Merino wool underwear for touring

[markymark]

Thinking of getting 3 pairs of merino wool socks, 3 pairs of boxers & 3 t-shirts for touring to cut down on the luggage.
Do any good folks on here use it for touring in countries like Spain, France etc & does it really stay fresh smelling for days ?
Does it wash in a hotel sink & dry in a few hours ?
Any feed back much appreciated

 

[llotse]

Thinking of getting 3 pairs of merino wool socks, 3 pairs of boxers & 3 t-shirts for touring to cut down on the luggage.
Do any good folks on here use it for touring in countries like Spain, France etc & does it really stay fresh smelling for days ?
Does it wash in a hotel sink & dry in a few hours ?
Any feed back much appreciated

Yes, yes and yes. In fact I only take one set to wear on the bike and wash them out in water only every night wherever we are staying. Normally dry by the time I get back from the bar at night. Very comfortable and keeps your temperature stable. I also take one of those neck things with crystals in, soak up the water and then wear all day to keep you cool.

 

[Rushy]

Recently I have been wearing a merino wool top under a formal work shirt during winter and I can definitely wear it all day (7am to 7pm) and it smells as fresh as when I put it on. Could easily wear it two days in a row.
I have bought 2 more in a Cotswold sale for motocycle touring . I do a 3 or 4 long weekend 4 day trips a year and reckon I could get away with just taking two of these tops and a mid layer top.

I doubt very much that it would be dry in the morning though if you washed it and air dried it. I some superb exofficio underwear(boxers) for trips that will dry overnight . I did a 3 month trip with 3 sets of pants. I bought them from REI.
I have been considering buying some Merino socks/pants after trying the Merino top.

Edit: I stand corrected on the overnight drying thing , didn't read the above post

 

[AA388]

Merino is good but it doesn't dry quickly! I take a couple of running tops and they dry in about an hour normally and if I'm lazy i just bin them after a couple of days as you can pick them up for a couple of quit from sportsdirect.

 

[Wapping]

I have been using Merino wool clothing (t-shirts, full tops, socks and pants) for many years, always with excellent results and with no problems in in the 'Speed of drying' department.

It can be expensive to buy but, with care, should last you for years; mine has and I wear it all regularly, here in the UK and on all my trips abroad. Could I have bought 10 chuck-away tops in Primark at £2 each? Yes, of course but the end I'd have noting to show for my £20. Spending perhaps £40 on a very good quality Merino top - which has lasted me for many years and many trips - is an excellent return.

Is Merino better than the equivalent man made fabrics? Yes, in as much as it's natural, albeit the man made fabrics are often cheaper. If you do a lot of travelling, sufficient to justify the expense, I'd go for the Merino wool. If you intend to do just a couple of days away, get the cheaper artificial material clothing. Why? You'll save some money (perhaps a lot?) and the styles / colours might suit you better.

 

[alan29]

This is a good time of year for bargains at Go outdoors and Mountain warehouse as they sell off their winter stock.

 

[markymark]

Thanks for the quick replies, I'll start buying a few items & see how I get on.

 

[AustinW]

There is merino and there is good merino. There is also different weights of merino too. For warmth you want 200gsm+, for day to day and in hot places 150 is about right. Any lighter and it will be too fragile (ladder or wear out).

Personally I have found Icebreaker or Rohan to be the best for comfort, fit and longevity. I also have a Patagonia long sleeve that's good.

I don't rate Edz or Finisterre, both are relatively rough to wear, have worn out and or bobbled up quickly and seem to cut for the, umm, younger figure. . I have worn merino t shirts for a week or more and they still smell fresh.

(All the above in relation to T shirts. Socks get Smartwool. Never tried pants in merino.

 

[wessie]

Is the heavier weight merino stuff resistant to unpicking by Velcro? I bought some EDZ branded merino base layer bottoms. The EDZ polyester stuff I have used for years is excellent so I was confident in the brand. I thought I had moths as little holes appeared in places. Then I worked out is was where the knees lines up with the Velcro on the armour pockets. I can only assume the Velcro gripped the wool causing it to fray. A merino top has done the same level with the waistband on my Rukka trousers which has a Velcro fastener.

 

[kwallace21]

If you're washing it every night then buy a non thermal wicking synthetic base layer.
Cooler than merino and much cheaper. I use 150 weight merino while touring and can wear a t shirt for over a week without washing. It smells of nothing more than my deodorant after a week. Merino regulates body temperature very well but if it's super hot then super light synthetic and wash it every night. Will dry in a couple of hours.

 

[Wapping]

I've not suffered from Velcro attack on my Merino wool tops or bottoms, irrespective of the wool weight, Wessie.

I did find a small hole in the front of my lightweight Merino long sleeved top, but I suspect that was where I caught it on the zip of my Pac-It cube. A couple of small stitches, performed by a dark chap in my local drycleaners, saw it good again and it's still going strong five or more years later. Very good value on the pounds spent versus miles covered scale.

I haven't found any heat (or overheating) challenges through wearing Merino wool garments, versus man made synthetics. Indeed, lightweight Merino seems remarkably cooling.... And it doesn't smell!


As to weight of wool? I'd agree that 150 is good for most general uses. I also have two very lightweight T-shirts, possibly Icebreaker (the label has faded away) which are still going strong. If the longevity of my Merino kit is anything to go by, then buying the best you can afford on day one would seem to pay off in the end. Look after it well and it will look after you well, too.

 

[BillWright]

Hi

I've used underarmour kit as an alternative to Merino kit.

The pants particularly stop the sweaty crotch and, ahem, give support.

They have summer and winter weights. The summer ones dry easily overnight when washed.

I have several compression tops used as base layers and find them an excellent bit of kit