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Let's talk wool

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Old 10-10-12 | 10:19 AM
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Let's talk wool

I just recently picked up 2 Sugoi wool jerseys (tag says 100% Merino Wool). I've never owned wool before.

What are the best temps to wear wool jerseys?
Can they be worn in the rain?
How often do I need to wash? (tag says cold, gentle cycle, inside out, tumble dry low)
What other care tips do you have? I want these suckers to last a long time!
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Old 10-10-12 | 10:36 AM
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Wool is the best in the rain, it stay warm even when soaked.
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Old 10-10-12 | 10:42 AM
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Wash in room temp water using regular shampoo in the bathtub.
To dry, lay on a dry towel, roll it up tight for a couple of hours, then remove and lay flat on a table in a warm place.
Wool is well worth the extra care it requires.
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Old 10-10-12 | 10:45 AM
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Wool rules.

It stays warm when wet, is antibacterial, and does not require as much cleaning as synthetics... on the downside Merino tends to make for a better base layer or works well on it's own in more temperature climates.
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Old 10-10-12 | 10:59 AM
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I own a Sugoi wool jersey. It is on the thick side, but is comfy in a wide range of temps. With arm warmers (if short-sleeved) mine are comfy from high 30's to mid 60's. With a rain/wind jacket it's good down to low 30's or below. I don't baby mine at all, as far as care. I wash them like normal clothes and have experienced no shrinkage, but I don't wash anything on 'Hot'. If you care about it getting pilly, be sure to turn it inside-out.
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Old 10-10-12 | 11:22 AM
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How long can I go between washes? Wait until it stinks?
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Old 10-10-12 | 11:35 AM
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Love all my wool stuff - socks, underwear, hats, jerseys, and even polo/riding shirts. I wish I could find more gear that is wool and casual. I like the biking jerseys, but looking for casual shirts that can be ridden in and sit around a pub in (with "regular" people). The polo shirt I have is very thin and can be worn summer or spring/fall and is comfortable.
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Old 10-10-12 | 11:40 AM
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Wool is comfortable in almost all temps. I knit my own socks, and I only give up wool socks when the temps get into the upper 80s.
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Old 10-10-12 | 01:32 PM
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Agreed, it is tough to where lycra after spending time in any wool gear. Sad that Sugoi has dropped their wool jersey and now sells a lycra one with a sweater-like argyle pattern printed on it! (American Cyclery does this too)
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Old 10-10-12 | 01:33 PM
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Originally Posted by elkootcho
I just recently picked up 2 Sugoi wool jerseys (tag says 100% Merino Wool). I've never owned wool before.

What are the best temps to wear wool jerseys?
Can they be worn in the rain?
How often do I need to wash? (tag says cold, gentle cycle, inside out, tumble dry low)
What other care tips do you have? I want these suckers to last a long time!
I won't wear anything else in the rain, if I can help it.
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Old 10-10-12 | 01:34 PM
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Originally Posted by elkootcho
How long can I go between washes? Wait until it stinks?
You'll wait a long time if you're just riding in it. Typically, I'll only wash mine if it gets muddy.
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Old 10-10-12 | 01:37 PM
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Originally Posted by elkootcho
How long can I go between washes? Wait until it stinks?
Yup.

I have some wool jerseys that are 30 years old. I love merino wool. It's so named because it comes from the merino sheep, a Spanish breed.

Costco was selling long sleeve merino polo shirts for $20. I was an idiot and only bought one.
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Old 10-10-12 | 01:41 PM
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I bought 2 Sugio short-sleeved when REI was having a 75% off sale. Paid like $30 each...wishing I bought more.
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Old 10-10-12 | 01:45 PM
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Wash it when it stains or stinks. Cold water, gentle cycle, lay flat on a towel to dry.

Silk, wool and cashmere are my preferred cool/cold weather fabrics and see plenty of use jogging, winter sports, cycling and general hanging out.
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Old 10-10-12 | 01:56 PM
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I have two wool shirts that I've worn for years, especially in the fall. Absolutely my favorite outerwear when there is a chill in the air, or in gentle (cool) rain. Mine weren't meant for cycling, but I wear them constantly this time of year. Wish I had more.
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Old 10-10-12 | 02:56 PM
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We just made 2 pair of knickers from wool slacks.
I started out with one trial pair, but instantly fell in love with the material.
Now I'm on the hunt for a few shirts.
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Old 10-10-12 | 03:29 PM
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I treat my wool stuff the same way I do the synthetic. I don't dry either in the dryer. I can wear my thin wool jersey up to the mid 90Fs. I have a thicker one that gets a bit too hot around 90F.
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Old 10-10-12 | 03:44 PM
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Cashmere is also a great wool. My wife was throwing out a cashmere pullover that the moths had gotten to. I cut off the sleeves and wear it as a baselayer on cold days.
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Old 10-10-12 | 06:57 PM
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I sweat "a lot" and have several wool garments. When I wear the stuff I tend to not be too hot or be too cold, sort of a damp, cool feeling (more cool than warm). It works best for me as a baselayer w/ some sort of wind blocker. The only real downer for me (over poly) is it takes longer to dry.
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Old 10-11-12 | 10:35 AM
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Originally Posted by maidenfan
The only real downer for me (over poly) is it takes longer to dry.
I've noticed that as well. I wear a backpack so even on cooler mornings I sweat on my back. When I left work for my evening ride home, 9 hours later, it was still damp. Can wool be hung or will it stretch?
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Old 10-11-12 | 10:54 AM
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Originally Posted by elkootcho
I've noticed that as well. I wear a backpack so even on cooler mornings I sweat on my back. When I left work for my evening ride home, 9 hours later, it was still damp. Can wool be hung or will it stretch?
Wool should be laid flat to dry, generally. If a garment is knit out of superwash wool (fibers that have had the scales removed to prevent felting in the wash) they will sometimes require a trip through the dryer when damp to get their "bounce" back.

I put my wool socks on blockers to dry, because it makes them pretty and I'm kind of picky about my laundry.
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Old 10-11-12 | 11:07 AM
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Originally Posted by elkootcho
How long can I go between washes? Wait until it stinks?
It'll probably never stink. I bought a beautiful Brroks Bros. cashmere sweater at a resale shop for $4. I wore it almost daily as an undershirt for a few years, and it smelled as good as the day I bought it. I only washed it once, by hand in cool water.
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Old 10-11-12 | 11:37 AM
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Minus33 wool clothes are well priced. Check 'em out. I wear their t-shirts as a base layer.

https://www.minus33.com/
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Old 10-11-12 | 12:19 PM
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Wool is great for biking. That's what I wear most of the time, in various weights for various temperatures.

You need to get clothing that does handle washing in water "washable". If it says "Dry Clean" there is a good chance that water washing will leave you with a lot of long lasting wrinkly stuff. I believe it's at least partly a function of how the wool is spun into yarn, or perhaps how the yarn is knitted or woven into cloth.

I do washable wool in the machine, mine actually has a 'wool' cycle so I use that, with Woolite. I usually hang dry after washing. Socks seem to get into the regular load and into the dryer a little more often and hasn't really been a problem with them.
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Old 10-11-12 | 04:02 PM
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kookaburra, Those are some pretty rad socks! Where can I find some like that?
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