Major accident at my place this morning - I'd put my 2 merino tops in the washer on the nice delicate cycle then went off to do a few things. By the time I'd come back one of the girls I live with had put them in the tumble drier!!!!

Result......my Craghoppers top which was a large size will now just about fit an 8 year old. However, my Icebreaker one (which was a little pricier, but looked the same sort of quality) has stayed exactly the same size.

No prizes for guessing what make of top my replacement ones going to be!

Indeed, Icebreaker when tumble dried really just gets tightened up a bit.
Good for when the neck gets a bit stretched on my oasis crews.

Chris, if it's any consolation, I bought a couple of Craghoppers tops when they were on special offer and both of them have shrunk badly . . . and they haven't been anywhere near a tumble dryer and have been washed on 30. Icebreaker stuff is a different class.

Yep, put three Craghopper merino tops in at 40°C by mistake, all gonners. Icebreaker laughs at such treatment.

One of my Craghopper tops was pretty much trashed just by two days of walking with a pack. The material that was under the lumbar pad has gone hard and the garment is mis-shapen. It's no longer going to be used for walking, it still looks just about presentable enough to wear around college.

My merino top is wearing really fast, its an Ibex one, anywhere that gets any rub strts coming apart, really dissapointed, if I get another it will have to be the merino synthetic mix type

Now, regarding the Craghoppers merino tops, I don't like to say that I told you so and got shot down in flames for it, but I ...
:o)

Gregory, a good quality merino top will last. I wear them every day and some of mine are now years old. I've got a couple of wee holes here and there from catches or where my metal belt buckle has rubbed, some light pilling, but that's it.

Yeah, I,m afraid my craghopper merino has worn really badly in the lumbar area as well. Guess I'll just keep it (and my other two) for casual wear. and its back to synthetics for walking.

A very sad update...

The first Craghopper merino top I bought (zipneck) went for a wash at the weekend (30degree wool wash using the tesco cleaner that is recommended for wool) and came out rather a few sizes too small... My parents have a pretty expensive and fairly new washing machine so I trust that, and the cleaner used has "woolmark" on the back, yet my top is now utterly trashed. It is unwearable, hard, mis-shapen and too small.

The CH roundneck I bought has undergone exactly the same treatment (and has been worn for more days too), but has come out of the wash absolutely fine. Im wondering whether to send the zipneck back, do I have a leg to stand on?

I thought that the care label on the CH merino tops said hand wash only.
There is a contradiction in a washing machine having a "hand wash" program and if a garment of mine says hand wash then it gets washed by hand, in cold water just as with my socks.
Wool wash on a washing machine is only for those woollen garments that say "machine wash wool cycle" on their care labels.
My CH zip neck merino has remained the same size through many washes and has worn well but I only use it as a base layer except when wearing it about the house.

You may well be right there FGL... Guess my top is taking medical retirement.

We have a few of the CH merino tops and they wash fine. They have been through the 30 degree cycle and spun (850 rpm) but not tumble dried and have washed well. One of these I ran in all winter and washed every few days and although they feel like they have "come together" a bit after washing, I expected this, and they soon "pull" back into shape. I am particlarly careful about following the care instructions on garment though.

CH zip neck merino instructions:

"Gentle cool hand wash with non-biological detergent and reshape whilst damp. Dry flat. Do not tumble dry. Do not wring. Steam iron. Do not bleach."

The manufacturer has done their best to guide you down the right path. If you ignore their guidance and do anything else, what you get you have asked for and in my opinion have no cause for complaint.

Can my 8 year old have you old one?

I have just been told that we have hand washed ours and dried flat. Shows how much of the washing I do!