Base Layer differences between 100% Merino and Merino Blends

[bk571q]

Hello,

I am trying to decide between base layer manufacturers such as Ice Breaker, Howies and Chocolate Fish which are made of 100% Merino wool and Merino blend base layer manufacturers such as Ulfrotte (aka Woolpower) which consists of a blend of 60% merino wool, 25% polyester, 13% Polyamide and 2% Elastine.

1. Ulfrotte states that base layers which are worn close to skin may results in certain soil bacteria which will not die until the clothes are washed at 60 °C (140 °F). My question is whether makers of 100% Merino base layers cleaning recommendations of washing only in cool to luke warm water is sufficient to kill bacteria buildup from prolonged use?

2. Is Ulfrotte more prone to odor buildup since it is made from a blend of 60% merino wool, 25% polyester, 13% Polyamide and 2% Elastine?

Thanks for any insights members have to share.

 

[John Fenna]

Wore my WoolPower stuff for a week with barely noticable odour build up.

 

[Jedadiah]

I wear TAD stuff at the moment which is 98% merino and 2% lycra. I've not noticed any odourbuild up but i have'nt worn them excessively and have washed them. Link here:

http://www.tadgear.com/x-treme gear/apparel main/tad_gear_regulator_merino_base_layers.htm

I know they've almost sold out of these but, if your X-L or XXL you can get the ME Green ones and if your XS you can get the DF Gray version. Bargain prices and they take Paypal aswell!

 

[dogwood]

I wear a LOT of 100% merino and recommend it over the blends. Something in wool (the lanolin?) is a natural anti-bacterial and wool doesn't build up a stink even after multiple days of heavy wear.

The one or two blended versions (admittedly 80% wool, 20% polyester blends) would start to smell.

100% merino is also amazingly hard wearing.

It more expensive than I like, but as far as I'm concerned, there's literally nothing like 100% merino.

 

[Chris the Cat]

Bought and used ulfrote in Arctic Sweden which I used for 8 days over the xmas period.
The local hunters and outdoor guides I met use it all the time.
Easy to care for and the most comfortable base layewr I have ever used in Arctic conditions.
Hope this helps.
Chris.

 

[woof]

I adree with dogwood. Having only worn an ice breaker, there was no smell after a number of days of wear, despite a break of a few days between walks, where it was'nt washed(on purpose) to see if it would give of an odour, it did'nt.

 

[jungle_re]

only just got some of the montane blend t shirts and they are very good.
Im a big chap and break out a sweat just opening the fridge, my Helly Lifa which was the defalt undergarment before work well but would smell badly after one day use with thougher washing in the morning. The montane just doesnt seem to wiff at all

 

[treadlightly]

I have an icebreaker merino t shirt and a Falke baselayer made of 60 per cent wool, 25 per cent polypropylene and 15 per cent polyamide. Both work really well controlling odour. I've worn both over several days on walking trips and neither ponged at all at the end. I noticed no difference between the pure merino and wool blend in that respect.

I've heard talk about the build up of bacteria on things not washed at 60C too but have no idea how true it is. All I can say is that the smell of clothes after wearing is due to the build up of bacteria clinging to the smooth fibres of man made garments and feeding on sweat.Wool fibres and wool blend fibres are apparently too rough to allow bacteria to build up. If there is no smell then there is no bacteria maybe??

 

[Shingsowa]

Try a company called EDZ. They do a cracking 200 weight merino top in grey. 100% merino and you can get them for under £30. If you want anything warmer then i can highly reccommend Ullfrotte/Woolpower. I was wearing one of their 400weight tops last night under my team waterproof on a rescue in the Berwyns. Walking quickly with a very heavy pack, uphill on ice, at minus 6 it was great. Plenty warm enough and still doesn't smell. (Been wearing it for 4 days, and i still have it on post-callout, i haven't slept yet!)

