My long sleeved rapha one has been great but after 5 years litte tears have become gashes* and it really needs replaced. Worth putting the cash for another rapha one or should i look elsewhere eg icebreaker? Got a couple howies short sleeve but tbh never been that impressed with them
Bike Forum
Thin merino top recommendations
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Posted 4 months ago #
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Smartwool ones are great.
Posted 4 months ago # -
I was in Shanghai yesterday looking at Merino. My first time. Learnt a lot.
Might stick to designing suspension frames. Much easier!Posted 4 months ago # -
Posted 4 months ago #
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Aldi 15 quid long sleeve but like all things Aldi not often in stock
Posted 4 months ago # -
Endure BaaBaa. Not so thin but they keep on going with no shrinkage.
Posted 4 months ago # -
I have a couple of short sleeve orca ones that are great, prefer them to my short sleeve ice breakers although for long sleeves I've only tried ice breaker.
Posted 4 months ago # -
endura seems to be lasting well
Posted 4 months ago # -
I've got a 200g Icebreaker Oasis, which I really like. I haven't had it that long so can't comment on longevity.
Posted 4 months ago # -
macpac
Posted 4 months ago # -
On ones are dirt cheep, don't seem to shrink like their thicker ones either.
APF
Posted 4 months ago # -
Icebreaker Atlas 150. Lovely. Makes the BaaBaa feel like a sack.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Vote for Icebreaker 150's here.
Posted 4 months ago # -
I have only used icebreaker and dhb, and the latter have fallen apart inside 1 year, and one has shrunk. icebreaker has been faultless for three years. HTH.
Posted 4 months ago # -
the thin Howies ones are good - NBL Light I think they call 'em. Way overpriced normally, have picked up a couple over the years in their sales at much more reasonable prices.
Posted 4 months ago # -
I picked up a Howies NBL half-zip a few years ago, bit weightier than the Light but it's been excellent and is always the first layer I reach for when things get chilly.
Should have been £50 but I got it 50% off. Probably wouldn't have bought it otherwise but wouldn't be complaining if I had paid full whack.
Posted 4 months ago # -
IceBreaker stuff is excellent, although I find them not particularly technical in their cut.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Rab does a merino/Cocona mix they call MeCo - it's mostly merino with a bit of carbonised coconut husk thrown in. The fabric still has merino-like qualities, but it wicks significantly better and dries a lot faster. It's also more durable ime. Good stuff.
The thing that the reviews rarely tell you about merino is that it's relatively fragile and tends to hole easily with sustained use. Also that it doesn't so much wick, as hold moisture away from your body, so it still feels comfortable, but there's a point where it stops holding moisture and gets wet plus takes a long time to dry. Just saying
Posted 4 months ago # -
howies is delicate compared to icebreaker IMO. i was very impressed with the on-one stuff. very similar feel and fit the the icebreaker, in the 200g weight anyway.
Posted 4 months ago # -
id on't like Merino. Still find it itchy.
Posted 4 months ago # -
another vote for Icebreaker, however my Howies nbl is outlasting all my other Merino
Posted 4 months ago # -
I have a BaaBaa, had it for 2 years and still going strong.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Ok might go for icebreaker if can afford it, ill also check out baabaa and lab gear, ta!
Posted 4 months ago # -
I got a half price one from Blacks the other day. £20 and very similar to the one I got from Kathmandu about 4 years ago. Not itchy or bobbly like the Endura ones at all.
Posted 4 months ago # -
I bought the thin and thicker ones from on-one, the thick ones seem ok but I put my fingers through the thin one twice whilst putting it on...
Posted 4 months ago # -
recently got the dhb one from wiggle good value at about £20
Posted 4 months ago # -
I love my icebreak one - has lasted 18 months as is like new.
Posted 4 months ago # -
Torm
/Thread
Posted 4 months ago # -
if it wasn't £15 for lab gear shipping i'd go for that one
(torm don't do a long sleeve baselayer)
Posted 4 months ago # -
If you got 5 years out your Rapha I'd get another.
My longsleeve Rapha one is 3 months old with big holes appearing at the cuff seams. Grrr
Posted 4 months ago # -
maybe they've switched supplier/quality control? i'd be gutted with 3 months
Cycle surgery doing icebreaker top for £45 or custom coloured one from lab gear at £62
Posted 4 months ago # -
@jonke it may be the chlorine rather than the merino that you are finding itchy. sadly finding merino treated with an enzyme wash instead of chlorine to make it shrink free is pretty difficult
Posted 4 months ago # -
I have a labgear merino top and it is excellent. It is well designed, is an excellent cut and is just the right weight. I wil be ordering a new one for my birthday as the old one has worn out.
Dogsby
Posted 4 months ago # -
Another vote for Icebreaker, worth the premium price
Posted 4 months ago #
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