Wool Cycling Gear
 

Hello,

Does anybody have any experience with wool jersey, shorts and/or socks?
I have read that they work well in hot and cold temperatures but would like some actual feedback. Does the fabric itch at all? Get too wet with sweat?
I was thinking about purchasing from here anybody else purchased from them?

Thanks for looking

Merino wool base layers and socks are superb. They wick well, stay warm when wet, don't itch and don't stink. Can't comment on the specific brands in your link.

I have several short-sleeved wool jerseys and long-sleeved tops. My long-sleeved tops are merino wool, and as for itching, they vary. I have some that do itch a little bit, so I wear a sleeveless jersey under them. But others are great, very soft. And I'm usually more comfortable with a sleeveless jersey under my short-sleeved wool jerseys.

They do work very well in cool temperatures. The last few evenings have been about 10C - 12C, and I've been wearing a sleeveless jersey, a thin merino base layer, and a waterproof breathable jacket ... and I've been quite comfortable.

But for cold temperatures, I like doing a polypro layer, then a merino wool layer, and then a fleece if necessary. That combination has worked very well for me.

I have worn wool up to about 30C, but over 25C, it got hot and rather uncomfortable, so personally, I wouldn't recommend wool for hot temperatures.

Wool works great for shirts and tights. It's really warm for the weight, doesn't stink, doesn't itch and stays warm no matter how wet it gets.

Drawbacks: it's slightly more finicky to wash (depending on the type of wool), it can be hard to find for cheap and it can stretch out of shape more easily (depending on the fiber blend). Top quality wool stuff is hard to beat but can be really expensive.

Given all of this, polypro still wins for me. Helly Hansen Lifa is my personal favorite.

Ibex is great stuff. I also have Castelli's base layer and I/O Bio's glory hoodie. They itch very slightly, but you get used to it quickly. I wear the hoodie all the time once it gets cold w/ nothing underneath. Wool breathes really well as well.

I'm a big wool fan, but primarily for cool and/or damp weather. Most wool jerseys are too warm for me in 60+ f temps. The exception is my Smartwool "Rambition" jersey. It's "micro-weight" merino, and is great from the low 50's to mid 90's. I have gotten sunburned through it though...

Wool sock are the best, regardless of temp. And one thing about wool that no synthetic can match is its "anti-skank" properties. I can wear the same wool jersey or base layer for a week of commuting and training with no problems. Synthetics (polypro in particular) are good for one day, tops, and then they go in the hazmat bin. But I'm one of those who perspires heavily, regardless of temp. If ya don't sweat, "plastic" may work ok for you.

SP
Bend, OR

Can you share some online sites you purchase your socks and base layers from?

Merino wool is not like that old scratchy Army wool blanket your grandpa has. It is amazingly soft and is great at wicking moisture. It's a bit expensive, but man is it comfortable and great in cool/cold weather.

http://wabiwoolens.com/

http://www.performancebike.com/bikes...8_20000_400068

http://www.ewnr.com/

the only thing wool I can wear is socks. I'm allergic. A wool jersey would kill me.

I have a thin merino wool jersey from Descente that's very soft and I can ride it in up to 90degF and be okay. Main issue is that the material is thin so rips easily and the seams come apart. It's been mended and I still like it a lot especially for races in the rain.

On the other hand I have a Woolistic merino jersey that's much thicker, heavier, hotter, and durable. BUT it's also relatively itchy and the sizes run slightly large. I've had luck shrinking it in the dryer, but it stretches back out especially if you keep anything in the rear pockets. I like to wear it when commuting in cooler weather (like it's been recently in New York).

Both jerseys stretch if you have anything in the rear pockets, to a point where it's flopping around.

If you can afford stuff like Rapha their merino/synthetic blend seems softer and less stretch-prone than the pure merino jerseys.

as someone prone to athletes foot, sweaty feet, wool socks are the only way to go for me. I have synthetic bike socks, but really do prefer wool ones, for the breatheability and warmth in cool temps. I even have two pairs of smartwool knee highs that I use for both downhill skiing and for biking in cool temps. So yes on the bike I look like a dork, but my lower legs muscles are warm, so damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!

Whether it itches or not depends on how thick the fibers ( more or less like hair follicles ) are. Finer fibers, smoother and softer feel. Below 17.5 microns, your body can't feel them individually, and they won't make you itch.

Wool is fantastic.It is the only thing I wear, whether it is 15 degrees F or 100 degrees F.
If the fiber diameter is below 20 microns there is no itch. The merino is extremely comfortable. I wear the Giro long sleeve for temps below 65 and the Giro short for anything above, Last nights ride started at 81 and finished at 9 pm around 60 in the short sleeve and was very comfortable. Ibex is a phenomenal company to work with. I also have their tights, shorts and leg warmers. Easy to care for as well. Itis the only material I buy and wear for cycling save a wind breaker from specialized for cold/ windy and rainy or snowy days. Costs more but you won't regret it.

If you are allergic than why can you tolerate socks. Makes no sense.

I use DeFeet Wooleator socks in the summer, and Woolie Boolie socks in the winter, love them. The coolmax socks tear the bottoms of my feet up.

I have coolmax ones that are double layered, nice on the feet, but still are less breathy so more prone to stink and athletes foot if not careful.

I have a long sleeve merino wool jersey that I bought from Earth Wind and Rider. I't my Fall/Spring favorite. No itchiness, can go longer between washes, beathes well. I also have a merino wall base layer that I use when downhill skiing. Wool works very well for me.

Widely known as Smelly Hansen over here. Another reason to prefer wool.

the Smelly and Helly brothers, well know around this house, along with their cousin Stinky (its amazing how polypro and other synthetic stuff holds such a terrible smell isnt it?)

I eventually threw my HH baselayer out because I could not get the stink out of it.

I wear wool year-round: socks, baselayers, and jerseys. One caveat: I've found that my pocketed jerseys tend to sag irritatingly when I cram their pockets full of junk (e.g. cell phone, cleat covers, snacks, and so on). I now compensate with a bigger seat bag (the smallest Gilles Berthoud model). I also look for pocketless jerseys, whose "cleaner" look I appreciate.

Rivendell sells some nice stuff, BTW. It's all well made, if not trendoid-stylish. There's cheaper stuff to be found, though.

I wear a short-sleeve wool jersey from 50's to 90's and it's always comfortable. It's does get wetter from sweat, but I live in a very dry area, so that's not an issue. I like thicker socks and always wear wool (Smartwool and a couple of others that I can't remember--no big differences). I have Ibex clothing for x-c skiing, and it's the best wool stuff I've seen--I wear it every time (but you pay for it). Comfort and no smell are the big advantages.

I have really liked my wool jerseys so far. I have been testing out an Ibx Indie SS Jersey and liking it. I have also done reviews on the Smartwool Flagstaff Jersey and Bib Shorts. They were solid and like some of my racier jerseys. I find that the ones with a little polyester and elastane in the mix hold their shape better than the all wool ones. Here are the links to my reviews if you are interested, I also wrote an article on the attributes of wool.

http://ymmvreviews.com/?p=666 - Smartwool Flagstaff Jersey
http://ymmvreviews.com/?p=661 - Smartwool Flagstaff Bib Shorts
http://ymmvreviews.com/?p=710 - Icebreaker Roto SS MTB Jersey

JJ
YMMV Reviews

To be fair, when it comes right out of the wash, or when you're completely saturated in your own sweat, wool can take on the "wet sheep smell." But this goes away when it dries, and stops happening after a few washes. The stuff never really smells like human body odor, though.