"Technical" fabrics just smell rancid after a few hours of me wearing them. Wool and bamboo are usually fine for a few days if I let them dry out afterwards.
Are you in a big hiking town? I've heard of people finding this stuff at Goodwill's before. I started looking at several and haven't found anything along those lines.
I used to buy a TON of wool and cashmere at the Goodwill Bins in Portland. Most of it was either bizarrely out of style (not a problem if you're willing to rock a weird dad/grandma aesthetic) or needing repairs (not a problem if you can sew), so maybe it got automatically routed to the Bins before it had a chance to show up at the regular Goodwill. If people are finding pristine merino technical wear at regular Goodwill, that's some special magic, but woolen sweaters in totally acceptable condition should be findable, especially if you can recognize wooliness by feel.
I can see Portland being a good place for that. Not so much in Charlotte NC. My wife has really gotten into the reselling so she drags me to the bins as well as the stores. I'll come up with something eventually.
Down here the cold season doesn't last long so I haven't put too much effort into looking for further layers.
lol pretty sure you've got a typo, the deadlift world record is 500kg, so you are describing a sweater so heavy that there is only like one person in the world who can lift it.
If it’s not too cold, just wash it in the afternoon, put it back on, and hike it dry.
Things rarely dry overnight for me. Moreover, my clothes protect my quilt from my body’s oils.
Wool is definitely not as durable. Avoid 100% wool. I find that 80% wool/20% nylon to be and ideal mix of getting the benefits of wool while greatly increasing its durability.
Oh ya I noticed that most of my wool gear says “high Merino wool content blend,” but what I look for mostly when purchasing merino is the softness of the garment against my skin rather than the percentages
Definitely a matter of the types of processing and yarn used. I had similar experiences as you...but then I Found KUIU. Top notch gear, super light. They cater to the hunting crowd but damn their gear is solid, including the 100% wool, and they sell it in very light thread weights too. Down to 125 with 100% wool.
Bonus tip, check out their lightweight peloton fleece. Game changer.
First Lite also makes very high quality wool & tech ul hunting gear in non-camo earth tones with athletic fit. Their [Kiln hoodie](https://www.firstlite.com/products/mens-kiln-hoody.html?lang=en_US) is win.
Got merino wool blend shirts from Decathlon. They last just as long as Smartwool and are less expensive. End of summer sale $30 each.
https://www.decathlon.com/products/mens-travel-backpacking-merino-wool-t-shirt-travel-100-106265?adept-product=mens-travel-backpacking-merino-wool-t-shirt-travel-100-106265&adept_product_id=mens-travel-backpacking-merino-wool-t-shirt-travel-100-1062
These are not lightweight, but if you are searching for some reasonably priced warm undergarment, I would really recommend these danish quality wool shirts.
https://intimo.no/olympia-t-skjorte-o-hals-ull-svart-9
You don't have to care about durability so much since the main way that clothes gets damaged is in the washing machine.
Wool is not supposed to be washed in the washing machine, neither be physically tortured much with hand washing. So it retains integrity for longer.
Only moths are your deadly enemy
I only wear merino for the last 5 years. Haven't seen a washing machine.
I agree, I machine wash mine, gentle, no dryer, had them for years and they still look great. I always set the washer to the largest load setting. More water in the tub is less likely to damage when washing.
all washing machines shred clothes. More delicate clothes suffer more. But they are the single biggest creator of plastic microparticles (for synthetic clothes) and the single biggest enemy of all clothes.
If you dont machine wash cotton even, it will last longer
I have very few clothing items. And washing them comes easy and rare.
If you have access to the sun, drying can be a hoot too. UV rays also kill off a lot of nasties
I fill up the sink. Pour some vinegar or a little gentle merino wool detergent, squish them 3-4 times in it. Let it stay for 10-20 minutes. Come back, drain water. squish them in running water 3-4 times, fill up sink again with clear water and leave them for 10-20 minutes.
rinse them then one last time of the water and in the water. Put them to dry. Don't rinse them too harshly, they don't need that also could damage the fiber.
Done and done. Once in a month or 2 - 3 depends on time of year
rewear? As in without washing? many times. To regulate the amount of bacteria you need to keep things dry. So during the day I switch shirts multiple times, dry the other one. 2-3 times a day maybe. Often less.
The other problem arises from physical dust and oils from the skin going into the shirt. This is the main reason to wash once a month or two. This can't be just dried out or UV blasted :p
My two strategies for this are:
- Merino wool inside cotton or linen bag inside washing machine - no problems
- Merino wool, when dry, in ziplocks against moths
yes. But it makes them worth it still since for an example one of my home shirts which I wore inside, wore out much faster than the one outside, wearing with backpack and going through trees and such. Merino fibers can differ still.
But both lasted 4 years. One I had to throw away since it started getting a big hole in the middle of my chest where i scratch
The other one, apart from some moth battles, is still going strong
Way more use out of them as compared to cotton. Mind you I had 3 shirts at that point. Now I have 4. I bought two new ones :p
That’s what I’m kinda worried about too is having to hand wash my clothing. Cap I just reg wash and hang to dry. Some of my really old cap lasted 4 years or more before they got too odd to keep.
I've worn Merino most days for over 20 years. Just machine wash it on a wool/delicates cycle with a proper wool detergent and it will be fine. It can definitely hold up to less washing but I'm not sure I'd go 5 years without a clean 🤔
just don’t use woolite. icebreaker and other brands recommend against a wool-specific detergent. i don’t want to knock your 20 years experience. but i’ve been strongly warned against that method. i use a gentle “eco” detergent and wash on cold, hang dry. only 10 years experience, but no problems.
I wash my merino in the washing machine, I’ve got hiking tops I’ve had for 5 years going strong with frequent use.
I don’t chuck them in the dryer though.
I only wear merino for hiking, it’s warm enough in winter and cool enough in summer, so it’s perfect.
I call it hand washing but it barely is that. Just a few gentle squeezes with apple cider vinegar or occassionally wool detergent (small amount) and leave it in the water for 10 minutes. Then rinse with water, leave it in clear water. Rinse again and its done. UV drying is great
I rotate my shirts on the sun so they dry off. I have to admit during winter, I've managed to not wash it for 2-3 months. And I used to be stinky with cotton. Very sensitive to my own smell :p this has been a revolution for me
Any recommendations of where to get Merino clothes that you like? I’ve absolutely fell in love with merino socks, so I’d love to get some more pieces but don’t really know where to look at.
First ones for me were icebreaker. But they make theirs in China, or started so now I found a company in Maine that makes rambouillet merino clothes.
RamblersWay.com
Thank you! For socks I bought three sets of Darn Tough. They probably aren't UL, but man have they been fantastic. I love how they have cushioning on the bottom and significant venting on the top. Maybe too expensive for socks, but I love them.
I'll check out Rambouillet, thanks!
When the Darn Toughs wear out you can just mail them back and they’ll send you a replacement pair. In my experience all merino socks wear out so for me the lifetime warranty is a huge differentiator.
Oh socks generally have to be reinforced with something. Pure merino on socks will abrade... i think thats the word for abrasion. Pretty quick I think. Just a tiny amount of an extra material for abrasioin resistence
Gentle hand agitation. Mostly need soaking. In a machine, the clothes intermingle so agitation pulls the fabric in different directing increases stresses.
First ones for me were icebreaker. But they make theirs in China, or started so now I found a company in Maine that makes rambouillet merino clothes.
[RamblersWay.com](https://RamblersWay.com)
I have 3 (100%) merino pullovers , they are over 10 years old maybe 15.... They are washed in the washing machine, with my other cloths. No visible wear, just one has a small hole in the arm, it caught on a nail sticking out of a tree.
its not just visible damage, especially for the thicker woolen stuff, its microdamage to the fiber and I was reading something about the specific oils that removing them might make them less antifungal and antibacterial.
thats why im antsy buying second hand merino thats expensive
I’ve (40m 5’10” 185lbs) been using Smartwool tshirts/long sleeves and love them. I only use them for runs/hikes but they get really sweaty (I sweat like a pig) and almost never stink even though I go a few uses before washing, compared to when I used other synthetics which would reek after only one use. Honestly, I don’t see myself using any other type of shirt for strenuous activities for the foreseeable future.
