smartwool isn't smart enough, or maybe it's me. you can't have any heat near them, you can't even have warm thoughts or they will shrink

Silk or merino wool for me. I cannot stand synthetics. after five minutes on me they stink.

This. I wear a short sleeve wicking tee under the wool.

I wear smart wool socks year round. Swag for the Bull Shifter Heart of Arizona ride this year included smart wool socks that go up a but higher, almost crew level. I bought smart wool arm warmers this year as well. I will wear the arm warmers and higher socks when the temps at the start of the ride are about 40 or lower

For cycling no, or for any activity that I need good moisture management. Wool went out of favor around the time of the failed Scott polar expedition. Speaking of Scott, I just read The Worst Journey in the World by Apsley Cherry-Garrard, one of Scott's men who DID survive the expedition. Great stuff. One of the top rated adventure novels ever written. Available to download free from Project Gttenberg.

Reynaud's syndrome means wool socks, long sleeve wool jersey and wool tights for me when the temperature drops below about 60F. Add silk long underwear beneath the wool when it's below about 50F. Add nylon windbreaker jacket or vest (removable sleeves) when it's below about 40F. Add catalytic hand and toe warmers below about 30F. Don't ride much below about 20F.

picked up two more wool pieces. a short sleeve base layer shirt and a neck warmer. I suspect I'll be using both on Saturday!

Bill, you're in Florida! Don't think you need to be in a big rush to layer up with wool;) OTOH, it's chilly early am in California and even former East-coasters need to layer up a bit.

I'll stand by my previous observation that wool base layers are dryer (compared to synthetics) when I finish a ride and I don't find that wool smells the least bit. Good merino wool is, however, very contrary to my lifetime experience with wool garments.

Except on the hottest days, a Minus 33 merino wool, summer-weight undergarment is always worn under my riding jersey. My daily ride includes a 3-mile descent - 35 to 40mph - a long flat stretch and finally, that 1,000 vert. ft. climb back home. Only wool provides warmth on the descent while keeping me somewhat dry during the sweaty, uphill climb. When I wear cotton rather than wool, I freeze on the descent and find my undergarment soaked with sweat at the top of the hill. Wool performs much better . . . and the Minus 33 brand doesn't itch. I bought the lightest weight undergarment (basically a long-sleeved t-shirt, no collar). It's the best compromise of anything I've tried. And it doesn't itch:

http://www.minus33.com/catalog/men-s...-crew-neck/718

Duane, thanks for the link. Probably comparable to deFeet and maybe a few dollars less.

I have a couple of Ibex merino wool shortsleeved baselayers that I love. I also have two Ibex cycling jerseys (one short-sleeved & one long-sleeved) that I'm not so enamored of. They feel great, but the fit is awful. Long arms, ridiculously long torso, but tight around the chest and neck. Designed for beanpoles?

Just the other day I was going through my closet and I found a merino wool v-neck dress sweater that I haven't worn in several years, and I noticedthat it had a couple of moth holes in the arms, which takes it out of consideration for dress wear...but it dawned on me, this will make an excellent base- or middlle-layer for winter cycling! Looking forward to trying it out.

Oh yeah, and all my socks (cycling or not) are wool.

I raid the local Goodwill periodically for all the merino wool sweaters I can find. I wear them as is, cut off the sleeves to use as leg warmers, and otherwise press them into service. If they don't wash well I toss 'em and get more. Works for me.

Climbing in the Sierra in winter, the Wind Rivers, the Beartooths, and the Manaslu region in Nepal, wool was my go to stuff. It kept me warm and kept me safe a couple of times in wet conditions. After I started cycling a couple of years ago and winter came on, I looked for wool to keep me warm. Today on a warmish winter solstice ride, my Wabi merino jersey and Ibex merino base layer made me toasty ........ don't underestimate good wool......

That has to be the most inaccurate post I've ever read here. Minus 33 makes incredible, lightweight, non- itching, Merino woolen undergarments that are superior to cotton and nylon in every way. Superior warmth on descents, superior wicking on climbs. I wear a lightweight, non-collared Merino woolen undershirt (basically a long-armed t-shirt) on every ride. Better than cotton. FAR better than nylon or any other man-made fabric.

http://www.minus33.com/catalog/men-s-light-weight-crew-neck/718

I can't imagine why ANYONE could suggest that nylon (or ANY man-made fabric) is better than wool. It simply isn't true.

You won't be sorry. I order my woolen undergarments from JD Mills in Ely, Minnesota. Great service, great Minus 33 products, great rates on shipping. Ask for John, tell him Duane referred you. I love referring good vendors of good products:

http://elymnclothesandfootwear.com/

By the way, you wash these things in cold water, and you hang them up to dry. No dryers - ever. If you follow these two simple rules, they will not shrink. It's really not that hard . . .

I don't know what kind of synthetics you have, but one day of me riding in polypro, thermax or coolmax will create a stink 10 times as bad as when I ride for two weeks straight in my merino wool.

I snagged all of my merino wool at the local thrift store. Picked up six sweaters, for about $6 ea. They are as good as advertised.

Got a couple of other things here I can link


I really like these kinds of back-pocketed T-shirts:

http://www.rivbike.com/product-p/at13.htm

And it's from Rivendell which has quite a few items in marino

http://www.rivbike.com/Clothing-s/42.htm

I'd like their crochet gloves too if I knew they have decent padding.

And I got that from this site which has a whole lot of great links to all sorts of wool sellers:

http://www.ultracycling.com/old/equipment/wool.html

I picked up a new merino wool baselayer tshirt and wore it yesterday for the first time. Temps were in the 50s and 60s and it was perfect. Love it.......and it didn't stink afterwards like my poly ones.

Another true believer!

Your experience, and level of activity doesn't allow you to understand the benefits of modern, engineered fiber clothing systems.

This freaking thread is costing me so much money. :lol:

You're probably correct. My particular strength lies in recognizing untruths.

I just returned from my daily 1,200 foot climb. The temperature is 72 degrees, approximately. Sweat was dripping from my helmet and chin. My summer weight merino woolen undergarment was damp but not uncomfortable.

And it didn't stink.

Buy what you want. I would only ask that you refrain from posting false statements about a product - merino wool - that works so well for so many. Thanks.

I am glad you enjoy your wool! There isn't a darn thing wrong with wool.... people have been using animal shearing's (AKA wool) for all of recorded history. I don't think you'll discover anything NEW about wool clothing. But I can assure you that actual laboratory testing.... doesn't put wool on the pedestal that popular trends do. Fads don't really affect performance.

And don't get me wrong... I appreciate wool and other natural fabrics myself. I also like steel bicycles and heavy leather saddles... that doesn't mean I think they perform the best in all situations. I am just being pragmatic.

In the industry when we use the term "woolen" it is reference to non-woven wool fabrics... commonly referred to as felt. Never in reference to a garment made of wool products or fabrics.