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Re: Merino wool tops ?
Posted: 19 Nov 2011, 4:49pm
by Raph
Cool in summer, warm in winter, can be slightly itchy but I hate the alternatives (e.g.polyester) anyway so it's swing'n'roundabouts on that front... Doesn't get pongy.
"absorbs sweat" - yes, and that can be the problem. It doesn't pass on the moisture to the next layer, it stays wet, albeit nowhere as bad as cotton, and also unlike cotton it stays relatively warm while it's wet.
I got one about a year ago and persevered with it for a while - it's great for short rides, but for times when I ride an hour and a half then teach for 3-4 hours, it's not that great as I simply remain soaked. Hellys or polyester thermals dry out just wearing them - merino wool almost never does, if you get in a sweat you stay that way for a long time.
Re: Merino wool tops ?
Posted: 19 Nov 2011, 6:22pm
by stevew
Thanks for the update, I had missed that !!
rualexander wrote:stevew wrote:As far as i understand Ground effect have sorted all the customs and tax stuff their end. I have never had a problem.
No, this has changed in the past year or so.
Ground effect did have a UK agent for a couple of years to whom they sent all goods and who dealt with the VAT and customs stuff.
But now it is just sent direct to the purchaser with the possibility of incurring charges, it just depends if customs stop any particular parcel and decide to enforce the costs. I recently bought a pair of longs from GroundEffect and did not have to pay the charges.
Here's what Ground Effect's website says :
"To the United Kingdom
Orders take 1-2 weeks by airmail. Our shopping cart calculates the postage based on total weight – typically NZ$4-10. You'll probably have to pay VAT and a handling fee to Royal Mail before they'll release your parcel. If so then you'll receive a 'Fee to Pay' card with options for on-line payment and delivery, or collection from your local Delivery Office. More details at
http://www.royalmail.com or 0845 605 0767."
And whilst paying VAT may be fair enough, the Royal Mail handling charge is £8, which is outrageous!
Re: Merino wool tops ?
Posted: 20 Nov 2011, 12:39pm
by HPFlashman
Not Merino, but I can reccomend the Ullfrotte/Woolpower gear.
Extremely hard wearing, I still have most of my original sets bought in 92, just one of the long johns have been worn out. Great wicking abilities, but to warm for regular summer use. 200 grams for the regular set with heavier sets for the colder climates - have a couple of jackets of the 600 grams variety and those are for stiffening ones morale on the wrong side of minus 20 C...
Re: Merino wool tops ?
Posted: 20 Nov 2011, 1:45pm
by Tail End Charlie
I can recommend the merino tops from Finisterre. Very very soft to the touch. They are pricy, but one for your birthday or Xmas (or both!) makes a great present.
The cheaper ones from the likes of On One are good but they end up irritating on a long ride whereas the Finisterre ones are fine whatever length of ride. Do not use fabric conditioner on them though.
Re: Merino wool tops ?
Posted: 21 Nov 2011, 7:28pm
by s2vmx
Thanks everyone - seems the way to go is for the more expensive options, or non cycling specific.
Thanks once more.
Stu
Re: Merino wool tops ?
Posted: 22 Nov 2011, 9:18am
by squeaker
I've used a couple of
these over the last few years. Mainly for autumn/winter/spring use: definitely pong resistant
The zipped neck is very useful, as are the long arms with thumb holes: fold up in warmer weather or use full length to help bridge the jacket-glove gap.
Re: Merino wool tops ?
Posted: 22 Nov 2011, 7:27pm
by Phil_Lee
If you know anyone who knits, the yarns are available, including easy-wash versions.
Re: Merino wool tops ?
Posted: 25 Nov 2011, 6:21pm
by Raph
Inspired by this thread I've bought a couple of Mountain Warehouse merino tops - £25 reduced from £35 - and worn them as a second layer as they're a bit itchy on the skin, with Hellys/similar underneath. Very very good!
Can't tell about smellyness because this coincides with my trying out deodorants, inspired by the other thread about arriving at work smelly! But so far so good, and really warm but without roasting when I get indoors - I don't get how that's possible but it really works.
