Dov of the Galilee
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- (2017)
For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
We are talking about merino, are we? A material with a legendary ability to keep you warm in cold weather? Admittedly it is sometimes cold in Spain, but a lot of the time it is hot.it will be used in the hotter times
Well I was back to Google with "mulesing-free merino". Poor sheepI only wear merino t-shirts these days, mainly because of the comfort and absence of funky odors. I always take advantage of deals in the sale seasons and stock up then. I personally have good experiences with Devold (my current favorite) and Super.Natural.
Icebreaker I found too delicate (small holes appear quickly). I also usually aim for a weight above 150 gsm, below that the shirts feel too thin and vulnerable. I also always select for mulesing-free merino when trying out a new brand, but that's a personal choice.
OK so wool for older people means warmth and itchiness . I have a few pairs of Merino wool socks and I wear them in 40 Celsius here in the desert and they dry nicely during rest breaks. I was under the impression that a Merino wool shirt would do the same....sometimes when I'm near a purchase it will read THERMAL and I don't need it to be warm! My biggest attraction is the smell factor. Cotton and I don't work well together, I have a few Colombia shirts that are semi good but on some days they don't pass the sniff test and I'd like to spare myself and fellow pilgrims any unpleasantness if at all possibleWe are talking about merino, are we? A material with a legendary ability to keep you warm in cold weather? Admittedly it is sometimes cold in Spain, but a lot of the time it is hot.
I wear a hiking shirt to walk. I wear a merino shirt under it if it is cold but I generally have to remove it after an hour of walking. A merino shirt is good in the evening, mainly because it doesn´t make me look like Steve Irwin. If you buy two or three, you can wear one on top of the other when it is really cold. Don´t obsess about gsm etc. Any genuine merino is good. Look around and pick one up when they are on offer.
And yes, they do dry very quickly and they don´t stink.
Not really an issue as you will end up doing what most of us do, shower, change and wash your clothes as soon as you arrive at your albergue. My advice is take a loose hiking shirt and 2 or 3 merino shirts. After a few days you´ll know what is working for you.I'd like to spare myself and fellow pilgrims any unpleasantness if at all possible
First, black. I saw a recommendation for merino in black; it doesn't show the wet spots from sweat as much as other colors and shades.What I would want is a long sleeve shirt, black, it will be used in the hotter times and the draw is that it will dry quickly and hopefully not stink, that’s the main interest for me.
I’ve personally used - extensively - Smartwool, Icebreaker, Ibex, and REI merino wool products (and Darn Tough socks). All are very good stuff. One note I’d make is that they come in different thicknesses (weights) - typically like 150, 250, etc. - so you can buy accordingly for your desired warmth/tolerance for cold. For my Caminos - one fall on the Frances and one spring on the Portuguese, i brought two, light weight, short sleeves and one, medium weight, long sleeve. I could have trimmed that to one and one but it was de minimis weight. I highly recommend merino for your first layer (next to skin layer) - it breathes, warms, odor resistant and dries fast.Greetings, I generally do my research before I post a question and that is certainly the case here. I’ve never spent upwards of over a hundred dollars on a shirt in my entire half century plus of life so you can appreciate my apprehension. I have read the few threads here, on Readit, countless YouTube videos and feedback and I’ve only managed to get a headache. Just when a person recommends Ice Breakers another with comment on how terrible they are, someone chimes in with Proof 72-hour is the way to go! Only to have testimonies to shoot that down.
The things to consider as I’ve read on is the blend- no one seems to agree what the right blend is. Everyone says it shouldn’t go below 150 gsm. These shirts are pricey to experiment with so I want to avoid that if at all possible.
What I would want is a long sleeve shirt, black, it will be used in the hotter times and the draw is that it will dry quickly and hopefully not stink, that’s the main interest for me.
Also does anyone get annoyed when shopping on Amazon and you do a search for a particular brand and two pages of items shows up and only one of those items is the thing you queried?
The magic of merino, warm in the cold, cool in the heat. Lighter weight for summer and a heavier weight in the winter, works great.We are talking about merino, are we? A material with a legendary ability to keep you warm in cold weather? Admittedly it is sometimes cold in Spain, but a lot of the time it is hot.
