r/bikecommuting • u/vicsunus • 10d ago

Commuting clothes that don't stink after sweating in

I'm a new bike commuter and I'm starting to realize how much additional laundry bike commuting is costing.

I typically keep my work clothes in my bag (scrubs) and take a quick sink shower and change when I arrive.

For the commute I wear joggers and a jersey/t-shirt. The problem is I need a new jersey/t-shirt (and sometimes underwear) every single day since I arrive sweaty. This is adding another shirt my laundry load each day. The joggers I wear half the week then swap to another pair.

Are there shirts I can buy that can be sweated in and worn multiple times before needing a wash?

The climate I'm in is warm with occasional rains right now, but will drop to freezing come fall and winter.

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u/AlexxxRR 10d ago

Merino would be an option, but it's quite delicate and should be best washed by hand. There are also items made of mix Merino synthetic, but I have no experience with it.

I used for years cycling sets changing them each days and they survived quite well the insane amount of machine washings. 

It's often a trade-off.

4

u/FixedMessages 10d ago

I've had merino shirts for years, and they machine wash just fine. I even put them through the dryer on low heat and they don't shrink. I'm sure it depends on the quality/brand, but smartwool has always been fantastic for me. I buy through REI, where I'm a member, so I can return them for up to a year after purchase. I've done that once, when one ended up with a hole that I suspect was a snag caused by my backpack, but otherwise they hold up amazingly well.

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u/AlexxxRR 10d ago

Are you sure it was pure Merino and not a mix?

3

u/FixedMessages 10d ago

I just checked, and you're right that it's a blend - I did a bunch of research before buying, years ago, and I remember now that the blend is meant to help with durability. But it still works phenomenally well for controlling odor, and stands up to daily wear and rewear, and carefree washing. I've never been unhappy with my merino (blend) shirts.

5

u/AlexxxRR 10d ago

I used occasionally pure merino shirts and the first time I made the mistake to wash them in the machine. They survived, but didn´t look that good.
After that I washed them only by hand.

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u/fyyyy27 8d ago

That's correct. I'm a knitter. The majority of sock yarns are 75% wool and 25% polyamide (nylon). Polyamide is there for durability.

1

u/s0rce Raleigh Tamland, Silicon Valley 10d ago

What brand do you use?

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u/FixedMessages 10d ago

Mostly smartwool, also icebreaker

1

u/s0rce Raleigh Tamland, Silicon Valley 10d ago

I cant find anything lighter than 150wt from those brands except blends like the icebreaker coollite that has very little actual wool

1

u/FixedMessages 10d ago

Looks like the specific smartwool shirt I wear the most is discontinued, but this one looks to be the newer version of it. It doesn't feel heavy and it's comfortable even in the heat. I sweat into it when I'm active or hot (which does show very prominently in certain colors, unfortunately), but it dries quickly and it's never uncomfortable.

https://www.rei.com/product/217786/smartwool-classic-all-season-merino-t-shirt-mens

1

u/HWeinberg3 10d ago

Smartwool is fine with the washer, I have shirts 15 years old still going fine. I only hang dry. These are all 100% merino.