ISPO Award Winner 2024: icebreaker Merino 200 Oasis+ Suit

This Merino baselayer suit was designed for both men and women offering full-body coverage exceptional warmth and comfort in extreme conditions - making it the ideal companion for snow sports and outdoor adventures where you are exposed to the cold. »The Oasis+ Suit is a high-performance baselayer made from 100% ethically sourced fine Merino wool, engineered for exceptional warmth and comfort in extreme conditions«, explains Monika Foster, Global Product Designer at icebreaker. This 100% Merino wool garment benefits from the natural performance of superfine Merino wool. It is extremely comfortable to wear and has built-in moisture management, breathability, thermo-regulation and natural odor resistance.

»Throughout the entire design process, we worked closely with our athletes, ensuring that their on-mountain experiences and insights were integrated into features like the balaclava hood with ponytail opening, discreet access points, small pocket to keep objects like batteries warm and thumbholes,« Foster highlights key features.

The discreet access openings at the front and back for ease and comfortable bathroom breaks during extended outdoor activities. In addition to a back opening, which is layered for less cold spots but still easy to use, the suit features a horizontal front fly, enabling women to use a female urination device more discreetly. This essential feature provides convenience and comfort during outdoor adventures in harsh, cold conditions. The openings are layered to prevent cold air from entering when closed, ensuring maximum comfort and protection. Still the access holes were designed to be fully functional without adding bulk.

The Oasis+ Suit features a carefully balanced fit - neither too tight nor too loose - providing full freedom of movement while keeping you warm in even the most demanding conditions.

It also features an in-built balaclava with contoured seam lines and an eyelet mouth panel, where the Balaclava eye slit has been designed for ease of visibility as the head moves. The pony tail slit at the back of the balaclava reduces the bulk of the hair at the back of the hood.

The in-built balaclava sits under the suit’s neck opening to prevent the skin from being exposed to harsh weather conditions and provides extra protection. Thumb loops for extra warmth at the hands also keep the sleeves in place when adding or taking off other layering pieces. A front pocket keeps stored items like batteries warm when exposed to the coldest of conditions.

»The construction ensures that bare skin is always covered, providing protection from harsh weather conditions. The Oasis+ Suit truly combines functionality with Merino wool’s natural performance properties«, says Monika Foster, Global Product Designer at icebreaker.

With its long CF zipper for easy entry it is quick to get on and off. Overall, this is a well-designed and executed base layer piece that fully convinced the ISPO Award jury.

• Balanced fit and design - not too tight and not too lose as a base layer
• Layered openings to allow easy access but prevent cold air
• Well-engineered balaclava with ponytail slit for reduced bulk