I walked in merino tee shirts in Spain in July and didn't find them noticeably hotter than other tee shirts. Yes, it surprised me, too. But then again, I don't find my summer weight merino socks noticeably hotter than other socks.We are talking about merino, are we? A material with a legendary ability to keep you warm in cold weather? Admittedly it is sometimes cold in Spain, but a lot of the time it is hot.
I wear a hiking shirt to walk. I wear a merino shirt under it if it is cold but I generally have to remove it after an hour of walking. A merino shirt is good in the evening, mainly because it doesn´t make me look like Steve Irwin. If you buy two or three, you can wear one on top of the other when it is really cold. Don´t obsess about gsm etc. Any genuine merino is good. Look around and pick one up when they are on offer.
And yes, they do dry very quickly and they don´t stink.
I had widely different experiences wearing the merino wool for hiking in winter weather vs. mountain biking. BTW, I’m maybe 10 years older than you.What I would want is a long sleeve shirt, black, it will be used in the hotter times and the draw is that it will dry quickly and hopefully not stink, that’s the main interest for me.
Also does anyone get annoyed when shopping on Amazon and you do a search for a particular brand and two pages of items shows up and only one of those items is the thing you queried?
I can reassure you on this. I found the difference in this regard between merino tees and my tech fabric tees almost miraculous. Consider me a convert.My biggest attraction is the smell factor.
I like merino wool socks and wear them on the Camino , I think I’m better off with synthetic layers and down for warmth. I look at weight and how easy they dry after hand washing. I’ve been on the Caminos ten times and do sweat even on cool days. I general don’t carry anything wool or cotton ( except wool socks). That being said, on the AT or camping trip wool works well .Greetings, I generally do my research before I post a question and that is certainly the case here. I’ve never spent upwards of over a hundred dollars on a shirt in my entire half century plus of life so you can appreciate my apprehension. I have read the few threads here, on Readit, countless YouTube videos and feedback and I’ve only managed to get a headache. Just when a person recommends Ice Breakers another with comment on how terrible they are, someone chimes in with Proof 72-hour is the way to go! Only to have testimonies to shoot that down.
The things to consider as I’ve read on is the blend- no one seems to agree what the right blend is. Everyone says it shouldn’t go below 150 gsm. These shirts are pricey to experiment with so I want to avoid that if at all possible.
What I would want is a long sleeve shirt, black, it will be used in the hotter times and the draw is that it will dry quickly and hopefully not stink, that’s the main interest for me.
Also does anyone get annoyed when shopping on Amazon and you do a search for a particular brand and two pages of items shows up and only one of those items is the thing you queried?
I've never had a problem with moth holes - but I use my shirts regularly. Personally, I find the material soft enough for next to skin wear - but it will be come even softer with washing (cold water, cool dry/hang dry - it can shrink). Buen Camino!My husband inherited a quality merino sweater several years ago, which he has never worn. I happened to think about it just yesterday and although rather large for me, I tried it on as a possibility for my next Camino...nope, even soft merino itches me, which I already knew, but "hoped" it would feel good. I also discovered two holes the size of a pencil erasure on one arm, but not sure if it was from moths, or not.
Out of curiosity, I wonder if all the merino lovers on the forum ever struggle with small holes, not from overuse, but from moths.
Merino is a naturally wicking fabric, and the lighter weight merino is very comfortable in hot weather. I make my own merino "hiking dresses" out of 150 weight merino, and I've worn them on every Camino in Spring, Summer, and Autumn.We are talking about merino, are we? A material with a legendary ability to keep you warm in cold weather?
Out of curiosity, I wonder if all the merino lovers on the forum ever struggle with small holes, not from overuse, but from moths.
I used 3 x icebreaker long sleeve 150 shirts. I used a clean shirt every day. I chose 150 as I walked late spring (cool in the mornings) and I wanted shirts that would survive frequent washing and rucksack rubbing. Note: They can leave the back of the neck exposed as they don’t have a collar so plan your hat accordingly.Greetings, I generally do my research before I post a question and that is certainly the case here. I’ve never spent upwards of over a hundred dollars on a shirt in my entire half century plus of life so you can appreciate my apprehension. I have read the few threads here, on Readit, countless YouTube videos and feedback and I’ve only managed to get a headache. Just when a person recommends Ice Breakers another with comment on how terrible they are, someone chimes in with Proof 72-hour is the way to go! Only to have testimonies to shoot that down.
