General Cycling Discussion - Coolmax vs. Merino Wool vs. Castellli for non itchiness!

Coolmax itches me. Not a lot, but enough to be really annoying, especially at seams.

As a result, I've worn my Specialized superduper coolmax wicking sweat away shirt once, and use soft cotton tshirts in the meantime, which gather my huge amounts of sweat.

Two more fabric technologies have caught my eye in my googling.

The company Castelli apparently has stuff that is similar to coolmax, but more comfortable, and then there is this wool (wool?!?!) product that's is supposed to be completely non itchy, called Merino wool.

Anyone got experience of either?

I've got Merino Wool long underwear for skiing, and have never experienced any itchy feeling from it. Coolmax doesn't make me itch, either, so I may be less-sensitive to itchy things than you.

I've got Merino Wool long underwear for skiing, and have never experienced any itchy feeling from it. Coolmax doesn't make me itch, either, so I may be less-sensitive to itchy things than you.



I think I'm very sensitive! If my clothes are itching, I want to hurt those around me. ;)

Smartwool is a merino type material with a no itch or your money back type thing. Pricy stuff compaired to synthetics but it works quite well.
you might try a wicking nylon rather than polyester(coolmax), nylon has more natural stretch so it feels slightly softer when used in the same type fabric.
http://www.zyflex.com/ the performance compression shirts are wicking nylon/lycra a combination that is quite nice and they print the label on the outside near the hip so it won't bug you.

I've got some smartwool socks that I've been wearing for 9 years, that's almost a decade non-stop, spring, summer, fall, winter. And they still look almost brand new. That stuff is indestructable.
I heard they made shirts and pants now too.
Absolutely no-itch, it's very soft too.

Cheers folks. Just ordered an old fashioned Bianchi top from glorycycles early this morning, as soon as my wages cleared. ;)

http://store4.yimg.com/I/glorycycles_1788_6851734

Bookmarked that other site though... cheers!

The company Castelli apparently has stuff that is similar to coolmax, but more comfortable, and then there is this wool (wool?!?!) product that's is supposed to be completely non itchy, called Merino wool.

Anyone got experience of either?

I'm a big wimp when it comes to itchiness. Tags and regular wool drive me nuts. I have lots of
merino wool stuff and I like it. I don't notice any itchiness from the socks or loose fitting tops, but
the merino wool long underwear I have starts to itch after a while.

I love the fact that wool keeps me warm when I'm wet, cool when it is warm out, and doesn't
pick up body odor like synthetics do for me.

baker

I think I'm very sensitive! If my clothes are itching, I want to hurt those around me. ;)
:lol:

Cheers! I feel the same way! That said, I've not had a problem with Merino Wool. I have never had it cause any discomfort to my skin.

:lol:

Cheers! I feel the same way! That said, I've not had a problem with Merino Wool. I have never had it cause any discomfort to my skin.



Good stuff. If this jersey itches me when it arrives, I'll go jihad on your ass. ;)

Good stuff. If this jersey itches me when it arrives, I'll go jihad on your ass. ;)

Fly me out there, and you'll get your chance! I've not yet visited my great-grandfather's homeland.

Éireann go Brách