Dale Of Norway: Fongen Windproof and Vail Men’s Norwegian Wool Sweaters

Review by Paul Gallaher

In 1879, Dale of Norway began fabricating sweaters in their factory in Dale, Norway. In 1994, with the eyes of the world on Norway for the Lillehammer Winter Olympic Games, Dale of Norway became a recognizable international brand of ski sweaters. They’ve produced many Olympic and World Ski Championship sweaters over the years and have become a well-known symbol of quality and beautiful fashion.

Dale of Norway is a new brand for Engearment to collaborate with. As a person that’s spent much of my life skiing, I’ve been familiar with them for decades. Recently given the chance to try out some of their sweaters, I was excited to open the box and try them out when they arrived!

The first thing I noticed is that the box seemed too heavy for a couple of sweaters. No, they didn’t include a copy of the book Moby Dick in the sweater box, these were just solidly made of authentic, thick, yummy Norwegian wool.

In this review, I’m examining two different sweaters in a couple of different color patterns: Vail and Fongen

Vail Sweater

The Vail Men’s Sweater in (in Smoke Raspberry Offwhite) is made of 100% Norwegian wool. It is available in four very eye-catching color patterns with what Dale of Norway calls their traditional eight-petal rose pattern. Available in sizes from XS to 3XL. This sweater was chosen as the official team sweater for the U.S. Alpine Ski and Snowboard team several years ago.

The sweater has a “half-zip” feature and has a nice soft fleece liner around the neck area for comfort. The size Medium fits me well as I’m 6’2” and 160 lbs. It looks and feels great and fills a nice niche in both casual and dress-casual segments. I’d be comfortable wearing this to a Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner or for apres-ski time. LOVE this sweater!

Fongen Windproof Sweater

Dale of Norway generously allowed me to sample the Fongen Windproof Sweater in two different colorways; The “Smoke Offwhite Indigo Charcoal” and the “Navy Offwhite Red Rose”.

These sweaters are quite a bit different than most other sweaters. They have numerous features that honestly make them suitable for use as outerwear, even on colder blustery days. First, the Fongen comes with a breathable windproof liner. The wool is a special water-resistant variety. There are two zippered front “hand pockets” that are big enough to fit phones, keys etc. The wrists have elastic cuffs with thumbholes to keep wind and moisture out. Lastly, the high zippered neck is lined with warm, soft fleece to keep heat in and wind out.

Here, where we live in the high mountains of Colorado, there are about six months a year where I could wear this sweater in the same places I’d wear a light winter jacket and be comfortable AND stylish. I did wear one of these for a leisurely 10 kilometer Nordic ski this winter. If anything, the sweater was almost too warm that day. These sweaters are a unique item that I no doubt will be able to wear for years to come in the area where I live. The Fongen Windproof Sweater is variably available in a variety of colors and in sizes from S to 3XL.

Both of these authentic 100% Norwegian Wool sweaters are “hand wash only”.

Paul Gallaher

Paul grew up in Minnesota where he learned to love the outdoors, riding his bike, fishing and canoeing in the summers and skiing in the winters on Minnesota’s 300 foot-tall “mountains”.

After finishing college, he was commissioned as an officer in the USAF eventually becoming a special operations and reconnaissance instructor navigator flying and serving around the world for twenty-two years.

Living and traveling around the world has given Paul opportunities to explore outdoor passions. He is an advanced scuba diver, a pilot, a sailor and has skied in the United States, Canada, France, Italy, Austria and Switzerland.