 

[Mastino]

I love my Icebreakers, i read somewhere that a guy managed to smell like a violet for 60+ days!
Check the net for silver ions enhanced fabrics. These fabrics use the antimicrobial properties of silver and seem to be a good alternative for merino.

 

[gregorach]

If you're worried about washing temperatures, I've stuck some of my pure merino through a high temperature wash once or twice without any problems. Sure, the care label says 40 degrees, but who reads those?

I have both pure merino and merino / polypro blends, and I much prefer the pure merino.

 

[Dark Horse Dave]

Try a company called EDZ. They do a cracking 200 weight merino top in grey. 100% merino and you can get them for under £30. If you want anything warmer then i can highly reccommend Ullfrotte/Woolpower. I was wearing one of their 400weight tops last night under my team waterproof on a rescue in the Berwyns. Walking quickly with a very heavy pack, uphill on ice, at minus 6 it was great. Plenty warm enough and still doesn't smell. (Been wearing it for 4 days, and i still have it on post-callout, i haven't slept yet!)

These are great tops - both Mrs DHD & I swear by them. Can wear them for days with no nasty pongs. Available here:

http://www.thermalshop.co.uk/base-l....html?oscsid=5a1cca746bc7e54639adeb6199913717

Great service too (no connection, other than as a satisfied customer)

 

[He' s left the building]

Check the net for silver ions enhanced fabrics. These fabrics use the antimicrobial properties of silver and seem to be a good alternative for merino.

I have recently read a scientific article claiming that some clothing manufacturers are using 'nano-particle' treatments of clothing that may possibly prove to be hazardous in the same way as asbestos fibres (inhalation hazard) as this new technology is currently untested and unlicensed.

I'm not sure whether silver-treated clothing is also under scrutiny as well?

I am moving towards 100% merino and recycled synthetics for most of my gear, more for sustainability reasons than anything else, although if it works out cheaper by lasting longer then that's a result!

 

[andy_e]

No experience of pure merino - pure cashmere on the other hand is near to perfect - I've worn a light-weight Asda 100% cashmere jumper as a base for days and days and not been stinky, it does stretch out of shape easily though. which is where I find the blends better.

I wore my Ulfrotte/Wool-power 200g top and bottoms near continuously for 6 days straight at the Scottish New Year meet and no-one complained and despite the cold I had been sweating at times too.

 

[He' s left the building]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sciencea...-of-health-implications-of-nanoparticles.html

There we go, I knew I hadn't imagined it!

 

[andy_e]

...I'm not sure whether silver-treated clothing is also under scrutiny as well?...

It is, not 100% where I read it - probably the BBC or New Scientist - IIRC silver nano-particles, presumably from clothing treatments and washing materials have been found in effluent water, making its way into rivers etc. and there is a concern that it could be toxic to aquatic life.

That position is disputed by this article though ...

http://www.nanolawreport.com/2008/07/articles/nanosilver-ehs-backgrounder/

... so who to believe, who to believe!

 

[gregorach]

The biological effects of nano-particles is very much an open question at the moment. That report you linked to talks only about the toxicity of silver in it's naturally-occurring forms - carbon isn't naturally toxic either, but carbon nanoparticles turned out to be highly toxic (at least to fish), much to everybody's surprise.

 

[Lurch]

Try a company called EDZ.

Just up the road from me. I keep meaning to go and see them with a view to stocking but never get around to it.

 

[Kerne]

I've worn an Icebreaker long sleeved baselayer for 5 days on the trot and it didn't smell at all bad at the end of the period. It is my most-worn baselayer by far from October to April. I have a HH merino/polysomething hoodie top and it is pretty warm and, also, not noticeably smelly.

 

[VirusKiller]

I wore an 200g Icebreaker top continuously for a week on my Woodsmoke Woodlander course and it didn't smell at the end. I'd read all about merino, but was still very impressed. Those sheep know what they're doing. Many of my regular clothes are now 100% merino (200g base tops/leggings, 260g mid top and thick sweaters + beanie).