Icebreaker merino

[trapperjay]

My shirt made it in today. I've not washed it but I wore it for 45 min or so. I started itching and was uncomfortable. Is washing it once the key? Everything I read about merino says it doesn't itch...

 

[twall13]

There are different levels of merino wool. I get more of an itch factor with icebreaker merino than the other 2 brands I've tried but not so bad I couldn't use it. It sounds like yours is worse than mine. Washing might help, it's worth a try. It's also worth noting that some people have more sensitive skin and notice the itchy feeling more than others, you may fall into that category.

 

[topher89]

I always wash merino before wearing it. I just bought an icebreaker t-shirt.... washed it once and then wore it for a week in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness. No itch, no stink. Once shirt for the whole week. Great company!!

 

[twunt]

I find washing softens everything up some when it comes to icebreaker stuff.
I have an icebreaker 200wt that is prob 10 years old and 400 days in the field and still going strong.
Have a kuiu piece I washed prob a dozen times trying to soften the darn thing up and no luck.

 

[5MilesBack]

I always wash merino before wearing it.

I wash every garment before wearing them, regardless of what it's made out of.

 

[topher89]

I wash every garment before wearing them, regardless of what it's made out of.

I should have said this. I do the same thing. I definitely do it for merino to lessen the itch factor

 

[fngTony]

If all else fails try manscaping. Seriously the wool fibers may be pulling body hair triggering an itch. Or maybe size up, I found Icebreaker to have a compression fit which I didn't like.

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[trapperjay]

I'm going to wash and dry tonight and see what happens!

 

[trapperjay]

Update:
70% humidity, 78 is dewpoint, it's 89 deg right now. I washed it and Ive worn it all day long. It's not as comfortable as cotton or poly but it's do-able for sure. And no odor is welcomed! The big question for me...are their other brands that may be even finer/better?

 

[shastahntr]

I have always wore first lite and its nice. Kuiu's stink after a day and they shrink. Those are the only two i can attest to.

 

[twall13]

Update:
70% humidity, 78 is dewpoint, it's 89 deg right now. I washed it and Ive worn it all day long. It's not as comfortable as cotton or poly but it's do-able for sure. And no odor is welcomed! The big question for me...are their other brands that may be even finer/better?

I've only had experience with 2 other brands but I liked them both a bit better than Icebreaker for next to skin comfort. First Lite is good and I love the thumbholes on the Llano and Chama. The best comfort and price was actually the Minus33 merino wool I got off Amazon. That stuff is pretty dang soft though it lacks some of the features (pockets, thumbholes, etc.) of First Lite and other brands.

As you mentioned, the biggest benefit is that merino doesn't stink. You'll get that with any brand of merino but I think there are some that are a bit more comfortable than others based on my limited experience with merino wool.

 

[fngTony]

Washed my kuiu (nuyarn version) had a slight chemical smell possibly from the dye. Had a slight stink when sniffing it but it is animal hair. After it dried I soaked it again and the chemical smell is gone. Drying process was wring it out, air dry only for 10 minutes in the dryer then hung on a hanger. No shrink, slightly softer.

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[warrior80]

I wash every garment before wearing them, regardless of what it's made out of.

Definitely this. I always wash all clothes before wearing. Also, washing will help some with the itch and softness, but some merino has more itch than others. Some people's skin is more sensitive to it. Another thing to is that solid color merino is way softer than camo printed. The printing makes it more stiff.

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[Takeem406]

I bought a short sleeve Icebreaker last year. I really love it! It's really soft for me. But I did wash it first. Pretty tough to beat Merino for hunting. You can rinse them out let them air dry for a few minutes then if it's damp throw it in your sleeping bag. In the morning it will e dry. A wet synthetic takes a dryer to get fully dry it seems.

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