KUIU Ultra Merino...is it really Better?

[Steve Chappell]

I recently ordered and received KUIU's new Ultra Marino 125 LS shirt in Forest. After watching the video Jason & the guy from the Wool Company put together I had to get one. The video spells out how Ultra Merino is materially better than the other merino sold today...I am guess they were speaking to products I now own such as  
First Lite, Icebreaker, etc. I was particularly taken by the statement Jason made he and other staff members only wear the Ultra Merino because it feels that much better.

So I am thinking to myself, dang if someone has made merino feel and perform better...I am going to kick myself because I have a ton of what would now be in my eyes inferior merino wool.  

I Paid $69.99 plus shipping and about a week later it arrived. When I opened the box I was shocked at the presentation that would easily meet or exceed Nordstrom standards. My LS Shirt came neatly folded and placed in a nice cotton sack with attractive printing and a pull string, then the standard KUIU ribbon.  It is an impressive presentation that I will just call the WOW factor.   Anyone who has bought one knows what I am talking about.

I wore the Ultra Merino for the first time all day to see if I could tell the difference. My initial feeling when putting it on is this does not feel any different; same feeling when I took it off that night. The next day I wore my Icebreaker LS shirt in the same weight range, which I paid about $40 on steep & Cheep. The Icebreaker felt worse, whatsoever, in feel...and believe me I wanted the Ultra Merino to be better!  I cannot speak to performance and whether is dries faster, wears longer, returns to normal size fast after stretching, etc. I did get both wet and felt they both dry fairly quickly, one did not stand out, but is was just a small spot on the front since I was wearing them.  
Not finding any difference in feel and my unscientific wet test, I am left wondering whether the other claims will be realized. Based on all the data they shared in the Ultra Merino video, it appears it is different, but is it that different?

All in all, I think the price they charge is fair (but would prefer they drop the WOW packaging and lower the price) and it is high quality...as I have found all the thing I have bought from KUIU. So far, I do not feel Ultra Merino is as revolutionary as it is being marketed. The people at KUIU are equally good in the area of Marketing and presentation...they got me to try it!  

Anyone else have input on the Ultra Wool?

[Izzy]

I have a top and its not magical, good for the price.

[Matty]

In the last few years I have grown to love wool. Mostly as a result of reading this forum. I do believe in its benefits. It is my go to base layer. I'm not totally sold on "outerwear" due to the bulk. Anyway that being said. I have 3 sets of base layers.
Firstlite, kuiu, and smart wool.
I already had the smart wool and firstlite.
I was immediately hooked when kuiu released their new wool line last year. I signed up to watch the live web release. All the science behind it had me sold. I bought some. I couldn't tell the difference. As far as "feel" and warmth goes. I think the smart wool out performs both of them.  Only problem with it is it's not camo and it has developed small holes in the threading and I can't figure out why. Either way. REI offers a no hassle return/exchange policy.

[Wandering Archer]

Salesmen, that's their job...

I would find it hard to believe there is anything that can be created that is more comfortable than my smartwool microweight long sleeve. It's more comfortable than a cotton t-shirt. I just wish wool dried faster, but really isn't that big of a deal.

[Wandering Archer]

Double post, sorry

[Danny Rowan]

I have First Lite and cannot find a reason to replace it, no matter the marketing. Love the stuff.

[LongbowArchitect]

I have Smartwool and Kuiu merino wool base layers and I can't tell any difference in performance however my Kuiu is much more tightly woven and doesn't snag like my Smartwool. I'm happy with both.

[Nuctech]

I bought several sets of Core 4 merino wool base layers off of camofire and absolutely love them. great price and I really don't care if they are camo. I am not running around in just my base layers.

Gabe

[ozy clint]

Originally posted by Steve Chappell:
I recently ordered and received KUIU's new Ultra Marino 125 LS shirt in Forest. After watching the video Jason & the guy from the Wool Company put together I had to get one. The video spells out how Ultra Merino is materially better than the other merino sold today...I am guess they were speaking to products I now own such as  
First Lite, Icebreaker, etc. I was particularly taken by the statement Jason made he and other staff members only wear the Ultra Merino because it feels that much better.

So I am thinking to myself, dang if someone has made merino feel and perform better...I am going to kick myself because I have a ton of what would now be in my eyes inferior merino wool.  

sounds like you fell for marketing hype. KUIU are good at that.