Testimonials - Movement

Eric Philips and Pat Farmer at the North Pole

www.poletopolerun.com

Back from the great north with everything intact. The clothing was fantastic, performed perfectly. I used the thumb loops for the first time and they were really helpful in keeping my fingers warmer (However they are still numb now, usual for me). Pat also loved them. See pics attached.

Off to Vanuatu with the family on Wed, that should heal the fingertips!!

Daniel

Pipers River, TAS

I’m not much of an athlete but I do enjoy recreational mountain biking and running and I like to continue my active pursuits during winter in spite of the cold temperatures. I first discovered the wonders of merino via a New Zealand company and fell in love with merino’s warmth and durability. But I wanted to find and support a local business that produced the same technical clothing using local talents.

“Made in Tasmania” is synonymous with quality, as I have discovered. I purchased a beanie, leggings, a zip up long sleeve top and a heavy-weight vest from the Smitten range, with the intention of using these as my cross-country running get-up; unbelieve performance when the outside thermometer reads minus 4 degrees, I can even leave my running gear on in comfort when I’m back inside doing a warm down routine as sweat and moisture is wicked away, then all I do is hang it and leave it to air dry ready for the next use – NO STINK! I’ve even started wearing them not just for sport use but as daily wear now that winter has truly set in.

Brilliant products; quality construction, extremely comfortable and durable and again, Made in Tasmania.

Well done, Nic and Carl! I’m one very smitten fan.

Joelle

Kyogle, NSW

Just a short note to thank you for the boxers. We tested them out on an tough overnight trip up Mt Barney. They are a perfect fit and we were both impressed with how comfortable they feel... Very happy campers!

Larni Davies

Tourism Guiding Coordinator
Drysdale South Campus

The Tasmanian Polytechnic Tour Guiding program is a proud supporter of Smitten Merino. The zip neck top is a key component of the student uniform. Our program equips students with the knowledge, skills and confidence to become professional and competent tour guides, and presentation and comfort is vitally important. The students have been exceptionally happy with their Smitten Merino’s as they immerse in the outdoor classroom in Tasmania. They spend many months of the year in-the-field, from interpreting Tasmania’s unique flora, fauna and historic heritage, to cooking up a storm on a camp stove, to bushwalking in Tasmania’s highlands or sea-kayaking on the east coast.

Our graduates become passionate ambassadors for Tasmania, and are employed as guides with a wide range of tourism businesses in Tasmania, interstate and overseas, and value their Smitten Merino long after their studies have concluded.

Stuart Knott

Western Australia

Well the Smitten merino products arrived yesterday & I am absolutely delighted with their quality, warmth, weight & of course the fact they are Tasmanian made in this day & age.

I shall certainly be an instant advocate of your range, so, don’t be surprised if you end up getting a few more orders from this part of the world.

Thanks for being so prompt & I look forward to staying in touch & helping Smitten from this part of the country.

Jon Hitchens

Tasmanian triathlon and multi-sport legend

Smitten is the feel naked go anywhere and everywhere clothing.

Lachie Carracher

Young Australian Adventurer of the Year

Love my smitten, been wearing the light weight t's a lot and very impressed by their breathability and how they dont smell, even when they are wet for a over a week in the jungle.

I will be living in my hoodie and heavy weights now I am off to the cold waters of the high volume Salween river coming straight from Tibet.

Your garmets are a well needed addition to my kayak travel kit, versitile and look good. Cheers again, Smitten is definitely getting out there and getting a lot of use

Eric Philips

Icetrek Expeditions

With over 30 years working in the outdoors, almost two thirds of those in the Arctic and Antarctic, I've seen a lot of 'wonder' fabrics come and go. Few make their mark like merino wool. I've worn it on ski expeditions to both the North and South Poles and there's no comparing the superior warmth and feel of wool. There's also no comparing the smell; unlike synthetics, merino wool doesn't retain the odour of accumulated sweat and grime, and that's a great bonus, particularly when an expedition drags from weeks into months. I'm now in northern Greenland with a range of Smitten merino thermals, t-shirts and jumpers. I'm a happy camper! Aside from all the advantages of wool, Smitten clothing fits well, is stylish and comes in a range of cool colours. And it's Tasmanian-made to boot. Smitten merino wool clothing, an expedition partner that's with me for the long haul.

