Thermolite vs Merino

Yeah, but the other point is that I don't want to have to worry about using "proper" detergent to wash my stuff, either at home or away. Quite frequently on trips, soap or shampoo in cold water is the mode of washing, and this categorically does not work with smelly-hellys, but does with merino!

BTW you do know that merino comes in multiple weights? I happily use it year round without getting sweaty and I generally run quite hot.

Yeah I know it comes in different weights, I only sold high end outdoor clothing for nearly 4 years, I never learnt nuffink in that time innit.

:p

Did you know that Gore-tex comes in different weights to?
and that they changed the construction of Gore Windstopper before general release because it wasn't breathable enough.
I've still got a pre-release sample bodywarmer from a Berghaus rep years ago made from the stuff, and its good but not up to the quality of the new stuff that they used when they put everything into production, my Gore windstopper gloves were a lot better in terms of breathability.

Anyways all this talk of Merino and Lifa....Outlast™ is where its at when it comes to temperature regulation if you get hot all the time, my Wigwam Outlast socks were nearly £30 a pair but worth every penny....well I didn't pay anywhere near that, but they were still worth every penny ;)

I can't believe i have witnessed an entire thread on the cut of clothes, feel of fabric and how to get the best washing results and not one of you has had the decency to tell this Gringo to Harden The Fuck Up!
this place makes me sad at times, an extra big HTFU should go to you domestic godesses

Rik stick to the beer jacket and be a man!

If you wanna spend the money use Tech Wash by NikWax to wash your Merino and synth base layers in. If you want to achieve the same without spending money, use soap flakes, good old fashioned soap flakes from the supermarket/ironmonger/haberdashery store. This is 100% the same deal as Tech Wash. I've found both are the best at getting the whiff out of base layers, but I never machine wash Merino, despite people saying you can....

Icebreaker Merino by the way is the good stuff.

Base wash is better, it has stronger anti-bacterial properties, tech wash is OK however, i've used it as well when i've run out of Base Wash.

I've also got a merino buff/neck tube which absolutely rocks.

My personal combination until it gets cold enuff for my milwaukee is merino tee, merino jumper, merino buff, with a montane velo to keep the wind out. I find this combo all keeps me warm without getting overly sweaty. If i'm getting too hot i can take the velo off and stuff it in my pocket and/or take the buff off and wrap it around my wrist

I don't want to have to mess about with washing base layers differently to my normal clothes. It's all about having something you can just dash into your normal wash.

I don't think i'm quite clear on how the Merino layers work. They hold more moisture - does that mean that they take moisture away from your skin, or that they just get really sweaty?
(Actually, as an after-thought, t-shirts get sweaty when i ride in them but they don't feel weird or irritate my skin...so perhaps it's just the synthetic material against my skin that i don't like).

Do synthetic layers generally work better at getting sweat away from your skin?

I'm now thinking that it might be about buying a decent over layer, and just wearing a t-shirt underneath.

Yes generally, although this obviously depends on the synthetic in question, but put a super high end synthetic against super high end merino wool, compare wicking performance and the synthetic will win everytime.

Merino pulls moisture from the skin but holds more fluid than synthetics. But even when holding fluid it's warmer than synthetic

basically it fucking rules

go and look at some camping forums for more info

James has almost got it right here ^ assuming you don't have to take into account the windchill factor then yes it is warmer even when holding fluid, however if you are not planning on wearing a shell jacket over the top to prevent windchill, then you should wear a synthetic layer underneath which keeps the moisture off of your skin and in the merino instead, allowing fluid to continue to evaporate into the air without taking your bodyheat with it, as the synthetic layer is wicking moisture away from your skin faster than the merino on its own would.
Due to the nature of merino and the way it holds fluid, it will be more prone to windchill if you are not wearing a shell on top of it, or a synthetic underneath.
I find this warm enough most of the winter and only put a shell on when it gets really humid or is raining/exceptionally windy.

Did you know that Gore-tex comes in different weights to?

Yeah, but Gore-tex is shit - Event is where it's at :-)

eVent is fucking amazing!

Goretex Paclite > eVENT.

Goretex Paclite > eVENT.

Not if you care about not ripping your jacket!

If I cared about that I wouldn't go with Paclite, i'd go with a heavier weight Goretex, all depends what you want innit bruv.

Saying that my Paclite jacket needs tat rip patching up still :(

But then again I think most jackets would have ripped... if you crashed and slid upside down on your shoulder down an icy car park ramp.

If I cared about that I wouldn't go with Paclite, i'd go with a heavier weight Goretex

No, you'd go with eVent, see?! All the breathability of paclite, with the great wear characteristics you've come to expect from gore-tex :-)

Pac-lite is pretty damn tough, 16+stone lump of a bloke crashing and sliding down a car park ramp (at speed!), and only getting two little rips on the shoulder of a jacket that weighs about as much as a gnats left testicle was pretty impressive in my eyes....if you're expecting bullet proof maybe you should get a Kevlar Paclite™ jacket?

guys, guys, focus here. Merino vs Thermolite

I already have a jacket, thanks you

The whole point of Paclite is that its lightweight and you can compress it down easily without damaging the fabric (or rather its designed to be compressed down, whereas normal gore-tex fabrics aren't), I don't get the point of this eVENT lark, lightweight but not designed to be compressed down, heavier than Paclite but lighter than Goretex, it can't seem to make up its mind?!
If I was going to go with a lightweight and durable shell jacket (i'm talking non cycling specific here), it'd have to be HH or Berghaus IMO.

guys, guys, focus here. Merino vs Thermolite

I already have a jacket, thanks you

Already answered that question Rik ;)

I think is going to be merino

If you're just going to buy one layer, and one only for the winter, this is THE one:

http://www.outdoormania.co.uk/Item-0-0-cat-7-brand-760-Helly_Hansen_Odin_High_Neck.aspx[URL="http://www.outdoormania.co.uk/Item-0...High_Neck.aspx"][/URL]

High quality Merino, high quality synthetic, i'd get one if I didn't already have shitloads of base-layers and combinations that can do the same job, this does the same thing as my 2 base layer combo pretty much.

I'm looking for armwarner and base layers, both

any advise for a good armwarmers???

Why do you want seperate?

Get something like that and it'll keep both your arms and your body more than warm enough, and dry to.

Armwarmers: Santini from prendas.

Base layer: can't go wrong with Merino.

I've never owned armwarmers, but I would save your money, try that baselayer first, and then if you feel you need additional insulation for your arms look into armwarmers I guess?

If you're just going to buy one layer, and one only for the winter, this is THE one:

http://www.outdoormania.co.uk/Item-0-0-cat-7-brand-760-Helly_Hansen_Odin_High_Neck.aspx[URL="http://www.outdoormania.co.uk/Item-0...High_Neck.aspx"][/URL]

does it come with a mask n cape?

Those Odin layers are so good you may get one and find you don't need/want armwarmers is all i'm saying.....

Mowgster they come with free Odin eye, and Thors Hammer if you collect enough tokens :p