Kommisar89

I was just window shopping online in hopes that Santa might bring me a new wool jersey or tights and I noticed that they have 100% pure wool and wool/polyester blends. I'm leaning towards the blends but I wanted to see what you guys think since back when wool was in I tended to wear cut-off shorts and T-shirts and have no experience with wool.

surgeonstone

I like the all wool better. I have jerseys from Smartwool, Ibex and Wabi Woolens. The latter 2 are much more comfortable and have a better overall quality. One thing I have noticed- the more the synthetic- the more the stink. I can wear an all wool jersey or short all week without it smelling- the synthetics really build up smell fast.

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

+1 to everything surgeonstone said.

I've got some Canari Wool jerseys that are a blend and compared to my 100% wool Sugoi jerseys they are not as nice. I think the ones with synthetic blended in tend to be a bit lighterweight.

sciencemonster

Why wear wool that is sweaty/freezing and stinks? Defeats the whole purpose.

AZORCH

I have several Merino Wool long sleeve jerseys for cold-ish weather riding (down to, say, mid-40's without a jacket and low 30's with a jacket.) I also like them for cool windy days because they are very light and don't parachute out. They are super soft, snug (but not hot), and aren't a bit scratchy. I get to be somewhat of a riding sissy when the weather drops below 30, though, so I can't speak for them in that range; I wear them with wind pants or tights in the temp range between 30 and low 50's.

nlerner

+1 to all-wool for tights, underwear, socks (well, a little nylon is good for stretch in socks), jerseys, shorts--pretty much anything that will be in contact with my skin or get sweaty.

Neal

Zaphod Beeblebrox 

I've been commuting in temps in the 30's lately and been very comfortable with a long sleeve wool jersey with a medium weight wool sweater over top.

Veloria

Wool + polyester (or wool + acrylic) is worse than 100% wool, because polyester and acrylic retain odors badly and have other undesirable properties.

Wool + nylon on the other hand can be good for things like socks or shorts, as the nylon gives the wool some stretch and durability, while not being anywhere near as bad as acrylic or polyester in terms of the other stuff.

Just my experience.

wahoonc

Wool and I look for merino wool, cashmere is good as well as silk. I quite often wear a silk base layer with wool for the next.

Wool blends work to a point, but they had better be at least 90% if I am going to wear them.

A lot of good reasons have already been given.

Aaron

bobbycorno

Yet another vote for all-wool. Avoid wool-acrylic like the plague: it has NONE of wool's redeeming social value. Wool-poly can be tolerable, but only if it's less than half plastic. Even then, it won't have pure wool's breatheability and comfort range, but it will be more durable. As far as brands go, Smartwool gets a big thumbs up from me. Haven't used Ibex. Woolistic is overrated and overpriced, IME. I have a Woolistic 100% merino club jersey (med-light weight, short sleeve), and it doesn't hold its shape at all well, and is unbearably hot at anything over 60f. I've worn my Smartwool Rambition jersey from the high 30's to the mid 80's without complaint. And I've got a no-name made-in-Colombia 100% wool ls that I picked up used for $20 15 years ago - it outdoes the Woolistic by every possible measure.

SP
Bend, OR

nlerner

I still have some Protogs wool leg warmers I probably bought in 1984. The moths haven't gotten them yet!

Neal

sciencemonster

Yea, you gotta watch out for moths. Cedar. Hangers are a big no-no, also, with wool. Always lay flat.

conspiratemus1

Wool is to wool-blend as cheese is to Cheez-Whiz. (And every year they "improve" it: less cheese, more whiz. Thanks Johnny Carson.)

Drakonchik

All wool. 500 million sheep can't be wrong.

Then again, if you must, start with a synthetic base layer just to prove you're human.

Kommisar89

Sounds like 100% is the favorite here by far. Any issues with wool sagging?

shorthanded

there is NO issue with wool blends whatsoever in my eyes. i have had some wool blend jerseys in service for 20 years- no kidding. in the 80's-- there were plenty of blends, and they're no less comfortable, they last forever, and they don't get stanky-- that's straight up mythology. the one's i've had are 70/30 giordanas, and they keep their shape incredibly well, as well as their color. if it weren't for a few stray moth holes, you'd have NO idea they were near a quarter century old.

they're less expensive, and they're tough-- and a little scritchier-- but i still wear them with no underlayer, and surely don't suffer.

conspiratemus1

Trouble is, you can't smell your own body odour usually, at least not for more than a few seconds. The true test is when a someone in high heels and a power suit sits down beside you on the commuter train while you're still "glowing" from your ride....and then gets up and moves away. That's how I know when it's time to get out the Woolite.

Wool doesn't sag if you wash it carefully. Cold water in the bathroom sink, no hard rubbing, rinse well, squeeze out the water, don't wring it. Roll the jersey in a bath towel or a Shamwow to squeeze out more water. Then lay it flat on a drying screen (the woman you live with will know what these are even if you don't) -- it'll take two days to dry during the kind of weather that you wear wool jerseys in. But it'll look great. You don't have to wash them very often if you wear a thin machine-washable synthetic undershirt under the jersey.

surgeonstone

Why start synthetic when all wool is so much better- go all wool for base as well. Wabi wool jerseys are the BEST imho. beautiful and heavy.