Durable merino wool base layer

[ChesapeakeMan]

I have been using Minus 33 brand merino base layers for a few years now.  I am very pleased with everything except the durability.  I seem to have a lot of holes in them.  The backpack belts, holsters and just washing seem to take a toll on them rather quickly.  Are the more expensive brands like Kuiu and First  Lite more durable?  What has been your experience?  Thanks

[bosshogg112]

tagging along as I am in the process of upgrading my base layers as well.

[KFhunter]

merino is the weak link, not the brand.


If you want durable only options are blends, which IMO defeats the purpose to an extent.  My red desert boxers (first lite) only lasted 3 hunts which was probably only about 15-20 miles.



I sure liked them while they lasted.  I think instead of buying high end 100% merino from kuiu or first lite one might be better off buying 100% merino from cheaper sources and just buy more of it for your direct skin contact base layer stuff.

[92xj]

I've had good luck with FL base layers but also haven't been in them on long strenuous hunts so I can't say 100 percent that they are more durable and sadly, I'm going to sell what I do have in order to buy different sizes. I bought last year and then decided to drop weight. Either of you XL?

[carpsniperg2]

I have had great luck with FL,medalist and coldpruf.

[lord grizzly]

in my experiance first light is mostly crap with good marketing. ive worn nothing but merino for years now and about the best stuff out there is filson. no merino will last forever but some last longer tan others. depends on your level of acticity too of course. i wore out a pair of first light bottoms in 1 1/2 trips. not real good for the price.

[northwesthunter84]

I have been running Kuiu for a couple years now.  Don't machine wash them, that is how my Terramar set got a bunch of holes in them, hand wash them.  And once they start snagging the holes just get bigger.  Also store them in a airtight container with some cedar to keep the moths off of them.

[ChesapeakeMan]

Lots of great info, thanks.

Sounds like maybe the greatest gains will be realized with hand washing rather than machine washing (despite what the tag says)

[davk]

I have the First Lite aerowool glove liners and they seem to be holding up well.  They are a blend though.  Ive had Icebreaker and they looked like swiss cheese after a few outings.  I picked up Kuiu 210 bottoms and 210 and 145 tops last year.  The tops have been holding up great and I have been hunting my @#$ off this year so they have plenty of use.  Iv gone through far to many blackberry bushes as well and they still look great.  I have been machine washing them and dont have any holes yet.  The bottoms show a little wear on the fleeced lining on the inner thighs.  I noticed it after my first trip with them.  I just try to not hike with them on, which isnt hard to do with the full zip ... which I absolutely love.

[huntnnw]

My firstlite boxer/brief lasted 1 elk hunt and worn a hole in them, now my firstlite top has been worn a ton over 3 years and is still going..time to replace tho. I have minus33 tops and bottoms in the heavyweight and they look new still to this day. I have noticed the heavy merino is much more durable

[jackelope]

Just picked up some terramar stuff. Looks like it's cold wash only which I hate but whatever. Looking forward to giving it a try.

[pcal]

What are you guys doing,hunting in a sand storm?I have used duofold and 100% poliprop for years and not had any holes in either tops or bottoms so I can't imagine the problems you are having unless moths have cloned with killer bees Maybe you should get some poli and forget about the wool thing.Plenty of it available at the army surplus stores for cheap,too.

[huntnnw]

Because most of us wearing merino are tired of poly.. I wont wear it again unless its in a outer layer. Poly holds scent and stinks over time no matter how you wash it! why I don't wear anything underarmour in base layers

[huntingbaldguy]

I'm on my second season with my icebreaker base layer top.  My bottoms are Stoic Merino.  Neither really show much in the way of wear and i hike and bike a lot.

Maybe it's just me but i searched far and wide for my merino bottoms because i wanted a fly.  Makes it easier.

I also agree w/ huntnnw.  I don't wear anything under armor base.  Holds scent big time.

[7mmfan]

i'm trying Icebreaker base layers right now, and so far I'm happy with them. Got them on the clearance sale last summer for cheap, thats the only reason I tried them.

