Merino Rocks

[WannaBeDude]

Having bought and tried Merino and / Smartwool base layer and socks, I will be buying more and NEVER going back to plain ones.

You also don't have to wash um as much

I also tried out Gor windstopper pantys today, was wearing same bike gear, but with these new items, noticeably warmer and more comfortable in same conditions.

Cost a bit but worth it.
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Jogging on, destination living.

[stinkwheel]

For once I agree with covdude. Once you have worn merino base layers, you would find it hard to go back to stinky synthetic stuff.

You can wear a merino t-shirt for a whole week in the summer and it still doesn't stink.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[covent.gardens]

I've had my merino tops for two months now and they've not needed washing yet

[WannaBeDude]

People neglect the important thing, the layers next to your skin, poly tops are good in that they are better than cotton for drying, buy merino is where its at.

When one thinks of the money one spent in youth early twentys on so called trendy tops, looking back, wtf.

Smartwool for the win, not sure why its more win though, or why its smart.
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Jogging on, destination living.

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

I live with the minor itchiness that I get from wearing wool. My mummy always said I had sensitive skin.

[stinkwheel]

[cornish]

Merino wool? I bet they're lovely.

Merino's very expensive. . . .but i do fondle it a lot when i'm in the wool shop
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smile and be happy. . . .it gets right on everyone's tits!

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

I thought so too. Got mine from Aldi last year. [edit] checked label 100% merino wool.
Also have some swandri clothing and that is damn itchy too.

[WannaBeDude]

Lots of gear is sold as merino, when its only part merino etc, nerino bandwagon shall we say.

My top on sale cost 26 quid, twice that of poly ones, but its many times better in feel comfort and warmth be it cold or hot, and its non stinky benifits are ace. Meaning you can wear it longer than 2 lots of poly ones, so in practice its the same price yet miles better.

My smartwool phd socks are awsome 2.
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Jogging on, destination living.

[stinkwheel]

Can't comment on the other makes but I've got icebreaker stuff.

Comes in at about £60 for a long sleeve top, £45 for a t-shirt.

Therein possibly lies the difference.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[WannaBeDude]

This .. selling out uk wide and waited 2 weeks del, hop on if you want.

The ice breaker stuff looks the business, but no discount atleast at cotswold anyway.

https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/index.cfm/product/smartwool-mens-microweight-crew-base-layer/fuseaction/products.detail/code/19110451/id_colour/108/group/5119/level/3
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Jogging on, destination living.

[TheDonUK]

I also have the Icebreaker stuff, The thick (300 grade?) leggings and a long sleeve top. Used it on my trip through Kazakhstan/Mongolia/Russia, great for the cold, but also wore it when it was 36 degrees in the desert, counterintuiative but it helped wick away the sweat. Now i wear it sitting in the office at work (by the door so drafty). Worth it.
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[Current Bikes - GSXR-750 K5 & C90-97 ] [Previous Bikes: Runner 125, YBR 125, GS500, Bandit 600, Hornet 600, ZX6R-99, C90-99, R1-99, XT600E-04, GSXR-750 K4, CRF250L '16]

[WannaBeDude]

Imnew to tek base layers, are we saying ice over smartwool then, as im none the wiser, just plumped for the 100 percent merino as the other infredients confuse me.

All these different tek names, i know about the clothing but not tek base layerthoughts beyond merino is good, great.
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Jogging on, destination living.

[TheDonUK]

Icebreaker is just a brand of 100% merino gear, so if you can find other 100% garments i don't see why they would be any worse

https://www.icebreaker.com

As i say just a brand and not cheap, but it seems to be the good stuff
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[Current Bikes - GSXR-750 K5 & C90-97 ] [Previous Bikes: Runner 125, YBR 125, GS500, Bandit 600, Hornet 600, ZX6R-99, C90-99, R1-99, XT600E-04, GSXR-750 K4, CRF250L '16]

[WannaBeDude]

Same ish as smartwool then, no doubt on climbing and outdoor forums, peeps have their favourites.

Not too fussy, will just go for ok colours and hopefully on discount.

The poly ones are getting binned for sure, lots of dog walking to do now knee/leg mostly better
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Jogging on, destination living.

[magpiemale]

I bought some merino base layers I haven't worn them as yet from a hiking shop.150gram in weight
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NSR125 1992 (sold) kawasaki Z750S,fazer FZ1 07 now gone present bike 2012 fz1s Fazer,beowulf rad protector,heated grips,sw motech gps holder,power socket.

[Walloper]

[Mattaria]

Icebreaker is the business, I wouldn't wear anything else. It is pricey but the quality is unsurpassed, and it doesn't need washed very often....

[WannaBeDude]

[magpiemale]

I'd be careful with glove liners they tend to fry a lot on the Velcro that jackets n gloves have,I used them before and binned them as I was irritated at them catching the Velcro.
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NSR125 1992 (sold) kawasaki Z750S,fazer FZ1 07 now gone present bike 2012 fz1s Fazer,beowulf rad protector,heated grips,sw motech gps holder,power socket.

[WannaBeDude]

Ive tried so called liners, these ones imo, will do the job, also my winter gloves have only one velcro strap that does not interfere.

https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/index.cfm/product/icebreaker-glove-liner/fuseaction/products.detail/code/1C310064/id_colour/124/group/138/level/3
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Jogging on, destination living.

[Mattaria]

For anyone interested I got an email this morning from sport pursuit detailing some pretty good icebreaker discounts in male and female.

https://www.sportpursuit.com/sales/icebreaker-merino-mens

[Gavster88]

Aldi have got them in yesterday, £15.99 for tops and £15.99 for bottoms

[magpiemale]

Tog24 has a sale on Merino wool n base layers they have the 200g Merino.£35 for top with high neck n zipper,I have the bottoms in the 150g and they are good went to NEC in them sat walking around bike show and no sweating even with jeans on.still kept the cold at Bay going home 4'0clock
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NSR125 1992 (sold) kawasaki Z750S,fazer FZ1 07 now gone present bike 2012 fz1s Fazer,beowulf rad protector,heated grips,sw motech gps holder,power socket.

[GreyFox]

Just a word of warning regarding the quality of wool used in some Merino garments; most brands seem to use Aussie Merino, which will probably have been chemically dipped and bleached before use. This essentially removes the oils which give natural Merino fleece it's anti-bacterial "no stink" quality. The prices they offer the garments at from the likes of Aldi make alarm bells ring in my head with regards to quality of both construction and fabric used.

I spent ten years selling outdoors kit, and Icebreaker is the only company I'm aware of that uses 100% New Zealand Merino which isn't bleached or dipped in anything harsh. Smartwool were popular with climbers for their socks, and I have a pair which are 6 years old and still going strong. Both brands always seem more expensive per garment, but I will personally vouch for the quality, with constant use climbing, camping, mountain biking, travelling, working and now on motorbike. The stuff lasts, and isn't it better to buy one £40 top that lasts 5 years than a new £20 one every year?

Blended fabrics do have their place though, and Helly Hansen do very nice long-johns which are Lifa (synthetic wicking fabric) next to skin and Merino on top in their "Warm" range; I like these as the wicking fabric moves sweat away from your skin, which Merino itself doesn't do (it is breathable, which means sweat vapour can pass through, but condensed liquid sweat on your skin will not be removed by Merino), but you still get the insulation of the wool. No Betty Swollocks, no stinky gooch after a long trip. Win!
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2005 Honda XL125 V5 Varadero - Current bike