First off, this sweat is gorgeous. Really great design and quality. The fit is a little large, so I ordered down a size and that worked fine.
I was so surprised by the *feel* of it though. Many of the reviews said that this was comfortable and even soft. I know it's pure wool, but I have many other wool sweaters that aren't nearly as rough and scratchy as this was. I do love the warmth of wool, but even with an undershirt the material felt uncomfortable. I was disappointed and will be returning.
Years ago I donated by 20 year old original sweater on a midnight run to NYC for the homeless, becaus it was toastie warm. With a turtleneck you only needed gloves and a hat to go out in the cold.
The new sweater is much lighter and has a very different feel to it. But I am glad to have it back again. Wonder if Bean will bring back Ragg sweaters?
I get all my clothes from Bean - not sure I have ever been disappointed.
My daughter who lives in San Francisco asked for 2 items for Christmas- a Norwegian sweater and a pair of LL Bean boots. She said " nothing says Maine like that pair up". I ordered small men's as she is a medium in women's. I wonder why it is not offered in women's sizes. I will post if it fits correctly.
This sweater is a longtime LL Bean staple. Unfortunately, once again, Bean decided for no apparent reason to fix a product that wasn’t broken.
The Norwegian Sweater was traditionally a bulky but comfortable sweater that sat at the hips and had a thick, almost roll top collar. And was it warm! The sweater I received – the third one I’ve owned over 20 years – was close to the original, but no longer has the beefy collar. In addition, it feels a little lighter than my last. This winter will determine if it’s still as warm.
This sweater was also always available in Navy with white flecks, Red/Navy, and Cream/Navy. Oddly, the Cream/Navy option is no longer available, except in an alternative pattern.
The biggest issue is sizing. Either Bean’s sizing chart is off, or the sweater is, because the one I received was too big. I ordered an XXL based on the sizing chart, but when I got the sweater it could have accommodated a full size larger in the chest and shoulders, and the bottom was so long it passed over my hips and hung around my thighs like a kilt. I exchanged it for an XL which seems to be the fix.
Overall, the Norwegian Sweater is still a great garment that I would recommend to others. Sadly, it just seems to be the latest victim of LL Bean’s poor decision to alter traditional products in their product line. LL Bean has thrived for 100 years by offering quality products. Some products come and go, but the staples were always reliably unchanged. Why they seem to want to change these product designs when there’s nothing wrong with them is puzzling. When I read through the reviews of longtime products, this seems to be a common complaint echoed by many.
What’s next? If Bean redesigns its Maine Hunting Shoe, will they still be “Bean Boots”?
