Short Sleave Merino Base Layer

hugo15

Was sat at work this morning when the girl that sits opposite started complaining about the smell in the office. Think it may have had something to do with my Helly Hansen base layer that was drying under my desk :oops: .

I usually wear a base layer in all but the very warmest weather and was thinking of getting a merino wool one. So what what do people recommend? Will a merino one be too warm once the weather gets nicer?

alfablue

I have an Icebreaker lightweight base layer, very pleased with it, not too warm for the warm weather at all. In the depth of winter I wear 2 base layers though. I think they make a heavier weight one too, which would be warmer.

alfablue

Actually they make at least 5 different weights and a bewildering array of styles

Icebreaker web site

cyclingpunk

I use a Castelli Wind long sleeve for the winter which has a thicker more wind proof front to it. For the rest of the year I use a cheap DHB one for shorter rides, longer rides I use a really snug body hugging Nike one. They sell them at Sports World for £10-£15 and I find that they are really effective for wicking away the smelly stuff and keeping me nice and cool. They are the best fitting ones I have ever tried... I am a skinny git so find it hard getting stuff that fits snug!

cyclingpunk

I use a Castelli Wind long sleeve for the winter which has a thicker more wind proof front to it. For the rest of the year I use a cheap DHB one for shorter rides, longer rides I use a really snug body hugging Nike one. They sell them at Sports World for £10-£15 and I find that they are really effective for wicking away the smelly stuff and keeping me nice and cool. They are the best fitting ones I have ever tried... I am a skinny git so find it hard getting stuff that fits snug!

johnbirkby46213

Just put "merino wool base layer" into google and see the results. Better still, once you've bought a base layer, you won't be able to smell the results. It's fantastic stuff for not smelling, even after several wearings.

maddog 2

Endura Baa Baa

not silly money

CRC has them, and ebay

Solis

I use an Icebreaker 260 LS for very cold rides or cold walking and it is an excellent though expensive product. But without doubt the best all round Merino base's I have for most of my cycling are the Ground Effect singlets both windproof and non windproof, very good kit.

beefcake2

Endura Baa Baa! I've got the long sleeve and I bought it from leisure lakes:

http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/produc ... x?&id=8260

They also do a short sleeve version:

http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/produc ... x?&id=8262

Cheers

Beefcake2

The Mechanic

+1 for Icebreaker. Top kit.

MrChuck

Ground Effect do some really nice stuff- don't be put off by the fact that they're in New Zealand, stuff takes about a week to arrive.

bompington

Got an icebreaker, it is:
- warm
- comfortable
- non-smelly which is a major plus for me, my other thermals all smell bad after only an hour or so

but it is
- expensive
- starting to lose its magic after 2 years or so - it gets saturated when sweaty, and just a whiff of ammonia
- starting to disintegrate around the collar: the material itself appears to be weakening

I'll get another one, but a cheaper brand if possible.

nferrar

I have a trek-mates, howies and endura baa baa merino l/s top - all seem pretty much the same quality/comfort/performance to me. Planning on getting either the s/s or sleeveless baa baa next from Wiggle.

mrushton

bompington wrote:

Got an icebreaker, it is:
- warm
- comfortable
- non-smelly which is a major plus for me, my other thermals all smell bad after only an hour or so

but it is
- expensive
- starting to lose its magic after 2 years or so - it gets saturated when sweaty, and just a whiff of ammonia
- starting to disintegrate around the collar: the material itself appears to be weakening

I'll get another one, but a cheaper brand if possible.

I've got Icebreaker and rapha. Both expensive and both excellent. Icebreaker have a number of styles,colours. ALWAYS wash them in a specialist detergent. I find Ecover v.good (£1.41 for 500ml) as you can also wash your expensive cycle kit in this.

bompington

Maybe that's where I'm going wrong, I don't have any expensive cycle kit so it never occurred to me to use expensive detergent!

mrushton

I think the cheapest Icebreaker is £30 so that sounds expensive. persil do a 'silk/wool' liquid (£3.50) and there are own brand ones and Stergene. The Ecover brand claims to be 'green' on the environment and made for wool/delicates. Don't forget to wash at a low temp. Our washer has both a wool and a handwash programme and I use either of these. if you use eg a Biopowder/liquid on wool, the enzymes eat the fabric.

jairaj

Another vote for the Endura Baa Baa.

Very reasonably priced, not too thick so should be fine on all but the hottest days, and a good fit.

I can cycle into work 4 days a week with the same top and it doesn't smell at all (and i tend to sweat more than the average man). Very highly recommended.

Soul Boy

Ok, may be a bit more expensive than others out there, but you can wear it with the confidence you're wearing the best - imho - and supporting a British company too..

http://www.howies.co.uk/section.php/16/0

You'll never get the smell out of man made fibres, no matter what detergent you use.

mrushton

I note the SS ones are made in Fiji. Icebreaker/NZ and Rapha poss. China. the Howies are still £50+ which is dearer than Icebreaker