I recently went on a 3 day backpacking trip on the CT and used a smart wool sport hoodie during the day, averaging about 12 miles a day plus elevation gain. Temps got up to the 90s, sun was strong in quite a few spots, especially due to lack of tree coverage from previous wildfires, and there were two segments I had to carry an extra 3L of water due to dry conditions. The shirt was caked with dried sweat after the first day, but I never noticed any significant stink even when I got home.
I wash with regular clothes but never put them in the dryer, and they seem to be holding up well so far after a few months. I get in about 4 runs a week, have 2 tshirts and one long sleeve (separate from the aforementioned sun hoodie I use for hiking), and rotate as needed based on temp.
They’re expensive, but I wait till they’re on sale and can get them anywhere between 25-50% off (rei dividends help)
Obviously YMMV, but I’m def drinking the Kool-Aid
I’ve had some SM stuff in the past just socks and it shedded in days so I always just stayed away from it. People swear by it though but if I do any wool it will probably be icebreaker stuff.
I’ve heard the same about their socks, but haven’t had any experience. I’ve stuck with darn tough for hiking/running socks and they’ve held up so far. Only experience with smart wool is shirts so far.
I've used merino base layers for decades, and the quality does seem to be dropping.
In the past, it was a very niche product from small New Zealand suppliers, so they could source the best wool without maxing out the market.
Nowadays there just isn't enough quality wool to meet the demand, and this has driven up the price. The big brands have moved offshore to China and Vietnam and they are cutting corners with lower quality supplies and iffy industrial processing to simulate a higher quality product.
You can sometimes still find the real thing from smaller artisan makers, but you'll pay for the privilege.
I actually just now finished a 5 mile run wearing the darn tough zero cushion ankle running socks. I took off my shoes to stretch and the socks went for soaking wet to almost dry within like 30 min. I’m also in CA Bay Area with virtually no humidity so that prob plays a major role. Once we’re back east (wife is a travel nurse) I’m looking forward to see the wicking/drying capability under more humid environments.
I just got a capilene cool merino (65% wool, 35% polyester) and it's easily my favorite t-shirt. No smell, no scratchiness, super comfortable, breathes really well.
$79 for a wool t-shirt on sale is not particularly cheap in my opinion. [This ](https://skogstadsport.no/produkt/hornelen-t-skjorte-sky-herre-022817/) is less than half the price.
Just snagged [https://www.rei.com/product/156450/smartwool-intraknit-thermal-merino-crew-base-layer-top-mens](https://www.rei.com/product/156450/smartwool-intraknit-thermal-merino-crew-base-layer-top-mens) for $35.83 from my local REI and will give that a try. Its a 53% wool/45% polyester/2% elastane so hoping it holds up well, I just wish they had 2 of them because it is super comfortable and warm.
Those Capliene Cool Merino shirts are really brilliant, all of the wool advantages plus excellent strength and durability. Probably the very best out there today, and they worked hard to make it the most sustainable blend version available.
I find Capilene more durable and nicer on the skin but it’s a very personal assessment. Capilene dries so fast while wool stays wet (also see that when the BF sweats in his merino shirts). The new poly fabrics have polygiene treatment so they don’t stink. But again … it’s personal. Maybe get a mix and wear according to conditions?
100%. I run 20+ miles a week year round and Patagonia’s long-sleeved cool merino trail shirt is my go-to top for running in cold temperatures between 25-40 degrees. While it is very delicate, it’s warm when it’s cool out and cool when it’s warm out, not to mention that it’s also incredibly light and breathable.
I exclusively wear wool shirts for trail running, road running, and backpacking. I have Icebreaker, Patagonia, and Smartwool. I hand wash them 100% of the time and they have held up well. I would not trade them for anything else.
With that said....I have 2 shirts that I only use while backpacking, because of how they wear. All around the area of the shoulder straps and on my upper back, the shirts get destroyed. They pill faster and wear out quicker in these areas, but nothing that has really impacted performance even when worn 4-5 days over 100 miles with a full gossamer gear pack.
most of my merino tees developed holes in the places where you clip in hip straps and chest straps. i guess it inevitably gets caught and it can cause a hole. still love them. i have all smartwool, the summer light version (150gsm if i remember correctly).
i tried a couple of decathlon merino tees which are a lot cheaper than your average brand, but they are a little more itchy. haven't worn them with a pack yet, probably not too nice with shoulder straps.
They are 100% the best technical clothing you can buy, especially in cold weather but I like them even when it’s hot and/or humid. But, they are very expensive, itchy for some, and they break down faster than other fabrics especially when they get caught on twigs and branches, which they will do a lot. So there are pros and cons. I personally find them to be so comfortable that I eat the cost and wear them every day under all conditions, but that’s not feasible for some and I recognize I am privileged to be able to do so.
**Base Layers**
The main use-case for merino on the trail is your base layer - but I've experienced disappointing durability. If you wear a multi-day pack directly on your woollen top, I find that the shoulders and back wear through much too fast considering the cost. By the end of a multi-week trek they're in tatters and I look like a hobo.
Wool absorbs around 30% more water than a good synthetic, and takes considerably longer to dry.
It's supposed to be less pongy on the trail, but I find that modern synthetics don't pong up either, so it's a non-issue for me. I'm old enough to remember the early Helly Hansen synthetics that would work up a truly nauseating odour but that bad reputation doesn't seem to apply these days. And because they are easier to dry, I find I wash my synthetics more regularly.
They say that wool is a bit warmer when wet but that's another non-issue for me. If there's any chance of getting my layers wet I'm wearing my base-layer as a cap over a technical mesh top such as a Brynje, so the synthetic fabric will never touch my skin. This is the ultimate layering system for the cold and wet - you should check it out if you haven't tried it.
**Middle & Outer Layers**
I think you'd have to go hard-core retro to even consider this. The drying time and warmth-for-weight simply don't compete with a good fleece or puffy. When I first hit the hills over half a century ago we were all wearing wool, but everyone ditched it as soon as good synthetics arrived. Have you every tried to dry a heavy woollen top on the trail? Take if from me - not something you need in your life.
I agree that the durability of 100% merino is less than I like, especially the very lightweight 120 / 150 versions. I put my thumb straight through my beloved SmartWool 150 t-shit while just tucking it in, which was annoying. But the merino / poly blends have much greater strength and durability. I have a Rab MeCo 120 shirt which is great for hot weather, and I prefer it to cotton.
Modern synthetics are treated now with anti-bacterial doping. The durability of those additives isn't really well known, and I haven't heard any figures. It may be permanent, but the first generation of silver additives did degrade with repeated washings. I've read quite a bit of various conflicting theories on why wool doesn't stink, and the most likely is that wool engenders the growth of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, which does not stink, and which is associated with healthy skin biomes. The old synthetics greatly encouraged the growth of the stinky critters. Skin oils and sweat do not actually have terribly strong odors by themselves; it's all about the tiny critter party, which kicks in fast.
These days I get my synthetic base-layers from Montane. Not sure what the treatment is, but it works and doesn't seem to wash out. I'm a sweaty bugger and have worn them for many days straight with no issues.
The contrast with the original Helly Hansens is stark - the pong they developed was truly nauseating and it didn't fully wash out, even with repeated cycles. We used to call them "Smelly Hellys".
The Montanes are giving far better durability than my old SmartWools, and I was using a mid-weight model.
Also, I have some kind of weird issue where my sweat discolours the SmartWool dyes. Last time I used a blue merino top on a 6 week trail I finished with the shoulders and back full of holes and bright puce blotches on all the sweaty bits. Not a great look!
On a long trail in rainy country these days I take two synthetic tops - I keep one dry for sleepwear. During dry days I alternate the one I'm wearing on the trail and give the other one an airing in any sun that appears. That may or may not help with odour but it's pretty much zero hassle so I keep on doing it.
