Base Layers: Capilene or Terramar?

[Jsporn]

Hi! I'm starting my thru hike in early march, so I'm going to be carrying lightweight and midweight long underwear tops and bottoms. I was curious if I should go Terramar or Capilene? Right now Patagonia has a 50% off sale on all Capilene items, so the price for the four Patagonia items is only a bit more than the Terramar.

Any advice on which would be better?

Thanks!

[Drybones]

If you're just going to sleep in them I'd take whatever is lightest. If you're going to wear them take lightweight wool, it's amazing how it handles the BO.

[Andrewsobo]

Second the wool. Merino is way better than either of those synthetics. They don't really have a use in my opinion.

[Ender]

I've used the same 2 pairs of Capilene (1 pair lightweight, 1 pair midweight) since my AT thru in 1998, including on my PCT attempt and 1000+ other hiking miles on top of that, and they're still as good as the day I bought them. So I can recommend them. That said, I've never used Terramar, so they may also be good.

[Montana]

My Capilene t-shirt survived being worn every day during my 2008 thru-hike with the only damage being a couple of small burn holes from campfire sparks, and a slight wearing on the shoulders where my pack straps interacted with it. I still use this shirt while out hiking locally four years later, and it still looks good enough to walk around town while wearing it. It did hold a little bit of smell, but no more than many other fabric options that I have tried (including some that claim to not hold odor). I also own a number of Capilene boxers that I have been rotating through since around 2000, with most of them still looking as good as the day that I bought them (2 of them survived my thru and are still in use). I can't think of any gear that I own that could stand up to the amount of abuse that I provide and still look good.

Patagonia makes good, high quality gear that is well worth the premium that they demand (but it's best to find it on sell).

[ChinMusic]

My Capilene t-shirt survived being worn every day during my 2008 thru-hike .... It did hold a little bit of smell, but no more than many other fabric options that I have tried (including some that claim to not hold odor).

You must not of tried merino wool then. Merino wool is nearly impossible to make stink. I only wear merino wool socks and my tennis shoes still smell new and they are nearly worn out.

It is beyond question that merino wool is the KING with regards to odor.

[Drybones]

I've used the same 2 pairs of Capilene (1 pair lightweight, 1 pair midweight) since my AT thru in 1998, including on my PCT attempt and 1000+ other hiking miles on top of that, and they're still as good as the day I bought them. So I can recommend them. That said, I've never used Terramar, so they may also be good.

There's a lot of clothing out there that will hold up to wear, but not many that I can wear for two weeks and have anyone stand within 10 yards of me...go merino wool for the upper body at least.

[Ender]

You must not of tried merino wool then. Merino wool is nearly impossible to make stink. I only wear merino wool socks and my tennis shoes still smell new and they are nearly worn out.

It is beyond question that merino wool is the KING with regards to odor.

Oh, I don't know about that... wool being nearly impossible to make stink. Sure, it's certainly harder, no doubt. But weeks in wool or weeks in nylon, you are going to stink either way. I've stunk up wool many times... my preferred hiking t-shirt is wool, and after 5-6 days it stinks just about as strongly as nylon would. And, something to consider, wool is more of a pain to wash, at least shirts are, as you're not supposed to throw them in the dryer.

[Drybones]

Oh, I don't know about that... wool being nearly impossible to make stink. Sure, it's certainly harder, no doubt. But weeks in wool or weeks in nylon, you are going to stink either way. I've stunk up wool many times... my preferred hiking t-shirt is wool, and after 5-6 days it stinks just about as strongly as nylon would. And, something to consider, wool is more of a pain to wash, at least shirts are, as you're not supposed to throw them in the dryer.

It may be body chemistry but I have yet to stink up a wool shirt, one day for me and synthetic is foul.

[ChinMusic]

Oh, I don't know about that... wool being nearly impossible to make stink. Sure, it's certainly harder, no doubt. But weeks in wool or weeks in nylon, you are going to stink either way. I've stunk up wool many times... my preferred hiking t-shirt is wool, and after 5-6 days it stinks just about as strongly as nylon would. And, something to consider, wool is more of a pain to wash, at least shirts are, as you're not supposed to throw them in the dryer.

