I鈥檝e written a lot about companies using wool in inventive ways, but I haven鈥檛 lost my affinity for a good old wool sweater. This garment is still one of my favorite winter layers because it鈥檚 warm, stylish, and has a thousand uses. On any given winter day, you鈥檒l find me wearing one while hunched over a laptop in my too-cold office or dawn-patrolling up the ski area before my first Zoom meeting. Below are four of my new favorites.
Wills Speckled Merino Crewneck ($98)
During a recent camping trip, I wore 24 hours a day for five days straight (I changed my undershirt) because it was the perfect layering option for the wide range of temperatures and conditions. It kept me warm in my sleeping bag when temperatures dipped into the teens, breathed well when I started sweating on a mild hike, and felt comfortable in the truck as we cruised for more than 1,500 miles. This sweater is also a mainstay of my day-to-day wardrobe. The speckled knit can be dressed up or down, which is why I don鈥檛 have to change my outfit for online work meetings.
Flint and Tinder Highlands Waxed Elbow ($128)
I love for its elbow patches. They look iconic and remind me of the sweaters my grandpa used to wear that were too old or moth-eaten to be passed down. Flint and Tinder smartly mixed in some nylon (20 percent of the overall build) to make the sweater a bit more durable, so I don鈥檛 have to worry as much about it tearing or falling apart after the fifth wash. Like all wool sweaters, this one can go weeks, if not months, without a wash and still smell fine.
Fj盲llr盲ven Lada Shawl ($155)
Wool sweaters exude coziness, but takes cozy to a whole new level with its raised shawl neck. This extra bit of fabric acts like a built-in scarf and keeps my neck and chin warm even when the wind is howling. I also like that the Lada is built from thick yet soft lambswool, which gives it bulk. Fj盲llr盲ven uses traceable wool in its apparel, which means the brand works to ensure the sweater鈥檚 fabric comes from sheep that were humanely treated.
Filson Wool Fisherman鈥檚 ($400)
Each of is carefully hand-knit from Scottish wool. I don鈥檛 know how much my sweater weighs, but it鈥檚 at least a couple pounds鈥攁 testament to its build quality. It鈥檚 hands down the warmest wool top I鈥檝e ever worn, and assuming the moths don鈥檛 get to it, this sweater could easily last me 50 years.