Rated 5 out of 5 by towpathfarm Fits the bill
My favorite of the warm weather undershirts. Nice fit especially after washing, holds its color and keeps one war, when active or inactive.
April 22, 2013
Rated 5 out of 5 by lifeliver wow
After ordering the double layer underwear from Bean and finding they didn't come close to fitting my 6'5" 195 frame I took a chance on the cresta wools. Not only do they fit and look great but the wool is incredibly soft.
April 17, 2013
Rated 5 out of 5 by fishinlaw Men's Cresta Wool Midweights - First reactions
My first reaction to the Cresta midweights is so positive I decided to write a review now, and update it later after more use and wear. I got the large tall crew top and the large regular pants based upon the sizing chart (42-44 chest with a full 35" sleeve, and a 37" waist and 30" inseam), and they fit perfectly. They seem to be well made with good material. The wool is soft, not itchy. The material feels much nicer than the silk or polyester base layers. They do cost more, so that is a consideration, but the trade-off seems worth it to me. Also, they do not bind or chafe, are not bulky or baggy, and stretch nicely where needed. The thumbholes on each sleeve keep the sleeve from pulling up when putting on a flannel shirt over them. They are warm when active outdoors, but not uncomfortable or hot when indoors. I have worn them fishing in mid-40 temps with an 8 mph wind (under a Bean flannel shirt, unlined Bean jeans, and an older Bean Polartec WindPro fleece jacket), and was warm the entire time. When I know how they stand up to repeated washings and wear over several months, I will revisit this review.
March 28, 2013
Rated 4 out of 5 by SmallFeetGrownup Good product for the price
I bought Cresta Wool mid-weight base layer for my husband when it was on sale. I love the fact the merino wool is washable and breathable, perfect for winter sports. Overall it is a good product. I ordered XXL tall. It runs a bit shorter than regular tall size and fit loose, not as snug as I had hoped for. Perhaps XL would be better. It is thicker than the same weight base layer from Smartwool. My husbands prefers Smartwool better though because of the better fit. Nevertheless I would recommend this item and may try it for myself.
March 23, 2013
Rated 5 out of 5 by llbgirl excellent base layer, great fit, warm
Bought this for my husband..I have the same item,but just realized all his long underwear were synthetic. he LOVES this garment as much as i love mine. just the right amount of comfort without being too hot. Good for working outdoors or hiking.
March 16, 2013
Rated 5 out of 5 by Bobdoorman So far, so good
Nice fit and warm so far after 3 washes. Really hoping it does not shrink up like other thermal made of other materials I have bought from LL Bean in the past. As always, I love thumb holes in my thermals, due to the fact I can't wear gloves st work, it keeps half my hand warmer.
March 6, 2013
Rated 5 out of 5 by BikingRunningDad Wool Rules!
WOOL RULES!
I had a similar wool long sleeve T shirt that I wore for
10 years. When I finally needed to replace it, I bought this one from Bean. It is also excellent, nice fit, very comfortable, and seems well-made. I've worn it everyday since I bought it a couple weeks ago.
This is a great piece of clothing that will be enjoyed countless times.
Great for Fall, Winter and Spring. So much nicer than synthetics.
February 27, 2013
Rated 5 out of 5 by MIJOE about perfect
Quality is better than some of the cheaper merino baselayers. Also, a little thicker (and that is a good thing). The premium merino baselayers might be better, but at their price point, I'll never know (seriously some baselayers cost as much as a high end wool coat). So the LL Bean Cresta midweight merino woll baselayer is a good middle of the road value for a 100% merino wool baselayer.
Slighly more itch than other merino baselayers, but very slight. Also, just might be newer then my other wools, as often the itch decreases with use. Also I noted in other reviews that the red/black version was slighly more itchy, so perhaps when I order a black, this will be a non-issue.
Appears to shrink just a little after washing, then returns to size after wearing an hour or so.
My review might appear negative, but I'm very happy with the product and plan on buying 3 to 5 more before next hunting season. With patience, I'll get them during a good sale. I have been shopping the website every day waiting for a deal, that is how much I like them.
Don't discount the thumb holes, even if you never plan on using them to cover your hands. They are nice to have in a pinch, and help keep sleeves in place when putting on other potential layers.
Would have been 4 stars, as there are slighly better merino baselayers out there. Went with 5 because I'm counting on LL Bean warrenty. I can find other merino wool baselayers of about the same quality discounted to a far more temptng price, but are not backed by LL Bean.
January 5, 2013
Rated 5 out of 5 by AlexaQ Perfect Product
I absolutely love this shirt. It is toasty warm. It's 100% wool, soft against the skin like cashmere - and it does not itch. The thumbholes on the sleeves make sure that you don't lose your sleeve when you put on a coat or sweater, and they keep your wrists and hands warm when outdoors (the sleeve easily tucks inside your glove, so there is no gap for air to get in).
I have washed these three times now - no pilling or getting mis-shapen. They are fully machine washable and machine dryerable. This is a godsend because I don't have time for hand washing and I do not use dry cleaners because of the chemicals.
You should know that if you machine wash and dry these they shrink down one size on the first wash, but do not shrink in subsequent washes. I was happy they shrank - they tend to run large. I got a men's small for myself (I'm a woman who is 5'5" and 120 pounds) and Extra Large Tall for my husband and Dad (they are 6'2" and 180-190) and these fit them exceptionally well after washing. We like a snug fit as these are base layers.
The red and black version is really beautiful. We got the solid black too, but prefer the red and black. The solid black shows every bit of lint, and if your wear a down vest or coat over it you might look kind of fuzzy afterward! This is not a criticism of the garment, just the fact that solid black tends to show every speck. However, the black is slimming. This design itself is slimming because of the chest seams. The seams are not abrasive against the skin.
I don't wear modern "technical" fabrics because I don't want petroleum products on my skin. But I do want to be warm! It is so nice to find woolen long underwear that are soft, do not itch and can be machine washed. In my mind, this is a perfect product. Thanks, LL Bean!
January 2, 2013
Rated 5 out of 5 by Mikey7 Surprisingly thick and warm
I just wrote a review of the Cresta bottoms, both of which arrived last night in time for the -20 Celsius (with wind chill) conditions that I faced this morning for my 45-minute walk to work here in Montreal. I loved the pants, and these are great too: very warm, thick, and itch-free. Above the Cresta top, I wore a 20-year-old Maine Guide's Shirt, and then my mid-weight parka. It was enough to keep me warm all the way to work. I'm very happy I bought these.
November 30, 2012
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