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As per the title really ... Anything I have in Merino tends to last just a few months until holes start to develop, even when used very lightly and washed rarely. To be fair, I only buy budget Merino (Aldi, Planet X) but I really can't afford to spend £30-50 on a t-shirt and £50 upwards on a LS baselayer, jersey etc. I've got techy tops that are still going strong after 10 years ... I like Merino, but it just doesn't seem to be that durable. Anyone recommend stuff that lasts and is affordable?
The only things that I do find last well are Planet X thicky Merino socks, and the Aldi equivalents, which get worn and washed all the time, on and off the bike.
By it's nature it's an incredibly fine fabric, thats how you get the nice feel and wool properties, though the nicer stuff does tend to last a bit longer, could be the cost of making it well though.
I'm pretty sure I've got more life out of my cheaper merino tops (Endura Baa Baa, not even sure if that's cheap by current standards) by washing infrequently, and using either basic Nikwax techwash, or a merino/wool specific wash.
I had the impression that normal detergents left the wool sort of dried out and scratchy feeling (or maybe I've been watching too many shampoo adverts...).
Doesn't last well for me either and also doesn't wick well.
I use cheap merino and powder bio detergents. I seem to get plenty of life out of my tops.
Very fine fibres, which is why it doesn't scratch like other wools. If you want something with merino-like qualities, but more durability, check out merino/synthetic blends. Rab does one called MeCo, which works pretty well and wicks better than merino. Montane has/had something similar.
The only downside I've found with MeCo is that with really sustained use, the wool component seems to abrade away leaving you with areas of mostly synthetic fibres, but it took a lot of use with a pack for that to happen. Isn't cheap, but a lot more durable than pure merino and doesn't hole at the drop of a hat.
I'd also suggest being very careful what you throw in the washing machine with merino wool. Stuff with zip-pulls, velcro etc, is a bad call. Bra hooks are the mortal enemy of merino wool garments too. Keep them separate is my advice... or stop wearing them 😉
Got a few bits of merino stuff and the only thing that was absolute crap was an Endura Baa Baa long sleeved top. Looked like it had been eaten by moths after a few months.
On the other hand, cheap Mountain Warehouse merino top has been fantastic, as have a couple of ones I picked up in TK Maxx. Can't remember the exact brand but I'm sure it's an Australian company.
I've got 5yr old Aclima tops that are going strong with no holes (apart from the ones that are supposed to be there) or other problems. Cost a bit, but seem to last well. I've got an Endura Baa Baa from when they first came out too. It's got a couple of holes from crashes, but still works fine, though I prefer the Aclima ones.
Does an Aldi top even contain that much actual merino wool (not saying it doesn't work anyway)?
Hmmm, I've got a 10 year old Howies Base that is just now starting to break - I went through the elbow in a crash, but it's not gotten any bigger, but there's a little tear on the back that's growing a cm or two each ride - it'll be 'retired' at the end of winter (if Spring ever comes!)
It gets chucked in the machines with all my muddy riding kit, stuck to velcro and torn off again and washed in Surf like everything else.
Oh, and it was a 'second' from a pop-up shop of theirs.
Are you getting lightweight merino?
Since those tend to be fragile as hell. Whereas heavyweight variants last a lot better.
It doesn't wick well anyway, so get some longer lasting synthetic tops, like HH lifa
I have had two Aldi tops for a year and worn them loads as I work outdoors and no holes so far. Sent back two Howies tops due to holes after a couple of weeks. On-One tops also showing a few holes but that's after a lot of use and dare I say it a few crashes.
I've got Howies merino tops that are well over 10 years old. The oldest has got a few holes in it but it still usable. My Howies ultrafine have been worn and washed many many times and still without holes. Uniqlo tops have been through washing machine countless times.
What are you doing to them?
- don't wear them as an outer layer. thorns and branches will catch and tear them. They're a base layer.
- do up buttons, zips and velcro. it's best to wash them with 'softer' clothes
- avoid washing them with bra's at all costs. the hooks will destroy other clothing if they can get into the weave (and on merino they probably can). I reckon that's what did the few tops that have got holes.
What detergent are you using, hardtailonly? The enzymes in bio detergent will definitely weaken the wool fibres over time.
However, I recently noticed that standard non-bio detergent also says "unsuitable for wool and silk". I've no idea why this should be the case, but I've bought some specialist detergent anyway, to be ultra-cautious.
I have an Icebreaker one that has holes worn in the back from wearing a Camelbak. It lasted what, 5-6 years though. But I have synthetic base layers (without smell issues) older than that that I still use.
Best ones I've found are Mountain Warehouse ones, I got two for £6 each.
Also, every merino item I've used has shrunk slightly on washing, despite washing cold. So size up 🙂 This might be avoidable by using a special delicates wash, but stuff that. Outdoor gear that needs special treatment is a big fat no in my book.
