Icebreaker or other merino wool in Kathmandu

[Lars]

Have you guys seen any Icebreaker clothes, or other Merino wool of good
quality in Kathmandu?

I almost bought some here at home today when it struck me that it may be
available in Kathmandu these days, and maybe at a better price.

We have a 25% sales tax slapped on everything, which brings a long sleeve
Bodyfit Altitude 260 to abt $160. That one seems to sell for $100 in the US.

I wonder if it is at all sold in Kathmandu?

[Per]

Merino wool is available in a few tailor shops. However, you have to be good at fabrics to get the real stuff. There are only a few bales among lots of fabrics with various blends you would not really want. I would say you have a better selection in Delhi, more money around, so they can have more in stock.

[blaze]

Wow, 25% tax! Now I don't feel so bad, I just bought 2 pairs of the Icebreaker boxers for $80 and thought that was ridiculous! I hope these live up to the hype. But yeah, i didn't even think to ask if they sold them in Kathmandu, good thinkin.

[yakshaver]

Have you guys seen any Icebreaker clothes, or other Merino wool of good
quality in Kathmandu?

I almost bought some here at home today when it struck me that it may be
available in Kathmandu these days, and maybe at a better price.

We have a 25% sales tax slapped on everything, which brings a long sleeve
Bodyfit Altitude 260 to abt $160. That one seems to sell for $100 in the US.

I wonder if it is at all sold in Kathmandu?

I don't think the famous Kiwi company has made it to Nepal in their marketing push. Unless you find second hand stuff in the shops in Thamel or Pokhara. Mind you, I am not usually looking for this kind of stuff in KTM. Any body hugging stuff that I buy is bought in original, for real money, in Sydney or Europe somewhere. I prefer Icebreaker and Earth Sea Sky. Both New Zealand companies, both with excellent products, both very expensive. But hey, it's my body we're talking about, not some unshaven yak.

[Dave in Nepal]

I have just bought 2 pairs of Smartwool boxers for 60 UK pounds, about which I still feel pretty mortified, but I am with Yakshaver in probaly valuing my wedding tackle at way above the "street value."

I strongly considered getting a mate in the US to send some over, but I didn't want HM Customs to hold them (the boxers) past my departure date, which is probably the sort of thing they would do.

Do sheep know that they are worth their weight in wool?

[Lars]

Merino wool ... I would say you have a better selection in
Delhi, more money around, so they can have more in stock.
Do you have any suggestions on where in Delhi would be a good area to
shop for such foreign and fancy things?
Most Delhi shoppers rarely need icebreakers or similar.

This time I will stay at Ajanta in Pahar Ganj, but otherwise I have stayed
mostly around Connaught Place. I have been to Delhi dozens of times and
have the idea I know it well. But the truth of course is that I have never set
foot in most of the city. That includes the fancy "colony" areas where the
wealthy Delhiites live.

[Lars]

But hey, it's my body we're talking about, not some
unshaven yak.
Sure, I agree. I am not looking for some second rate crap that would freeze
my balls off, but. I pay fat taxes as it is!

Getting something without the extra tax is a bit like a free ride, or a 68.

[Per]

Do you have any suggestions on where in Delhi would be a good area to
shop for such foreign and fancy things?

The best tailorshops around Connaught Cirkus. Otherwise, Karol Bagh is splendid for fancy fabrics, best silk fabrics etc, if you want a saree ;)

The best tailors have merino wool fabric in bales, and it is mostly used for three piece business suits or wedding suits. They will stitch up whatever you want from it.

But being in India you could opt for Pashmina instead, or if you have lots of money to burn Shah Tush, the latter is the most expensive wool in the world. A Shah Tush shawl is so soft that it can be pulled through a ring and it is so warm that it is said you can hatch eggs in it. Unlike other Indian luxuary goods it is utterly sober, looks really plain and modest, brown, greyish, it would be sacrilege to colour anything of Shah Tush.

[Linwood]

or if you have lots of money to burn Shah Tush, the latter is the most expensive wool in the world. A Shah Tush shawl is so soft that it can be pulled through a ring and it is so warm that it is said you can hatch eggs in it. Unlike other Indian luxuary goods it is utterly sober, looks really plain and modest, brown, greyish, it would be sacrilege to colour anything of Shah Tush.

Shah Tush (shahtoosh) clothing is a sacrilege in and of itself...

PLEASE DO NOT BUY SHAHTOOSH!!

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/publications/zoogoer/2001/2/kingofwools.cfm

http://www.sawf.org/newedit/edit01142002/column.asp

[Per]

Shah Tush (shahtoosh) clothing is a sacrilege in and of itself...


Right, I was merely joking, and I was not aware that the chiru was on verge of becoming extinct. In the past Shah Tush was only used in India, a tiny shawl would cost thousands of dollars, and only extremely wealthy Indinas used it or even knew what it was.

There is every reason to be aware of such things. Some Kashmiris in Srinagar tried to sell us an linx fur coat. Of course we did not buy it.

[Escher]

I know nothing about the situation in your country but recently in the UK (we have quite high sales tax too) a number of wholesale stores have sprung up that often sell off outdoor gear at much lower prices - TKMAXX, Matalan, Lidl, Aldi, Tesco and places like these. Lots of people I know have picked up Merino gear - either own brand, or something like Howies for a lot less than Smartwool or Icebreaker charge (a tenth of the cost in some places) and have vouched for the quality as actaully being pretty good and have been using them for winter mountaineering and the like. Maybe you have something similar where you are?

As for Nepal the only two places I have seen selling new western gear is the big shop opposite Fire and Ice that has loads of Patagonia/The North Face/Mountain Hardwear sort of gear but the prices weren't really that much cheaper than at home.

The other shop I know of is a small one near to the Everest Steak House that was selling western brands of new climbing hardware (BD Viper Ice tools and new Petzl stuff), can't really see them selling Icebreaker but its the only place I've seen new western brands other than the first place I mentioned.

Whatever you Icebreaker lovers do - don't arrange to ship all your gear home only for it to sit in Kathmandu airport for 7 months or else the moths will eat big holes into your merino underwear!