Thread: My new favourite base layer from Weft Knitting Co.

There is a long version and a short version of this post. If you want the short version, skip to the photographs.

About 3 months ago, I inherited a box of clothes from my late brother. At the bottom, amoungst all the polyester and cotton was a suspiciously milsurp looking pair of wool longjohns. They had some holes in them but intriguingly, looked like they were actually a heavy enough weave to be worth repairing. I sewed them up with patches from a pair of wrecked wool thermals and set to googling the outfit on the label to see where I could get a new set to match.

The label said "Weft Knitting Co". Never heard of it, but apparently its in Christchurch, which is fortunate as I had a trip planned in 2 months time.

So 2 months later after a trip to the Twinneedle store, I wandered along to the wee Weft Knitting factory store and for the princely sum of around $110 I left with a top and bottom set of what is easily my new favorite base layer.

They are a heavy wool weave with an elastic waist and a double thickness ankle cuff. The top is a short sleave almost henley cut tee shirt. They are not quite as soft to the touch as your run of the mill merino base layers, but to my skin so far they have not been either itchy or abrasive. They look and feel seriously durable, and the pair I inherited despite having significant holes, hadn't "laddered" at all and were strong enough to take a stitch for repair. To be completly honest, at a price of from memory $65 for the leggings and $45 for the tee, even if they dont last longer than all the others I've tried, they will still be bloody good value. They are also warm and functional like only 100% wool can be. Here are some photos, the green pair is the old set.





The store was also full to the brim with other deals on wool clothing and I cant reccomend it enough. Yhe lady there also said for $15 postage she would send me any additional thermals I'd like in the future. The rate all the others I have tried wear out I cant imagine it will be long!

Weft Knitting Co, check them out.

Yep I will be going there next trip south.
Love wool!

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Good stuff. Wool is the best product ever.
For anyone interested, Wrightsons have Swandri Ranger shirts on sale @$129 at present.

I only wear wool, great find, not to mention handy to me.

Thanks for the heads up

Yeah their D23 tops are great and they last well. I also get their plain lightweight long sleeve tops that they do in black or Navy I wear them pretty much every day in the colder months. I buy 1 or 2 every year and when they get a few holes I put them in with my hunting clothes might wear 2 or 3 layers of them and adjust as the temperature changes. Their tops seem to well outlast Macpac/Katmandu type stuff. It's a bit more stretchy and breathable so they don't seem to rip around the collar etc. Plus nice to buy local straight from the factory.

So @Buzo what is their sizing like if ordering on line or by phone?

Weft have been in CHCH for ever
Great company doing everything from raw materials to finished product.

I used to sell them all my possum fur
They paid really good money for really good fur

One of those support NZ owned and made first situations

Im 6'4 and 100kg, bought large leggings and top. I dont know if thats universal across their products but I'm usually at least XL, so I would say it is large fitting.

Originally Posted by Buzo

Their tops seem to well outlast Macpac/Katmandu type stuff. Plus nice to buy local straight from the factory.

They last longer than Macpac and Katmandhu.... what a surprise, NOT

Originally Posted by sore head stoat

They last longer than Macpac and Katmandhu.... what a surprise, NOT

I havnt found Ice breaker any better, despite being significantly more expensive than Macpac of Kathmandu.

Doesn’t look like they do online sales, wonder if they’d take phone orders?

Originally Posted by McNotty

Doesn’t look like they do online sales, wonder if they’d take phone orders?

Yeah @McNotty , I asked that when I bought mine and the lady said they were more than happy to do that.

Originally Posted by LMcNab

Yeah @McNotty , I asked that when I bought mine and the lady said they were more than happy to do that.

Great, cheers mate

Weft is incredible. I try and go past their factory shop every time I'm in chch.
I'll also reccomend the nz sock company in ashburton, picked up a bunch of thick wool socks for $10 each

Originally Posted by johnd

So @Buzo what is their sizing like if ordering on line or by phone?

Well I'm M/L and I go for M they are stretchy but they don't get baggy if they're a little on the tight side plus the cuffs can wear pretty quick on the wool stuff so they are better if they up your wrist a bit.
Give them a ring I'm sure they'll sort you out.