Anybody layering a thin synthetic over merino?

[WoodBow]

So I got firmly on the merino band wagon since the first of the year. Just taking it out of the package at the house I was pretty unimpressed, given the price point. But when I got it in the field, it started to show its value. My biggest complaint though is durability. In past years I have always worn a thin UA like synthetic in warmer temps and those things are tough as nails. Is anyone wearing one over their merino? Seems like a best of both worlds. Merino properties against skin and then a synthetic shield to protect it. Would this limit merinos performance?

 

[zeroforhire]

I sometimes do. Works well. Synthetic doesn't stink as bad. Gives merino some protection. I'm excited for the new first lite aerowool. Blend of merino and synthetic.


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[beachbunny]

i have. it just depends what i'm doing.

 

[gmajor]

I sometimes do. Works well. Synthetic doesn't stink as bad. Gives merino some protection. I'm excited for the new first lite aerowool. Blend of merino and synthetic.

Holy smokes what wool are you using that stinks worse than synthetic?? If I wear synthetic on more than just a day hike the stench is horrendous. I can wear one wool shirt for 10 days straight.

 

[zeroforhire]

I should have clarified. Having my merino under my synthetic helps the synthetic not stink as bad.


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[Brightwhite]

My go-to setup depending on temp is the FL llano long sleeve crew with the Sitka core 1/4 zip or Sitka traverse over the top of it. If it's warm, I'll go with the short sleeve FL top and the Sitka core 1/4 zip.

 

[5MilesBack]

Of course I wear a thin synthetic layer over my merino.......it's called my camo. I wear my Microtex or Microtex Lite over my merino on all hunts.

 

[fngTony]

I layer a half zip synthetic midweight over a light merino. Love merino for temp and scent control. love synthetics for durability. Also no static as when I used to layer 2 sythetics.

 

[WoodBow]

I used to do the same but without merino. Id have solid color insulating layers on and then cover them w a stretchy synthetic camo shirt. However it got old fast to shed or add layers with that system. So when i drank the first lite koolaid i bought everything in asat. I may end up right back in the same boat if i run a synthetic on top again.

Of course I wear a thin synthetic layer over my merino.......it's called my camo. I wear my Microtex or Microtex Lite over my merino on all hunts.

 

[camelcluch]

I use a peloton over my wool. Works well

 

[5MilesBack]

I used to do the same but without merino. Id have solid color insulating layers on and then cover them w a stretchy synthetic camo shirt. However it got old fast to shed or add layers with that system.

I'm not sure what you're saying here. Shedding or adding layers is a system regardless of what the material is made out of. I'm not sure why you think merino changes that. All my merino is solid color, and I use it the same as I did when I wore synthetic base layers. Nothing has changed for me except I can wear the merino for a lot longer than the synthetic now.

 

[keepitwiredtight]

My go-to setup depending on temp is the FL llano long sleeve crew with the Sitka core 1/4 zip or Sitka traverse over the top of it. If it's warm, I'll go with the short sleeve FL top and the Sitka core 1/4 zip.

+1 on this setup. However, it's best used for cold weather (IMO).

Mostly I don't wear anything over my merino and I haven't had any durability issue. Obviously I take the long way around briar patches if all I have on is merino.

 

[WoodBow]

Let me clarify. I primarily bow hunt whitetails. Camo is important. The only shirt layer i was wearing thay was camo was the outer thin synthetic. If i got hot i would have to take off the camo layer, then shed a base layer, and then put the camo layer back on. All layers of my first lite area camo. Therefore it is no longer necessary to cover them with a camo layer. Make sense?

I'm not sure what you're saying here. Shedding or adding layers is a system regardless of what the material is made out of. I'm not sure why you think merino changes that. All my merino is solid color, and I use it the same as I did when I wore synthetic base layers. Nothing has changed for me except I can wear the merino for a lot longer than the synthetic now.

 

[5MilesBack]

Let me clarify. I primarily bow hunt whitetails. Camo is important. The only shirt layer i was wearing thay was camo was the outer thin synthetic. If i got hot i would have to take off the camo layer, then shed a base layer, and then put the camo layer back on. All layers of my first lite area camo. Therefore it is no longer necessary to cover them with a camo layer. Make sense?

Are you hunting out of a tree? If I was hunting out of a tree, I wouldn't even bother with merino. I wear it because it wicks sweat away from my skin very well, and doesn't stink after a few days of wearing it. Whenever I go out for just day hunts, or hiking, 3D shoots etc, I wear my synthetic base layers.

Occasionally I'll take my camo shirt off while elk hunting and just wear my merino base top when it's really hot, but most the time my Microtex stays on over the merino.

 

[WoodBow]

Yea i deer hunt out of treestands. However i did not spend 100s of dollars on merino to treestand hunt. I do my share of back pack hunting for other species as well. There is no need to protect merino with a synthetic if i was treestand hunting. Busting through oak brush in NM....well that's different.

 

[LBFowler]

While I do prefer the feel of merino next to skin I actually do the opposite, when it is cold enough I wear a grid fleece hoody (patagonia R1/surplus PCU level 2) under a First Lite Chama hoodie. Wicks better and faster, keeps moisture from building up close to you but the merino on the outside cuts some wind and slows evaporative cooling. The guys at Duckworth call this using a "wick and a sponge" and they make a fabric that is a layer of synthetic under a layer of merino that does the same thing. This combo gives me a HUGE comfortable temperature range as long as I'm not moving too hard.

For warmer weather I'm guessing a blended wool (like the aero wool) is going to be the way to go. If I'm trying to protect a merino layer I'm more likely to use something like a woven shirt or wind shirt rather then a second knit top.