[Closed] Merino Baselayer

"Good"? well, I find they don't retain body odour as much as man-made fibres. They also have a cosy feel. However, they retain moisture(sweat) and don't dry as quickly.

They're really nice to wear. The Endura baa baas are lovely and a good price as well.

Do you ride hot though? I.e. are you always warm when riding?
I find I can't wear mine unless it is pretty cold out, less than 5°C otherwise I cook.
When its cold they are amazing though

I'm looking for something that stays warm and dries quickly through the winter months. I find that whatever I wear (dedicated cycling or Berghaus baselayer)does not wick away sweat if I wear a camelback (obviously). So as soon as I stop it's the cold wet back I don't like. The lack of smell after riding is good but not that inportant as I change before driving home anyway.

If you're saying the performance is the same as man made but they are warmer when wet I would probably go for it.

grahamt1980 - I wouldn't say I run hot, not uncomfortably hot but I do sweat a fair bit going up.

I think the key is 'do they stay warm when you stop?'

big fan of embers merino here. washes well and fits well.
I have become a huge fan of merino over the last year.

I think the only thing about the sweaty back thing is to take another jacket to out on when you stop.

On a different note I finally bought a Gore Phantom and its very good in the winter. There is a none windstopper panel on the back.If its really cold you need only a baselayer under it. Its fairly water resistant, but in torrential rain you will need a waterproof on top.

i run hot and i love merino

it wicks extremely well but the surface stays very wet if you stop. Merino needs to be paired with a very good breathable or wicking windproof. I have lightweight short and long sleave base layers which i wear all year and a thicker one which i use for cold slow rides in winter.

NOTHING will stop you getting a damp back if you use a camelback though, the water simply has nowhere to go, even top of the range rucksacks get a bit sweaty

CHB - I like the look of those with the zip to let out some steam if necessary. Which one do you have? mid or light layer?

a zip is ok if you aren't still sweating, my l/w long sleave one has a zip. it won't help when you stop though, your skin is probably even less good at drying off than the merino 🙂

Ice breaker stuff here, 4 of them, often found cheap in blacks

I've found using a really light weight crew neck merino base layer (about 110g) under a slightly heavier synthetic zip neck long sleeve jersey or base layer works really well.
The thin merino layer stops you feeling damp + cold, and the synthetic layer is kept away form your skin and helps the merino to dry quicker.
I picked up Patagonia stuff really cheap in sales from a couple of outdoor shops and it's worked amazingly well.

If it gets really cold I just add a windproof gilet - wore this combination most of last winter right down to sub zero rides in the Peak.

Merino it is then, thanks a lot for the help everyone.

Ground Effect Submerino has both layers in one garment

Ground Effect and Embers here, lovely.
Howies merino - ok, no more than that.
The best ever - UniQlo V-neck ladies jumper I bought years ago for £20, wore for 2 weeks without washing (couriers don't wash) and returned to the shop in Regents Street complaining it had a hole. The girl asked if I wore it outdoors, I said [i]NO! It has a hole![/i], she gave me a new one. My then GF stole it a bit later.

If you're after something for the winter, then you might like to look at the Paramo Mountain Pull-On. It's not a cycling specific top, but they do wick really well.

Try a Vangard base layer if you can find one. I've tried most materials and brands and find the Vangards really reduce the "chilly, sweaty back" syndrome somehow. You can wash them at 80deg too so they dont stink.

+1 for embers. Top stuff.

+1 for the Patagonia,but I don't know if they make it anymore.
Ian

Embers here - beautiful

Plum

bikebreaker - I have a range of embers stuff. I have lightweight merino t-shirts that can be worn exactly as you would wear a normal t-shirt.
I have a long sleave version of the same thing. Then I have a midweight longsleave 1/3 zip top that I wear in cold weather.
I agree that merino with a lightweight shell is the way to go.

I also run hot (and sweaty) and though its hard to describe with merino I rarely feel too hot or too cold. It just sort of manages to keep your temperature constant(ish).

Buy a couple of embers t shirts. buy one long sleave midweight and match it up with a shell of your choice.

Unrelated, but gore-windstopper is also a product I rate highly for leggings. Again I don't get hot or cold wearing them in autumn/winter/spring.

Merino wool base layers are awesome!

They are warm in the winter, they keep you cool when it's warmer, they wick moisture away from the skin, they don't stink even after a 15 mile commute, they're really comfortable.

I wear mine all the time when riding unless it's mid-summer heat madness.

I use Embers which are beautifully made and I also have a cheaper TrekMates base layer. The Embers is particularly nice as it's finer and just better quality.

Get one, you won't regret it!