The Merino Wool thread

[ninja-elbow]

Ragg wool socks (I own a pair of the REI brand) are different than merino socks. Those do itch for the more sensitive, you gotta wash them right, and my sweaty feet do not stay cool and dry in the summer with those on. That said, I pair them with silk or merino wool liners in the winter and they are some of the best socks I ever done wore in the cold. Great for sleepy time too.

[rsnurkle]

My love affair is with Icebreakers underwear (not long underwear, actual underwear). My best description of why I love it, is that after sweating or sitting on a wet set, I stand up, and can't tell I'm wearing wet underwear. That is a freeing feeling. To anyone who scoffs at wool undies, I say, "Haters, what you know about merino wool?"

Slowly, slowly I will build a collection. Seriously, watch the sales. Merino wool is worth it.

(For those with deep pocketbooks and serious performance needs, musk-ox wool may also be magical.)

Pics or it did not happen!

Do you mean my love affair, or the forgetting-I'm-wearing-wet-underwear part? Because for the latter, pictures could easily be fabricated--I'd be better off waiting for you to buy some and then mailing you a bucket full of water to sit in. =] And for the former, well, it is isn't polite to kiss and tell, but...

Hopefully my growing merino shrine gives you a good idea.



For (merino!) wool underwear haters, I took some pictures to try and give you an idea of how thin the material is. I'm wearing what Icebreaker calls its "superfine" 150 weight. Haven't been able to track down their fully detailed explanation, but it is very thin, and very easy to see light through. The feel I would describe as having the confidence-inducing strength of wool fabric, but being so thin and soft that there is absolutely no reason for me to use the word itchy in describing it. I am very, very optimistic about its long-term durability, and if I had the budget, I'd buy ten more pairs.


In this second picture the black is the 150 underwear, laid over top of a SmartWool Roundabout Scarf (one of my favorite accessories ever, right after a basic pair of zombie-hunting safety goggles!). The Bic is a regular size.

My current collection includes:
* Icebreakers 150 weight underwear (as mentioned, temperature/moisture management, softness, and durability all in excellent balance )
* Smartwool standard socks (if you haven't tried SmartWool or Point6 at all, save your pennies, you owe it to your feet)
* Smartwool liner socks (another Idea Resulting in Win)
* Smartwool merino scarf (worshipped above)
* Fits Hiking Socks (had them for about a month, so no durability comments yet, but their softness blows Smartwool AND Point6 out of the water, no joke)
* Merino blend by Wigwam (good quality for a lower price point)
* Winter merino blends by some generic mid-level sock company (good value for the lower price point, not photo-ed)
* A merino/poly top by Duofold (which is actually very meh because by purchasing I cut serious corners with price and quality =P)
* A full 100% merino top by Terramar that I have next to me now and is making me drool while I pet it, because it is BUTTERY soft and the thought of the sheep who helped make it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. If Terramar ever decides to make Woolskins underwear, I think they're going to take over the world.

Alright, off to do something besides worship merino...thank you for sharing this moment with me.

[the_alias]

Damn you rsnurkle. I want a Qiviut hat now

[rsnurkle]

the_alias: I needed more members for my support group.

[ninja-elbow]

Hi, I'm Gabe and I am a merino-junkie.

My plan is to buy one pair of merino boxers every 2 months. If I mix that with my Duluth Trading "Buck Naked" boxers and tanks program I'll have a full set of high-end underwears in about a year.

[Kutter_0311]

Trying to buy a few kinds of socks for T&E right now, as my stock of GI socks is crapping out on me. My feet sweat heavily, and I rarely bother with gore-tex boots, even in WI winters. I'm also a former stinky grunt, who hasn't stopped stinking, so for my wife's sanity, I'm leaning toward merino wool all over, all the time...

I wore my GI 5-button sweater up Mt Fuji, and it was great. Wool is awesome, and good wool is even better!

[Ableto]

REI is having there Laborday sale at the moment, and some of the wool socks are on sale, im thinking of getting some.

[Big B]

I love my Smartwool socks! I've also got some Columbia Merino socks that are comfy, but not as durable as the Smartwools.

Lately I've been getting my Smartwool stuff from sierratradingpost.com

[northernxposure]

Anyone heard anything or have any experience with the brand First Lite?

http://m.cabelas.com/cabelas/product/de ... yId=&path=

I have a First Lite shirt somewhere in a tote. Good stuff, but expensive because of the pattern (ASAT).

