In reply to John Kelly:
The interesting part of this thread (for me) is the the discussion re Merino wool (MW). I first became aware of it about 15 years ago when my friends (ski-ing) shop in Italy started stocking the stuff. It was from New Zealand and was eye wateringly expensive. I started asking around, none of the guides/ski teachers (admittedly I didn't know many then) used it which I thought was odd. I was a bit intrigued by this and would ask any local climbers and ski tourers if they'd tried it. As we on this forum know, people like us can talk about gear until the day that Covid gives up and dies. Ask a question and everything you want to know tumbles out. So the main Italian buyers were the weekenders from Turin/Milan and holiday Brits (No pejorative there, I'd been one for 25 years) and the main feedback was expensive, warm, doesn't smell but shrinks, and it was the last thing that really made it pointless.
I'd bought some cheap 'Great Escapes' leg thermals. Great Escapes is a brand you find in Italian street markets, a bit like 'Regatta' or 'Dare to Be'. I also used a long sleeved clima cool thing I'd picked up in TK Maxx. I wore them almost every day for 3 seasons and I still have them.
Back in Cornwall a few years ago, a local brand was selling MW tops at less than half price, OK then let's try it. My loving wifeliness, followed the instructions to the letter, it shrank, then I received two as Christmas presents, they shrank but not so badly. I did buy one successfully a Norrona one from Bergfreunde. That's OK and also the one from Mountain Warehouse which was the cheapest.
Actually I love them around the house, much more comfortable than central heating and post surfing with a windproof fantastic.
I've tried them with ski-ing, ski touring, climbing, cycling, and I've found them ***ing useless, they get damp, don't dry but worst of all they shrink, I never even got to the holes stage.
My conclusion is that they are a bit of an Emperors Clothes of our World sold heavily on the 'eco' theme to justify the price tag. They are very comfy on the sofa however and standing still watching a footie match. Start moving around however and for me you can't beat synthetics.