Previously I'd wear either polyester fleece second layer or itchier ("woollier") versions of poly base layers.
Re: Merino wool tops ?
Posted: 25 Nov 2011, 8:20pm
by rualexander
Raph wrote:Inspired by this thread I've bought a couple of Mountain Warehouse merino tops - £25 reduced from £35 - and worn them as a second layer as they're a bit itchy on the skin, with Hellys/similar underneath. Very very good!
.......
This is why the cheaper brands are cheaper, they are not made of such high quality merino as the likes of Icebreaker which can easily be worn against the skin with no itchiness. You can feel the difference if you compare them.
Re: Merino wool tops ?
Posted: 26 Nov 2011, 8:05am
by vjosullivan
I did the The Way Of The Roses, last month, with my daughter over four days - so a pretty relaxed ride. We both wore Endura Baabaa merino tops. I can't say we gave them any thought during the whole trip, so they were obviously doing what they were supposed to; keeping us warm but too warm and acting as a non-airtight wind barrier. Outer layers were added and removed, as required, and they did their job. Having initially turned her nose up at the thought of wearing a "wool vest", she now wears hers regularly on days spent outside.
Re: Merino wool tops ?
Posted: 26 Nov 2011, 8:52pm
by Raph
rualexander wrote:Raph wrote:Inspired by this thread I've bought a couple of Mountain Warehouse merino tops - £25 reduced from £35 - and worn them as a second layer as they're a bit itchy on the skin, with Hellys/similar underneath. Very very good!
.......
This is why the cheaper brands are cheaper, they are not made of such high quality merino as the likes of Icebreaker which can easily be worn against the skin with no itchiness. You can feel the difference if you compare them.
I did have a posher one for a while which was lovely against the skin, but the other issues came up - doesn't wick, just soaks. Seems all the different types/brands are so different it's impossible to say simply that merino wool is good or bad - but I'll try others on recommendation. Do the Icebreaker ones soak and stay wet?
Re: Merino wool tops ?
Posted: 26 Nov 2011, 10:34pm
by rualexander
Raph wrote:I did have a posher one for a while which was lovely against the skin, but the other issues came up - doesn't wick, just soaks. Seems all the different types/brands are so different it's impossible to say simply that merino wool is good or bad - but I'll try others on recommendation. Do the Icebreaker ones soak and stay wet?
If you sweat heavily inside a waterproof or windproof top, then Icebreaker merino (and I suspect any other
pure merino) can get quite damp but it is still warm and it dries quickly once you stop sweating, and one way to dry it quickly is to continue wearing it, or take it off and put a dry merino on then put the damp one on on top of that.
Re: Merino wool tops ?
Posted: 27 Nov 2011, 1:45am
by PH
I've a draw full of some cheaper merino, last added to from Planet X, and three expensive pieces from Howies, Icebreaker and Smartwool. None of it is rubbish, but there's certainly a different feel to the three dearer items and so they get worn a lot more. I'd have to agree with what's already been said and you do get what you pay for, I'm not looking to buy any more but when something needs replacing I'll go for the best. Also, and I know this goes against the grain, my Smartwool jersey which is 75% wool and 25% polyester is my favorite of them all. Smartwool use pure merino for their lighter garments and the blend for anything heavier, I think this is to help it dry quicker.
http://www.smartwool.com/#
Re: Merino wool tops ?
Posted: 28 Nov 2011, 4:23pm
by nez
I've got a couple of the merino ones from DHB and I think they're excellent. Usually I'm sensitive to wool, but these are very smooth. I also have the prendas cyclismo non-merino cycling base layer top, which is also excellent but just falls short of the merino tops for comfort. And you couldn't wear the prendas top twice, whereas you can the merino.
Re: Merino wool tops ?
Posted: 2 Dec 2011, 6:43pm
by Mark R
Did anyone try one of the Merino base layer garments from ALDI?
I just bought one and tried it on. Found it too itchy and the neck seemed to be an odd shape. Will be returning it tomorrow.
At £16, IMO, is is not good value. I also own an £30 endura merino top, which is also rather itchy, anyone know at what price point the itchyness stops?