Wool Thermals - Are the Expensive Brands Worth It?

[slparker]

Hot water won't shrink it appreciably, the wool is already washed in very hot water during the dyeing process. You'll need to put it in a dryer. It will shrink bt also go out of proportion.

[Bluegum Mic]

It will shrink particularly in length (which is what natural fibres such as wool do well). So unless your sleeves are particularly long as is the length then I wouldn't chance it. And yes the dryer is the best bet.

[Moondog55]

John from personal experience wool only shrinks when you don't want it too.
The best metho of shortening sleeves is to have a tailor or seamstress do the work properly. As a bloke with long arms who can NEVER find sleeves the right size I am jealous. But my general rule of thumb is that sleeves should come down to the knuckle so I want mine extra long anyway

[stepbystep]

Currently on special here http://globewalker.com.au/merino/merino ... s-top-men/

Review here viewtopic.php?f=15&t=10111

Definitely worth the investment

[matagi]

What nobody has mentioned, is that even if you manage to shrink the items successfully, the texture will change appreciably. The wool will become dense and hard.

[John Sheridan]

I am not really worried the shirts fit pretty well,just a tiny big baggy, I always by large shirts and some large shirts fit better these seem just a little baggy, I can't buy medium as pretty much all medium shirts don't fit and are too small

I just washed the shirts with conditioner and warmish water in a bucket, so maybe it has shrunk a bit will try them on and see

Oh I hope it has taken the itch out as well, nice and softy and cuddley, PLEASE :p


Cheers.

[John Sheridan]

I gave my shirts a wash and they are still itchy, not a lot but still, has anyone got their Merino cloths totally itch free, like your wearing a cotton shirt or is that impossible >>

Maybe it needs some extra washes, was not expecting miracles for the first wash, and maybe wearing them and body heat will help

If washing does work, about how many washes ?

Cheers.

[matagi]

You could try adding vinegar to the water (if you use a washing machine, make it a cup). If that doesn't work, try using hair conditioner - normal hair variety, without volumisers or other additives. Wash your garment as per usual, rinse well then dissolve a couple of tablespoons of conditioner in a basin full of just-warm (tepid) water. Gently swirl the shirts through the water - don't agitate, don't scrub. Roll it in a towel to get the water out, then hang out to dry.

If that fails, you'll have to either put up with the itch or go to a thin undershirt.

[John Sheridan]

I already did the Hair Conditioner, i will do a few more washes and see if that helps, if not I guess I will go Poly Pro instead, anyone recommend any non stinky brands ???


Cheers.

[Mountain Rocket]

Polypro is stinky by nature. From my experience there is no difference between brands. I would recommend just going for fit, price and then aesthetics (probably in that order).

[matagi]

I already did the Hair Conditioner, i will do a few more washes and see if that helps, if not I guess I will go Poly Pro instead, anyone recommend any non stinky brands ???
Cheers.

Repeated washing won't make any difference.

Have you tried the vinegar trick? That might work.

[Son of a Beach]

I already did the Hair Conditioner, i will do a few more washes and see if that helps, if not I guess I will go Poly Pro instead, anyone recommend any non stinky brands ???


Cheers.

It may just be the quality of the wool, or the sensitivity of the person's skin. I've found all my ultra-fine merino wool tops to be perfectly comfortable with no itchiness whatsoever - just like wearing a soft cotton long sleeved T shirt. The finer the wool fibres, the less itchy they are. However, some people have more sensitive skin and some are even allergic to wool.

[TerraMer]

I regularly check different online stores for specials. My favourite for a real bargain and good quality is Wilderness Wear. Not just about socks but great merino thermals too. I have found good bargains (at least 50% off) on merino thermals with Wilderness Wear, Kathmandu, Columbia and they all do the job. Even Target sell cheap lightweight merino thermals now.

[John Sheridan]

My shirts brand is Smartwool, I though that was a good brand, what is a good very fine merino no itchy bran.

Maybe I just so DAmn sensitive

Oh well.

[hikingdude]

I regularly check different online stores for specials. My favourite for a real bargain and good quality is Wilderness Wear. Not just about socks but great merino thermals too. I have found good bargains (at least 50% off) on merino thermals with Wilderness Wear, Kathmandu, Columbia and they all do the job. Even Target sell cheap lightweight merino thermals now.

Wow, Target has merino thermals from $25. However, I couldn't find any for males. Do Target only sell female merino thermals?

[forest]

I've only 1 smartwool LS shirt in 150gsm. It's not itchy in the slightest and was my first choice.
My snowpeak 180gsm is itchy.

My LS Rab Meco 120 is the pick of them now. Dries heaps quicker than a pure merino top due to the synthetic in it. Doesn't stink either.

Your either super sensitive or it's just an itchy merino shirt ?? It does happen.

I should add that unless doing offtrack stuff I just walk in my Meco LS all the time, even in summer it's great.
Just a shame that the boys I normally wander with still wear tranditional shirts. Never noticed how much we stink when out for a few days.... until your the only one in odor free merino... pew

[Son of a Beach]

My shirts brand is Smartwool, I though that was a good brand, what is a good very fine merino no itchy bran.

Maybe I just so DAmn sensitive

Oh well.

I've found Ice Breaker to be very good. I've got three items and not found any of them to be itchy in the slightest. However, I would never pay full price for them - way too expensive. Mine have all been either gifts, second hand, of heavily discounted old stock.

