[Closed] 'Wicking' cycle clothing - load of tosh?

Anything can be called wicking, but if it actually is, it works well.

I often wear my outdoors kit anyway, can't really afford to have two sets of specific clothing.

Sombrio looks good, but am not sure. Was looking at some in my LBS at the weekend. Not all that taken with it!

Try some merino. Nothing's worked better for me as a hot chap!

Thanks for replies. So, RealMan, have you found any 'wicking' cycle-specific clothing that works?

B.A.Nana - well, cycle clothing does seem to carry a hefty price tag these days so I think you are being very sensible.

I use specialized base layers. They're very good. I've also got a variety of tops, all different, all work well. All lycra.

Good quality merino all the way, slightly warmer than the synthetics but a lot more comfortable to wear overall!

There are materials that work best for hot weather and materials for cold weather; of the warm weather wickiewickiewickies, coolmax works brilliantly in this weather.

I found two coolmax shirts recently in Lidl for 7.99 each. good value.
YWMMV (your wicking material may vary)

Mmm interesting.

An oldish Endura top was really bad on Thursday and I felt uncomfortable all ride. However a cheapish Nike top bought a few years ago seemed to do a better job of keeping me cool and fresher yesterday.

I don't glow, the sweat runs off me and I look like a freshly plucked tomato.

I don't glow, the sweat runs off me and I look like a feshly plucked tomato.

I am [i]so[/i] hot for you right now...

😉

My £10 decathlon "B-twin" top does a pretty good job at drying especially around neck/chest and arms. A lot better than normal cotton or whatever t-shirts I was using before. Only problem is the lower back is still horrible due to wearing a pack.

merino pisses on anything synthetic imho .... just get some so it fits - should be snug not baggy !

got some Nike compression vests off the daily deals on ebay a couple of weeks back and they seem excellent at keeping me cooler in this warm weather, and I heat up hotter than a blast furnace 😳

Our Endura team kit seems to wick well, after a long ride I find my top is usually covered in salt marks, but is totally dry to the touch.

Cap'n - I love my Sombrio clothing, so stylish and decent quality. 8)

But this talk of merino? I wear an Ice Breaker merino top in the depths of winter and it's brilliant. Is there a lighter weight merino for summer or something?

I personally find that my above mentioned outdoor tops, with a high collar and zip, seem to work so much better than my cycle-specific ones. Can't bear the roadie-jersey thing.

Lol at Bunnyhop. 😆

Capt. pass me your cucumber that'll cool me down.

C_G, I know a shop in a nice part of Wiltshire which sells Sombrio...great place! They also sell Endura merino and yes, there is a lighter weight option for summer!

Bunnyhop, if [i]that's[/i] what you call it.....! The cucumber went in the Pimms last night! Sorry. Perhaps I could rustle up something else....

Bunnyhop - you been drinking girl? 😉

Can't bear the roadie-jersey thing.

Shame, this is my favourite top. Its awesome. Use it for mtbing, road, and bmx.

[img] [/img]

Merino just gets sopping wet ime but then I sweat a lot so even wicking fabrics can't fully cope. I only use merino in the winter as a base layer or for commuting when the lack of pong is a real bonus.

How dry something will stay is largely dependent on temperature, humidity, how fast you ride (airflow) and ultimately how much you sweat/glow. No amount of marketing will prevent things getting soaked if you sweat a lot. That said, some jerseys are much thinner than others so simply hold less 'glow' 😉

Get yourself some Icebreaker merino (150, or less in extreme heat...not sure if they do less than 150wt tbh) brills stuff. I've binned all my Lifa, merino all the way now. Sooo nice on ur skin 🙂 🙂

+1 for tight/snugg mind.

+1 for merino

expensive but worth it - get something good quality. i've mainly got icebreaker stuff. got a couple of howies tops as well, although i find their stuff is a bit of a funny shape for me

Don't drink c_g.
Just chilling after running around after a hot and grumpy 7 year old all day. It's just nice to have adult chat 🙂

Lol @ CFH.

In my other life I'm a roadie...and I too hate the 'Roadie' look. That Spec'd jersey is pants if you ask me?

I can accept Assos gear, but that's about it.