The things to consider as I’ve read on is the blend- no one seems to agree what the right blend is. Everyone says it shouldn’t go below 150 gsm. These shirts are pricey to experiment with so I want to avoid that if at all possible.
What I would want is a long sleeve shirt, black, it will be used in the hotter times and the draw is that it will dry quickly and hopefully not stink, that’s the main interest for me.
Also does anyone get annoyed when shopping on Amazon and you do a search for a particular brand and two pages of items shows up and only one of those items is the thing you queried?
Also shirts and socks don't have to b washed everyday which cuts down on laundry days. I gave them the nose test each morning and was so surprised that they don't get stinky after walking 20-30 km. I was so happy I chose merino wool. Last but not least I was super worried about blisters being a first time hiker and I used the two sock method which I had never heard about before reading about it on this forum. Light merino wool socks covered by medium merino wool socks and no blisters.Just found a Smartwool tee on sale and nabbed it! Also socks at Sierra Trading as written by someone above. Thanks all for the recommendations!
Yes, Amazon’s profit driven curation of search queries drives me nuts as well. It’s one of the reasons that I do product searches on other pages, and then if I want to audition the product, I’ll find it on Amazon and use the ‘no extra shipping charge’ (I’ve already paid for this service with the annual Prime fee) to return it if it doesn’t pass muster. Amazon has dialed up their price gouging recently, and I’m not just willingly accepting it….Thats for another rant.Greetings, I generally do my research before I post a question and that is certainly the case here. I’ve never spent upwards of over a hundred dollars on a shirt in my entire half century plus of life so you can appreciate my apprehension. I have read the few threads here, on Readit, countless YouTube videos and feedback and I’ve only managed to get a headache. Just when a person recommends Ice Breakers another with comment on how terrible they are, someone chimes in with Proof 72-hour is the way to go! Only to have testimonies to shoot that down.
The things to consider as I’ve read on is the blend- no one seems to agree what the right blend is. Everyone says it shouldn’t go below 150 gsm. These shirts are pricey to experiment with so I want to avoid that if at all possible.
What I would want is a long sleeve shirt, black, it will be used in the hotter times and the draw is that it will dry quickly and hopefully not stink, that’s the main interest for me.
Also does anyone get annoyed when shopping on Amazon and you do a search for a particular brand and two pages of items shows up and only one of those items is the thing you queried?
Costco US has them in the fall too. The women's brand is Segments, and the men's are Karbon. The fabric of the men's shirts is particularly nice. My husband wears them all through the cool season.Costco has 100% merino wool long sleeved shirts for sale in the fall for $20.00 Canadian. You have to watch for them - usually in October. They go fast!
Mulesing is not nice, I admit, but the poor sheep who get fly-blown, with maggots eating into their rear-end are much worse off, by far. Mulesing-free is in the same category as organic and anti-GM food - a gimmicky fad - IMHO.Well I was back to Google with "mulesing-free merino". Poor sheep
Yep, this Winter I lost 3 Merino sweaters (not used on the Camino) and I use anti-moths stuff everywhere in my wardrobe. (Doesn't smell btwOut of curiosity, I wonder if all the merino lovers on the forum ever struggle with small holes, not from overuse, but from moths.
Mulesing is not nice, I admit, but the poor sheep who get fly-blown, with maggots eating into their rear-end are much worse off, by far. Mulesing-free is in the same category as organic and anti-GM food - a gimmicky fad - IMHO.
Also does anyone get annoyed when shopping on Amazon and you do a search for a particular brand and two pages of items shows up and only one of those items is the thing you queried?
Yep, this Winter I lost 3 Merino sweaters (not used on the Camino) and I use anti-moths stuff everywhere in my wardrobe. (Doesn't smell btw)
Very irritating.
No, but the title of this thread is "Merino wool shirt," hence the discussion.It isn't necessary to buy merino wool. Many pilgrims simply use lightweight hiking shirts and cheap, polyester long sleeve or short sleeved Tshirts. Both dry quickly after washing.
