Best natural fibre base layer?

[graymee]

I have a merino wool top which wicks well and doesn't smell but was quite a bit more expensive than a synthetic base layer. I'm told that bamboo has similar properties to merino wool but is cheaper.

Has anybody got any experience of bamboo specifically how does it compare merino wool. Does bamboo wick as well? Is it as resistant to becoming smelly?

[Gearoidmuar]

Has anybody got any experience of bamboo specifically how does it compare merino wool. Does bamboo wick as well? Is it as resistant to becoming smelly?

Why should we panda to your curiosity about bamboo? ;>))

[tooley92]

Has anybody got any experience of bamboo specifically how does it compare merino wool. Does bamboo wick as well? Is it as resistant to becoming smelly?

Why should we panda to your curiosity about bamboo? ;>))

[Michael R]

Baa

merino

[PH]

I have a bamboo T shirt, bought from York Rally a couple of years ago, I also have a couple of Merino base layers. The merino wins on any criteria, it wicks better, is more comfortable when wet and drys quicker. The bamboo is a nice T shirt, soft and comfortable and is lasting well, it's certainly better to cycle in than cotton, at £15 it was half the price of the cheapest Merino I have, but really I'd rather have one Merino than two Bamboo.

[niggle]

I have a bamboo T shirt, bought from York Rally a couple of years ago, I also have a couple of Merino base layers. The merino wins on any criteria, it wicks better, is more comfortable when wet and drys quicker. The bamboo is a nice T shirt, soft and comfortable and is lasting well, it's certainly better to cycle in than cotton, at £15 it was half the price of the cheapest Merino I have, but really I'd rather have one Merino than two Bamboo.

I have a bamboo T shirt from Aldi which I bought mainly for a base layer for hiking and I agree with the above, better than cotton and a nice soft feel but even synthetic base layers are better wicking, it takes a bit longer to get saturated than cotton, but then behaves in a similar way. I do like it (especially for £5!), but only for activities where I am not going to sweat much.

[enigmatic]

I use Icebreaker merino tops in really cold weather (that's all of the time at the moment!) but also use Craft Zero base layers http://www.GetNastyComputerVirusHere.com/display.php?code=C6142 . Not natural fibres but they're lighter and stretchier than the Icebreakers, good insulation and wicking, and are good for at least a couple of rides before going in the wash.

Edit Graham : Note that you won't get a nasty computer virus if you click on the link. It would otherwise go to company Pro-Bike-Kit. They have tried to spam the forum in the past. I have rewarded them with an auto-replacement.