Honestly I think the Minus 33 stuff I've got is just as good for less.

NXP

Sweet, thanks!

Quick question...How heavy is that as a base layer? Up to what temp would you be comfortable wearing it?

Sorry to get back so late - your question:

Errrrr - which one? The Minus33 or the FirstLite?

The Llano is 170gr, the medium M33 I have is 230gr.

I usually wear either as a base layer for a Pendleton wool button up shirt for hunting. Early season temps start at 40ish in the morning and go up to summer/late summer temps, so it's the FL/M33 under a camo mesh jersey usually (not always the jersey). In mid fall temps are usually 30-70, and then it's the M33 + wool shirt, late fall it's 20-60ish and pretty much the same with a vest.

Between the two (FL/M33) I prefer the M33 because I do more stand/stick in one spot than a lot of spot-n-stalk/walking. If in constant motion I'd look at either the lighter M33 to layer or use the mid M33 with something like a windshirt to augment any other layers. I like the FL, but at the cost there's just so many other options out there, and that's money I could be spending on more gear.

NXP

ETA - Ha! Just checked, the light M33 is 170gr, so same as the Llano. If you can handle only black, the M33 will save you over 40$.

[Shaper]

Anyone heard anything or have any experience with the brand First Lite?

http://m.cabelas.com/cabelas/product/de ... yId=&path=

I have a First Lite shirt somewhere in a tote. Good stuff, but expensive because of the pattern (ASAT).

Honestly I think the Minus 33 stuff I've got is just as good for less.

NXP

Sweet, thanks!

Quick question...How heavy is that as a base layer? Up to what temp would you be comfortable wearing it?

Sorry to get back so late - your question:

Errrrr - which one? The Minus33 or the FirstLite?

The Llano is 170gr, the medium M33 I have is 230gr.

I usually wear either as a base layer for a Pendleton wool button up shirt for hunting. Early season temps start at 40ish in the morning and go up to summer/late summer temps, so it's the FL/M33 under a camo mesh jersey usually (not always the jersey). In mid fall temps are usually 30-70, and then it's the M33 + wool shirt, late fall it's 20-60ish and pretty much the same with a vest.

Between the two (FL/M33) I prefer the M33 because I do more stand/stick in one spot than a lot of spot-n-stalk/walking. If in constant motion I'd look at either the lighter M33 to layer or use the mid M33 with something like a windshirt to augment any other layers. I like the FL, but at the cost there's just so many other options out there, and that's money I could be spending on more gear.

NXP

ETA - Ha! Just checked, the light M33 is 170gr, so same as the Llano. If you can handle only black, the M33 will save you over 40$.

I was referring to the first lite, but given your comparison, it sounds like I will save some cash and look into the m33 stuff instead.

[TheFishinMagician]

<snip>

* A full 100% merino top by Terramar that I have next to me now and is making me drool while I pet it, because it is BUTTERY soft and the thought of the sheep who helped make it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. If Terramar ever decides to make Woolskins underwear, I think they're going to take over the world.

Glad to see someone else who appreciates Terramar brand merino stuff. It's fantastic quality at reasonable prices. I own three sets of their medium weight "Thermawool" long johns (tops and bottoms). Got 'em on sale, too, so the price was even better.

[TheLastOne]

I use the smartwool socks for snowboarding; good stuff. I hadn't really thought about them for daily use, I'll have to work them in and try that out!

I ordered a merino beanie from TAD last year in black. My new one in green will be here Tuesday haha. It is lightweight but warm, all the good merino properties. Doesn't itch too bad if I sweat. I have seriously sensitive skin.

Careful, even the affordable TAD gear can lead to outrageous purchases.
http://www.tripleaughtdesign.com/Appare ... /Watch-Cap

I did have a smartwool pair of liner gloves (big fan of gloves and liner gloves, again for snowboarding). They worked great to keep on while getting into bindings that the bulky outer gloves make difficult. Unfortunately, a finger snagged in a buckle creating a hole and rendering the gloves friggin useless. If I find a more tightly knit pair I'm all over them.

[Ten Eight]

Pardon my wool noobness, but is there any benefit to wearing them in a place that is always ultra hot like FL?

I'm digging the comfort, but I don't want to be toasty and insulated out in 90 degree weather, but yet I hate how cotton sticks to you once you're soaking in sweat.

I always thought wool was for colder temperatures?

