Merino Clothing (base layers, etc)

haha Donut you smartass, i'll chase away the Moles if you tell us about this mysterious "Merion" substance

Merion is made from the soft underbelly fur of the Mole! Everyone knows THAT! ;)

Merion is made from the soft underbelly fur of the Mole! Everyone knows THAT! ;)

u said that so convincingly i almost believed you.

does anyone have one of the surly ones? and do brixton cycles stock them?

u said that so convincingly i almost believed you.

But it's true I'm telling you, true! ;)

You've obviously looked into this much more than me ... however, their stuff still itches when I wear it :(

ah, I hear you. 'prickly heat' as the Ground Effect man put it when I talked to him at the Cycleshow.

the sad thing is for those of us with sensitive skin, the wonders of merino need to be midlayer - and you have to stay with polyester base layers. DAHIK. (tho strangely the Swrve WWR shorts have a mild irritation factor as well for me and another who has tried them. we loves them tho so we puts up with it. oh yes.)

some manufacturers are putting a thin layer of polyester inside the merino, but then you lose a LOT of the wicking capability :( and pretty much shouldn't bother.

I'm trying a variety of merino stuff atm, they are subtly different - I might find one I can cope with by next winter. Carradice had a new merino jersey on their stand and that was much better than others I've tried on - but that's not a base layer.

I'm wearing merino today for the first time this year. I can't stop touching myself.

ah, I hear you. 'prickly heat' as the Ground Effect man put it when I talked to him at the Cycleshow.

the sad thing is for those of us with sensitive skin, the wonders of merino need to be midlayer - and you have to stay with polyester base layers. DAHIK. (tho strangely the Swrve WWR shorts have a mild irritation factor as well for me and another who has tried them. we loves them tho so we puts up with it. oh yes.)

some manufacturers are putting a thin layer of polyester inside the merino, but then you lose a LOT of the wicking capability :( and pretty much shouldn't bother.

I'm trying a variety of merino stuff atm, they are subtly different - I might find one I can cope with by next winter. Carradice had a new merino jersey on their stand and that was much better than others I've tried on - but that's not a base layer.

As I mentioned above go with polypropylene not polyester, it's much better at wicking.

I just read the info companies put on their sites - Howies, Smartwool, IB, CF, Ullefrotte cos I like to know what Im buying. And if you say stufff itches when its the same stuff from both companies - Mapp merino/Zque - then thats weird. Of course could be psychological. If people think something is going itch, it usually does. Someone at Leiceter Uni years ago did an experiment on people who were convinced they were "allergic" to something. When they were given the placebo, they still claimed they had a reaction. Who knows the workings of the human mind :-)

As I mentioned above go with polypropylene not polyester, it's much better at wicking.

yeah sorry & thanks ,my stuff is polypropylene had an attack of the p*'s. The ground effect guy sure as heck said polyester tho was being used by some combined with merino, so watch out.[tm]

interesting polyester is a bit rubbish, I'll watchout ta.

Craft is quite good. I've got a ProZero and it looks and feels cold, but as soon as you put one on you can feel the warmth. After a ride all your sweat will stay on the mid or top layer. Good stuff.

I used one of these all last winter with a thin lycra t-shirt over the top.

Helly Hansen Freeze Turtle.

60% Merino wool, 40% HH Lifa. I found it really warm though I haven't got a 100% Merino top so not sure how it would compare to that.

Cost me £33 from Penrith Survival last year, looks like prices have gone up significantly, now £43. =(

http://www.penrithsurvival.com/penrith_survival/mia/d/mens+freeze+turtle+helly+hansen+base+layer+with+merino+wool+for+warmth/pid/31814540

cyclesurgery sell icebreaker base layers. some of them are on offer, too.

£34.99 rrp, with 30% off. At least they were. dunno if they still are.

I just read the info companies put on their sites - Howies, Smartwool, IB, CF, Ullefrotte cos I like to know what Im buying. And if you say stufff itches when its the same stuff from both companies - Mapp merino/Zque - then thats weird.

Or it could be something simple like a wash gone wrong ... who knows ... just try it out for youself people. I know which of my base layers are a bit itchy and which ones aren't. God knows about the next batch.

Just bought £150 worth of Icebreaker merino baselayers for £21 at Black's closing down sale!

It's a pisser for the staff but if one is closing near you watch out for the reductions. 70% reduction at my local shop; when I got to the counter I discovered that was 70% off the already reduced price. Of course sizes might be a problem but worth a look.

Just bought £150 worth of Icebreaker merino baselayers for £21 at Black's closing down sale!

It's a pisser for the staff but if one is closing near you watch out for the reductions. 70% reduction at my local shop; when I got to the counter I discovered that was 70% off the already reduced price. Of course sizes might be a problem but worth a look.

Woot! I want something like that in Vienna!

Well, ok, not really want a shop to close down but I want prices like that!

Another unexpected score in TK-Maxx - Tresspass Merino base layer for £7, Core base layer with long sleeve (Polyester/Nanobon) for £6 and two pairs of sports trunks great for cycling (light, stretchy and fast drying) for another £6.
I went to Sports Direct in Gallions Reach to buy something with long sleeve - like a fitted running top. I found few discounted for ca. £20 each, but the teenage stuff was so slow and abrupt, that I left them on the counter and turned on my heel. There's a TK-Maxx next door, spent the same money for many more items, but you have to be lucky. They also had some generic cycling jersey in S for £3 and a couple of yellow Tour the France jerseys in XL for £24.

I dunno if this is any use to anyone but just been in Millets in Stockport, near Manchester and they're selling everything off at half price.

Just picked up some Icebreaker 200 leggings for £25. =) They have a load of Helly Hansen stuff too.

Yes, Millets is part of Blacks Leisure.

@ Pascalo

got one of those Swrve Bamboo hoodies on friday. Obviously it's not wool (70% bamboo 30% cotton) so might be what your looking for. Must say it's good, maybe as good as my ice breaker merino T's. It wasn't partularly cold on fri but it was quite windy with a bit of wind chill. The bamboo hoody stood up to it well and kept me nice and warm despite the fact that all i was wearing on the top half ( I get hot easy) but actually feels quite thin so rekon it would be good in summer too. It's got a REALLY soft feel to it as well that i like. Haven't tested out the seat wicking ability yet but the odor control seems as good as my merino t's

My plan for winter clobber is to layer it with merino T's, a merino buff and maybe a montane velo (as a windbreaker - havent bought that yet though The bamboo hoody stood up to windy conditions so well i've put off buying it so far) until it's so cold i'll need my milwaukee jacket. Reckon i might get another on before winter is out

cheapo, if your small, trekmates at wiggle

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Trekmates_Merino_Wool_L~S_Base_Layer/5360035570/

Uniqlo has a sale on there merino jumpers (at the regent st store) £15. I love em. I wear these now instead om my hoodies. Wear a size smaller and can easily be used as a base.

Can't beat Icebreakers, little on the expensive side. But worth every penny, really comfy and super warm!

I agree about icebreakers, i wear them under the uniqlo jumpers. But if you want to do merino on the budget your not gonna beat the uniqlo. But i must say the jumpers are super comfy (I wear them all the time- both on and off the bike) and also nice and warm. Reckon you cant beat two layers of merino (with a windbreaker over the top).