I inherited an old version of this sweater from my father. It was a 80/20 wool/rayon blend. Probably made in the 80s. I have also bought a few of this modern updates as well, both for myself and as Christmas gifts to family and friends. Let me just say both the modern and old versions are nicely woven, warm, and good looking. However, when you compare them side by side, you can sadly observe the general decrease in quality --- the old version was far, far thicker. The wool strands in old version is almost twice as thick as the new one. Therefore, old version was substantially heavier and warmer.
bottom line: it is a good sweater, probably better than most other options on the market. However, it is not comparable to the old version.
This is a classic sweater that almost everyone recognizes. I get complimented on it almost every time I wear it. Most importantly, the warmth is akin to that of a wool overcoat, and I've been able to wear only this with a shirt underneath it in temperatures as low as the mid-40s. (and I'm not a cold-lover, so that is a real miracle!) This is one of my favorite pieces in my whole wardrobe. Like any L.L. Bean sweater, it runs a little on the boxy side, but a slim person can wear it loosely and still look good.
Late last winter I bought the navy blue version of this sweater for myself (a small woman) and felted it. Felting is basically washing a wool garment in a washing machine until it shrinks and gets denser. So you need to start with a garment that is too big for you. In this case it worked well. The sweater now fits and is even warmer that it was to begin with. It is, however, fuzzier, but too much so for me.
If you might want to try this, read about felting first. Until nice, thick, warm wool sweaters like those that women could buy in the 1980's return, this is about the only option. Women tend to have lower body mass than men and we get cold!
A warm and thick sweater, but the fit is a bit off on these sweaters...specifically in the neck and shoulders. The arms on mine have stretched out considerably which doesn't happen on other sweaters I own. A nice sweater, but it isn't overly practical for much other than standing still in the cold.