I have come to love merino wool shirts even though I’m allergic to lanolin. Merino does make me itch at all. I don’t know why. I wear them all winter and now I have some T-shirt I wear when it’s warmer. I found a brand on Amazon - Merinotek -it’s reasonably priced, soft, washes and dries in a few hours. It comes in 165, 250, and 350 in many colors, Long sleeve and short. I like 165 then layer as needed. I wear one for several days without odor. My favorite Sox are Darn Tough. They’re guaranteed for life! None of these are Camino tested as I’m a newbie hoping to do Samos to SdS 10/24 if plantar fasciitis ever clears up. Buen CaminoGreetings, I generally do my research before I post a question and that is certainly the case here. I’ve never spent upwards of over a hundred dollars on a shirt in my entire half century plus of life so you can appreciate my apprehension. I have read the few threads here, on Readit, countless YouTube videos and feedback and I’ve only managed to get a headache. Just when a person recommends Ice Breakers another with comment on how terrible they are, someone chimes in with Proof 72-hour is the way to go! Only to have testimonies to shoot that down.
The things to consider as I’ve read on is the blend- no one seems to agree what the right blend is. Everyone says it shouldn’t go below 150 gsm. These shirts are pricey to experiment with so I want to avoid that if at all possible.
What I would want is a long sleeve shirt, black, it will be used in the hotter times and the draw is that it will dry quickly and hopefully not stink, that’s the main interest for me.
Also does anyone get annoyed when shopping on Amazon and you do a search for a particular brand and two pages of items shows up and only one of those items is the thing you queried?
Thank you!
My commiserations!
***
I use Cedar to discourage moths and I keep my wool in resealable bags.
Yes those Ice Breakers are expensive. Personally I find them a little prickly and I find they take quite some time to dry. I prefer the polyester versions. I find them more comfortable, I wash them every night so the smell is less of an issue and they dry much quicker than the merino. They are also a lot cheaper. If you are buying Merino the Macpac stuff is really high quality these days and much cheaper than the Ice Breaker product.Greetings, I generally do my research before I post a question and that is certainly the case here. I’ve never spent upwards of over a hundred dollars on a shirt in my entire half century plus of life so you can appreciate my apprehension. I have read the few threads here, on Readit, countless YouTube videos and feedback and I’ve only managed to get a headache. Just when a person recommends Ice Breakers another with comment on how terrible they are, someone chimes in with Proof 72-hour is the way to go! Only to have testimonies to shoot that down.
The things to consider as I’ve read on is the blend- no one seems to agree what the right blend is. Everyone says it shouldn’t go below 150 gsm. These shirts are pricey to experiment with so I want to avoid that if at all possible.
What I would want is a long sleeve shirt, black, it will be used in the hotter times and the draw is that it will dry quickly and hopefully not stink, that’s the main interest for me.
Also does anyone get annoyed when shopping on Amazon and you do a search for a particular brand and two pages of items shows up and only one of those items is the thing you queried?
Icebreak should be stronger and t'istn't. My 200 has a snarky hole and just lamentable even after a cold wash. The rip at cinch of (previous) Osprey 36 and somehow missed in clothing review in January. What I miss (almost) more than un cafe solo-- which is saying a lot -- is the Icebreaker skirt. Mercy me, she was a gem! Over a mountain and right into dinner in central Madrid. Miss it still! (Unshakable mid-70's weight gain).I only wear merino t-shirts these days, mainly because of the comfort and absence of funky odors. I take advantage of deals in the sale seasons and stock up then. I personally have good experiences with Devold (my current favorite) and Super.Natural.
Icebreaker I found too delicate (small holes appear quickly). I usually aim for a weight above 150 gsm, below that the shirts feel too thin and vulnerable. I also always select for mulesing-free merino when trying out a new brand, but that's a personal choice.
I use the Merino.Tech brand on Amazon and have been happy. Tried Icebreaker but found Merino.Tech a better value.Greetings, I generally do my research before I post a question and that is certainly the case here. I’ve never spent upwards of over a hundred dollars on a shirt in my entire half century plus of life so you can appreciate my apprehension. I have read the few threads here, on Readit, countless YouTube videos and feedback and I’ve only managed to get a headache. Just when a person recommends Ice Breakers another with comment on how terrible they are, someone chimes in with Proof 72-hour is the way to go! Only to have testimonies to shoot that down.