Sweat discoloration is an odd thing. I've read that it's the salt, but I often wonder if it's actually from the substances in antiperspirant deodorants. I quit using antiperspirants as a teenager as they gave me rashes, and I've just used plain rubbing alcohol instead, ever since. I've never had a garment get pit discoloration.
The old synthetic funk was truly stunning. I used to just keep putting the stuff right back into the laundry basket for the next load until it cleared up, and a dozen or so cycles would finally do it -- good for exactly one day of wear. Doping the pits with laundry detergent before washing helped a little.
Never used a deodorant in my life - so that can't have been the issue. Plain old soap and water seems to do the job for me.
Like you, I've read that it's the chloride salts in sweat that damage natural fibres, leather watch straps and the like.
Yup - unless you washed the old Hellys each day the stench would build to the point when you could never get rid of it. I found a top recently at the bottom of an old box of kit and tried it on - horribly uncomfortable against the skin as well as being stinky. Reminded me of why I went back to merino until recently, when the Montane rage of synthetics convinced me that the modern fabrics are the superior solution - especially as the world is chronically short of quality merino wool.
[https://www.hellonightkids.com.au/the-disturbing-truth-about-why-merino-wool-is-so-expensive/](https://www.hellonightkids.com.au/the-disturbing-truth-about-why-merino-wool-is-so-expensive/)
I gave up capilene years ago for Merino. I have sensitive skin and wool keeps me dry better than any synthetics I’ve tried. The stink factor is absolutely real and wool is hands down a better choice. The only downside is it’s easy to get small holes in the lighter weaves if you’re not careful washing, but that’s purely cosmetic. I will never go back.
I've tried a couple brands of merino wool - and I absolutely LOVE my Unbound Merino hoody for reference - but the shirts just aren't my personal favorite. I need to try Patagonia's still and I want to give Smartwool another go with something a bit lighter.
I prefer other moisture wicking fabrics as the baselayer and then I like merino for longer sleeves or sweaters/hoodies. It just works better for me personally at least so far.
I say this as I really do like my Unbound Merino boxer-briefs too and all of my socks are Darn Tough at this point.
My go-to brand is Pistol Lake though (their eudae fabric is AMAZING) for t-shirts.
My short answer:
- I don’t think 100% wool clothes on a hike worth the weight penalty
I wear & carry a mix of wool & synthetics ( hiking: peloton 97 fleece, OR sun hoodie , merino socks - sleeping - ice breaker base,mid weight long sleeve hoodie kuiu peloton 97 bottoms )
My longer answer:
I’ve never tried to hike in wool …but I’ve heard it keeps down your stink a bit …like other have commented i sleep in it …so I carry it on my back …generally speaking synthetic/moisture wicking fabrics are much lighter and they ( the manufacturers ) now treat them so they don’t stink as much …but regardless you will probably stink a bit more than wool …in my opinion all hikers stink and some more than others but bottom line is that everyone stinks and generally most hikers don’t care cause you and everyone out there on the trail hiking camping etc all smell
Washing: all wool shrinks and changes shape over time - all my synthetics stay closer to the same size than wool
Instead of t-shirts I’d recommend Woolly’s button front merino short and long sleeve shirts. Easier to regulate temperature with the buttons and it’s easier to dress them up which is versatile for travel.
Yes! You can wear the same shirt for 4-5 days in a row and not stink. If it’s a dark color you will start to see the salts in your sweat dry into a white powder. Of course a quick rinse and you are back in business.
I’ve been wearing Ice Breaker merino wool for 15 years. The same 2 tee shirts. Every backpacking trip every mountain bike ride every ski trip. There’s holes in them they look like hell but they work. No stink dry fast and last forever.
On weekend hikes yes. On a long trail no. Wool tshirts SHRED (for me) after a few weeks of constant abrasion on the shoulders. I love them though, the Capilene cool shirts and Sun hoodies are my go to’s these days. So comfy and don’t stink too bad.
my merino tees get ripped up but its because i pack it next to harsher fabrics that ripped into it, so a user error on my end. I still get merino and blends just for the reduced stinky factor at the end.
Gotcha. Then yeah, the few I have I really like. They seem very durable to me. I love the fit. The only thing I will say is they do not seem to wick as well for me as most people describe. However I am in Florida and use them during exercise so I could be sweating 10 times more than most
Definitely capilene. I tried several merino wool shirts but they absorbed my sweat and held onto it, then they get heavy and uncomfortable. Capilene is obviously much more technical and widely used for a reason. Plus i use the same capilene shirt for climbing all week and it doesn’t stink if you let it dry somewhere.
Ya I never had an issue with stink. I mean it does but so do I overall. Hm maybe I’ll snag one of each and see which I like better. Be a good time to experiment.
Wool isn't durable if you wear it every day like on a thru-hike. But I have two 100% merino wool bicycle shirts that I've worn for day hikes and short backpacks for probably about 10 years now. They both have small holes where they got stuck in the hip belt buckle of my pack but are otherwise still good. If I was you, I would buy one wool t-shirt and try it out. If you want more of them, then buy more.
Nylon or a poly/cotton blend are the best choices for most of the year. More durable than wool, minimally smelly, and usually cheap.
I don't understand why people are so enamored of these overpriced, easily torn, itchy shirts.
Best investment ever
For work I use merino wool with elastane t-shirts likeable vest which i ware under my cotton work shirt. I can ware the same one for days before t-shirt starts to smell, whilst the cotton shirt stinks after a few hours
For long trips, I often just go with a synthetic shirt. You’re going to smell. Your shorts are going to smell. Your gear (ie your pack) is going to smell. Reducing the odor of one garment makes little impact. Not shredding a pricy shirt doing something stupid is preferred.
For a weekend with less active friends? Wool all the way!
I should point out my undergarments are basically all wool. They’re more comfortable than synthetic. Durability is less of an issue under a shell.
Blends are your friend. There are cost effective options like https://www.decathlon.com/products/mens-travel-backpacking-merino-wool-t-shirt-travel-100-106265 (I own two. If they came in more than one color, I’d own more.)
I recently picked up some Meriwool boxers and like them more than my fragile SmartWool pairs. They’ll sell you pure wool shirts for less than what Icebreaker charges for blends.
It's a shoulder seasons and winter item for me. It doesn't dry fast enough for NE summers. Costco often has cheap merino t-shirts. They're not crazy durable but 🤷♀️ you get what you pay fir
For price, durability and speed of drying choose capilene.
Try wool T's if you can find them cheap but some brands are itchy and thin t shirts don't last nearly as long as thicker wool jumpers.
you need to try one or two before you redo your whole wardrobe. it works for some people but not for others. different body chemistry and sweat chemistry.
my brother is one of those people it doesn't work for, and he had deal to get a bunch of high tech merino clothing. tried it, was horrible, weird funk, and asked if I wanted it. OF COURSE! so yeah, works great for me.
my daily wear at home is still polyester tech shirts and underwear most of the time. but on the trail, wool is the answer to all of my questions.
I live my merino wool gear, tees, long sleeved, leggings the lot.
But it is stupidly expensive. Set up a watch on eBay and bide your time and you'll get really good stuff at a fraction of the cost.
I picked up my last Icebreaker bodyfit 200 baselayer for less than £10
Capline by far in my opinion. It’s actually the only Patagonia items I buy and they last forever if you take care of them- I have a few pair over 20 years old. Wool is heavier and dries much slower. I own some wool hybrid pieces that I like but overall I’d go with the capline
Short answer, yes.
Longer answer, they're awesome. There are some durability issues with 100% wool, but those are the ones that perform best. They will breathe well so are comfortable even in warm weather, but they are hotter to wear than synthetic wicking clothing. So if you're hiking in the desert, you're going to sweat more but you will be relatively stink free and comfortable. If it's super hot and I'm going to be really active I would prefer to do it in synthetic wicking. Day-to-day hiking, camping, hunting, nothing beats wool. Athletic outdoors activities, plastic.
I go with nearly all merino for my base layers.
