Recommendations for travel garments (merino,bamboo,ect)

[HaYWiRe]

Right, not entirely bikepacker but very much about touring and outdoorsy life, I'm after a few new additions to my wardrobe.
I pretty much live in technical layers for work, cycling, touring, hiking, daily,ect and mostly wear polyester, Lycra and polyimide blends, great for being active but not so great for masking any smell while doing so. A little stink never killed anyone but the obvious bacterial and hygiene consequences aren't great.

What's your advice on some of the fancier garments out there? Such as merino or bamboo (or as I like to call it, hippy viscose/rayon). I've struggled with the itchiness' of certain merino tops and must have sensitive skin, though admittedly they were on the cheaper end of the spectrum. Viscose is delightfully soft and usually good with smell though I'm finding most companies blend it with alot of cotton..

Maybe I'm searching for a unicorn, or too cheap to buy said unicorn but hoping on some user recommendations than just fancy advertising descriptions.

[Richpips]

I've tried a fair amount of merino, since it became promoted as the wonder fabric some years back.

My general observations. Pure Merino does a good job at smelling clean. It doesn't wick/dry as well as fancy synthetics.

Unles you wash it with the utmost of care it will go to holes fast.

I am a fan of "sportswool" mixes which combine polyesters and merino wool. A sort of best of both worlds, though with some of the drawbacks. Gets smelly quicker, and still a fairly fragile fabric.

.

[jameso]

Polyester for fast-drying or merino for comfort and anything worn every day, unless it's warm enough to dry a poly top fast. Personal stuff but I like a combo eg a merino vest with a poly T or bike jersey in average conditions works well. The polyester seems to wick the merino dry a bit quicker and avoiding merino under the arms is a good thing for cooling. Thin, quality merino like Crikey, how much's tops are great but not cheap and needs some care or it doesn't last as well. But for being comfortable on those few times we do get away from the usual stuff I'd say it's worth it.

Agree with Rich, sportwool can be a good compromise.

[Bearbonesnorm]

I've been using more bamboo of late. I find that it has the good anti-stink properties of wool but dries quicker, wicks better and is easier to care for and generally much cheaper ... it also feels nice next to my baby-soft skin.

[HaYWiRe]

Didn't realise merino was so delicate, though I've heard a few people complain about holes it thought it was clumsiness.

I wash everything on 30c with gentle spin, a habit my family finds odd as they boil all their clothes at 60!
Still would be rather annoyed given the cost of these 'wonder fabrics'.

Is the itchiness common for merino or vary from brand to brand? I find my Endura baa baa socks and skullcap godly but my tops, tights and buff unbearable.

Any other fabric blends worth looking at? Starting to see bamboo more often but to me it just seems a fancier viscose, worth a punt?

[Richard G]

The only bamboo thing I have is horrible when I get sweaty. Maybe it's just a really bad example, will have to try something else from someone reputable.

Anyone got any suggestions on brands?

[Bearbonesnorm]

Anyone got any suggestions on brands?

Not the cheapest but I've found the Trail 42 'Tech T shirt' to work very well.

[ton]

i got a couple of rab bamboo t-shirts. pack small, dont smell. from cotswold in a sale. also use edz merino. the polo shirts are great for general wear and great for on the bike. bit pricier but very good quality.

[ianfitz]

Finisterre merino is better than most. Not cheap and does end up like the rest eventually. But not itchy as cheap stuff

[PaulB]

Crikey, how much tops are made by Icebreaker in NZ

[Farawayvisions]

I like merino wool garments best but their durability is poor compared to synthetics. I have holes in the elbows of my wool hoody, but that's probably because I wear it all the time. The finer t-shirts get snagged in brambles and thorns and tend to get a bit holey, but I have been wearing the same pink t-shirt for almost 2 years now and I love it. I was converted to merino about 8 years ago and despite the fact that it isn't as hard wearing as other wicky fabrics, and is a bit on the pricey side, I won't wear anything else because I stink to high heaven wearing anything else, even bamboo and a material made from nettles.

[Cheeky Monkey]

Keep an eye on sportpursuits, plenty of reduced smartwool and merino on there.

Sign up to BAM's newsletter for discount codes.

Bamboo and merino nice but as others have said, on their own they get beaten by sweat, IME. Much better combined with some synthetic for durability and moisture shifting.

[Ben98]

Decathlon merino is the best cheap stuff I've found. Picked up a load of short sleeve t's for £7 each today because they have stupid (but discrete) prints on the front.
It lasts pretty well (most days for roughly a year so far with only one small hole in 1 of 2) and is totally non itchy.

[RIP]

Definitely bamboo. I've got loads of Highlander stuff from a variety of places. At Stu says, very soft and no itching at all, and no pong after days on end.

Shreddies: https://www.amazon.co.uk/HOEREV-Bamboo- ... 71_TE_item
Tops: https://www.glasgowscoutshop.com/acatal ... r6995.html (bargain!)
Legs: http://www.military1st.co.uk/bl105-bk-h ... black.html
Socks: https://bambooclothing.co.uk/store/show ... /UA603-BLK

And when it's worn out you can feed it to your pet panda so what's not to like.

Faraway's nettles sound interesting. There's loads in the field down the road so I might have a go at MYO. Must take a fair while to sew each leaf together though. Therapeutic probably.

"Reg"

[mat_swan]

Not the cheapest but I've found the Trail 42 'Tech T shirt' to work very well.

After getting one in a prize bag at a race I now have three- a t shirt and a couple of jersey style things. Haven't done much riding in them but I've worn them a lot in the last few years for camping, outdoors and more generally, seem pretty resilient.

They feel very nice and soft!

I'm on the eurostar at the moment for a week touring in France and ive taken two for riding and living in, so make of that what you will

[Farawayvisions]

RIP Faraway's nettles sound interesting. There's loads in the field down the road so I might have a go at MYO. Must take a fair while to sew each leaf together though. Therapeutic probably.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=361YVBkFylo

[RIP]

Thank you FAV. Hmm, a little more effort than I'd hoped ;-). His field-full of raw material appears to be enough to knit a small handkerchief . Certainly therapeutic though.

[Kumquat]

Stuff I find comfortable. ......
Howies merino boxers. I put these on when I stop cycling-need to get out of soggy chamois asap. Yuk.

SuperNatural smartwool crew neck longsleeve. Bliss on or off the bike.

Crane bamboo t. Lidl. Nice off the bike. Good to sleep in.

One ten merino base s/s good on or off the bike. Chain reaction.

Rewoolution l/s base. Good to ride in on road if it is cold.

Bolger bamboo boxers. Sportpursuit
Avoid sweaty gusset at work whilst beavering hard.

[RIP]

"Avoid sweaty gusset at work whilst beavering hard."

I have to say that's conjuring some images I'm not sure I want conjured ;-).

[Cheeky Monkey]

Loads of stuff significantly reduced on www.bambooclothing.co.uk (c.50%).

If you stick "FOREVER" in the discount box when checking out that will get you another 10% off.

Feel free to say I referred you (timsellors ' googlemail . com)

[Richard G]

Just grabbed a trail top from them. Hopefully it'll be good.

[Richard G]

Trail top arrived. Is actually really nice. Very soft.

Fit isn't perfect (I'm an odd shape between a medium and a large), but it doesn't look too bad. Might wear it on my next bikepacking trip.