I have not done a thru yet. I have experimented with my Icebreaker merino wool tops though with weekend trips, dayhikes, walks, workouts, etc. As an experiment I went 3 months without washing my shirt.........it never stunk. Now, I was being cleaned regularly, unlike a thru, so I am certain a thru's own body contributes to the equation. Others have reported similar results. Merino wool tops are unbelievable with regards to odor suppression.

I am serious about tennis shoes. In the past, when I wore other types of socks, taking off the shoes could clear a room. Wearing merino wool socks 100% prevents any noticeable odor for the life of the shoe.

[Montana]

You must not of tried merino wool then. Merino wool is nearly impossible to make stink. I only wear merino wool socks and my tennis shoes still smell new and they are nearly worn out.

It is beyond question that merino wool is the KING with regards to odor.

I have, it holds odor like anything else (at least my odor sticks to it). Merino wool definitly does not hold up to wear and tear like Capilene.

[Montana]

Oh, I don't know about that... wool being nearly impossible to make stink. Sure, it's certainly harder, no doubt. But weeks in wool or weeks in nylon, you are going to stink either way. I've stunk up wool many times... my preferred hiking t-shirt is wool, and after 5-6 days it stinks just about as strongly as nylon would. And, something to consider, wool is more of a pain to wash, at least shirts are, as you're not supposed to throw them in the dryer.

I'd be careful with any hiking clothing in a drier, especially the commercial variety that seem to have a knack for melting things.

[ChinMusic]

I have, it holds odor like anything else (at least my odor sticks to it).

Yep, you must be special.

Merino wool definitly does not hold up to wear and tear like Capilene.

Quite true, but not a concern of mine. The socks wear out fairly quickly too.

[Drybones]

I have, it holds odor like anything else (at least my odor sticks to it). Merino wool definitly does not hold up to wear and tear like Capilene.

If you can stink up wool, I dont want to hike downwind from you. I thought wool had to be over rated, met a guy on the Pinhoti who told me he'd been wearing the same wool shirt 11 days and it had no smell. I tried wool and he was right.

[Drybones]

Yep, you must be special.


Quite true, but not a concern of mine. The socks wear out fairly quickly too.

I have three pair of Smartwool socks I've been wearing to the gym for probably 5 years and they are still going strong...I go to the gym 6 days a weeks when not hiking and sometimes twice a day...love these socks.

[hikerboy57]

I have three pair of Smartwool socks I've been wearing to the gym for probably 5 years and they are still going strong...I go to the gym 6 days a weeks when not hiking and sometimes twice a day...love these socks.

SD what are you, the new merino wool marketing director?
cant wear wool, i get too itchy.
i do the capilene thing. fortunately i never smell bad(to myself).

[Del Q]

I wear a Icebreaker thin merino wool tee shirt, really excellent gear

Lightweight long sleeve capilene

Rain jacket

Go Lite wind shirt ---------super light, has come in handy

In cold weather a mont bell 8 oz synthetic jacket (made a mistake, should have gotten one with a hood)

Have been out in some nasty weather (5 degrees with heavy wind), not a problem.

Am either hiking or in my down bag

[Drybones]

SD what are you, the new merino wool marketing director?
cant wear wool, i get too itchy.
i do the capilene thing. fortunately i never smell bad(to myself).

Some wool makes me itch too but the good stuff is great...but expensive...only buy it when its at least 50% off. I've considered the Capilene to sleep in because it's lighter. I own no stock in merino wool...promise.

[ChinMusic]

I have three pair of Smartwool socks I've been wearing to the gym for probably 5 years and they are still going strong...I go to the gym 6 days a weeks when not hiking and sometimes twice a day...love these socks.

Smartwool PhDs (used to be Adrenalines) are my sock of choice. I wear them EVERY day, for ALL activities, so maybe I notice wear more and underestimate their length of service. Mine tend to fail in the achilles region and balls of the feet.

Regarding merino wool tops: They do seem to acquire more holes than other materials. I have learned to be more careful when buckling my hip belt (I tore the heck out of one shirt in three days by not paying attention). I think that with care the merino tops have an acceptable length of service.

[hikerboy57]

Some wool makes me itch too but the good stuff is great...but expensive...only buy it when its at least 50% off. I've considered the Capilene to sleep in because it's lighter. I own no stock in merino wool...promise.

i cant even wear cashmere against my skin, once i start to sweat, i itch like crazy!i dont mind spending the bucks, but it has to work for me.