I/O Bio Merino Contact Crew Shirt - Men's - 2009 BCS

I wear a lot of wool thermals. Like, every day whether I'm at work, running, cycling or working in the garden.
I have thermals from Orca, Icebreaker, no-name, smart wool etc.
I reckon this IO Bio brand is the softest and stretchiest. I find them pretty comfy.
These thin ones are good to layer.
IO Bio fits very long in the torse which looks odd sometimes but ensures that you get no cold gaps when tucked into your dacks etc...

good stuff

Merino wool is awesome. Soft, temperature regulating, and odor resistant. This was a SAC score and I love the shag green color. The cut and fit are great. It has a loose athletic fit so it works well as a base layer, or can also be worn on its own as it is not overly tight.

I love merino wool and have therefore purchase what could be considered too much by some of my financial standards from many different brands (smartwool, ice breaker, driza=bone, patagonia, stoic and/or backcountry, etc) and this shirt is definitely the softest (and maybe stretchiest). We all know the great stink free thermal regulating properties of merino are inherent in the material so from that aspect its a level playing field for the most part.

This shirt has great flatlock seams, thumbholes (unmentioned in description at time of purchase), lightweight, silky softness. I am a little concerned about how this thing will hold up because it so incredibly soft there's no way it could last too long, but I haven't seen any degradation to back up my suspicions yet, so it must just be all my head thinking its too good to be true.

5'10 165 athletic and the M fits like a baselayer should - close to the body with a tailored feel, super stretchiness takes care of the rest.

It's a great top. I am pretty sensitive to wool and this top doesn't itch. It runs a little small so order a size up. I am 6'4" and weigh 185lbs (Tall and thin) who usually orders medium tall or large size tops. I had to order an XL to get it to fit the length of my arms and it still hugs my body but doesn't feel tight . It is very lightweight and well constructed which is what I was looking for in this top. I got it for Christmas so I have only worn it a couple of times. So far, it has lived up to my expectations. If you are looking for a light wicking layer to wear under a mid layer then you can't go wrong with this top.

I had been wanting to try out Merino wool for a while and decided on this Contact shirt. Glad I did! Very comfortable and not "itchy" to me. At least after I washed on the delicate cycle the first time. Very warm and it takes forever to develop any sort of stench. Can't say the same for my cotton shirts :)

I really like the comfort of Merino wool. This is really no fuss stuff and it's super easy to care for. Definitely like this I/O gear. My first products from them. The shirt is definitely form fitting, so if you have "moobs" you might want to size up a couple or pass on it all together (please).

This is a light weight merino shift with an athletic cut and longer than average sleeves/body; definitely a great choice for the taller crowd. The medium fit me perfect with a little room to add a layer under it, but it is still a nice trim fit. I am 6' 150 lbs. Brick is a true rusty red color, and seems less bright in person that in the pictures.

If you don't know about merino wool, then don't bother to comment here. All natural fabrics that never stink can never be compared to a poly fiber that will make you smell like a commune hippy after a hard day out. This thing is amazing. Super thin and extremely soft (for wool). I wish i would have ordered more than one.

This kept me nice and comfy while boarding in WV last weekend. Granted, it was 50 degrees out, but i just had this and my shell on, and I was very comfortable. A little less soft than I'd like it to be.

I've been using the contact crew as a base layer for about one and a half months now, for both burning laps at the resort and hiking for pow in the Revelstoke/Rogers Pass backcountry. Very impressive, everything a merino base layer should be: lightweight but warm, silky soft, and superb wicking performance. Best of all, it doesn't stink! Which means I don't feel the need to change out of my ski kit immediately out of respect for any one within a 15 foot radius of me.....looks great too!