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Merino wool baselayers

satnavstevesatnavsteve Posts: 223
edited October 2012 in Road buying advice
Hello all,

I have a couple of Endura Baa Baa merino baselayers that I think are fantastic. I love the properties of them, and the warmth. Went out last night in my new gore xenon jacket with one underneath though and was roasting (6 degrees air temp)

Does anyone have any recomendations / know of any "thin" merino baselayers more suited to autumn nights ?

Cheers

Posts

  • gsk82gsk82 Posts: 3,401
    the short sleeved dhb ones are very good. i was actually surprised how good as i usually use helly hansen merino
    "Unfortunately these days a lot of people don’t understand the real quality of a bike" Ernesto Colnago
  • maddog 2maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    Decathlon do some Quechua base layers that are ace - much softer than the BaaBaa. I think they call it 'techwool'
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • othelloothello Posts: 577
    maddog 2 wrote:
    Decathlon do some Quechua base layers that are ace - much softer than the BaaBaa. I think they call it 'techwool'

    +1

    I've got one and they are super thin, very soft and cheap. I double checked with the assistant that they were actually merino as I didn't believe it!
    Blogging about junior road bikes http://junior-road-bikes.tumblr.com
  • AndySlateAndySlate Posts: 1
    Icebreaker do a 150gm baselayer that is excellent.
  • alihisgreatalihisgreat Posts: 3,872
    The SS DHB ones are good..
  • EyoreroxEyorerox Posts: 43
    I like this one
    http://www.groundeffect.co.nz/product-d ... IS-MER.htm
  • nathancomnathancom Posts: 1,567
    Icebreaker are fantastic.
  • amaferangaamaferanga Posts: 6,789
    satnavsteve wrote:
    Hello all,

    I have a couple of Endura Baa Baa merino baselayers that I think are fantastic. I love the properties of them, and the warmth. Went out last night in my new gore xenon jacket with one underneath though and was roasting (6 degrees air temp)

    Does anyone have any recomendations / know of any "thin" merino baselayers more suited to autumn nights ?

    Cheers

    I think your problem was the Gore jacket being too warm for 6 degrees, not your base layer.
    More problems but still living....
  • deswahriffdeswahriff Posts: 310
    ..Icebreaker for me, plenty of options......I found the Endura offering itchy - which annoyed me as I like their stuff
  • maddog 2maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    I have Icebreaker (150) too and the Quechua ones are as good, at a quarter of the price.
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • satnavstevesatnavsteve Posts: 223
    Great, thanks for the useful suggestions! I'll check them out.
  • MartinB2444MartinB2444 Posts: 266
    I've never got on with merino thermals, they just don't seem to wick as well and hold more moisture than synthetic fabrics. Have I just been using the wrong ones?!
  • pkripperpkripper Posts: 652
    MartinB2444 wrote:
    I've never got on with merino thermals, they just don't seem to wick as well and hold more moisture than synthetic fabrics. Have I just been using the wrong ones?!

    I've found the same, they don't seem to remove moisture, more retain it and get pretty heavy. That said, if its warmth I find them preferable so tend to layer so as not to get too hot, but for a sweaty ride I'd always go synthetic.

    I've had good results with my icebreaker and howies merinos but with the advent of softshells for riding, they're less used now.
  • satnavstevesatnavsteve Posts: 223
    maybe I've just gone back to the wool because I've been using the wrong synthetics....
  • mamba80mamba80 Posts: 5,032
    edited October 2012
    M&S do them as a thermal night underwear, we used to use them for WW kayaking, in mid winter - they are great value and work just as well as anything from Cotswold outdoors etc
    Only ever used them on the bike in sub zero temps, mtb ing on dartmoor.

    always understood that wool is there for insulation-warmth rather than its wicking, keep you dry sort of thing?
  • JamesBJamesB Posts: 1,184
    they just don't seem to wick as well and hold more moisture than synthetic fabrics.

    I thought that was EXACTLY how they are meant to perform, soaking up moisture rather than wicking it but also keeping wearer warm----all my Merino b`layers seem to function by absorbing rather than wicking
  • alihisgreatalihisgreat Posts: 3,872
    MartinB2444 wrote:
    I've never got on with merino thermals, they just don't seem to wick as well and hold more moisture than synthetic fabrics. Have I just been using the wrong ones?!

    The benefit of wool is that it stays warmer when wet than synthetics.
  • DrLexDrLex Posts: 2,142
    The main benefit I find with Merino (& merino-blend) kit is that one can wear it for a number of days before the retained "aroma" requires it to be washed; the man-made base layers get a fair old pen & ink by the end of a day's use.
    Location: ciderspace
  • maddog 2maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    I have three tyres of merino base (Icebreaker, Baabaa and quechua) and they all absorb and hold a fair amount of moisture. But as said, they don't go cold when wet so it's not a big deal on the bike. Having said that for longer rides and in particular warmish rides, or rides where I'm working hard, I tend to go synthetic*, just because it can shift the moisture better. But for sub-2hrs merino is excellent.

    * has to be good synthetic though. Cheap merino is better than cheap synthetic IMO.
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • Aquavista97Aquavista97 Posts: 18
    The Planet X ones are great IMHO. Some good bargains on them at the moment too, although only in XL I think:

    http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CLP ... ayer_190gm

    Took one of these walking in the Alps and to Nepal and performed great there too. Very warm, and maybe too warm right now :)
  • Sammyw23Sammyw23 Posts: 627
    I have the sleeveless Planet X 120gm merino base layer and I would say thats exactly what you're after - much thinner than the standard weight but equally good
    Cervelo P3
    Bianchi Infinito
    Cannondale CAAD10
  • jonny_trousersjonny_trousers Posts: 3,588
    I've never tried Icebreaker myself, but there look to be some good deals at Sportpursuit today. I've ordered a 'Monsoon' and will offer feedback once I've tried it.

    Shameless referral link: http://www.sportpursuit.com/join/JT
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