Bushwalk Australia

Just as a side topic to the current discussion on the value merino thermals I've noted that a few of my hiking buddies have had thier fine merino tops grow holes and fall to pieces. I havn't experienced this myself but one mate reckons the ultra fine wool falls apart in the wash.

I'd like to know if anyone else had thier Icebreaker or similar merino gear "rot" or fall apart.

Never had this problem, but I always hand wash my merino wear. I do own two superwool tops and throw them in the washing machine, there fine, no sign of any wear or tear.

No problems with 150 Icebreaker shirts - their finest weave. Worn them regularly, off and on track for about a year and all good. Have a hole in one of them after being attacked by a tree branch but otherwise no signs of wear and tear...

No problem with any of my fine merino, have lots of it. Hand wash only.

Merino is a knit and as such, anything which snags even one thread and breaks it, will start a hole. I have a very cute, very naughty kitten that loves sleeping on my knitwear but of course, before he does that, he kneads it with his claws - result, a small hole which, if not caught early enough, will grow into a bigger one.

The other possibility is silverfish and moths. Where and how do your friends store their merino at home?

I wash my merino in the washing machine on the delicates cycle. Depending on what it is, I might put it in one of those washing bags designed for hosiery.

Machine washing will do that, wash them week in and out and they soon fall apart. I suspect your mate uses them/machine washes them a lot. Personally iv'e stopped buying 150wt wool, designer outdoor wear: its not tough enough for other than easy tracks /day use or as or jarmies at night. There are better options. Certainly wouldn't pay full price for it, sierra sell icebreaker.. (and other (perhaps better value) brands.

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/icebreaker~b~10021/

Here ya go: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=1983&p=69170&hilit=+undies#p69170 har har

Nuts wrote:Here ya go: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=1983&p=69170&hilit=+undies#p69170 har har

Thanks for the post nuts a) because it's similar to the problems I've seen and b) because that is quite a funny thread

Yep my mate's stuff is worn and washed very regularly. That said, a cotton/synthetic shirt would wear better over the same period. That's kinda the point for me and makes me question the value of superfine superexpensive merino garments for this purpose.

I am using a Wilderness Wear 195gsm 18.5 micron tshirt at the moment though and so far so good. Same price as a normal Tshirt too.

Yes all my fine merino gets either very thing or holey after 2-3 years. I still have synthetic t shirts that are five years old and polypropylene that is 10 ish year old without holes. ( and much more economic too but less comfy).

It may be of interest that small holes in fine Merino can be "fixed" with super glue,which is also a handy component in your 1st aid /emergency kit
corvus

As a woolgrower in the past perhaps I can shed some light on the problems of wool. When the fleece comes off the sheep the wool classer tests it for tensile strength by selecting a small staple and giving it a tug. If the staple dosen't break the fleece is considered to be sound. If it does break the fleece is considered tender (low tensile strength) and is classed accordingly. The problem is that the fleece may be sound in some parts of it and tender in others ie it is not consistent. The classer can't check every staple in the fleece. When the fleece is used to make a garment, it's possible that some tender wool could be used when the manufacturer thinks they are using sound wool. Just a problem with natural fibres I suppose.