I swear by my Icebreaker stuff – have several different weights of layers for different conditions, even a t shirt which I run in in Summer. Wears really well and lasts a long time. Just don't tumble dry! Mine aren't bike specific but work well for anything I do be it running, walking or biking.
Got a Rab one with long sleeves half price from Hitch n Hike a bit ago. Brilliant! Usually get too warm and sweaty uphill but it just feels right. And it really doesn't smell, my clothes always stink after a ride but can happily wear it again with no worries, even if it is still a bit damp.
Got a short sleeved on for christmas and think I may well add to them at some point.
Definitely worth it. I rate Patagonia's, especially if you can find them reduced somewhere (like the factory shop in Dublin). Icebreaker also a good fit but very pricey.
Hmm, there's a shop in Ambleside which does Icebreaker (and Patagonia) at very reasonable prices especially for the previous season's stuff. I think it's called Mountain Factor. Most of mine has been bought in sales.
Well worth it, got a few from Ice Breaker, Howies and Ground Effect and mid layers as well. All great. I'm a fan of all things natural but the performance of wool and merino wool over synthetics is quite noticeable plus it needs less washing and lasts well IME.
I had an Endura one in the autumn. I would have recommended it thoroughly until I found a random hole in the arm two or three weeks ago and noticed that the seams are coming apart. I've only used it about a dozen times maybe.
Endura Baa Baa is extremely poor quality compared to the icebreaker stuff, in terms of fit and comfort. The Baa Baa now sits at the back of my drawer and only gets worn as a last gasp. I would pay the extra for the icebreaker stuff every time – it is without doubt the most yummy comfortable stuff ever.
P.S I really dislike the Baa Baa. Cant believe it won a reader award. 😕
Hmm… Interesting. My Mum bought me a Baa Baa this christmas and I think it is fantastic. Warm, comfy and seems good quality. I won't buy Icebreaker after I sent some of their socks back for a warranty issue and never heard a peep back from them. Yes… They stole my socks!
I noticed that Marks and Spencer have Merino base layers in at the minute too. £29.50 for SS, £35 for LS, think they're B.O.G.O.H.P. at the minute too. Anyone taken the gamble on one? They have the code on the box where you can track where in NZ the wool comes from like Icebreaker do.
Icebreaker LS here. Brilliant, bought November, worn on every ride since I think! Even on super cold night rides, that and my Enduro Stealth is all I need. Great fit, doesn't stink, holds in the warmth not the sweat.
Mine a 200, going to get a SS for early morning commuting when it gets *a bit* warmer. £40 from our local camping shop which I reckon is VFM for what it does.
I have some Icebreaker and Howies stuff, and while I'm happy with it I don't know if the advantages are that massive compared to synthetic material. Merino is warm when wet but it does tend to hold moisture more than synthetic fabrics, and can get quite chilly on a windy wet day. I was also a bit alarmed when I ripped my mid-weight Icebreaker long johns while putting them on. I think it was me being cack-handed rather than any particular problems with the garment, but it doesn't bode well for their durability. 😐
I bought a merino top from an online place that does just generla thermal underwear, not syscling specific, in fact they seem to push it more for motorcyclists
Having bought & used many man made fibre base layers in the past, I wouldn't go back to them. The merino is warmer, wicks better, doesn't smell. Everything that I'd been told about the stuff by others (and I'd gone "yeah, right….") is true.
I am going to buck the trend and say that in my experience the advantages (stink factor?) do not outweigh the disadvantages (ie price)
My Icebreaker LS half zip 200? weight top is nothing special compared to my polyprop tops. It definitely holds moisture more than my synthetic tops and as for warmth etc much of a muchness.
I'm a bit unconvinced myself, mine (Icebreaker) isn't any better than my Trespass thermal base layer, and it cost about 1/4 as much. If anything it's worse when it gets wet.
I don't tend to wear mine when riding, but afterwards and especially when travelling/ on hols as I can wear fewer of them for longer than cotton t-shirts.
I think the 'smell factor' is worth the change to marino. Also one of the great positives is the drying speed of merino wool (yes, shocking though it is, some of us actually wash our merino clothes) – I now use the lightweight marino t-shirst as general wear instead of cotton t-shirts etc as it is so much easier to dry. Wash it in the evening, hang it up in the house and its dry to wear the next morning, even in winter. Excellent. Keeps its shape better than some cotton t-shirts seem to.
Stays warm when wet – I love them (have trek mates, endura and smartwool)and don't have anything else next to my skin wjen riding in the spring/autumn/winter…..super cosy and yes still stylish off the bike too 😀
Howies LS here – think it is a class bit of kit, can usually get away with it and Gore N2S windproof jacket – it does tend to hold the moisture but dries quick and I find it keeps the heat in better than any of the alternatives that i have (2XU, Berghaus, Groundeffect)
Also use Lewiskit merino socks – usually get a year out of them before holes start appearing in the toes but they do keep my feet warm, even when wet
my finisterre baselayer is v.good, softer than my endura, and wearing well, great customer service too but available as a pre order only at the moment…
Like namastebuzz I go for Choccy Fish stuff. Their baselayer is great and a good weight – light enough to wear all year round and dry fast, heavy enough to give decent wear. Tried IBs 150 weight and it was in holes in less than 6 months. Also just got myself one the new Choc Fish 260 weight hoodies. I wear it over the base and its a decent bit of kit – wear it anywhere.
You get what you pay for. Cheap stuff usually itches and/or is badly cut. Mind you, so is expensive stuff – IB's mostly rubbish now its made in China. Mr Agreeable – if your IB midweight longjohns ripped just by being put on – they realy are rubbish. I've seen posts about this happening on other forums so its not you being cack-handed.
Strangely I've found that my Embers shortsleeved jersey brings me out in pretty bad rash if I wear it under a couple of layers when it's cold – I think it's a bit rough and rubs the skin when damp… No problem with it when it's used as a single layer.
Strangely I've found that my Embers shortsleeved jersey brings me out in pretty bad rash if I wear it under a couple of layers when it's cold – I think it's a bit rough and rubs the skin when damp… No problem with it when it's used as a single layer.
What do you wear over the top? Although even if it's a non-breathable synth your merino shouldn't do this to you. Mine doesn't even under a waterprood top. Shouldn't feel any rougher damp than dry either. I wear merino under my wetsuit so I know 😉 But again its always worth checking where the stuff is made.