I've heard that Macpac wool thermals are also good.

Note that the scratchiness depends on the thickness of the wool fibres (usually in microns) not on the thickness/density of the fabric (usually in gsm).

[Ent]

Hi

Icebreaker have lost the design plot on the underpants and rather expensive but the 100 merino tee-shirt is a thing of joy. For a heavier weight warmer winter wear hard to go past Merino Skins. MD had some NZ made under garments and many very good but the lighter weight long legged thermals rather fragile and low cut. Favorite is the Wilderness Wear stuff.

They do cut the smell down markedly but can feel Iike wet soggy bags. And very hard to dry out in winter conditions.

Personal choice but I like Merino gear but never as outer wear as bush wreaks them. As for Icebreaker, design team turn left and went fashion route with poor walking cut but they have the edge in the lighter weight grades.

Like everyone here only buy on discount or chuck out special price.

Cheers

[TerraMer]

Wow, Target has merino thermals from $25. However, I couldn't find any for males. Do Target only sell female merino thermals?

Sorry, can't help you there. Never had a reason to browse the men's underwear section. The Target women's thermals are not a special design just androgynous shapeless cheapies.

[John Sheridan]

I don't want to give up on some wool thermals, the Micron level is what I need to look for right and if I want the lowest micron what would you recommend and what would be the lowest, lowest would mean the least itchy and thats what I want

What I am looking to buy is a Micro T shirt and a long sleeve shirt, plus some thermal long underwear and long sleeve top, and that should be all, if you could recommend some options that would be great, will buy a Tshirt and see how that is itchy wise and if all is good get the rest

Cheers.

[matagi]

How big are you? If you can fit into them, then the thermals in the "nanna" section of places like David Jones and Myer are great. Fine merino, soft, non-scratchy.

Pretend you're buying them for your grandmother.

[John Sheridan]

Is 18.5 micro good, I just looked at my sherpa thermals and that's what they said they were, they still itch a little too much to be wearing, though I have not washed these yet.

Cheers.

[Son of a Beach]

Is 18.5 micro good, I just looked at my sherpa thermals and that's what they said they were, they still itch a little too much to be wearing, though I have not washed these yet.

Cheers.

After some googling, I found this: http://www.rei.com/expertadvice/article ... thing.html

Wool's key characteristic is its fiber diameter, measured in microns. (A micron equals one millionth of a meter). Fiber diameter largely determines the quality (and price) of wool—and the smaller (finer) the diameter, the softer the wool's texture. Merino wool typically ranges between 15 to 24 microns, with anything below 17.5 microns considered "ultrafine" and well-suited to next-to-skin applications.

I don't know how authoritative the 17.5 is, but it puts your 18.5 microns just outside of the comfort range for against the skin.

[Overlandman]

After reading this forum, I purchased a MD Lightweight Merino top today $60 on special, made in Fiji, packaging made in China, Looking forward to wearing it for 4 days on King Island next week.
I have always worn poly thermals so it will be interesting to feel the diference.
Regards Overlandman

[John Sheridan]

Who sells 17.5 Micron or less thermals in Australia ??

Why sell 18.5 wool thermals if they are itchy, they are selling a useless product, the POLICE should arrest them and imprision them for life :p

Cheers.

[hikingdude]

I just bought a men's merino top from Target today for $29. First impressions are that I'm very happy with it. It appears to be about a 150gsm material as it doesn't state the weight. The quality seems very good, definitely on par with other brands. There is no itch whatsoever. I am rather surprised at this top for the money and I will definitely be buying more. I just wish they sold pants.

[Miyata610]

I've used a variety of merino thermals from cheap mail order to name brands.

Ice breaker
Macpac
Khatmandu
Mail order (labels unreadable)
Department store brands

None of them are scratchy. The ice breaker ones are the finest (and thinnest). They still last very well, I have some very old ones still going strong.

I use fine merino pretty well exclusively for base layer now all the time and mostly also for shirts and middle layer nowadays too.

The cheaper stuff is all natural cream color, and I'm not so keen on that. It also tends to be thicker, but still very comfortable. It's probably warmer too. More agricultural.

[John Sheridan]

I must be really sensitive to wool as the Sherpa and Smartwool stuff I have feels like pins and needles when I am wearing it, 18.5 micro seems not good enough for me, I doubt 17.5 would be better, I need some 10 Micro wool, though I will give Ice breaker a go and see if they are any better, If I can get some thin gear I can put the Itchy stuff on top when needed

Cheers.

Washing my Sherpa Top and pants in Conditioner now, I am going to leave them for an hour this time last time only ten minutes with my other thermals, maybe the extra time will help, if not will try the vinegar trick.

Will check out the thermals at Target and see how that gos, at least I can get a perfect fit with them

Cheers.

[slparker]

Just forget about it John, get some polypropylene or polyester. Wool is real nice to wear if you can tolerate it and if you don't plan to get wet but you don't have to join the club.

[Dale]

I must be really sensitive to wool as the Sherpa and Smartwool stuff I have feels like pins and needles when I am wearing it

I had the same experience until I tried Icebreaker and I find their stuff incredibly comfortable. I've taken to wearing the 150 T shirts as everyday gear and they also work nicely in hot and cold weather walking. The only downside to Icebreaker is making sure you don't get ripped off when you buy it !