I bought this sweater in charcoal primarily to wear around the house in the winter. Since I'm mainly in my home office most of the day, I don't like heating the whole house. Compared to a pullover wool or fleece sweater, this has a convenient zipper that can be opened when the temperature rises; even in 68+ degree settings the sweater isn't too warm unzipped. The hand-warmer pockets are also a big advantage. Whenever my hands start getting cold, I just stuff them into the toasty side-slit pockets, which are kept warm by body heat. I'm 6'1"/235, so usually I buy upper body clothing in size XXL Tall. But I bought this sweater in XL Tall for a snugger fit and to avoid the sleeves being too long, and it fits perfectly. The medium-weight wool is very soft. I've worn it over short sleeve shirts with no discomfort or itching. My only complaint is that the knit, stand-up collar rises to a peak at the ends where the zipper is attached and sometimes pokes me in the neck or chin. A tapered or rounded collar end would be more comfortable.
I wore it the other night under my leather jacket, not an L. L. Bean leather jacket, at a football game and it was 40 degrees and I didn't even notice the cold. Perfectly toasty standing there selling tickets for two hours.
When I wore my new L L Bean full-zip Ragg Wool sweater to a performance at our local symphony hall (with a white shirt and tie) a friend stopped me to say I looked great and where did I get that sweater. She said she looked forward to seeing me wear it next morning in church! I'd say that makes it a 'keeper.'
Being familiar with "Ragg Sweaters" I assumed that this one would be of a substantial weight for winter... not bulky, but not this lightweight.My husband and I are both disappointed. The zipper sticks, the neckband not high enough. Lined version would have been better!
