Viewing 40 posts - 1 through 40 (of 47 total)
  • Merino Wool base layers
  • Mounty_73
    Full Member

    Thinking of ordering one…I was a bit chilly today with my base layer…

    Are they worth it ?

    mountainposture
    Full Member

    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.

    el-Gato-Negro
    Free Member

    worth every penny.

    I've got plenty of the stuff (icebreaker). Wear it all the time.

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    Nainosliw
    Free Member

    ^^ wot they both say. deffo worth it and if you think about it often only actually a £10/15 more than a polly 'technical top'.

    paule
    Free Member

    Absolutely great, and not always expencsive – got 2 of mine from Fat Face in their sale, think they were less than £15 each for long sleeve!

    Nainosliw
    Free Member

    Also – forgot to say – you can wear merino base layers and then just wool on top. Wool of any description is good IMO.

    Tracker1972
    Free Member

    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.

    Hairychested
    Free Member

    Icebreaker and Ground Effect here, used a lot, never beaten by plastic.

    corroded
    Free Member

    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.

    mountainposture
    Full Member

    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.

    hh45
    Free Member

    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.

    pegasus
    Free Member

    I absolutely love my long sleeved merino (Howies), am often found wearing it in bed..

    IdleJon
    Full Member

    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.

    Quality issues aside, the fabric is great.

    acorlett
    Full Member

    I like the stuff from Embers merino – generally less expensive than Howies. And definitely worth the upgrade, still warm even when sweaty.

    namastebuzz
    Free Member

    Try Cocolate Fish esp the bargain basement section.

    Icebreaker used to make their stuff in NZ but now it's made in India or China or somewhere and is overpriced for what it is IMHO 😕

    BigJohn
    Full Member

    I have quite a bit of Rapha merino and like it a lot. However, a polypropolene base layer is as warm and wicking. Smells a bit more though.

    bonesetter
    Free Member

    The Endura BaaBaa was voted product of the year recently in a mag (which I use – very nice. Wear it day to day too)

    Anyone use the merino poly mix? Keeps its shape and wicks slightly better

    ChristoGinger
    Free Member

    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. 😕

    mountainposture
    Full Member

    Oh and smell – or lack of it – is one huge advantage over manmade fibres

    hummerlicious
    Free Member

    I like the Baa Baa too 🙂

    Not tried any of the others, I will admit it's not the best in terms of fit though. But it's certainly toasty warm.

    dogthomson
    Full Member

    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.

    Alex
    Full Member

    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.

    montylikesbeer
    Full Member

    Got an icebreaker short sleeve and a pair of liner gloves both superb.

    I also got a long sleeve merino top from decathlon for £20 (worth a punt I thought) and is not bad at all.

    bonesetter
    Free Member

    Not tried an icebreaker, but been thinking of another merino so may try one next

    MrAgreeable
    Full Member

    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. 😐

    missingfrontallobe
    Free Member

    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

    http://www.thermalshop.co.uk/

    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.

    RRD
    Free Member

    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.

    Spud
    Full Member

    Those of you with Howies and Icebreaker, how do they compare for size? I'm a small in Howies and wonder what to go for in Icebreaker.

    Northwind
    Full Member

    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.

    Spud
    Full Member

    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.

    bonesetter
    Free Member

    I've got to say I wear mine day to day more than riding. Poly base does the job just as well – in the winter, with a jacket

    For summer I like merino too, but it does hold more moisture when sweating alot

    Midnighthour
    Free Member

    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.

    CaptainFlashheart
    Free Member

    Patagucci from TK Maxx if you can find it. So brilliant! I have an Endura BaaBaa as well, very impressed.

    clareymorris
    Full Member

    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 😀

    johnny63
    Full Member

    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

    Underhill
    Free Member

    Corroded – Is the Patagonia shop in Dublin off Grafton Street?

    Have a couple of Icebreaker tops, love them, comfortable, seem to wear well & don't stink after a day out. Well worth the money

    thefallguy
    Free Member

    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…

    http://www.finisterreuk.com/sdcms/product.php

    Crivvens
    Free Member

    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.

    clubber
    Free Member

    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.

    Crivvens
    Free Member

    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.

Viewing 40 posts - 1 through 40 (of 47 total)

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