Yet, who am I?

c_g and Aleigh if you're brave enough, just wear a gym type sports bra top.

It's just nice to have adult chat

, just wear a gym type sports bra top.

You just know someone is going to ask for pictures now, don;t you?
😉

Do Sombrio claim to be manufacturers of technical wicking garments?

I think they're more about the fatboy/girl on a chairlift than sweating your ass off on an all day ride.

love it stu - its so true though fashion over function with them every time when i look at them ... i do like their style sometimes but wholely impractical for any kind of XC riding other than mincing on kitty litter

its so true though fashion over function with them every time when i look at them .

Though their shorts do seem to stand up to the constant bashing they get from riding our local grinding paste/wet sandy trails in the winter.

so do my endura lycra bad boys ... with the added bonus of making me look slim 😉

Bunnyhop - to be honest I'm surprised somebody didn't report me for wearing a sleeveless top today! My arms are covered with bramble scratches and legs are covered with gorse scratches - I resemble a serious self-harmer. 😯

As for wearing a gym top - no way!

stu/trail rat - yep, fatgirl on a hardtail sweating her ass off on an all day ride. Mince to the rad indeed. 🙄

with the added bonus of making me look slim

Bet they'd struggle on that front with me. 😆

fatgirl on a hardtail sweating her ass off on an all day ride

Maybe you might be better off not wearing freeridepyjamas and try some technical garments then. 😉

This lady has the right idea, plenty of wicking!

[img] http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YniKlbPh29k/ShKzxBQi2EI/AAAAAAAAEao/D_8Mt_0-ZZU/s400/body_paint_cyclist.jp g" target="_blank">http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YniKlbPh29k/ShKzxBQi2EI/AAAAAAAAEao/D_8Mt_0-ZZU/s400/body_paint_cyclist.jp g"/> [/img]

Merino is no where as good as man made stuff for wicking.
My merino top seems just to hold sweat, buckets load of it, whereas my man made top seems to be barely damp and get dry by the time I eat a sandwich. Obvioulsy I buy them from patagonia, fox and helly hansen. Nothgin seems to beat them in term of wicking. As for the sweat I am not too smelly, but even if I did I could not care. I am biking because I like it, not because I want to look like a poseur...

fliping heckler - where did you find that photo of stu ?

and there you have it folks - this concludes another singletrackworld thread that has gone full circle and no one is really any better off ... other than that if we buy from a brand name it will be good ...

fliping heckler - where did you find that photo of stu ?

I sent it to him.
Want me to send it to you too? 😉

fliping heckler - where did you find that photo of stu ?

Google..is there a likeness?

Embersmerino of Belper, top stuff..... That Specialized roadie thing is hideous

it ok stu - your stem is too high rise for me ....

flipingheckler - its uncanny ! same bra size and everything 😉

glad im out the country for a while or id probably get a thump at selkirk merida 😀

glad im out the country for a while or id probably get a [s]thump[/s] dry buming at selkirk merida

That Specialized roadie thing is hideous

That Spec'd jersey is pants

Jealousy is a cruel mistress. Admit it, that jersey is dope 😉

tis ugly and would clash horribly with my bikes .... as if "I" a man with my reputation would be seen on a specialized

*searches for a picture of Terry on his Singlecross*

C-G Ice Breaker have increased thier range: GT150, a lighter weight and some "waffling" at sweating areas (underarms and back. I swear by them. They do t's and singlets:

[url= http://www.icebreaker.com/site/icebreaker_woman_icebreakergt150_gt_dash_tank.html ]Singlet[/url]

[url= http://www.icebreaker.com/site/icebreaker_woman_icebreakergt150_gt_ss_dash_crewe.html ]Crewe (T-Shirt)[/url]

[url= http://www.icebreaker.com/site/icebreaker_woman_icebreakergt150_gt_ss_dash_zip.html ]Cycle specific[/url]

I use these (male) all year, just spent a day riding in 30 degree 90% humidity in China, worked really well.

Juan,

What 'weight' is your top, as unlike lifa/synthetic stuff merino give you a choice of 'Denier' (oooow Matron) 200 absolute max in current heat.

