Your preferred fabric for wicking layer

[amac]

What is your preferred fabric for your wicking layer (aka baselayer)?
I have silk, merino wool, and of course nylon (as in UnderArmor).

Merino has the oft-published benefit on not stinking, but it seems to hold moisture close to the skin.
Silk is the most comfortable thing against skin, but also seems to hold moisture.
Nylon IMO wicks the moisture away the best and is by far the most durable, but I haven 't found any method to remove the smell (and I've tried them all).

So, what's your preferred wicking layer and why (please don't turn this into a 'how to clean the small from nylon')

Thanks

[bad biscuit]

When it's warm/hot - Synthetic
When it's cool/cold - Merino

Althought I think it's a mind game, I have a difficult time wearing wool when it's warm, but my stuff is midweight too.

[10-K]

Quality Merino wool, year round.

Until I started hiking I thought: wool = warm stuff for cold weather.

Lightweight Merino wool t-shirts are great for summertime hiking.

[Sara]

Merino for the win!

[Zippy Morocco]

merino for sure. I kind of like the Patagonia merino 2 T shirt for extra durability while hiking. It's a blend.

[Blissful]

merino wool for sure

[Drybones]

Quality Merino wool, year round.

Until I started hiking I thought: wool = warm stuff for cold weather.

Lightweight Merino wool t-shirts are great for summertime hiking.

Same here.............

[rocketsocks]

one more for merino


...tho often it is more about the weave when taking about synthetics.

[Coffee]

Merino wool (Smartwool) for hiking in all seasons. Only downside is cost (high) and durability (relatively low). In contrast, the synthetic base layers I use for running are cheap and extremely durable. I choose wool for hiking/backpacking since I have limited ability to launder garments and want to minimize stink. For running, I just throw my base layers in the wash when I get home.

[vic_doom69]

Polyester, the silky kind

[Deacon]

Usually when I put on my hiking clothes in the morning, my merino tee is cold and wet (clothes never dry from the day before). But when I put The tee on it becomes warm and comfortable almost instantly.

[BuckeyeBill]

I have a set of med merino wool long johns for wear during the say while hiking. For camp/sleep I have a set of silk long johns.

[Meriadoc]

I just picked up a 50% wool 50% polyester (primaloft) shirt. I hiked 1000 miles in a 50/50 wool/polyester shirt and it was very durable. It was about equal to wool, just more durable. I retired it, but I'm not sure if it truly smelled or if I just wanted a different shirt. (I didn't like the style - geez I was terrible .) Odor was my excuse. In the fall I'll let you know how this one does.

[Feral Bill]

Merino wool for me. Baaaa!

[ChinMusic]

Merino wool in any season

[msupple]

Patagonia 35 Poly/65 merino blend. It retains all the great qualities of merino but is much more durable. Love it!

[SeeksChayah]

Wool keeps me warmer, however even 100% Merino makes me a lil' itchy.
I wear Cuddl Duds Softwear w/ stretch as a base layer. They're 93% Modal / 7% Spandex Jersey
They're extremely thin, feel like a 2nd skin, and then I wear a Minus33 med wgt merino wool 1/4 zip over them until it gets too warm to do so.
At that point I often still wear the Cuddl Duds, and switch to putting on a polyester t-shirt over them...

[Tramp]

Merino !!!

[Dogwood]

Your preferred fabric for wicking layer

Quality Merino wool, year round.

Until I started hiking I thought: wool = warm stuff for cold weather.

Lightweight Merino wool t-shirts are great for summertime hiking.

Ditto. However that does not mean I don't also use merino wool blends or synthetics at times either. On, and off the trail when not working, I'm in merino wool most of the time.

[handlebar]

Your preferred fabric for wicking layer




Ditto. However that does not mean I don't also use merino wool blends or synthetics at times either. On, and off the trail when not working, I'm in merino wool most of the time.

Me too, merino wool T's, usually Icebreaker, summer and winter, on and off the trail.