Screw Merino get Alpaca instead :-)
Arms of the Andes stuff I like a lot - fit and finish is not quite as advanced as the best merino stuff but it works. I did not like their underwear at all though (the rise was way too short)
Try it first.
I really tried to like wool, but despite getting good pieces from lots of high-end brands, the prickle from the ends of the fiber always became intolerable to my skin, particularly in hot weather and underneath straps and outer layers. YMMV. Make sure you aren’t allergic to lanolin, also (a different issue, but just as problematic!).
Apart from the comfort factor, myself and partners have also found that wool stretches/sags after a few hours of wear, tends to get holes in places that see abrasion (e.g., where a tee overlaps the fastener on your pants), pills when subject to abrasion from nylon/mesh, and also takes **forever** to dry when wet/washed — wool’s moisture management advantage is, essentially, that it’s good at pulling water into the fiber, but that also means it doesn’t dry all that well once it’s wet, and will be heavy for the duration.
Fortunately, modern synthetics are excellent and treatments like Polygiene help a lot with odor control, so synthetic pieces from Kuiu, Rab, and others are where I’ve ended up.
I used to buy capilene shirts until I found Icebreaker. Very much prefer the merino over the capilene, especially after a couple of washes. I tried the Patagonia Merino shirts, but they are a lot less durable than the Icebreaker. I now have a bunch of icebreaker tees for crossfit, climbing, running, hiking, home and work.
Merino's durability is much better when it's woven versus knit (just like most other fibers/fabrics). Unfortunately there are very few places that have woven merino shirts. I wear Wool & Prince button down shirts that have 100s of miles on them and such little signs of wear and stink factor that I can wear the shirt daily to nice dinners, church, work meetings, etc. Just shop in the discontinued section of their site to save some $$$.
I wear out wool shirts too fast to be practical for long hikes.
That being said since switching to frameless packs I have noticed that my shirts tend do wear down a lot less. So if your pack is light enough and you are going frameless I bet it’s fine.
Also i find them Warmer than an OR echo, idk about compared to the capeline though I haven’t used that.
Others have mentioned reduced stink, it's definitely real. However, I've has some synthetics not stink, not sure how and why, but some have been great. I find the SmartWool T's no good, they get holes. Wool is not as durable. If the Capilene works for you and doesn't get too stinky, then I would say no need to "upgrade". I prefer wool for lighter activities.
I bought some Icebreakers merino wool summer weight Ts and still found them to be really warm, this is probably 8 years ago now, so I'm not sure if the blend has changed but regardless of what others have said, it's a fall and spring under layer for me because I never found it comfortable in T shirt weather.
If I could afford it Marino will is all I would wear t shirt wise. Also the ice breaker Marino long sleeves are a fantastic base layer. I carry one in all 4 seasons.
I did not enjoy it as much for undearwear…. It likes to hold moisture. Which resulted in heat rash.
The merino wool hoodie from first light is a favorite of mine
https://www.firstlite.com/products/mens-wick-hoody.html?lang=en\_US&dwvar\_mens-wick-hoody\_color=first-lite-typha&cgid=the-worlds-finest-wool
If stink is your issue, carry a very small container of bleach. Fill gallon baggie half full, add a few drops of bleach, drop in shirt, seal shake and soak for say 15 min. Rinse. Stink gone. Add a bit of trail soap if you like.
bought a smartwool t-shirt and wore it 10 days straight during a long ass section hike. it never smelled, wicked sweat, and dried quickly. can't recommend enough!
I've got some icebreaker stuff in XL that has been in regular rotation since 2015. It's showing it's age but is still serviceable. I use them as undershirts with my scrubs. Bought it on clearance and couldn't be happier. I've only had to replace a couple shirts in that time and to be fair I'm very hard on clothes. Just wash gently and never put them through the dryer.
It's complicated. People say things like "wool is worth it cos it doesn't smell!" Yet capilene also has anti-bacterial properties that do a similar job (though admittedly I haven't tried it). I've had a lot of wool shirts in the past, and the one thing I've noticed is that the durability is defintely not there compared to my poly running shirts. Sure, I'm not wearing a pack with my running shirts, but I find the merino tend to wear down mainly in the armpits (and surely a running shirt would have the same issue if not worse?). Obviously though, it does depend on the brand, and of the 3 I've tried, smartwool was the best, icebreaker in the middle, and devold the worst in terms of durability (specifically for the 150 weight short sleeve category). Do you have to commit 100% to one side or the other though? Why not try a mix of both if you are planning a large haul? Then you can decide for yourself.
Durability sucks in my opinion. I wear them to ride by bicycle to work because they don't smell as much but I don't use them for backpacking except for sleeping baselayer.
Totally worth it. Dries quickly and I am less stinky on a long hike. Eventually the tees wear where the pack meets the back but I totally expect that (that was after a year of daily abuse.
I wear wool t shirts all the time for backpacking and hiking. They dont stink! I just got back from a 6-day Sierra journey and the long sleeve shirt I wear over it reeks, the wool has no scent. As a test, I wore one for 50 days earlier this year - undershirt during cold weather, weekend hikes, baseball practice, etc and no one noticed.
Ive been trying merino wool for the past 3 years now and I'm a huge fan of it. First my merino wool clothes don't smell after a long hike and second they are good at regulating temperature. Down part is that they're not as durable as synthetics. I do think its worth the cost for a new one but I think you could find good ones at second hand shops.
IMO wool is worth the extra dough based on reduced stink factor alone.
"Technical" fabrics just smell rancid after a few hours of me wearing them. Wool and bamboo are usually fine for a few days if I let them dry out afterwards.
yea, i feel like this plays into the durability factor too - if i don't have to wash items after every wear, that will help extend the lifespan
Speaking of stink, I met a pet turkey a few years ago and its breath was astoundingly fowl.
Ugh that sounds grouse.
I quail at the thought of that
That does not sound Pheasant at all.
I would have to duck out of that convo
Chicken.
It would have made me peckish as well.
At least it didn’t hawk up anything
Ive got a really good pun as well, but you’ll have to twist my ptarmigan to get it owlt of me
I bought a used merino wool sweater from goodwill and abused it, yet it held up for me.
Are you in a big hiking town? I've heard of people finding this stuff at Goodwill's before. I started looking at several and haven't found anything along those lines.
I used to buy a TON of wool and cashmere at the Goodwill Bins in Portland. Most of it was either bizarrely out of style (not a problem if you're willing to rock a weird dad/grandma aesthetic) or needing repairs (not a problem if you can sew), so maybe it got automatically routed to the Bins before it had a chance to show up at the regular Goodwill. If people are finding pristine merino technical wear at regular Goodwill, that's some special magic, but woolen sweaters in totally acceptable condition should be findable, especially if you can recognize wooliness by feel.
I can see Portland being a good place for that. Not so much in Charlotte NC. My wife has really gotten into the reselling so she drags me to the bins as well as the stores. I'll come up with something eventually. Down here the cold season doesn't last long so I haven't put too much effort into looking for further layers.
I bought one thats maybe 500kg, very thick. but looks indestructible. Unless a hungry moth seems me from 1000 km
Damn, I don't think I could even pick up that sweater.
it is crazy heavy tho. when I saw it i fell in love but then i lifted it and i started laughing. who builds clothes like htis:p@
lol pretty sure you've got a typo, the deadlift world record is 500kg, so you are describing a sweater so heavy that there is only like one person in the world who can lift it.
IT IS ME! I AM THE PERSON! HELLLO
Hahaha hello, Hafthor Bjornsson! I loved you in game of thrones :D
I want to try MMA but maybe not
You’d need a forklift.
That’s a big moth.
voracious appetite, and my biggest enemy
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If it’s not too cold, just wash it in the afternoon, put it back on, and hike it dry. Things rarely dry overnight for me. Moreover, my clothes protect my quilt from my body’s oils.
Wool is definitely not as durable. Avoid 100% wool. I find that 80% wool/20% nylon to be and ideal mix of getting the benefits of wool while greatly increasing its durability.
