Great base layer, with minor reservations

By nowman999-803161 Ranked #229 - Men's Lightweight Long Underwear - Tops February 10, 2011

I have worn this shirt about a dozen times so far; washed it a couple of times... On the plus side - the shirt is (a) quite warm, (b) wicks well (I sweat a lot while bicycling or snow-shoeing), and (c) doesn't smell bad even after half a dozen sweaty workouts.
Minor reservations: (1) slightly itchy if you've got very sensitive skin like me, and (2) high maintenance washing required. To clarify...
1. My skin registers discomfort with fabrics that for most folks is 100% itch free. And the discomfort I feel is so minor that I'm able to completely disregard it most of the time; I'd rate it 1 or 2 on a 1 to 10 itch discomfort scale.
2. The garment tag on this shirt says "To maintain optimal performance, wash with Nikwax Wool Wash", and recommends frequent washing, and no machine drying. Nikwax Wool Wash is expensive and hard-to-find locally for me. (REI doesn't carry it; though they carry most other Nikwax products.) Also, hang-drying is inconvenient; especially if you live in a small apartment. After the last washing I made the mistake of drying this shirt on a thick plastic hanger in the shower, resulting in the fabric being pulled out-of-shape at the top. The shirt might regain its proper shape in time; we'll see.

View Details: Stoic Merino Bliss 150 Shirt - Long-Sleeve - Men's

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