Garments G.04 Lainio - The ultimate outdoor sweater
While today woollen sweaters are traditionally used as outer layers in the nordics and have been used as such for centuries if not millenia. Today wearing woollen sweaters as outer layers is probably most widespread in Iceland where the traditional Lopapeysa sweater is worn whether it rains or shines. However, most woollen sweaters of today have veered away from the functional and towards more aesthetic qualities which has lead to designs that don't work as well outdoors.
At Kasperi we believe there's a reason why these pieces have been used for centuries as functional garments. The crux of the matter is that wool not only insulates well, but ventilates, wicks moisture from your lower layers, repels water and even if it's soaked it still keeps you warm. And moving is infinitely more comfortable in high quality knitted clothing that ventilates properly.
Armed with the knowledge, the heritage and decades of personal first-hand experience in dozens of different designs of woollen sweaters – we set out to design the quintessential outdoor wool sweater for the northern-hemispheres colder seasons.
Updating the outdoor sweater for the 21st century
The first place to start was to look at other types of wool that are out there. At Kasperi we've been collaborating with Alpa using their alpaca wool crewnecks over three years in all conditions from the fells up north in Lapland to the sea. We fell in love with alpaca wool's exceptional non-itching warmth, thermal and moisture regulation qualities. With our decades of first-hand experience in dozens of different designs of woolen sweaters and Alpa's specific expertise in how to make these properties shine with alpaca wool, we created a sweater that stands out.
The result is the G.04 Lainio – specced for exploring the mountains and fells with their varying environments from the calm primeaval forests in the valleys to the frigid windward side and the calm lee sides of the arctics ancient wavy round mountains – the fells. This environment does not only differ in its weather but also in the level of physical effort it takes to move around. The varying levels of wind chill and of effort exerted mean that quick adjustments in body heat regulation would be necessary to ensure you'll stay dry, warm and comfortable for the whole day. The result is a sweater that incidentally works as well when at the cabin working outdoors, or for example cycle commuting in the city during colder months.
All the functions designed for the sweater itself allow for fine-tuning your body heat regulation. The unique double-collar offers exceptional protection for your neck and can also be raised up to take off windchill to keep you comfortable during coffee breaks outdoors. The extra-long zipper allows for ventilating the chest and neck more effectively to shed heat when climbing up a fell or a mountain. The zipper comes up until chin and making sure the collar won't choke you when in standard mode where the collar is down. Under a shell, the overshirt or our work jacket it'll be a super insulating mid-layer, and you won't need much else when outdoors.
But what makes this sweater beat the rest in insulating, mobility, and durability – the devil is in the details. The Lainio's functional fit is slightly snugger than your average sweater. Combined with a Raglan sleeve fit, it makes for a draftless sweater that helps the wool deliver its purpose: keeping you warm, dry, and comfortable. The deerskin shoulder and elbow patches mean you won't have to worry about durability as the most stressed points are reinforced.
The specific rib-knit creates a garment that has a 7mm thick layer of insulation in the torso and 6mm for the neck and cuffs. The knit blocks wind just enough while ensuring breathability and wicking moisture from your skin while your active. Used as a mid-layer the insulating properties of the larger than average cavities of alpaca wool in the specific rib knit are outstanding. For us, this creates a sweet spot for an extraordinarily versatile sweater that gives warmth and comfort as active outerwear even close to freezing temperatures or light drizzle as an outer layer. Used as a mid-layer, this shirt will keep you warm even in the coldest of weather. And it seldom gets too hot even indoors.
Kasperi's design philosophy on high utility and durability meets Alpa's decade-long experience in creating the highest quality pieces out of Alpaca wool with an emphasis on longevity and repairability. The G.04 Lainio is made by Alpa at their high-tech knitting factory in Lithuania out of ethically sourced Peruvian alpaca wool.
Features
- Zipper and windcollar for great heat management
Materials and manufacturing
100% Peruvian Alpaca wool, made by Alpa Knitwear in Lithuania.
Care
The antibacterial properties of Alpaca wool mean this garment will stay fresh with only airing out almost perpetually. If a wash is needed, hand-wash in a sink with cool or cold water.
Sizing
Functional fit, size true to your size. If you are in between sizes, size down. Janne in the first picture is wearing Large and is 188cm and 88kg. Michael in the fourth picture is wearing Medium and is 177cm and 77kg.
Refer to our size chart for details, if in doubt get in touch.