Emma Weitnauer

Current Australian Multisport Champion, 11 time Ironman Finisher
3 time Hawaiian Ironman Finisher, Triathlon Coach

As an Ironman triathlete and a multisport athlete I need training clothing that is functional and that I can wear for more than one sport. Training for endurance events means long training sessions so I also need my clothing to be comfortable. My Smitten merino gear does it's job, it works well and feels great. It can be tough training through a Tasmanian winter but wearing Smitten merino tops and tights I have been able to enjoy training in sometimes very harsh conditions. In my Smitten merino gear I don't hesitate to go for a mountain run on a cold, rainy day. My Smitten crew neck top is a comfortable base layer under my mountain biking and cycling gear. I sweat a lot but the merino doesn't stay wet and so I stay warm. I also like to wear my Smitten gear when I am out kayaking and, if I could, I would even wear it swimming! I want training gear that works for me but also looks good, and Smitten outdoor gear looks great!

Mark Bowden

Owner of Bike Ride, Hobart's best bike store
Masters World Champion, Long-time bike nut.

I have been a competitive cyclist pretty much all of my life and know only too well that the key to my success has been a combination of training, commitment and having the best of equipment.I am continually searching for products that offer superior performance because that allows me to perform better and be more comfortable doing so. I had forgotten how comfy,warm and quick drying pure wool is compared to some of the synthetic base layers I have used in recent years.I have no hesitation in recommending Smitten Merino as a great product, natural and Tassie made, couldn't be better.

Dan Hall

6 x Australian Wildwater and Extreme Kayak Champion
Silver medalist at Wildwater World Cup race, Italy 2007
Kayak adventurer, Franklin River raft guide and kayak coach/instructor since 1995

All good things come back into vogue and wool is no exception. I have been wearing polypropylene thermals for years but having tried and tested the merino wool thermals from Smitten I would never go back. The merino wool feels great against the skin and the Smitten designs fit me perfectly. I have been wearing my Smitten top for over a week so far and it still doesn't smell! The lightweight thermals are brilliant for training on the water as they maintain my body temperature without making me overheat. I am definitely impressed.

Andrew Wakefield

Adventurer, Geologist, Franklin River Guide, Antarctic Sea Kayak Guide

The Smitten thermals have been truly fantastic. Bron and I have spent the last 6 or 7 weeks largely over 4000metres altitude and they have been a real life saver. We have been virtually living in them for this time.

Carol Hurst

6 times Australian Classic Wildwater Champion
Silver - Masters International Wildwater Race 2006, Czech Rep
Cycled from Melbourne to Darwin
Climbed "The Nose" of El Capitan, Yosemite Valley, California

Be Smitten, be warm enough, be cool enough, be very comfortable - just great for being outdoors in all weathers and they don't develop that thermal pong - I love them!

John H. Clingo

2008 Tasmanian XC Veteran MTB Champion. Owner of Cyclingo Bike Shop, Hobart

I’ve been loving the Smitten gear. It performs brilliantly, survives all conditions and the quality is right up there with the best ‘top-end’ brands. I definitely recommend it to riders, paddlers, runners, and any one else tackling the elements.

Pete Harmsen

Freelance cameraman, 5 Sydney to Hobart Yacht races

As a cameraman working in Tasmania’s great outdoors, it’s often difficult to know what to wear. The weather changes by the minute; I’m climbing up a mountain with a hectic heart rate and sweating, trying to film a runner, then standing around getting cold waiting for the next one. Then jumping in a raft or a boat to film paddlers while getting wet and cold. What I’ve finally discovered with my merino smitten wear is that I can sweat, stand, get wet, sweat and stand again while maintaining a reasonably constant body temp. When it’s my turn to get active, it doesn’t overheat like some other thermal gear, and keeps me warm when I stop. It’s also so light that carrying an extra layer in the backpack is easy, and even protects my camera gear. It feels superb next to the skin, doesn’t hold moisture, and looks so good I can wear it to a corporate meeting.

Great work team smitten, you’ve made my outdoor life much more enjoyable.

Vern Reid

Winner 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 S.T Veteran Summer Series
Winner Tour of Kingborough 97
Winner Launceston to Ross 96

In Smitten clothing you stay warm even when sweating, so in winter you don't freeze going downhill. A cyclist's dream!

Read some of the opinions of those driving Smitten innovation, in the great outdoors.