My Endura BaaBaa tops are lasting very well, all things considered. £37 each. Abused for 6 months of every year in the shitty, gritty Pennines. Had them each for around 4-5 years. They have a few small bramble snag holes but that's it. No complaints.
The enzymes in bio detergent will definitely weaken the wool fibres over time.
That's not my experience.
I practically live in my various merino tops which I've had years. They're a mix of Howies (only bought when a sale comes along!) DHB and Endura Baabaa, The only holes are from bramble-snags when out riding.
I had a PlanetX one that had a merino front and some other wicking material on the back, but have just decommissioned it as the material on the back was irritating me.
My oldest Howies is about 10 years old and now only fit for gardening, but I think that's a fair lifespan.
I try to make sure they go in a "gentle" wash, but other than that I don't do anything special
Hmmm ... Mixture of experiences.
My tops are cheap Aldi/PX baselayer tea's, so lightweight. Not used as an outer layer so not subject to brambles, falls etc. Often worn as 'normal' clothing so maybe they snag on jeans belt buckles etc. I have a LS half zip top from Go Outdoors that has been a bit better, and a LS half zip cycling jersey with windproof front panel from Aldi which seems pretty good quality. Maybe I'm just buying too cheap/too lightweight ...
So, will look out some stuff with a Merino/techy blend, a bit heavier duty, and consider washing a bit more carefully. Cheers all.
Are you using non bio washing powder at 30deg? You can ruin wool in one wash with some bio detergents at 40deg. As I have found to my cost when accidentally ruining 2 of my wife’s favourite tops...
I’m still using 10 year old rapha base layers.
Wash mine on a fast wash, 40 degrees, no conditioner. They never come truly clean because of the permanent mud/oil stain on the lower back (I don't use mudguards) but they're perfectly fresh and the mud splatters on the front come off fine. I only wear them for biking and outdoor stuff. I tend to wear them for a couple of rides before each wash.
I never use bio. But as said, I use a camelbak which did for my Icebreaker.
I also have a merino/synth mix HH one that has shrunk so much it's unwearable over 6-8 years. And no, I'm not just fatter 🙂
Moths !!! I put the small holes in my merino base layers down to those little blighters 😬 They will only munch on natural fibers, so get some moth balls ore store merino in a lidded box or something similar.
You can ruin wool in one wash with some bio detergents at 40deg
or ruin some wool. My howies base layers and Uniqlo ultrafine all go in at 40C with whatever washing liquid happens to be about - sometimes will be bio, sometimes not.
A thicker howies merino jumper shrank like a shrinky dink (remember those?) to 'unwearable even by a young child' in a single 40C wash. Label did say 'hand wash only' but it was only then i realised so did all the Uniqlo tops and they're fine in the washing machine.
Ive had ALDI merino and it doesn’t last more than a couple of seasons. Fine for work though. I’ve got a heavyweight Icebreaker long sleeve that’s about 10 years old and I wear it in rotation with a similar Decathlon one every winter. I CANNOT kill it, or the Decathlon one. And nor can I find a replacement for these two tops. Nobody seems to be making heavyweight tops at the minute.
If they die I’m knackered.
After a bit of research, I think the problem with "normal" non-bio detergents is their pH.
Modern non-phosphate detergents are quite alkaline (more so than the old phosphate ones). Wool fibres, unfortunately, are susceptible to degradation in alkaline solutions.
(If you're interested, alkalinity weakens the keratin polymers at the salt and cystine linkages in the fibre.)
So that's why wool can shrink, if not treated very gently when wet.
Thread hijack: Any other recommendations for durable non-merino base layers - saw HH Lifa up there ^^^, any others?
Edit i've had a few Aldi merino ones - I get holes mainly from crashing, but also other random snags on backpack straps etc.
I have 4 or 5 mons royale tops and i havent had any problems with them, to be honest i find them great for riding in. Cost a bit more but really like the quality and style they have.
rickonwheels - whenever this comes up I make the same recommendation- Patagonia Capilene. Buy in the sales to make it cheaper but mine have lasted 10 - 12 years and still going
I've an Endura Ba Ba top with a hole in the sleeve..which I believe to be a washing machine victim..I have worn it about 3 or 4 times max in the 5 years I have had it as I just don't get on with the feel of it ..(I'm extremely hairy all around ..) ..merino..bloody awful stuff !
The Newcastle midfielder on the other hand is silky smooth
Thread hijack: Any other recommendations for durable non-merino base layers – saw HH Lifa up there ^^^, any others?
Mountain Warehouse - seriously. Most comfortable I've ever worn (really stretch and comfortably body hugging), wick the best (perhaps because they fit so snugly) and look the same as when I bought them 3 years later. And I only paid £6. I've got one crew neck LS, one zip neck LS and two SS. The SS don't look half bad as t-shirts either if I had the courage to wear them 🙂