Anyone care to concur?

is that searching - as in looking in the filing cabinet under "work in progress" ?

no chance .... pictures of a singlecross but none of me on it .... i just made up owning that bike ....

love tubs it's a red and grey superfinelite ice breaker full merino
Or at least it's what it says on the label.
My best man made are patagonia capilene finest or a recent fox purchase. I have to admit that my 10€ SS rebook white top is good to keep me dry.

Don't judge wicking clothing performance by the last few days.

The humidity has been quite high across a good stretch of southern and eastern Britain this week. Wicking clothing tends to rely on moving moisture from wet bits (skin) to dry (air) bits if the air's humidity is high (well actually it's saturation vapour pressure, but we'll use humidity for simplicity) then the moisture gradient across the fabric is low and it won't work efficiently.

When atmosphere becomes a bit cooler and fresher then everything should wick a bit better

If you want something to make you sound hip on STW, choose merino. If you want a technical fabric that actually works, choose a synthetic.

Merino gets wet and stays wetter longer than synthetics, in my experience it's a poor technical choice if you want a wicking fabric.

Merino gets wet and stays wetter longer than synthetics, in my experience it's a poor technical choice if you want a wicking fabric.

my experience has been that it's warm even when wet - I fell in a river in December and was warm in 2 minutes. Also it doesn't smell bad.

I see the blokes lightweight icebreaker comes in trendy but heat absorbing dark colours. A triumph of form over function in sunny humid weather!

that is of course your experiance ...

mines is the complete opposite - despite living in a single merino LS top for 4 months while on cycle tour in an ever changing climate ---- warm(max of 34) and wet to cold (below zero in the hills)and windy on a daily basis near enough did a great job of regulating my temperature.

in the same time my missus had 2 or 3 helly hansen synthetics which smelt god awful after a week or so. she eventually bought merino and was done - was an ice breaker 150

also worked well in houston earlier this month under my coveralls was 35degrees

[i]my experience has been that it's warm even when wet - I fell in a river in December and was warm in 2 minutes. Also it doesn't smell bad.[/i]

Ummmm, I think we are discussing the use of merino in rather hotter weather, and specifically for cycling rather than impromptu bathing though simon?

..and I never have a problem with smelly stuff.

I love how IB is being held up as the big daddy of technical merino - its really not.

Merino gets wet and stays wetter longer than synthetics, in my experience it's a poor technical choice if you want a wicking fabric.

Theres a few fabrics that work - meryl nateo is very quick drying and doesn't hold smell. You'll find some merino mixes will pong, merino-lycra depending on what version also works well and dries incredibly fast. You'll struggle to get something that wicks and stays dry, you want something that doesn't hold moisture and smell like a dead dog. Anything polypropelene based will do that within seconds 😯

Theres no specific answer really as it will also depend on cut and fit and what suits you, thin is not always the be all and end all. Of course i can finish by saying a Juno (Toro for the lads), or a Taupo/Blade merino shirt would be the best by miles...but that like an advert so I won't 😉

Ummmm, I think we are discussing the use of merino in rather hotter weather

really ? I didn't read all that stuff, but if it's hot I can't see any point in wearing more than one layer, and I don't think merino is robust enough to wear alone.

I see the blokes lightweight icebreaker comes in trendy but heat absorbing dark colours. A triumph of form over function in sunny humid weather!

The colour of your clothing has no effect on how warm/cool you will be.

If you think black will keep you warmer, you might want to let these guys know, so they can swap clothes 😀

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[img] [/img]

Sorry, I'm the don't-buy-merino poster boy.

I bought a merino base layer after reading how wonderful it is on here, and I found the performance very poor. Base layers should deal with sweat; that's the point of a base layer, not insulation, not post-swimming warmth, and merino is not as good as synthetic in that one, vital, important respect.

The it-doesn't-smell business is of no consequence for me, because I don't smell and my clothes don't smell after exercise.

I use base layers in the cold and in the heat, and I don't like the soggy merino feel.

Base layers should deal with sweat; that's the point of a base layer, not insulation

is it ? I often wear 2 baselayers in winter as compact and lightweight insulation 🙂

which merino did you buy - all merino is not equal - in the same way that all bikes are not equal ....

I use and have based my experiances on endura BAABAA merino baselayers - often i wear them alone im not sure where the not durable enough to wear alone comes from.

often i wear them alone im not sure where the not durable enough to wear alone comes from.

