I own several merino wool items. So I know the lightweight stuff can run a bit thin. But even by merino wool standards, I was a bit concerned by how flimsy this fabric appeared - throw a pack or a purse on too rough and it's all over.Furthermore, although I liked the overall color (eggplant), cut and fit of the shirt, it was barely long enough for my torso and arms (I got a medium). Granted, I'm tall (5'11, 145 lbs) so finding a sweet spot fit with shirts is never easy. Perhaps a large would have been better but after seeing how thin the fabric was, I didn't want to cough up the money to find out.It did perform well on a wet and stinky hike - gotta love wool's odor squelching abilities. But, I knew that if it shrank even the slightest, it would go to the bottom of the closet. So in the end, durability and fit concerns trumped wool's smell subduing powers.

I wanted a cup that would double as a bowl but still, I was concerned the larger cup would be too big. Not so. This thing is amazing. I agonized for a long time over whether I should get it, especially after several "You're going to spend HOW much on a cup???" encounters. As other reviewers have said, it's money well spent. The initial pain is worth it because:

1.) It's lightweight (70 pound packs are so last year)
2.) It keeps things warm (you may even burn your tongue!)
3.) It's versatile (is it a cup or bowl? cup or bowl? Oh cool, I can stash stuff inside it too! Cup, bowl or suitcase??)

Basically, it's the perfect cup. I use it for tea (didn't notice any metal mouth flavor) and food.