The things to consider as I’ve read on is the blend- no one seems to agree what the right blend is. Everyone says it shouldn’t go below 150 gsm. These shirts are pricey to experiment with so I want to avoid that if at all possible.
What I would want is a long sleeve shirt, black, it will be used in the hotter times and the draw is that it will dry quickly and hopefully not stink, that’s the main interest for me.
Also does anyone get annoyed when shopping on Amazon and you do a search for a particular brand and two pages of items shows up and only one of those items is the thing you queried?
I bought two short-sleeved REI Sahara hiking T-shirts. The blend is 55% polyester/37% recycled polyester/8% spandex. REI claims they are quick-drying, so we'll see when I get to CF in August thereabouts. You cannot wring Merino wool material, so that's a concern for me since I am planning to light pack and quick drying is a big factor for clothing exchanges. Merino wool is a "meh" for me. Related to avoid experimenting with clothing, it is unavoidable until you find the right "fit."Greetings, I generally do my research before I post a question and that is certainly the case here. I’ve never spent upwards of over a hundred dollars on a shirt in my entire half century plus of life so you can appreciate my apprehension. I have read the few threads here, on Readit, countless YouTube videos and feedback and I’ve only managed to get a headache. Just when a person recommends Ice Breakers another with comment on how terrible they are, someone chimes in with Proof 72-hour is the way to go! Only to have testimonies to shoot that down.
The things to consider as I’ve read on is the blend- no one seems to agree what the right blend is. Everyone says it shouldn’t go below 150 gsm. These shirts are pricey to experiment with so I want to avoid that if at all possible.
What I would want is a long sleeve shirt, black, it will be used in the hotter times and the draw is that it will dry quickly and hopefully not stink, that’s the main interest for me.
Also does anyone get annoyed when shopping on Amazon and you do a search for a particular brand and two pages of items shows up and only one of those items is the thing you queried?
That's news to me, as I regularly wring out my merino clothing that I hand wash on the Camino.You cannot wring Merino wool material
Drying time is almost entirely a function of how much water the thing is holding. Wool has a saturated regain of 35%. (Compared to about 25% for cotton and 1% for polyester). Ie it can lock up more water than any comparable fabric.What I would want is a long sleeve shirt, black, it will be used in the hotter times and the draw is that it will dry quickly and hopefully not stink, that’s the main interest for me.
I keep reading that merino doesn't smell, and I am sure it must be true, but to keep wearing the same pieces of clothing over and over without washing seems a negative to me in spite of no odor. A person's body secretions and bacteria produced through sweat are still being ground into the fabric daily. I am allergic, but even if I wasn't I doubt I would want to keep wearing t-shirts and clothing (undergarments especially) without the usual washing of every few days.However wore one T-shirt for two weeks under my hiking shirt and rain jacket in the rain in October on the CF. I just hung it up at night after my shower. It didn't smell and only washed it once when i came home.
Well, the reason merino doesn’t smell is because it’s an environment where those bacteria struggle. Synthetic clothes provide a close to ideal environment for the bacteria to thrive, hence the odour problem.I keep reading that merino doesn't smell, and I am sure it must be true, but to keep wearing the same pieces of clothing over and over without washing seems a negative to me in spite of no odor. A person's body secretions and bacteria produced through sweat are still being ground into the fabric daily. I am allergic, but even if I wasn't I doubt I would want to keep wearing t-shirts and clothing (undergarments especially) without the usual washing of every few days.
Yes. Most of the premium brands like Icebreaker have strong supply chain checks including getting their wool from ethical farms. But cheap merino…Well I was back to Google with "mulesing-free merino". Poor sheep
That's news to me because the labels of the ones I checked said DO NOT WRING. <shrug>That's news to me, as I regularly wring out my merino clothing that I hand wash on the Camino.
Apparently the garment can lose its shape if you do this. Shape is not a main concern for me when it is a T-shirt I wear as an inner layer.You cannot wring Merino wool material,
Merino wool is generally odor resistant; however, if any odors appear, presoak your merino wool item for 30 minutes in cool water mixed with 1/4 cup of plain white vinegar. Rinse before proceeding with laundering.I keep reading that merino doesn't smell,
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?