 I've recently bought an icebreaker sport coronet, and have found that it bobbled slightly after just a handful of outings to college with a daysack. Its not horribly ruined, but there are noticable signs of wear where my pack has been. On this basis, Id say that synthetic layers (microfleece, or baselayers) are more durable, despite claims such as those on Chocolatefish.co.uk that merino wool is hard-wearing.
Does anyone here have any experience like this? Im enjoying all the other good features of merino wool (though, as the review on the site said- the Coronet is too nice for the hill) but im worried about forking out for more of the stuff if it wears out quickly.
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 I havent fully tested my merino stuff yet and i suspect most on here havent, but i reckon you may be right, i think maybe because this merino is so soft so that you can wear it next to the skin is why it wont last so long. If it lasts as long as this Polartec t shirt i have had for approx 4 years then i will be very very sursprised.
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 I have to say I swear by the Icebreaker superfine tech-t t-shirts, which you really can wear on a warm or a cold day (as advertised). The older boxers I got were not too good and fell apart, but I bought two new pairs and they are doing very nicely. I'm a bit of an Icebreaker junkie really - when money allows.
Haven't found any bobbling of the jumper or t-shirt, but have noted - maybe its my washing machine - that they tend to get nicked in the wash. I'd be interested to hear if anyone else has this problem, I was considering a letter to Dyson about it!
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The socks tend to give it away - they bobble very very quickly. My Smartwool ones have anyway.
A Tip For Washing Smartwool Socks
It says to turn them inside out before washing, however if you do that and you stick some of your other outdoor gear (such as Trousers) in the same wash then you will end up with loads of bits of wool all over your other gear, not very nice even if it does keep you a bit warmer ;-)
So if you do need to put them in the wash with other gear, dont turn them inside out, works a treat.
If you need to get the socks really clean then turn them inside out but dont put any dark clothing in with em.
And how do i know all this?
Well because i'm a Smartwool ;-)
Here endeth this free tip.
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 How long does Merino wool last? On a sheep or a person?
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 Assuming it's on a person (!), I've been pleased with the durability of two tops I've had for four years now and which have each had several months use in total, including some 2-3 week trips on which they were worn all day every day (and often slept in). These are an Icebreaker long sleeved top and a Smartwool Aero T, both in the thinnest merino the companies use. Both garments did pill (or bobble) quite quickly and show signs of wear from pack straps. The only hole in either of them is a small one on the back of the Aero T. The latter is pale in colour and has stained badly in places - dye from rucksack straps and sweat I think. The Icebreaker is black and therefore looks fine.
I've just worn the Aero T on a 13 day Everest Base Camp Trek and it still works fine.
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wear will cause bobbling, but what causes it is small pieces of fibre balling together - so when it happens to start with, it's just a consequence of manufacture, not that that top is wearing out!
I had the same thing happen with a pair of Rohan 'molers' [polyester moleskin] about 6 years ago...... and they've been great ever since, even surviving January snow in New York!
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 None of my merino (one pair Icebreaker boxers, 3 pairs M&S socks) has bobbled, despite frequent use (hill and non-hill... sorry, that might be more info than you need...), however there does appear to be either clothes-moth depredation or something else, because holiness is encroaching.
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'holiness is encroaching' does that mean the Popes on his way? :-)
Sorry couldnt resist, its been one of those days.
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 Have noticed that the pong-resistance of my Icebreaker long sleeved top is much reduced after less than a years ownership.
Which is a real shame as that was one of the best things about it.
Anyone else noticed this?
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 Yep, you smell awful Si, that is what you meant?
Er, otherwise, I'd concur that merino's fine in general wear, but doesn't like pack straps. One tip from Ice Breaker, first time out, is to wash the garment together with a pair of jeans. Apparently it reduces bobbling.
I have no idea why but it does seem to make a difference...
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 I'm only guessing, but perhaps the first wash with "rough" denim gets rid of all the tiny bits of fabric that are not actually stuck to garment, if you see what I mean. So, with them gone there is less material to bobble in the first place.
Hope that makes sense!
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'clothes-moth depredation' - hmmm, sounds like what I'm seeing too. Anyone else seeing this 'holiness' encroaching?
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Thanks Jon - I knew I could count on you.
Si
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 spray mine with healthguard am-1. no holes yet.
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My Icebreaker top is four years old and still doesn't pong much after a weeks wear.
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i wear mine---skin 200----autumn to spring-----falling to bits after 2 hard years---so just got another ------also have a ----------- m and s 1/3 merino 2/3 cotton thermal that looks like it will outlast me
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I have merino wool tops from Mammut and Smartwool.
After a couple of washes the Mammut tops are begiining to pill.
After 2 washes the Smartwool midweight top has a hole in it. Are moths contagious/infectious? If not his 'holiness' is getting 'oot 'n boot'.
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 Aye, merino bobbles quite quickly, but you're on the inside looking out so don't worry about it, let others mull over the aesthetics :o)
On a more serious note, I've found it to be more durable than I thought it would be, I've got one top with a few tiny holes forming under the belt buckle area and thats it.
Mind you, I don't think I've ever worn out a synthetic at all.
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