My Howies shirt has quite a few holes, and I put my thumb through the sleeve pulling it on. I've read comments form others with similar experiences.

When atmosphere becomes a bit cooler and fresher then everything should wick a bit better

Wicking material purpose fail. 🙂 The only time I'm hot and sweating notably is when it's hot and humid, which is when wicking stuff doesn't work :). I just stick with simple oldschool thin nylon cycling tops, sufficient air penetrates to keep me dry (if a little salty).

I haven't tried any merino or any other [i]expensive[/i] technical materials...

but as mentioned earlier.. coolmax, especially if you can find it in Aldi or Lidl, works absolutely perfectly.. (a whole universe of improvement over cotton anyway...)

[i]The it-doesn't-smell business is of no consequence for me, because I don't smell and my clothes don't smell after exercise.[/i]

+1

cycling sometimes is a hot and sweaty business. This time of year I want airflow not wicking. If I want insulation or a base layer then synthetics work better.

not had it work with summer layers but still am impressed by my Buffalo cycle pertex in winter, it does appear to keep me sweat free, full zips to allow heat control and if it gets wet spin it round vigorously and it's not wet any more.

i am with crikey about merino. Bought one on how wonderful is it and I have been well disappointed it will be patagonia finest man made for me from now on.

There's a load of confusion about merino, people say that it wicks, but actually what it does is absorb more moisture for its weight than synthetics like polyester and holds it away from the skin, so it feels more comfortable even when damp. Obviously some of that moisture evaporates, but eventually, if you run hot and sweat lots, you'll produce more moisture than the merino can cope with and it gets proper wet. It does have a lot of positive qualities, doesn't smell after repeated, use comfortable against the skin etc.

There are some interesting hybrid merino fabrics out there including some polyester/merino mixes that work pretty well - mix of qualities, look for 'Sportwool' - but most high-wicking baselayer fabrics are denier-gradient polyester which use their structure to move moisture outwards. Generally lighter grade fabrics tend to wick faster, but bike tops - even when made from polyester - tend to be heavier and, I think, less sophisticated fabrics, so generally less good at wicking.

But anyway, merino's good for moisture management up to to a point, but it's not really a high wicking fabric despite its other positive qualities.

And once again for effect - not all merino is the same quality. Cheap merino is just that - cheap. Merino/Lycra works well and there are some other mixes that we've tried but remain unconvinced about but there is a mice merino mesh that we use which works quite well.

BWD, thats what I mean, although you have put it more eloquently than I ever manage to!

The difference is most noticeable when I stop riding; synthetic base layers don't hold water, so feel drier on the skin, whereas, in my experience, merino feels damp and takes longer to dry.

I've got sportwool layers, and they do work as I would expect; bit more insulation, bit worse moisture management..

I only have Howies merino and I'd not wear them in this weather. I wear it as a single layer under my windproof from late autumn to spring though.

In the hot months I wear whatever cheap and reasonable 'active wear' that I can find.

Currently I have a 'mountainlite' top that was 8.99. Does it wick? A bit, but as I a perennially sweaty bugger, wicking fabrics don't really handle the volumes I produce anyway. They stink after being worn once, but they're so cheap I can put them on a hotter wash and not worry about shortening their life a bit.

[i]there is a [b]mice[/b] merino mesh[/i]

How many do you have to shave to make a shirt? 😆

****n hundreds, I get the hobbits to do it by hand.

SFB you do know that the calorific capacity of a fabric does not change when wet do you...

SFB you do know that the calorific capacity of a fabric does not change when wet do you.

but have you ever tried to eat [b]dry[/b] merino ?

I had a really nice ORCA merino-lyra (I think) base top that I have to admit was better than my current Icebreaker - however my wife sent it to the charity shop along with her old sh*te.... have I already mentioned that, oh sorry 🙂

Bit late getting back to this but quite an interesting range of opinions so cheers for sharing them!

Thanks to BadlyWiredDog in particular for his 'gear guru' input. 🙂 Any current 'outdoor' brands that you would particularly recommend?

Certainly temperatures have been pretty exceptional so perhaps it's a big ask to expect clothing to perform?