Merino wool

[ltcom]

Is it as good as some people say? I have ordered an Icebreaker one and today bought one from Aldi.
The Icebreaker one is finer and feels great and the Aldi one is a bit itchy.
Do they really absorb sweat and allow one to not be stinky for 3 days though?

 

[RobbieW]

I have Icebreaker thermals - they do what they say on the tin

 

[macd]

Is it as good as some people say? The Icebreaker one is finer and feels great and the Aldi one is a bit itchy.

Well, there's Merino wool and Merino wool, so there isn't really an "it". The breed's centuries old with many variants, some of which are even reared for meat rather than wool. Sounds like the Aldi one might have produced the better chops.

 

[Sailingsaves]

I have some friends that wear merino base layers in hot climates and say it is nigh on their best bit of kit.

But they probably have the best of the best.

 

[Blue Sunray]

Is it as good as some people say? I have ordered an Icebreaker one and today bought one from Aldi.
The Icebreaker one is finer and feels great and the Aldi one is a bit itchy.
Do they really absorb sweat and allow one to not be stinky for 3 days though?

Icebreaker certainly do (and for longer, though everything is relative) and also have the advantage in some uses that they don't melt in heat the same way as polyprop thermals do. I'd avoid cheaper Merino products unless you know them as they can tend to be rather ichy.

 

[Scomber]

Is it as good as some people say? I have ordered an Icebreaker one and today bought one from Aldi.
The Icebreaker one is finer and feels great and the Aldi one is a bit itchy.
Do they really absorb sweat and allow one to not be stinky for 3 days though?

trekking in nz recently with macpac merino base layers - 4 days non stop use - no stinkio!!! can't vouch for cheaper breeds/brands though...

 

[RobbieW]

... melt in heat the same way as polyprop thermals do...

ah yes, smelly helly's

 

[Halo]

I went on a "blanket tour" in the canaries and ended up buying a load of top quality Marino wool bedding. It was like sleeping in wire wool. I flogged the lot on eBay.
Each time I have tried Marino I have regretted it so am now content with synthetics

 

[[70521]]

I'm allergic to wool, so go for synthetic fabric every time. However, I am about to experiment with goat wool socks as I am informed that they don't smell after a few days stuck in my sea boots.

 

[Neeves]

If you intend wearing the garments for days then the implication is that you are going to be 'at sea' for a decent length of time - and will be wearing foulweather gear. Unless your foulies are top of the range then the undergarments are going to get wet. I have found synthetics dry much more quickly than merino.

For day sailing and if its dry I prefer, good, merino; for longer term and in wet weather (less common here) I prefer good quality micro fleece.

Jonathan

 

[rotrax]

First Mate is unable to wear wool-to the extent where proximity to me when I wear one of my genuine Aran sweaters causes discomfort.

While in NZ for the winter it was suggested to us that Alpaca wool is not itchy.

Can anyone here confirm this?

 

[DownWest]

Tim Severin and the other blokes on the Brendan Voyage, found the natural wool (sheep's) much better than modern foulies, when they were constantly wet. Natural oils...

 

[SteveSarabande]

Why not just buy more normal socks

 

[duncan99210]

I seem to recall that Marino wool formed one of the layers in the S6 respirator filter cartridge...... No idea what that says about its qualities when used for clothing.

 

[stevepick]

As other have said , it does work. I went to Icebreaker kit about 13-14 years ago . Worn skiing, mountaineering and sailing. It doesn't smell. Longest I have worn it - including the underwear is a week continuous - I only changed because I thought, I can't wear the same y's for 2 weeks! (it wasn't smelly after a week). But have met folk who have worn the same merino kit above 60 north for 9 weeks. Its very durable - I still have and use the original tee shirt I bough over a decade ago. It works well in cold and heat - I have used it from 4000m in the alps to the tropics. All my man made base layers and fleece ( including top line patagonia and arcteryx stuff) stuff lurks at the back of a cupboard unused now .

 

[Halo]

I went on an expedition with friends and we did not change clothing for a week. We thought we we fine but when we got back our wives told us we reeked. We could not smell each other because we were all as bad. I put odourless underwear in the same category as those fictional drinks that don't give hangovers.

 

[Neeves]

I went on an expedition with friends and we did not change clothing for a week. We thought we we fine but when we got back our wives told us we reeked. We could not smell each other because we were all as bad. I put odourless underwear in the same category as those fictional drinks that don't give hangovers.

I am a bit worried about all of this. There are a number of threads of how to attract youngsters to the hobby, sport etc. All the teenagers I know think a shower (hot) at least one usually two, a day is a birthright. This suggestion of the normality of the absence of washing must be a real turnoff. I know 2 young ladies who are embarking here on their D of E awards, one is about to do a training hike for her Bronze Expedition and the other has just completed her Bronze. Having gone through the same experiences a few years ago I asked them of their reflections - the absence of showers was very high on the list.

I'm quite happy to be thought of as wimp - but one of the pleasures of long distance passages are a decent hot shower.

Jonathan

 

[Jungle Jim]

I've got a Merino wool long-sleeved t-shirt (cheap from Matalan I think). I wore it as thermal undies on a Saturday sail and thought the weather was a bit too warm for thermals, went out on Sunday in similar conditions and got cold, so yes they do make a difference.

I also wore them in bed for most of last week after a chilly first night in Greece when I found the normal jim-jams weren't up to it, slept nice and toasty after that.