Merino break in period?

[jbeaumont21]

After everything I have been reading about how awesome you all say this stuff is I finally broke down and bought some KUIU merino base layer and this stuff is scratchy and itchy as hell.  Has anyone else experienced this?  Do you have to wear it for a while before it breaks in and gets soft on the skin?  I washed and dryed it according to the tag right away but still feels the same.  Maybe I'm just being a wimp?

[ORCA_SIX]

Some people are more prone to itchiness and rashes. Just ask some women 

Seriously, I have never had a break in period of Merino. Usually just start wearing. Maybe one wash. It is typically great to wear from the get go.

[Huntbear]

I ALWAYS wear a base layer under wool... my skin just does not like wool against it period...  besides, layering is a good thing.

[runamuk]

some people are sensitive to wool, and all wool is NOT created equal, lambswool is always far softer, wool is awesome if you can find soft wool and your skin isn't sensitive.  You might try silk base layers if you want to stay all natural fibers or go for one of the light under armour type layers 

[washelkhunter]

It is what it is, merino is one of the softest least irritating of wool products. Your just sensitive to it. A light silk under would be good  as Run suggests.

[blackveltbowhunter]

Agree with all of the above. Also, which garment did you buy?  KUIU offers 2 different weights and the heavier one is not advertised as being for "next to skin". But the lighter on is.

[yajsab]

I have minus33, first lite and kuiu wool.  Base on what I have, I can tell you that the non camo is softer.  I think it has to do with the camo dye.  It might be your sensitive skin also.

[jbeaumont21]

It is the lighter 185 ls crew.  I have been wearing it around the house all day and I think it is getting a little less irritable.  I was just surprised by how unsoft it was out of the package. Not quite what I expected.  The wife said you spent $80 bucks on a shirt so man up, rub some dirt on it and wear it    I guess I need to quit whining and toughen up... or go buy some soft sily satin to wear under it.  I may get a mani and a pedi while I'm at it

[Johnb317]

I found th kuiu shirt to be a little itchy compared to smart wool or icebreaker.  You can go to rei and check them out.   

[fair-chase]

I found th kuiu shirt to be a little itchy compared to smart wool or icebreaker.  You can go to rei and check them out.   

  While KUIU makes some nice products their merino is not the greatest. If having camo for a baselayer is a priority for you then FirstLite would be a better choice. Otherwise, as mentioned, non-camo baselayers from the mountaineering companies will be softer.

[yajsab]

It is the lighter 185 ls crew. 

The 185 is suppose to be the softest (17.5 micron).  I can tell you that my minus33 midweight (18.5 micron) is softer.

Go to Sportco to check out the minus33.

[NWWA Hunter]

I've heard amazing things about their return policy. If you don't like it. I'm sure they will return it. I think there returns go to the outlet

[wraithen]

I actually felt a bunch of stuff before I got my minus 33. It was the softest I could find. The other thing about itchy clothes that I've learned since I joined the military and went to korea and the Ft. Drum is it only bothers you if you don't need it. If you are freezing your butt off and are wearing it you tend to not notice it so much. I may have had a small brain seizure and now associate itchy with warm now though 

The only wool I could get my hands on that felt as soft or softer to me may have been smart wool. Red ram felt itchy as all get out. Maybe try washing it a little more aggressive cycle wise (not temp) and see if it starts pilling and see if that helps? 

[elksnout]

Bought both Kuiu 185 and 250 tops this year. The 250 isn't recommended to be worn next to the skin but I had zero issues with doing so. To me they were both comfortable as hell. I'll be buying the bottoms for next year. Good stuff.

[Cascade_fisher]

I know some wool is boiled so that the tips of the fibers are curled to decrease the itchiness.  Not sure which companies do this other than DeFeet (make great thin wool socks).