[Closed] Howies merino base layers - worth the money?

I've had two Howies merino tops and they've both been excellent and lasted well. First one eventually gave up after about 4 years I think. I love em.

2 words

ON ONE

4 words.

Wait for the sale

the on-ones are excellent, vfm, and more robust than the howies IME.

yes,
my oldest one is at least 7 years old and going strong ,

Had/got both. I don't like the on one ones. Feel stiff, rough and don't fit well (to my svelte body anyway). Howies are soft and a nice fit. Lasted better too. Well worth the extra money in my opinion.

I liked my Howies merino gear. But it didn't last well.
A Sale, HH Warm hybrid merino/man made is far, far better fit, wicking, drying, longer lasting and price.

Ive a draw full of On-one/Planet-x and Howies merino

Planet-x - 1 x 110gsm(ish from memory) base layer, 1x long sleeve zip Jersey and loads of merino socks
Howies 1 x normal base layer, 1x nbl short sleeve, 1x nbl long sleave, 1 x hoodie

All of them are great tops and a few years old they have had many (careful)washes. non of them were purchased at RRP.

The Howies ones are a bit nicer and a better(for me) cut(thiner and longer) but not nice enough to want to pay full RRP over the planet x ones(which are always discounted).

so the answer is if there in the sale Howies if not planet x.

Try Embers. Excellent fit and the merino quality is also excellent. Not the cheapest but good quality kit never is. Better than Howies in my opinion although I do like Howies stuff. Way better than the Endura merino I also own. Not tried on one kit.

I've got a few Howies ones. No other merino to compare them with but they're 8 years old and still really comfy. Got a few holes in tho

I'm also a big fan of helly hansen warm. Much snugger guy than howies and nice long arms.

Big fan of howies merino. as above, wait for the sale.

I've gone of howies merino boxers due to the elastic band folding in on itself. Prefer finesterre boxers but they're a bit steep outside of a sale.

I don't mind waiting for the sale as long as it's not in spring 🙄

I'll have a look at at the Embers ones.

I had thought about the Endura Baa Baa as well nodrog2

Dhb are a good price too!

I've got 3 on-one and one Endura BaaBaa.

The Endura one I've had 3 years or so and it's been worn a lot and not treated that well - still looking and working very well.

The on-one tops are a bit thinner and less robust because of it.

When it's cool I wear an on-one, cold Endura.

Howies stuff seems to last well and will eb the next brand I buy if and when one of the current ones becomes worn out. Might be a while then.

I bought 2 about 5-6 years ago from a pop-up sample sale shop they had in Cardiff - I've used them every winter since including wearing the long sleeve one 6 days a week when I worked in a freezing cold office - they both still look like new which would be remarkable in itself but considering they're 'seconds', 'samples' or whatever it's amazing.

I'll buy some more when they finally die.

Very happy with my Howies one, had it at least 5 years and although it's got a few holes in it still going strong-ish- I do suspect one of the holes might turn into an annoying long hole soon! Should probably get another one... Didn't pay full price for mine I don't think.

Re the merino/synthetic mix ones, I've got a Ground Effect Submerino I've also had for a good few years and it's not as comfy as the Howies one and also (as you might expect) much quicker to pong. Pretty hard wearing though.

I've had a long sleeve one for years, and it's lovely.

When it was new, I learned not to machine wash it with velcro, when it gained a few holes in the hem. I ripped four holes in the sleeve when I forgot that I'd pinned arace number through my ss jersey and the base layer underneath at Hit The North, and tried taking off just the jersey. I assumed it would fall apart after those, but it just keeps going.

The Swobo merino jersey I bought fell apart in no time, however.

I've a ss On-One merino top, and it's lasting well, but doesn't feel as nice as the Howies.

My experience pretty much mirrors whats been said above.

Howies -Lovely feel ,last for ages ONLY buy in sales.

OnOne - OK but nowhere near the comfy feel(a lot cheaper of course!)

Helly - just started using HH Warm dual compound and so far has been superb (best of the lot but very warm)

i've had an endura merino for about 1000 years, it's got one, maybe 2, holes, from snagging, etc.

other than that, it's fine.

my howies merino is about 5mins old and already falling apart - it's shite.

Wait for the sale, they're good, but (again in the sale) th Finisterre stuff maybe a touch better.
Cheaper merino, seems to not stay in shape, wear well and is noticably itchier to me.

I have a couple of aging Howies ones, I really like them but not enough to pay Howies prices for replacements.

I also have an Endura Baa Baa one, it's OK but not as comfy as the Howies, possibly more durable though.

I have an On-one one (merino front and arms, coolmax back) which is good for the price. I prefer it to the Endura but the Howies is much comfier.

I had an Aldi one that I suspect had been mis-labelled and was actually made from itching powder rather than Merino.

My latest is [url= http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-merino-long-sleeve-base-layer-m-200/ ]a DHB one[/url], (it was £21 for the blink of an eye then shot up to £34) had it a couple of weeks and it seems pretty comfy and a reasonable fit (not quite long enough at the back for cycling). I think it's the best of the non-Howies ones I've had, if anything it's a bit TOO warm 🙂

Howies put added value on their Merino by using pretty. colours - Merino for me has always been a functional baselayer - so I'd say Howies is not worth the money - better stuff out their .. 100% merino garments consistently have durability issues ...