Originally Posted by
Lambarrassment
Hey Finn! I'm a huge fan of merino - it's what I use for my upper body baselayers. Don't know about shorts, though--I'm not sure how well they'd put up with continual abrasion.
I use Under Armour Escape 7" running shorts. They have a mesh liner and functional pockets, both of which are a godsend. They're also super lightweight and thin enough to be used as underwear. Never had a problem with these bad boys--I even use them to go swimming. At $30 new, they're also going to be a fraction of the cost of anything made from merino.
Also, I see you're in Amherst! That's where I grew up. Good to know there will be someone else familiar with the Happy Valley out on the trail. Keep an eye out for me - I'll be the guy wearing a ninja turtles hat!