LCP

What's best for cycling, synthetic or merino base layers?

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Jon Woodhouse's picture

Jon Woodhouse

Jon was previously the editor here at off.road.cc. Whether it's big days out on the gravel bike or hurtling down technical singletracks, if it's got two wheels and can be ridden on dirt, then he's into it. He's previously been technical editor at BikeRadar.com, editor at What Mountain Bike Magazine and also web editor at Singletrackworld.co.uk. Yes, he's been around the houses.

4 comments

3 years 8 months ago

Aminthule wrote:

 

Merino is great in many ways, but a definite 'Con' for many people (including myself) is that it irritates their skin!

 

Really? I've found the higher quality the merino the less the slight initial itch, but I've never had any issue with skin irritation ever when the merino is soaked through.  The itch is usually gone before I'm even on the bike.

3 years 9 months ago

Merino is great in many ways, but a definite 'Con' for many people (including myself) is that it irritates their skin!

5 years 2 weeks ago

Merino all the way.  They dry slower but don't smell -at all.  Synthetic base layers start stinking up almost immediately and after a couple of washes you can't ever fully get rid of the smell.

5 years 2 weeks ago

Merino for me all year round, long sleeved in winter, including merino longjohns, short sleeve in summer!