Smartwool. Just Not Very Smart. Or Durable.
We tried, we really did. We wore it hiking for 5 months and gave it another shot on our bike tour. It just can't hack it.
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BY KRISTEN JOKINEN
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MARCH 29, 2017
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Smartwool is the brand REI carries of merino wool products. I like REI, I dig merino wool, why not give it a shot. My husband, Ville, and I hit up REI for multiple gear runs before starting our thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail in the spring of 2011. We were in need of t-shirts, long-underwear for sleeping, socks and gloves. All of which we decided to buy Smartwool because the products are made from merino wool, a textile that holds the heat even when wet and is microbial and, for the most part, will keep the smelliness away longer between washes.
Smartwool's t-shirts and long-sleeve t's are thin. Like almost see-through to an extent. So it should be obvious the durability quality may be a bit lacking. As the pack straps rubbed on my shoulders hiking all day, it took all of a few weeks before holes began to appear in the material where the shoulder straps sit. After daily use in the sun, the color very quickly began to fade. The shirts got thrown out and replaced with cheap cotton t-shirts which held up the rest of the 5 month hike, faded, but made it. The gloves were worse. We pulled on the gloves as the temps high up in the Serrias began to drop, wielding trekking poles, and the gloves lasted only a couple days before unraveling at the fingertips. The socks also came apart at the seams and this only took a couple weeks. The sleeping thermals were the last standing. Thanks to only wearing in our sleep (apparently we are not very violent sleepers), they remained intact and held up to the task of keeping us warm at night.
When we found ourselves out shopping for gear for our impending two year bicycle tour beginning of 2016, we hit up our local REI Used Gear Sale. And what do you know, quite a few returns on Smartwool t-shirts and long-sleeves. I know what your thinking. I should have known better, being that they were in "returns" and I had such bad luck before. But they were cheap for wool and I would not be donning a pack this time, only riding a bike. I hoped they would fare a bit better. And they did. But only a bit better. Within a month my 3 Smartwool t-shirts are faded and my long-sleeve sun protection Smartwool shirt is full of small holes.
I want to like Smartwool, I really do. But like a bad relationship, I have decided to quit going back, and move on to a better more hearty merino wool brand. I am out on the prowl and I will let you know when I discover that wool blend I just can't live without. Until then, Smartwool we are through. Well, I have cut up my long-sleeve to make it into a neck buff, but as for the rest of the Smartwool line of products, I'm moving on...
Smartwool's t-shirts and long-sleeve t's are thin. Like almost see-through to an extent. So it should be obvious the durability quality may be a bit lacking. As the pack straps rubbed on my shoulders hiking all day, it took all of a few weeks before holes began to appear in the material where the shoulder straps sit. After daily use in the sun, the color very quickly began to fade. The shirts got thrown out and replaced with cheap cotton t-shirts which held up the rest of the 5 month hike, faded, but made it. The gloves were worse. We pulled on the gloves as the temps high up in the Serrias began to drop, wielding trekking poles, and the gloves lasted only a couple days before unraveling at the fingertips. The socks also came apart at the seams and this only took a couple weeks. The sleeping thermals were the last standing. Thanks to only wearing in our sleep (apparently we are not very violent sleepers), they remained intact and held up to the task of keeping us warm at night.
When we found ourselves out shopping for gear for our impending two year bicycle tour beginning of 2016, we hit up our local REI Used Gear Sale. And what do you know, quite a few returns on Smartwool t-shirts and long-sleeves. I know what your thinking. I should have known better, being that they were in "returns" and I had such bad luck before. But they were cheap for wool and I would not be donning a pack this time, only riding a bike. I hoped they would fare a bit better. And they did. But only a bit better. Within a month my 3 Smartwool t-shirts are faded and my long-sleeve sun protection Smartwool shirt is full of small holes.
I want to like Smartwool, I really do. But like a bad relationship, I have decided to quit going back, and move on to a better more hearty merino wool brand. I am out on the prowl and I will let you know when I discover that wool blend I just can't live without. Until then, Smartwool we are through. Well, I have cut up my long-sleeve to make it into a neck buff, but as for the rest of the Smartwool line of products, I'm moving on...
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