By far I've had the best luck with Smartwool base layers. They're the same price as any other, they're just not camo, which shouldn't matter, they're a base layer. I have tops and bottoms that are almost 10 years old, worn 30-40 times a year hunting and fishing. They are machine washed and are super durable. I'd look at them if durability is your main goal.

[huntingbaldguy]

Yep, same reason i bought mine.  $25 score for a halfzip.

[swanny]

Icebreaker and Smartwool here. Been using them for years and they've held up great to repeated backcountry trips and daily use, no complaints.

[ChesapeakeMan]

Sounds like people have had good luck and poor luck with all the brands.  I will probably just keep looking for items on sale and be a little more gentle when washing it.  Going back to poly is not an option.  Heat regulation and stink resistance are reason enough for me to stick with merino.  And if I have to spend more money so be it.

[carpsniperg2]

I have the full zip off bottoms on the way here from kuiu. I will give them a run and try to get the info on here.

[Fungunnin]

I love my Icebreakers .... I've had some pieces for 7 years or so. Very happy with them. I machine wash and hang dry.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk

[Magnum_Willys]

I Have several pairs firstlite briefs. Have couple weeks and 100+ miles on each without a problem.  Is it laundry issue or sweat thats destroying yours?  Mine work great.   Kuiu zip- off has loose waist and super tight calves.  Not a good fit and too much poly content not firstlite merino quality.

[huntnnw]

my first lite just get holes rubbed into them from hiking

[Eric M]

I've had a pair of first lite red desert boxers for about a year.  I wear them mostly for work in Alaska but also when I go out hunting. (Usually day long or overnight-last January 4 day predator hunt). They are holding up fine but I never use the dryer for them or my merino socks (first lite, darn tough, and smart wool)

[JLS]

I have some Minus 33 that I have been wearing for over four years now.  I wear it every day in the late fall through mid spring.  It's held up remarkably well I think

[T-Dozzer]

I've had a pair of first lite red desert boxers for about a year.  I wear them mostly for work in Alaska but also when I go out hunting. (Usually day long or overnight-last January 4 day predator hunt). They are holding up fine but I never use the dryer for them or my merino socks (first lite, darn tough, and smart wool)

I use the dryer on all my darn tough socks (and smart wool)...never had sn issue. Besides, if your datn tough socks wear out, just send them in for new ones.

[RadSav]

No such thing IMO.  You either have durability or you have merino.  Myself, I will not waist another penny on merino wool unless it's blended into a sock.

If you are worried about scent there are two things to consider:  #1 - No clothing is going to stop an animal from smelling you if you don't watch the wind.  #2 - both Robinson's and Dead Down Wind's body towels work amazingly well and weigh very little.  Keep your skin clean and you shouldn't have to worry about skunking up your base layers.

I have had great luck with both Sitka and Cabela's synthetics.  Prefer the Sitka, but getting tall torso length is an issue with them.

[huntnnw]

easy enough if you are not hiking a ton or going home to a shower. I wear merino for comfort and not holding scent so others hunting with me don't have to smell me after 5 days or so in the woods I can wear my firstlite merino top and hike countless miles in it sweating and after days of wearing use it still smells the same as I took it out of the wash.

[davk]

easy enough if you are not hiking a ton or going home to a shower. I wear merino for comfort and not holding scent so others hunting with me don't have to smell me after 5 days or so in the woods I can wear my firstlite merino top and hike countless miles in it sweating and after days of wearing use it still smells the same as I took it out of the wash.

I'll wear a synthetic shirt and I can smell myself after hiking a few miles in to my hunting area.  By the time I get out its often drive-through only  .  If Im hunting every day or damn close Ill wash my merino top once a week.

[huntnnw]

I have a underarmor top that stinks about 15 min after wearing it! why I wont wear that crop anymore

[Happy Gilmore]

I had silk nylon blend leggings I wore for a few years with no issues. Silk is an often overlooked base layer.