I can't wear normal wool jumpers as they itch me far too much (not sure is it is just wool being wool or an alergy of some kind) but i understand that merino socks and base layers are probably the way to go. Is merino just as itchy as normal wool or is it better?
Not itchy on my experience (many diff brands). Some other may differ though.
No
I don't find it itchy as such, but I know that I am wearing it if you know what I mean.
It is a lot better but still it is wool. I don't mind it, but my husband who hates the wool because of the "itchiness" can't stand the feel of the merino wool either. Best to go to the shop and actually feel the material before you buy in my opinion.
I hate wool next to my skin, but I love my Icebreaker merino goodies. Haven't tried other brands, so I can't say if it is better than others.
Got Howies, Icebreaker and Smartwool base layers. Not a itch to scratch between them!
I can't wear wool on my skin normally, but merino is so fine it's not itchy in the least. In fact, the super fine summer weight ice-breaker t-shirt that I got vastly reduced (down to a sensible price from stratospheric at Go Outdoors) is one of the softest things I've ever worn.
I've a cheap merion baselayer, and therein lies the problem; it was cheap.
Itchy, and has shrunk in the body. Arms are Okay, but the body rides up unless covered in a vest type layer - so I usually end up with a merion base, then a Lifa vest over it.
I find it itchy when you get sweaty. Like above a lot of people love them but its not for me - too sensitive!
Yes - VERY!
Ive tried two merino products - Swobo merino jersey & a regular Merino base layer
Both were itchy as something very itchy
not for me but some folks love em!
I've got about 5 merino tops, and I find 2 of them (howies, craghoppers) to be rather itchy, which puts me off wearing them.
I've also got an older howies one which is fine though, and my favourite of the lot 🙂
I think the answer is some are, some aren't.
My Howies NBL is perfect, not in the slightest itchy.
I dont find it itchy, but it feels like its there, cant explain it ! 🙂
Its not as itchy as "normal" wool products for sure, but I do find it itchy at first, once its been on for a bit I tend to forget about it though.
Ive a Howies one bought me as a pressie. I'm in the too itchy camp. V uncomfy
I'm wearing my Icebreaker merino baselayer and longjohns right now. For me, merino is the best stuff in the world, I never find it itchy. But then, I'm fine with even the coarsest of wool jumpers. Trying on a shop might give some indiction of whether it will be alright for you I suppose.
I find that it irritates me too.
Icebreaker is only slightly, but nothing like "normal" wool against your skin. I comfortably wear Icebreaker boxers for climbing/wlaking/not in the saddle MTB.
I far prefer getting sweaty in merino to synthetic. Oh, and you may know that you can wear it for days without any smell so it's like buying 2 or 3 synth layers.
No though I have found that if it's rubbing on the small of my back (long rides with minitool/tubes/etc in jersey pockets over the merino), I get a pretty bad rash/abrasion from it which I never get with normal jerseys.
I find wool itchy but not my merino tops! Old old Fat Face one for me and a Embers merino, they are super soft the ones I have and you certainly don't feel like you are wearing wool.
Icebreaker and Lab Gear here - not at all itchy.
Found the Endura ones a bit itchy, but they're made by Scots who have less sensitive skin than me 😉
Oh, and you may know that you can wear it for days without any smell
Myth, IME. Certainly not true in all circumstances. I can vouch for that. Whatever it is, I am doing something differently.
Don't belive the "it soooo soft it makes me giddy with delight" people.
THEY ARE LIARS!!!!!!!!!!
It's wool,only satan and dead people can wear it.
Or the stupid fashionistas.
It itches if posh, poor, stylish or vintage because it's freaking wool. It is merino [u][b]WOOL[/b][/u]!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have some in my gloves which I can stand but the idea of having that on my torso, and then getting hot, and then it rubbing, and then cracking my teeth as I can't stand the feel of wool, and then having to still ride home with cracked teeth and the wool getting worse and your teeth aching and you shout at your mates, coz they are too stupid to understand and it itches more ,you can't get away,even if you take it off you can still feel it . It's wool and that's what it does.
Put it this way, when was the last time you saw prisoners on death row or Guantanamo bay wearing wool.
Think about it.
Got loads of it - none itches at all.
Roper.. If I showed you my Icebreaker T you would not know it was wool.
Ditto for my Embers one - it really just looks like a cotton t-shirt made of reasonably heavy cotton.
I can wear the socks, but the full-on back contact might be too much. I can't normally wear some wool over a formal shirt, let alone against the skin!
If I could return one, I'd give it a try. But the at risk cost is very high.
icebreaker one feels like soft cotton, no itch
endura one is itchy, in a nice way............i want some itchy merino undercrackers......... 8)
Anyone near Cardiff or Farnborough is welcome to come round and have a feel.
I normally find wool itchy but have found the Eundra Marino base layers very comfortable, only found it to be slightly itchy on the first use. After that fine.
If you're properly allergic to wool then I'd imagine it's going to itch - it's still wool.
But the very fine grades of merino, Smartwool for example, don't "feel" like wool, don't feel as if they're casting any microscopic fibres off for your skin to take exception to. It does feel more like cotton.
If I wore a lambswool jumper of the type your gran might buy you from M&S for christmas directly against my skin, I'd itch - but not so with merino.
For me Smartwool not itchy.
Endura Baa Baa slightly itchy but bearable.