Good writeup though. What we really need for noobs like me is a Hall of Fame type thread explains the pros, cons, and applications of different types of fibers.

[Shaper]

Pardon my wool noobness, but is there any benefit to wearing them in a place that is always ultra hot like FL?

I'm digging the comfort, but I don't want to be toasty and insulated out in 90 degree weather, but yet I hate how cotton sticks to you once you're soaking in sweat.

I always thought wool was for colder temperatures?

Good writeup though. What we really need for noobs like me is a Hall of Fame type thread explains the pros, cons, and applications of different types of fibers.

Here is a good read for ya...http://www.rei.com/expertadvice/article ... thing.html

Edit: Another link...great in-depth field trial comparison between merino and synth...http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin ... thing.html

[ninja-elbow]

Pardon my wool noobness, but is there any benefit to wearing them in a place that is always ultra hot like FL?

I'm digging the comfort, but I don't want to be toasty and insulated out in 90 degree weather, but yet I hate how cotton sticks to you once you're soaking in sweat.

I always thought wool was for colder temperatures?

Good writeup though. What we really need for noobs like me is a Hall of Fame type thread explains the pros, cons, and applications of different types of fibers.

Before this summer I'd say stay away from merino wool in FL weather. This summer I did the Deschuttes in high 80s and low 90s, though a very dry heat. So, now, I am saying give it a try.

[Skull_Hide]

Does anyone have experience with the Minus 33 expedition weight wear? Think it would too warm during Fall and Winter here Ninja?

[ninja-elbow]

Does anyone have experience with the Minus 33 expedition weight wear? Think it would too warm during Fall and Winter here Ninja?

It would be for me, in the Willamette Valley. I've done Wintergeddon in your parts and I know it gets pretty crazy cold though. How warm are you internally - like do you radiate heat regularly and do you tend to get pretty sweaty when exerting?

ETA: Whoops, Rainier, OR as opposed to around Mt. Ranier :lol:

Expedition weight may be a bit heavy for our parts. It depends on how hot you run internally.

[Skull_Hide]

I think I'll go for the mid weight. My heat emission is normal but I do enjoy being on the warm side most of the time. I just fear the expedition would be too warm while being active during 3/4 of the year.

[Ten Eight]

Thanks for the replies and links guys!

[Jacob Creutzfeldt]

Is there a benefit to Merino wool socks compared to normal wool socks besides easy washing? Can you wear them all-year round?

Absolutely.
IMHO they work very well even when it's really hot. That goes for t-shirts a s well. But I use the thin socks/tees when it's hot. I wouldn't use the heavy, longsleeved tops or thick socks in hot temperatures.


Something to consider when buying wool products is mulesing. Some manufacturers (like Smartwool and Icebreaker) are only buying wool from farms where mulesing isn't used.

[the_alias]

I picked up a 260 weight Icebreaker merino wool top in lovely bright red today in a sale 69, reduced from 169!


I might have to go back tmr and have a look at other merino sale items!

[zoiders]

I don't own a merino base layer but I do have several simple thin sweaters in merino.

Charity shop finds mostly in plain black, there's a lot of cheap merino floating around if you know where to look.

[Tendrax]

I've had excellent results with REI's merino wool hiking socks.

Think I'm gonna pick up some merino wool base layers ASAP. Also looking around for merino wool glove liners. I can't stand bulky winter gloves, and I'm thinking thin wool liners under mechanix gloves might just do the trick for me.

Lot of good info in this thread guys, much appreciated.

[omega_man]

I've been putting serious miles on my REI merino socks for a few years now. Wish I had them when I was a miserable grunt in the Corps! I also love the combo of merino liners with rag wool socks. I was wearing these in the snow last winter with my Merrel ventilators (very lightweight hiking boot) without any issue. My feet stayed warm, even when wet. I have the serious sweaty foot syndrome, so they're wet anyways-Gore tex makes it worse, and wool socks, esp. merino, have been my ticket for seriously happy feet.

I also drank the merino and TAD kool-aid at the same time a few years back (yea combat pay!) and have just about everything they make in merino:
-hoodie
-base layers
-beanie
-stealth jacket (light their softshells, but merino!)
-special service sweater

You get the idea, I love wool, especially merino. It's worth every penny. Right now, I'm trying to replace all my polypro liners with merino, hopefully the REI garage sale in Ashville this weekend will yields some great finds!