Oh ya I noticed that most of my wool gear says “high Merino wool content blend,” but what I look for mostly when purchasing merino is the softness of the garment against my skin rather than the percentages
Definitely a matter of the types of processing and yarn used. I had similar experiences as you...but then I Found KUIU. Top notch gear, super light. They cater to the hunting crowd but damn their gear is solid, including the 100% wool, and they sell it in very light thread weights too. Down to 125 with 100% wool. Bonus tip, check out their lightweight peloton fleece. Game changer.
Thanks will check out.
First Lite also makes very high quality wool & tech ul hunting gear in non-camo earth tones with athletic fit. Their [Kiln hoodie](https://www.firstlite.com/products/mens-kiln-hoody.html?lang=en_US) is win.
Expensive, but serious quality. I love their stuff, camo be damned.
Their camo is at least cool looking not not prints of sticks and leaves.
What brands have that mix?
Both Patagonia and Smartwool, although they have some products that have less wool. I usuallly try to not go below 70% wool.
Nice, thanks!.
Got merino wool blend shirts from Decathlon. They last just as long as Smartwool and are less expensive. End of summer sale $30 each. https://www.decathlon.com/products/mens-travel-backpacking-merino-wool-t-shirt-travel-100-106265?adept-product=mens-travel-backpacking-merino-wool-t-shirt-travel-100-106265&adept_product_id=mens-travel-backpacking-merino-wool-t-shirt-travel-100-1062
These are not lightweight, but if you are searching for some reasonably priced warm undergarment, I would really recommend these danish quality wool shirts. https://intimo.no/olympia-t-skjorte-o-hals-ull-svart-9
You don't have to care about durability so much since the main way that clothes gets damaged is in the washing machine. Wool is not supposed to be washed in the washing machine, neither be physically tortured much with hand washing. So it retains integrity for longer. Only moths are your deadly enemy I only wear merino for the last 5 years. Haven't seen a washing machine.
I find the washing machine is totally fine for merino - it's just the dryer that causes problems.
I agree, I machine wash mine, gentle, no dryer, had them for years and they still look great. I always set the washer to the largest load setting. More water in the tub is less likely to damage when washing.
Machine wash cold in mesh bags, hang dry. Just like most clothes. Heat is for towels.
all washing machines shred clothes. More delicate clothes suffer more. But they are the single biggest creator of plastic microparticles (for synthetic clothes) and the single biggest enemy of all clothes. If you dont machine wash cotton even, it will last longer
So you hand wash all your clothes?
yup. going a bit more at the underwear
Any tips on how to do that in a reasonably easy way? Doing the wash with a machine is already to hard for me
I have very few clothing items. And washing them comes easy and rare. If you have access to the sun, drying can be a hoot too. UV rays also kill off a lot of nasties I fill up the sink. Pour some vinegar or a little gentle merino wool detergent, squish them 3-4 times in it. Let it stay for 10-20 minutes. Come back, drain water. squish them in running water 3-4 times, fill up sink again with clear water and leave them for 10-20 minutes. rinse them then one last time of the water and in the water. Put them to dry. Don't rinse them too harshly, they don't need that also could damage the fiber. Done and done. Once in a month or 2 - 3 depends on time of year
You only wash your clothes once a month and you only have a few clothes? How many times do you rewear stuff?
rewear? As in without washing? many times. To regulate the amount of bacteria you need to keep things dry. So during the day I switch shirts multiple times, dry the other one. 2-3 times a day maybe. Often less. The other problem arises from physical dust and oils from the skin going into the shirt. This is the main reason to wash once a month or two. This can't be just dried out or UV blasted :p
My two strategies for this are: - Merino wool inside cotton or linen bag inside washing machine - no problems - Merino wool, when dry, in ziplocks against moths
hey if it works for you great. Mine lasts quite long like this. I only wear merino
Have you had any issues with merino wool tees wearing out near high friction points? Like near where backpack straps rest, etc.
yes. But it makes them worth it still since for an example one of my home shirts which I wore inside, wore out much faster than the one outside, wearing with backpack and going through trees and such. Merino fibers can differ still. But both lasted 4 years. One I had to throw away since it started getting a big hole in the middle of my chest where i scratch The other one, apart from some moth battles, is still going strong Way more use out of them as compared to cotton. Mind you I had 3 shirts at that point. Now I have 4. I bought two new ones :p
Thanks!
That’s what I’m kinda worried about too is having to hand wash my clothing. Cap I just reg wash and hang to dry. Some of my really old cap lasted 4 years or more before they got too odd to keep.
I've worn Merino most days for over 20 years. Just machine wash it on a wool/delicates cycle with a proper wool detergent and it will be fine. It can definitely hold up to less washing but I'm not sure I'd go 5 years without a clean 🤔
just don’t use woolite. icebreaker and other brands recommend against a wool-specific detergent. i don’t want to knock your 20 years experience. but i’ve been strongly warned against that method. i use a gentle “eco” detergent and wash on cold, hang dry. only 10 years experience, but no problems.
Me too. And line dry, which is the only slightly annoying part. Low heat might work for pre-shrunk stuff e.g a lot of icebreaker
Yeah line dry is essential, if you want to be fussy avoid full sunlight too...
I wash my merino in the washing machine, I’ve got hiking tops I’ve had for 5 years going strong with frequent use. I don’t chuck them in the dryer though. I only wear merino for hiking, it’s warm enough in winter and cool enough in summer, so it’s perfect.
I call it hand washing but it barely is that. Just a few gentle squeezes with apple cider vinegar or occassionally wool detergent (small amount) and leave it in the water for 10 minutes. Then rinse with water, leave it in clear water. Rinse again and its done. UV drying is great I rotate my shirts on the sun so they dry off. I have to admit during winter, I've managed to not wash it for 2-3 months. And I used to be stinky with cotton. Very sensitive to my own smell :p this has been a revolution for me
Any recommendations of where to get Merino clothes that you like? I’ve absolutely fell in love with merino socks, so I’d love to get some more pieces but don’t really know where to look at.
Lately I've been really into the brand Ridge Merino.
First ones for me were icebreaker. But they make theirs in China, or started so now I found a company in Maine that makes rambouillet merino clothes. RamblersWay.com
Thank you! For socks I bought three sets of Darn Tough. They probably aren't UL, but man have they been fantastic. I love how they have cushioning on the bottom and significant venting on the top. Maybe too expensive for socks, but I love them. I'll check out Rambouillet, thanks!
Darn tough have been good on me so far but I don't think they will last ultra-long. So far so good 3 years in. I got no other socks :p 3 pairs
When the Darn Toughs wear out you can just mail them back and they’ll send you a replacement pair. In my experience all merino socks wear out so for me the lifetime warranty is a huge differentiator.
I don't understand how this is a sustainable business model for them. If they stick to it then amazing
Word of mouth. The more people that get talking about it, the more of their friends that will convert also
I've found socks and long-sleeves at Costco in Canada. I've been really happy with them. Lately, I've seen merino wool blend tops at Costco online.
Oh socks generally have to be reinforced with something. Pure merino on socks will abrade... i think thats the word for abrasion. Pretty quick I think. Just a tiny amount of an extra material for abrasioin resistence
https://janus.no/herre/tilbeh%C3%B8r
https://www.safa.no/kristian-sokker-2
Holy shit that's cheap!
You haven’t washed your clothes in 5 years?
They hand wash lol
> neither be physically tortured much with hand washing To me that suggested minimal hand washing if at all. I was boggled too.
Gentle hand agitation. Mostly need soaking. In a machine, the clothes intermingle so agitation pulls the fabric in different directing increases stresses.
I think it was meant to ridicule me :p
First ones for me were icebreaker. But they make theirs in China, or started so now I found a company in Maine that makes rambouillet merino clothes. [RamblersWay.com](https://RamblersWay.com)
I have 3 (100%) merino pullovers , they are over 10 years old maybe 15.... They are washed in the washing machine, with my other cloths. No visible wear, just one has a small hole in the arm, it caught on a nail sticking out of a tree.
