Lighter Merino Wool fabric?

There are some blends that are lighter, but they're tough to find as well. Patagonia's Merino 1 is 108 g/m and is 63/37 merino/poly and Montbell's super merino is 130 g/m and is 92/8 merino/nylon.

Thanks Brendan.

Those both seem like great options, especially the Patagonia Merino 1. 108 g/m^2 is really light. I am having trouble finding them online, however. Why is everyone discontinuing light merino fabrics??

-Sid

http://www.prolitegear.com/patagonia_merino_1_crew.html

small and xl available…

They are discontinuing them because just about anything below 190 has to be babied. You can kind of get by with 150/165 but a stray branch has a good chance of causing a snag or rip. But it varies company to company in that I have some Stoic wool 150s that can take some abuse while the Patagonia of the same weight are thinner but can give a little.

And the I guess the fact that they are a total PITA to make that thin.

Yeah I think it might have to do more with the manufacturing. If I remember correctly BPL was having a hard time finding someone willing to work with the really light stuff. I've had no durability issues with the Icebreaker 150 stuff, and it's definitely seen some bushwacking and sides of sandstone slot canyons.

I think I may have to settle for the 150 g/m^2 merino. Do you guys prefer Smartwool or Icebreaker? I've used smartwool socks and think they are great but I've never had any experience with any Icebreaker products. I'm looking to get a t-shirt and a pair of boxer briefs. Suggestions?

-Sid

I have only tried smartwool socks but I find the icebreaker gear really good.

I've got a smartwool microweight tee that I wear quite often and like pretty well…
Doesn't seem particularly fragile or in need of babying, though also not bulletproof.

I'd definitely get another one or recommend them to others.

"Do you guys prefer Smartwool or Icebreaker?"

I have merino items in both (as well as Ibex) and they're all about the same, which is to say, pretty darn nice. This is one example where I'd decide based on price.

I prefer Icebreaker based on different styles and fit, but there was some concern in a previous thread that the Smartwool was a better snug compression-style fit. I hike in 150 merino year round.

Check out this thread:
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=46365&skip_to_post=402078#402078

http://montbell.us/products/disp.php?cat_id=80&p_id=2307262

130g/m2

I've just purchased some Mountain Designs 150g/sm merino clothing. A tee shirt and a pair of long pants.

They feel good and the shirt is great.
As for the pants I purchased them like I do for all my baselayers – to be a form fitting item. I wasn't too happy when I was pulling them on after a few uses when the top side where my hand pulling them up with ripped a nice 2" hole into the material.

It sure is a light fabric and has it's uses. For me anything that will see some hard wearing use or abrasion I'll be taking my 200g/sm stuff and it's much more durable.

I went thru a review period for LS Merino within the last year which included lines from Ibex,Icebreaker and Patagonia. I thought I was going to prefer the Patagonia as its wrists had no separate band material(terminology?). Then I found Patagonia wrists would not stay tight to the wrist(ruled out). Icebreaker form fit lines were too tight. I kept the Icebreaker line of looser fit(UTurn). I fell in love with the Ibex Indie's. A good middle weight fabric(195g/m2) with loose fit but not baggy.

I just ordered the Indie T's(SS) and love them and Ibex must love me as I am paying their excessive prices.

Pretty good stuff but rather pricey.

Sometimes you can find weird sales on their stuff though. A few months ago I got a soft shell off their site for 50% off because it wasnt the black color (it is blue). Wasnt even clearance.

I dont think it is worth an extra $15 for ibex ss instead of icebreaker ss though.

"I dont think it is worth an extra $15 for ibex ss instead of icebreaker ss though."

I love Ibex stuff, and am willing to pay a bit more since most of their stuff is made in the U.S.

I think I'm going to go with Ibex. I decided I'd like my merino short sleeve to have a chest zipper for easier body temperature regulation. The Echo Sport Zip with half zipper from Ibex is 150 g/m^2 and is 100% merino, rather than a merino/synthetic blend. Interestingly, It comes in a color called "Sea Grass/Nickel", which looks identical to the color of my BPL Beartooth Merino hoody. Seems like a winner to me.

http://www.ibexwear.com/shop/product/1904/2427/mens-echo-sport-zip

I was also considering the Ace Shirt which uses the same weight fabric, but that one is a button up. Perhaps that would be even better for temperature regulation than a half zipper? Although I'm not sure if it would be needed.

http://www.ibexwear.com/shop/product/1919/7645/mens-ace-shirt

I'm also getting the Woolies Boxer from Ibex, which is also 150 g/m^2.

http://www.ibexwear.com/shop/product/1951/8990/mens-woolies-boxer

All together it looks like I'll be spending around $120 plus shipping. This will be one expensive experiment to see if I would prefer merino in warm weather instead of synthetic or cotton. I don't like how bad breathability seems to be with synthetic and I don't like how long it takes for cotton to dry. If merino is not too warm in the summer months, it may solve these issues for me.

Any input on these choices before I go for it?

Thanks,

-Sid

EDIT: Added links to Ibex choices.

great stuff. i've worn my indie hoody 3+ times a week for a couple months and it still looks new.

Well I can see now why you are so sensitive to the weight of your merino wool baselayers. You live in "Central Florida"!

:)

I've got a hooded Indie, very nice garment, but I'd class it as more midweight vs lightweight- I've got a Patagonia Merino 1 that I would class as lightweight. Mine (Merino 1) has not been babied, probably the opposite and it's holding up fine- I think this is at least in part due to the syn blend mixed in

I started a thread a while back on merino's suitability in the tropics, I'm definitely keeping my eyes peeled for very lightweight merino- the MB stuff looks promising and Patagonia may be bringing back their Merino 1 this fall (at least that's what the told me)

I'd love to get ahold of a BPL like (115 gram) short sleeve :)

Doug, I was curious why you go Ibex instead of icebreaker or smartwool other then the fact it is made in the US. I looked at it the other day at rei when getting a new merino wool and it didnt seem any better than the icebreaker stuff.