoor gear you’ll ever own.” And after my first days in this shirt, I’ve been impressed with its unique design and comfortable fit.
Fit
At 5’8″, I typically wear a size Medium top to ensure the length in the arms and torso is adequate. But the size Small Rory fit well with good length in both areas. The relaxed fit allowed layers to be added either underneath or on top of the shirt comfortably. When I first tried on this top, I was pleasantly surprised by how soft the shirt felt against my skin, and that the size Small was a comfortable fit on my typically-Medium-wearing body.
Features
The shirt is designed with 100% merino wool on just the front and back panels, while the other parts of the shirt are made from 4-way stretch jersey and a soft micro-fleece. In the photo, the white parts of the shirt (the shoulder and collar area) are the micro-fleece, and the gray/black sections on the lower arm and side torso are the 4-way stretch jersey. The wool is soft enough that I had to double check the tag to make sure it was in fact wool. The micro-fleece and jersey material are incredibly soft to the touch and have some stretch, which comes in handy when using the thumb holes.
The one part of the design I don’t care for is the side zipper pocket. I have yet to use it, as most of my running/skiing/biking clothes have pockets in the bottoms so it’s not necessary to include storage in the shirt. The pocket bulges out just enough to throw off the shape of the shirt.
In Use
I don’t tend to generally like wool tops since they often feel a bit scratchy to me, but the use of multiple fabrics in different sections of the shirt allowed for areas that do most of the moving to be made of super soft materials.
I spent two straight days in the backcountry in this top, and was warm and comfortable. I did notice that after those two days straight of backcountry skiing, the top held a faint body odor, which is a-typical for wool and may be because of the blend or multiple fabric panels. One of my preferred baselayer tops is Lululemon, and I can go many days without any odors detected. I was a little disappointed that this top didn’t hold up to the stink test as well. This shirt washes and dries easily and after several washes, it still looks like new.
Bottom Line
I would recommend the WoolX Women’s Rory Quarter Zip Sweater to anyone looking for a mid-weight baselayer for skiing, running, biking or hiking.