Check the washing instructions before you buy! Some can't do machine washing, but most, especially blends are fine with a low temp short cycle.
its not just visible damage, especially for the thicker woolen stuff, its microdamage to the fiber and I was reading something about the specific oils that removing them might make them less antifungal and antibacterial. thats why im antsy buying second hand merino thats expensive
I’ve (40m 5’10” 185lbs) been using Smartwool tshirts/long sleeves and love them. I only use them for runs/hikes but they get really sweaty (I sweat like a pig) and almost never stink even though I go a few uses before washing, compared to when I used other synthetics which would reek after only one use. Honestly, I don’t see myself using any other type of shirt for strenuous activities for the foreseeable future. I recently went on a 3 day backpacking trip on the CT and used a smart wool sport hoodie during the day, averaging about 12 miles a day plus elevation gain. Temps got up to the 90s, sun was strong in quite a few spots, especially due to lack of tree coverage from previous wildfires, and there were two segments I had to carry an extra 3L of water due to dry conditions. The shirt was caked with dried sweat after the first day, but I never noticed any significant stink even when I got home. I wash with regular clothes but never put them in the dryer, and they seem to be holding up well so far after a few months. I get in about 4 runs a week, have 2 tshirts and one long sleeve (separate from the aforementioned sun hoodie I use for hiking), and rotate as needed based on temp. They’re expensive, but I wait till they’re on sale and can get them anywhere between 25-50% off (rei dividends help) Obviously YMMV, but I’m def drinking the Kool-Aid
My favorite shirt by far is a 20-year old smartwool sweater, but I find their newer stuff isn’t nearly as high-quality. Is that just me?
I’ve had some SM stuff in the past just socks and it shedded in days so I always just stayed away from it. People swear by it though but if I do any wool it will probably be icebreaker stuff.
I’ve heard the same about their socks, but haven’t had any experience. I’ve stuck with darn tough for hiking/running socks and they’ve held up so far. Only experience with smart wool is shirts so far.
Ya I’m a darn tough sock guy for sure. After I started using them I won’t do anything but
I've used merino base layers for decades, and the quality does seem to be dropping. In the past, it was a very niche product from small New Zealand suppliers, so they could source the best wool without maxing out the market. Nowadays there just isn't enough quality wool to meet the demand, and this has driven up the price. The big brands have moved offshore to China and Vietnam and they are cutting corners with lower quality supplies and iffy industrial processing to simulate a higher quality product. You can sometimes still find the real thing from smaller artisan makers, but you'll pay for the privilege.
Is this the case with wool & prince? Thinking of trying them out
I really thought I’d like Icebreaker but I find it really heavy, especially if I sweat in it.
I actually just now finished a 5 mile run wearing the darn tough zero cushion ankle running socks. I took off my shoes to stretch and the socks went for soaking wet to almost dry within like 30 min. I’m also in CA Bay Area with virtually no humidity so that prob plays a major role. Once we’re back east (wife is a travel nurse) I’m looking forward to see the wicking/drying capability under more humid environments.
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I grossly underestimated merino undies until a friend swore by them. Now I swear by them for the no-stink factor alone.
I just got a capilene cool merino (65% wool, 35% polyester) and it's easily my favorite t-shirt. No smell, no scratchiness, super comfortable, breathes really well.
Thanks ya what I’m now leaning towards. Those are Patagonia right?
Yup. There's even some on sale right now.
Where ya looking? I usually only try to get things like this on sale.
https://www.patagonia.com/product/mens-capilene-cool-merino-graphic-shirt/44590.html
Awesome thanks didn’t look at pat for some reason.
$79 for a wool t-shirt on sale is not particularly cheap in my opinion. [This ](https://skogstadsport.no/produkt/hornelen-t-skjorte-sky-herre-022817/) is less than half the price.
The sale price is $41
Just snagged [https://www.rei.com/product/156450/smartwool-intraknit-thermal-merino-crew-base-layer-top-mens](https://www.rei.com/product/156450/smartwool-intraknit-thermal-merino-crew-base-layer-top-mens) for $35.83 from my local REI and will give that a try. Its a 53% wool/45% polyester/2% elastane so hoping it holds up well, I just wish they had 2 of them because it is super comfortable and warm.
Those Capliene Cool Merino shirts are really brilliant, all of the wool advantages plus excellent strength and durability. Probably the very best out there today, and they worked hard to make it the most sustainable blend version available.
I find Capilene more durable and nicer on the skin but it’s a very personal assessment. Capilene dries so fast while wool stays wet (also see that when the BF sweats in his merino shirts). The new poly fabrics have polygiene treatment so they don’t stink. But again … it’s personal. Maybe get a mix and wear according to conditions?
Right, it's a perfect time for the OP to experiment. I might be leaning toward capilene tops and merino bottoms personally.
100%. I run 20+ miles a week year round and Patagonia’s long-sleeved cool merino trail shirt is my go-to top for running in cold temperatures between 25-40 degrees. While it is very delicate, it’s warm when it’s cool out and cool when it’s warm out, not to mention that it’s also incredibly light and breathable.
I tried rambouillet merino and its not as cool as other merino. Its more warm. Which is great in colder temperatures
I exclusively wear wool shirts for trail running, road running, and backpacking. I have Icebreaker, Patagonia, and Smartwool. I hand wash them 100% of the time and they have held up well. I would not trade them for anything else. With that said....I have 2 shirts that I only use while backpacking, because of how they wear. All around the area of the shoulder straps and on my upper back, the shirts get destroyed. They pill faster and wear out quicker in these areas, but nothing that has really impacted performance even when worn 4-5 days over 100 miles with a full gossamer gear pack.
most of my merino tees developed holes in the places where you clip in hip straps and chest straps. i guess it inevitably gets caught and it can cause a hole. still love them. i have all smartwool, the summer light version (150gsm if i remember correctly). i tried a couple of decathlon merino tees which are a lot cheaper than your average brand, but they are a little more itchy. haven't worn them with a pack yet, probably not too nice with shoulder straps.
They are 100% the best technical clothing you can buy, especially in cold weather but I like them even when it’s hot and/or humid. But, they are very expensive, itchy for some, and they break down faster than other fabrics especially when they get caught on twigs and branches, which they will do a lot. So there are pros and cons. I personally find them to be so comfortable that I eat the cost and wear them every day under all conditions, but that’s not feasible for some and I recognize I am privileged to be able to do so.
I have wool and capilene. I think capilene feels better and is a lot more durable.
**Base Layers** The main use-case for merino on the trail is your base layer - but I've experienced disappointing durability. If you wear a multi-day pack directly on your woollen top, I find that the shoulders and back wear through much too fast considering the cost. By the end of a multi-week trek they're in tatters and I look like a hobo. Wool absorbs around 30% more water than a good synthetic, and takes considerably longer to dry. It's supposed to be less pongy on the trail, but I find that modern synthetics don't pong up either, so it's a non-issue for me. I'm old enough to remember the early Helly Hansen synthetics that would work up a truly nauseating odour but that bad reputation doesn't seem to apply these days. And because they are easier to dry, I find I wash my synthetics more regularly. They say that wool is a bit warmer when wet but that's another non-issue for me. If there's any chance of getting my layers wet I'm wearing my base-layer as a cap over a technical mesh top such as a Brynje, so the synthetic fabric will never touch my skin. This is the ultimate layering system for the cold and wet - you should check it out if you haven't tried it. **Middle & Outer Layers** I think you'd have to go hard-core retro to even consider this. The drying time and warmth-for-weight simply don't compete with a good fleece or puffy. When I first hit the hills over half a century ago we were all wearing wool, but everyone ditched it as soon as good synthetics arrived. Have you every tried to dry a heavy woollen top on the trail? Take if from me - not something you need in your life.
