Merino, or other base layers?

Talk about anything.

Moderators: Bearbonesnorm, Taylor, Chew

Post Reply
Teetosugars
Posts: 696
Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2013 4:53 pm
Location: Cheshire

Merino, or other base layers?

Post by Teetosugars »

What’s good out there?
I love my old Helly Hanson’s, but, well, time for something new.
Is Findra worth the £?
User avatar
Ray Young
Posts: 3443
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2012 10:40 pm
Location: Edinburgh
Contact:

Re: Merino, or other base layers?

Post by Ray Young »

I too had an old Helly Hanson that recently died. After 3 new base layers in as many months I then settled on a Decathlon one.
ScotRoutes
Posts: 8144
Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2013 9:56 am

Re: Merino, or other base layers?

Post by ScotRoutes »

Avoid merino.
Teetosugars
Posts: 696
Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2013 4:53 pm
Location: Cheshire

Re: Merino, or other base layers?

Post by Teetosugars »

ScotRoutes wrote:Avoid merino.
Go on... Genuinely intrigued Colin. :geek:
u02sgb
Posts: 240
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2012 3:14 pm

Re: Merino, or other base layers?

Post by u02sgb »

Not sure I'd avoid Merino. Great for smell over long trips. It does get quite sweaty when you're pushing hard though. Been experimenting with more synthetic recently and it's great if you're not out for more than a day.

Still not decided on bamboo.
ScotRoutes
Posts: 8144
Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2013 9:56 am

Re: Merino, or other base layers?

Post by ScotRoutes »

Gets damp. Retains moisture. Gets cold when activity levels drop. Takes an age to dry.
The emperors new baselayer.
Nice as a leisure t-shirt, sub standard as a technical baselayer.
I have a Ground Effect Submerino baselayer that is 50/50 merino/poly. That works OK. some of the other mixes are fine too.
User avatar
benp1
Posts: 4051
Joined: Sat Dec 07, 2013 7:36 pm
Location: South Downs

Re: Merino, or other base layers?

Post by benp1 »

Merino not so good on high intensity stuff, doesn't dry quick enough for a base layer

I like under armour, brynje, helly hanson and stuff made from powerdry
ScotRoutes
Posts: 8144
Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2013 9:56 am

Re: Merino, or other base layers?

Post by ScotRoutes »

My favourite baselayers are the Gore sleeveless ones and the RAB Aeon (T or long sleeved)
User avatar
RIP
Posts: 9007
Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2014 7:24 pm
Location: Surfing The Shores Of Sanity Since 1959
Contact:

Re: Merino, or other base layers?

Post by RIP »

<whispers> bamboo.. been through this one before :smile:

(got a wierd magnifying glass on the " :smile: " up there, dunno what that's all about! )
Last edited by RIP on Wed Apr 03, 2019 10:40 pm, edited 3 times in total.
"My God, Ponsonby, I'm two-thirds of the way to the grave and what have I done?" - RIP

The sign outside the asylum is the wrong way round.....

"At least you got some stories" - James Acaster
Lazarus
Posts: 3598
Joined: Fri Aug 30, 2013 10:49 am

Re: Merino, or other base layers?

Post by Lazarus »

having never worn a base layer [ except for warmth/thermal reason] so what is the point of them exactly [ i bet this has been done before too ]
redefined_cycles
Posts: 9282
Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2016 8:19 am
Location: Dewsbury, West Yorkshire

Re: Merino, or other base layers?

Post by redefined_cycles »

Lazarus wrote:having never worn a base layer [ except for warmth/thermal reason] so what is the point of them exactly [ i bet this has been done before too ]
It helps you regulate... you know. Like Nate Dogg and Warren G :lol: (sorry... couldn't help myself and as one of the BBs says, I'll see myself out)...
redefined_cycles
Posts: 9282
Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2016 8:19 am
Location: Dewsbury, West Yorkshire

Re: Merino, or other base layers?

Post by redefined_cycles »

I love merino cos you can wear it for ages and it just doesn't smell (the good quality stuff maybe although my PX one never did smell I recall... it was a bit crap though and became wierd shaped in a short time). I've tested my 70 percent socks for 7 days (in the name of experimentation off course) and one would never know it. The Merino jersey can just be worn for weeks (I would imagine) without a hint of whiff :-bd

I take Colin (thats ScotRoutes right?!) point about the crap we're given about it being warm when wet and drying quickly. Dont think it does either of them well enough to write home about...
lune ranger
Posts: 2380
Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2016 7:52 pm
Location: Peoples Republic of Devon

Re: Merino, or other base layers?

