I was given this for Christmas and love it. It fits perfectly, it is a nice weight and the fact that it is 100% wool is a return to form for LL Bean. This is the best Norwegian sweater that has been offered in many years.
I was so happy to see this item back in the catalog! I ordered it and I love it. I found the fit to be perfect. This is the original ALL WOOL! No nylon! For us old timers who remember the old Norwegian Sweater Bean's carried way back when, this is it! Sure, it's bulky but that's what makes it warm! It your buying this sweater for looks then you might be disappointed. If you're buying this sweater for warmth you will be very happy you did.
As a new buyer who has recently discovered the gem that is LL Bean, I am extremely pleased by both the quality and comfort of this sweater. Receiving it just today as a Christmas present from my parents who are occasional LL Bean shoppers, I had the privilege to wear this as I walked out into the post-blizzard wonderland that is my local neighborhood. I will say that this sweater doesn't become hot indoors at all and when you go out into the cold it keeps you at room temperature.
The fit is everyone's complaint. I really don't see how. It is comfortable to wear over something and doesn't balloon out too bad at all. I'm 5'9 and decently built and a large suits me just fine. its not a slim fit sweater. It is loose and meant to trap air to keep you warm. It does its job better than anything else I own. I absolutely adore the fit and make. The sweater covers all of your body.
The look and pattern is quite handsome. You will stand out at a winter party and will be complimented. My entire family at the Christmas gathering adored it and asked me where it came from.
I'm happy to say that it is expertly made and crafted with the most care. I look forward to wearing this sweater for quite some time. Perhaps my child will be able to inherit this item and pass it on as an heirloom.
I am still "breaking in" my twelve year old LL Bean Norwegian sweater from the mid to late 1990s. Quite a deal for under $60 when most made-in-Norway sweaters cost hundreds more.
I wear a 43-44 (Regular) jacket; the L size fits fine in the chest and shoulders, but yes it does billow out somewhat in midsection. If you want a stylish, slim-fit sweater, this one is not for you. If you want a rugged, very warm, outdoor (or indoor in winter in a cold house), hard-wearing sweater, this one is for you.
At c. $40-60 in the 1970s-90s, it was a steal. At $130, you'd have to think twice about buying it, since it isn't dressy like a classic cardigan Norwegian sweater (with the pewter buttons) and there are many economical choices in rugged wool sweaters that will keep you just as warm, if not as stylishly dressed.
Quality is five star, but a one star deduction for the higher price. Norway is a very expensive, oil-rich country with high labor costs, so anything "made in Norway" is bound to cost more with the passage of time.