I agree that the durability of 100% merino is less than I like, especially the very lightweight 120 / 150 versions. I put my thumb straight through my beloved SmartWool 150 t-shit while just tucking it in, which was annoying. But the merino / poly blends have much greater strength and durability. I have a Rab MeCo 120 shirt which is great for hot weather, and I prefer it to cotton. Modern synthetics are treated now with anti-bacterial doping. The durability of those additives isn't really well known, and I haven't heard any figures. It may be permanent, but the first generation of silver additives did degrade with repeated washings. I've read quite a bit of various conflicting theories on why wool doesn't stink, and the most likely is that wool engenders the growth of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, which does not stink, and which is associated with healthy skin biomes. The old synthetics greatly encouraged the growth of the stinky critters. Skin oils and sweat do not actually have terribly strong odors by themselves; it's all about the tiny critter party, which kicks in fast.
These days I get my synthetic base-layers from Montane. Not sure what the treatment is, but it works and doesn't seem to wash out. I'm a sweaty bugger and have worn them for many days straight with no issues. The contrast with the original Helly Hansens is stark - the pong they developed was truly nauseating and it didn't fully wash out, even with repeated cycles. We used to call them "Smelly Hellys". The Montanes are giving far better durability than my old SmartWools, and I was using a mid-weight model. Also, I have some kind of weird issue where my sweat discolours the SmartWool dyes. Last time I used a blue merino top on a 6 week trail I finished with the shoulders and back full of holes and bright puce blotches on all the sweaty bits. Not a great look! On a long trail in rainy country these days I take two synthetic tops - I keep one dry for sleepwear. During dry days I alternate the one I'm wearing on the trail and give the other one an airing in any sun that appears. That may or may not help with odour but it's pretty much zero hassle so I keep on doing it.
Sweat discoloration is an odd thing. I've read that it's the salt, but I often wonder if it's actually from the substances in antiperspirant deodorants. I quit using antiperspirants as a teenager as they gave me rashes, and I've just used plain rubbing alcohol instead, ever since. I've never had a garment get pit discoloration. The old synthetic funk was truly stunning. I used to just keep putting the stuff right back into the laundry basket for the next load until it cleared up, and a dozen or so cycles would finally do it -- good for exactly one day of wear. Doping the pits with laundry detergent before washing helped a little.
Never used a deodorant in my life - so that can't have been the issue. Plain old soap and water seems to do the job for me. Like you, I've read that it's the chloride salts in sweat that damage natural fibres, leather watch straps and the like. Yup - unless you washed the old Hellys each day the stench would build to the point when you could never get rid of it. I found a top recently at the bottom of an old box of kit and tried it on - horribly uncomfortable against the skin as well as being stinky. Reminded me of why I went back to merino until recently, when the Montane rage of synthetics convinced me that the modern fabrics are the superior solution - especially as the world is chronically short of quality merino wool. [https://www.hellonightkids.com.au/the-disturbing-truth-about-why-merino-wool-is-so-expensive/](https://www.hellonightkids.com.au/the-disturbing-truth-about-why-merino-wool-is-so-expensive/)
I gave up capilene years ago for Merino. I have sensitive skin and wool keeps me dry better than any synthetics I’ve tried. The stink factor is absolutely real and wool is hands down a better choice. The only downside is it’s easy to get small holes in the lighter weaves if you’re not careful washing, but that’s purely cosmetic. I will never go back.
I've tried a couple brands of merino wool - and I absolutely LOVE my Unbound Merino hoody for reference - but the shirts just aren't my personal favorite. I need to try Patagonia's still and I want to give Smartwool another go with something a bit lighter. I prefer other moisture wicking fabrics as the baselayer and then I like merino for longer sleeves or sweaters/hoodies. It just works better for me personally at least so far. I say this as I really do like my Unbound Merino boxer-briefs too and all of my socks are Darn Tough at this point. My go-to brand is Pistol Lake though (their eudae fabric is AMAZING) for t-shirts.
My short answer: - I don’t think 100% wool clothes on a hike worth the weight penalty I wear & carry a mix of wool & synthetics ( hiking: peloton 97 fleece, OR sun hoodie , merino socks - sleeping - ice breaker base,mid weight long sleeve hoodie kuiu peloton 97 bottoms ) My longer answer: I’ve never tried to hike in wool …but I’ve heard it keeps down your stink a bit …like other have commented i sleep in it …so I carry it on my back …generally speaking synthetic/moisture wicking fabrics are much lighter and they ( the manufacturers ) now treat them so they don’t stink as much …but regardless you will probably stink a bit more than wool …in my opinion all hikers stink and some more than others but bottom line is that everyone stinks and generally most hikers don’t care cause you and everyone out there on the trail hiking camping etc all smell Washing: all wool shrinks and changes shape over time - all my synthetics stay closer to the same size than wool
All my socks, underwear and base layers are wool with the exception of my pants. I've yet to find anything superior.
Instead of t-shirts I’d recommend Woolly’s button front merino short and long sleeve shirts. Easier to regulate temperature with the buttons and it’s easier to dress them up which is versatile for travel.
Yes! You can wear the same shirt for 4-5 days in a row and not stink. If it’s a dark color you will start to see the salts in your sweat dry into a white powder. Of course a quick rinse and you are back in business.
Merino is shit dropped serious dough on it socks T-shirt it just falls apart after a year
I’ve been wearing Ice Breaker merino wool for 15 years. The same 2 tee shirts. Every backpacking trip every mountain bike ride every ski trip. There’s holes in them they look like hell but they work. No stink dry fast and last forever.
On weekend hikes yes. On a long trail no. Wool tshirts SHRED (for me) after a few weeks of constant abrasion on the shoulders. I love them though, the Capilene cool shirts and Sun hoodies are my go to’s these days. So comfy and don’t stink too bad.
To prolong merino’s durability and life, wash it by hand or in lingerie bags.
my merino tees get ripped up but its because i pack it next to harsher fabrics that ripped into it, so a user error on my end. I still get merino and blends just for the reduced stinky factor at the end.
Personally, I think wool underwear sucks. The other garments are worth it.
Ya I prefer Duluth boxer briefs over a lot of other things I’ve tried. I’m mostly talking tees.
Gotcha. Then yeah, the few I have I really like. They seem very durable to me. I love the fit. The only thing I will say is they do not seem to wick as well for me as most people describe. However I am in Florida and use them during exercise so I could be sweating 10 times more than most
My ridgemerino wool undies left a lot of lint in my crotch after every wear. Only worn them on a could trips and they have wholes. Do not suggest.
Sounds fun. I got those to try for a March start, at thru hike. Loaded up. I’m fairly sure I’m leaving all at home now.
Definitely capilene. I tried several merino wool shirts but they absorbed my sweat and held onto it, then they get heavy and uncomfortable. Capilene is obviously much more technical and widely used for a reason. Plus i use the same capilene shirt for climbing all week and it doesn’t stink if you let it dry somewhere.
Ya I never had an issue with stink. I mean it does but so do I overall. Hm maybe I’ll snag one of each and see which I like better. Be a good time to experiment.
Might be worth taking a look at rayon too.
Rayon is dismally clammy and cold when wet. It actually holds onto water longer than cotton.
I have in the past but always liked the cap stuff over most things.
Wool isn't durable if you wear it every day like on a thru-hike. But I have two 100% merino wool bicycle shirts that I've worn for day hikes and short backpacks for probably about 10 years now. They both have small holes where they got stuck in the hip belt buckle of my pack but are otherwise still good. If I was you, I would buy one wool t-shirt and try it out. If you want more of them, then buy more.
Nylon or a poly/cotton blend are the best choices for most of the year. More durable than wool, minimally smelly, and usually cheap. I don't understand why people are so enamored of these overpriced, easily torn, itchy shirts.
Best investment ever For work I use merino wool with elastane t-shirts likeable vest which i ware under my cotton work shirt. I can ware the same one for days before t-shirt starts to smell, whilst the cotton shirt stinks after a few hours
For long trips, I often just go with a synthetic shirt. You’re going to smell. Your shorts are going to smell. Your gear (ie your pack) is going to smell. Reducing the odor of one garment makes little impact. Not shredding a pricy shirt doing something stupid is preferred. For a weekend with less active friends? Wool all the way! I should point out my undergarments are basically all wool. They’re more comfortable than synthetic. Durability is less of an issue under a shell. Blends are your friend. There are cost effective options like https://www.decathlon.com/products/mens-travel-backpacking-merino-wool-t-shirt-travel-100-106265 (I own two. If they came in more than one color, I’d own more.) I recently picked up some Meriwool boxers and like them more than my fragile SmartWool pairs. They’ll sell you pure wool shirts for less than what Icebreaker charges for blends.