Post by lune ranger »

Not merino.
I'm pretty committed to using natural fibre where possible in all areas of my life.
Merino does not work for me for cycling base layers or jerseys. As mentioned it gets wet, stays wet and is cold and unpleasant as a result.
I can also make mine stink....
I have some cheap DHB synthetic ones for commuting that are fine and some Falke and 2XU ones that are expensive and synthetic and do that nice feeling compression thing. Cheap ones probably work as well. I used a cheapo on Bb200 last year in Storm Whatshisname used only with a shell jacket I was very comfortable all day/night.
Last edited by lune ranger on Thu Apr 04, 2019 9:27 am, edited 1 time in total.
If you are going through hell, keep going.
WSC
ianfitz
Posts: 3642
Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2013 1:33 pm

Re: Merino, or other base layers?

Post by ianfitz »

I like merino for gentler stuff wherevill not be so sweaty but agree with Colin.

Alpkit makevsome drecent ones. And I recently got some kilpi stuff via sports persuit which were both cheap and reyt good.
Image
User avatar
Charliecres
Posts: 1453
Joined: Tue Oct 01, 2013 1:28 pm

Re: Merino, or other base layers?

Post by Charliecres »

I’ve never got on with merino. I tend to use a variety of cheap synthetics. I got a couple of BAM bamboo tops in their sale which are very comfy, quite warm and apparently non-stinky. I can’t help thinking they may suffer some of the drawbacks of merino but haven’t really given them a proper test yet.
ton
Posts: 2490
Joined: Mon Oct 26, 2015 9:53 am

Re: Merino, or other base layers?

Post by ton »

north face is good. comes in 2 weights. and fits a big un.
Oli.vert
Posts: 238
Joined: Mon Sep 25, 2017 6:17 pm
Location: London

Re: Merino, or other base layers?

Post by Oli.vert »

Another vote for Alpkit Merino (and a huge thumbs up for that hipster brand merino, if you can get it in a sale). True, it gets sweaty if you're working hard, but it beats the crap out of synthetic tops. I've got one or two synthetic tops but I almost shudder when putting them on so natural fibres for me on top please. Bamboo is also nice, but not very ecologically friendly - the amount of stuff they have to do to it to turn it into a wearable fibre is quite something.
So, Alpkit and Wapha merino for me please Santa.
lune ranger
Posts: 2380
Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2016 7:52 pm
Location: Peoples Republic of Devon

Re: Merino, or other base layers?

Post by lune ranger »

Oli.vert wrote:...Bamboo is also nice, but not very ecologically friendly - the amount of stuff they have to do to it to turn it into a wearable fibre is quite something...

Glad to hear some sense on the subject of bamboo as a fibre. Just about the only good thing about it from an environmental perspective is that it biodegrades.
If you are going through hell, keep going.
WSC
redefined_cycles
Posts: 9282
Joined: Tue Sep 20, 2016 8:19 am
Location: Dewsbury, West Yorkshire

Re: Merino, or other base layers?

Post by redefined_cycles »

lune ranger wrote:
Oli.vert wrote:...Bamboo is also nice, but not very ecologically friendly - the amount of stuff they have to do to it to turn it into a wearable fibre is quite something...

Glad to hear some sense on the subject of bamboo as a fibre. Just about the only good thing about it from an environmental perspective is that it biodegrades.
Didnt know that. Thanks fellas
User avatar
Dodgypenguin
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu Apr 28, 2016 8:29 am

Re: Merino, or other base layers?

Post by Dodgypenguin »

Merino just leaves me cold and wet. Moved to the Brynje super thermo in winter and super micro in summer. Looks like a dodgy string vest, but doesn't retain moisture, holds air and keeps the other damp layers off you. Don't get that cold and clammy feeling if I stop mid-activity.

Could never go back to Merino etc now. Just look like a 1950s grandad (which might suit).


https://www.nordiclife.co.uk/collection ... /mens+tops
User avatar
JoseMcTavish
Posts: 251
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2017 7:08 pm
Contact:

Re: Merino, or other base layers?

Post by JoseMcTavish »

I think merino is nice as a layer, just not as a base layer. Most effective for me have been the mesh base layers, which come in various different flavours and make even sweaty oiks like me feel comfortable when working hard.
fatbikerbill
Posts: 313
Joined: Wed Dec 30, 2015 6:25 pm
Location: manchester

Re: Merino, or other base layers?

Post by fatbikerbill »

I have a merino and hate it with a vengeance for cycling in cos of the cold damp feeling but it makes a great in tent post ride top.

My base layer of choice is a polartec 100 canondale cycling specific top I bought about 25 years ago. So good I bought a second. I wish I'd bought 20.
Post Reply