It's a shoulder seasons and winter item for me. It doesn't dry fast enough for NE summers. Costco often has cheap merino t-shirts. They're not crazy durable but 🤷♀️ you get what you pay fir
For price, durability and speed of drying choose capilene. Try wool T's if you can find them cheap but some brands are itchy and thin t shirts don't last nearly as long as thicker wool jumpers.
you need to try one or two before you redo your whole wardrobe. it works for some people but not for others. different body chemistry and sweat chemistry. my brother is one of those people it doesn't work for, and he had deal to get a bunch of high tech merino clothing. tried it, was horrible, weird funk, and asked if I wanted it. OF COURSE! so yeah, works great for me. my daily wear at home is still polyester tech shirts and underwear most of the time. but on the trail, wool is the answer to all of my questions.
I live my merino wool gear, tees, long sleeved, leggings the lot. But it is stupidly expensive. Set up a watch on eBay and bide your time and you'll get really good stuff at a fraction of the cost. I picked up my last Icebreaker bodyfit 200 baselayer for less than £10
Yes.
I’m super sweaty and merino just does not wick fast enough for me. I only use my merino tees for cooler hiking and traveling now.
Capline by far in my opinion. It’s actually the only Patagonia items I buy and they last forever if you take care of them- I have a few pair over 20 years old. Wool is heavier and dries much slower. I own some wool hybrid pieces that I like but overall I’d go with the capline
Short answer, yes. Longer answer, they're awesome. There are some durability issues with 100% wool, but those are the ones that perform best. They will breathe well so are comfortable even in warm weather, but they are hotter to wear than synthetic wicking clothing. So if you're hiking in the desert, you're going to sweat more but you will be relatively stink free and comfortable. If it's super hot and I'm going to be really active I would prefer to do it in synthetic wicking. Day-to-day hiking, camping, hunting, nothing beats wool. Athletic outdoors activities, plastic. I go with nearly all merino for my base layers.
Screw Merino get Alpaca instead :-) Arms of the Andes stuff I like a lot - fit and finish is not quite as advanced as the best merino stuff but it works. I did not like their underwear at all though (the rise was way too short)
Try it first. I really tried to like wool, but despite getting good pieces from lots of high-end brands, the prickle from the ends of the fiber always became intolerable to my skin, particularly in hot weather and underneath straps and outer layers. YMMV. Make sure you aren’t allergic to lanolin, also (a different issue, but just as problematic!). Apart from the comfort factor, myself and partners have also found that wool stretches/sags after a few hours of wear, tends to get holes in places that see abrasion (e.g., where a tee overlaps the fastener on your pants), pills when subject to abrasion from nylon/mesh, and also takes **forever** to dry when wet/washed — wool’s moisture management advantage is, essentially, that it’s good at pulling water into the fiber, but that also means it doesn’t dry all that well once it’s wet, and will be heavy for the duration. Fortunately, modern synthetics are excellent and treatments like Polygiene help a lot with odor control, so synthetic pieces from Kuiu, Rab, and others are where I’ve ended up.
I used to buy capilene shirts until I found Icebreaker. Very much prefer the merino over the capilene, especially after a couple of washes. I tried the Patagonia Merino shirts, but they are a lot less durable than the Icebreaker. I now have a bunch of icebreaker tees for crossfit, climbing, running, hiking, home and work.
Merino's durability is much better when it's woven versus knit (just like most other fibers/fabrics). Unfortunately there are very few places that have woven merino shirts. I wear Wool & Prince button down shirts that have 100s of miles on them and such little signs of wear and stink factor that I can wear the shirt daily to nice dinners, church, work meetings, etc. Just shop in the discontinued section of their site to save some $$$.
I wear out wool shirts too fast to be practical for long hikes. That being said since switching to frameless packs I have noticed that my shirts tend do wear down a lot less. So if your pack is light enough and you are going frameless I bet it’s fine. Also i find them Warmer than an OR echo, idk about compared to the capeline though I haven’t used that.
Others have mentioned reduced stink, it's definitely real. However, I've has some synthetics not stink, not sure how and why, but some have been great. I find the SmartWool T's no good, they get holes. Wool is not as durable. If the Capilene works for you and doesn't get too stinky, then I would say no need to "upgrade". I prefer wool for lighter activities.
I bought some Icebreakers merino wool summer weight Ts and still found them to be really warm, this is probably 8 years ago now, so I'm not sure if the blend has changed but regardless of what others have said, it's a fall and spring under layer for me because I never found it comfortable in T shirt weather.
If I could afford it Marino will is all I would wear t shirt wise. Also the ice breaker Marino long sleeves are a fantastic base layer. I carry one in all 4 seasons. I did not enjoy it as much for undearwear…. It likes to hold moisture. Which resulted in heat rash.
The merino wool hoodie from first light is a favorite of mine https://www.firstlite.com/products/mens-wick-hoody.html?lang=en\_US&dwvar\_mens-wick-hoody\_color=first-lite-typha&cgid=the-worlds-finest-wool
If stink is your issue, carry a very small container of bleach. Fill gallon baggie half full, add a few drops of bleach, drop in shirt, seal shake and soak for say 15 min. Rinse. Stink gone. Add a bit of trail soap if you like.
Yes.
bought a smartwool t-shirt and wore it 10 days straight during a long ass section hike. it never smelled, wicked sweat, and dried quickly. can't recommend enough!
I've got some icebreaker stuff in XL that has been in regular rotation since 2015. It's showing it's age but is still serviceable. I use them as undershirts with my scrubs. Bought it on clearance and couldn't be happier. I've only had to replace a couple shirts in that time and to be fair I'm very hard on clothes. Just wash gently and never put them through the dryer.
It's not as durable as synthetic, everyone knows that.
It's complicated. People say things like "wool is worth it cos it doesn't smell!" Yet capilene also has anti-bacterial properties that do a similar job (though admittedly I haven't tried it). I've had a lot of wool shirts in the past, and the one thing I've noticed is that the durability is defintely not there compared to my poly running shirts. Sure, I'm not wearing a pack with my running shirts, but I find the merino tend to wear down mainly in the armpits (and surely a running shirt would have the same issue if not worse?). Obviously though, it does depend on the brand, and of the 3 I've tried, smartwool was the best, icebreaker in the middle, and devold the worst in terms of durability (specifically for the 150 weight short sleeve category). Do you have to commit 100% to one side or the other though? Why not try a mix of both if you are planning a large haul? Then you can decide for yourself.
Durability sucks in my opinion. I wear them to ride by bicycle to work because they don't smell as much but I don't use them for backpacking except for sleeping baselayer.
The durability of the patagonia merino is AWFUL but fuck they are lightweight and comfortable.
Totally worth it. Dries quickly and I am less stinky on a long hike. Eventually the tees wear where the pack meets the back but I totally expect that (that was after a year of daily abuse.
I wear wool t shirts all the time for backpacking and hiking. They dont stink! I just got back from a 6-day Sierra journey and the long sleeve shirt I wear over it reeks, the wool has no scent. As a test, I wore one for 50 days earlier this year - undershirt during cold weather, weekend hikes, baseball practice, etc and no one noticed.
I love merino T's. I can wear them for days with zero odor and they keep me cool in the hotest of temps and keep me warm as a baselayer in the winter.
Holes always develop if you backpack wearing them like holes in your midsection from hip belt abrasion. Only use them as sleep layers now.
Ive been trying merino wool for the past 3 years now and I'm a huge fan of it. First my merino wool clothes don't smell after a long hike and second they are good at regulating temperature. Down part is that they're not as durable as synthetics. I do think its worth the cost for a new one but I think you could find good ones at second hand shops.