Merino wool is an excellent fiber. Merino T-shirts by some means handle to be snug in 95-degree-Fahrenheit warmth, and merino hoodies preserve you heat nicely beneath freezing. Unlike artificial fibers derived from petroleum, merino wool is pure and renewable.
One sheep can produce 4 to five kilos of wool per 12 months. That’s as a result of the sheep that make merino wool drink solely the purest alpine waters and examine the artwork of consolation below the tutelage of these stuck-up Pashmina goats, who, let’s face it, would possibly know a factor or two about splendidly, pillowy softness. Just kidding. Merino sheep do have thinner, softer wool, which has developed to maintain them snug throughout a variety of temperatures and is snug to put on subsequent to your pores and skin. It’s unclear whether or not the the sheep discovered to do that from Pashmina goats, however I do know that merino wool is a outstanding material that is turn out to be the cornerstone of my wardrobe.
Yes, even in summer season. I’ve worn merino T-shirts on 100-degree days and felt high quality, although that is much less true for those who throw excessive humidity into the combo—merino sheep don’t trip within the tropics, apparently. Whatever the case, the wool’s versatility means there is a bewildering array of blends and choices to select from. Here are our favourite merino wool merchandise that we have examined.
Updated August 2023: We’ve added a couple of new T-shirt choices, in addition to a merino tank prime for summer season. We’ve additionally added a number of jackets we love, a sweatshirt, and up to date hyperlinks and costs all through.
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Merino wool is flexible, however I’d nonetheless argue that the most effective use case for it’s as a light-weight mid layer, like a hoodie. It’s heat sufficient for cool days by itself, surprisingly wind-resistant, and can pair with an outer shell to type an amazing light-weight day-hiking layering system. It’s additionally go-to for the fitness center or round city.
An Icebreaker hoodie was my introduction to merino wool, and it stays my favourite jacket I’ve ever owned. Alas, after about 10 years, mine had a run-in with moths (see our care information beneath) and needed to be retired. Mine was not the precise type pictured, however very near it. This jacket is 100% merino and extremely heat, regardless of not being all that thick. That makes it an amazing choice for days when the climate might differ significantly–it is heat sufficient for a chilly morning however will not be a burden in your pack the remainder of the day. This is on the tight-fitting facet, so if that is not your factor (and it isn’t mine), get the subsequent measurement up.
If you do not wish to go 100% merino in your first buy, that is OK. There is now a ton of blended attire available on the market that will get a lot of the good thing about merino, with sufficient cotton or polyester to retain the softness many people are used to. This hoodie from Ten Thousand is an efficient instance. It’s 76 % polyester, 18 % merino, and 6 % elastane, which supplies it a gentle, stretchy really feel that makes it best for understanding, mountaineering, or some other outside exercise the place you want your jacket to flex and stretch with you.
Replace Fleece With a Mid Layer
I’ve nothing towards artificial fleece. It has its place, however I not often put on it lately. I choose a hoodie just like the one above or the mid layers beneath. Merino is healthier at serving to your physique regulate its temperature, relatively than simply holding you heat like fleece and different synthetics do.
Kora’s Yardang Jersey is designed as a midweight mid layer. It might be essentially the most versatile factor I’ve in my wardrobe. It’s a lot by itself on a cool spring day however then skinny sufficient to place one other layer on prime of it while you want extra. It’s pleasantly breathable and very gentle. The Yardang is a mix of 70 % merino, complemented by 30 % Himalayan yak wool. It’s the softest little bit of merino in my assortment. If you want this mix, there’s additionally a hat and neck gaiter within the Yardang line.
If you have got considerations about utilizing goose down as an insulation layer, merino wool can be a good substitute for artificial insulation. Vests are just like the cheat code of layering for those who wish to preserve your core heat however your arms cell otherwise you wish to get an additional soupçon of heat with out including an excessive amount of bulk. I (Adrienne) wish to layer Ibex’s Wool Aire vest below my common wool coat if I’m going out for the night time or on a long term.
I’m sufficiently old to recollect when a “base layer” was no matter cotton T-shirt you placed on. If you bought chilly in that, you placed on a jacket. If you bought scorching in it, you sweated. Do you want a particular shirt to go mountaineering? No. Just go mountaineering. That stated, outside gear advertising or not, base layers are a factor. I’ve come to like some merino T-shirts, particularly in spring and fall. They actually do not feel vastly completely different from cotton, however they do not odor after you’ve got been sweating in all of them day, which is a big bonus on multiday mountaineering journeys, or simply journeys to the fitness center.
We love these long-sleeve Smartwool shirts for the way gentle they’re. An 87 % merino wool mix with nylon means they’re extremely snug. In our base layer information, we are saying this shirt is an “ideal weight,” with heavy seams (learn: sturdier, longer lasting) however not so heavy that they trigger any discomfort—the shirts lie flat and sit off the shoulder, as any half-decent base layer ought to.
Don’t neglect your legs! It by no means fails to shock me (Adrienne) how many individuals put a number of layers of insulation on their prime half and depart their legs fully naked. Depending on the climate, I’ve a number of completely different weights of leggings that I can swap in. My favorites are the traditional Icebreaker leggings, which have lasted me virtually a decade. However, the remainder of my household (my partner and two youngsters) use REI’s in-house merino wool base layers and leggings, that are a fairly priced choice and do not irritate my son’s delicate pores and skin.
A Few Women-Specific Options
And now, a phrase on match. Women should not the one folks whose our bodies can differ from normal sizing. But I (Adrienne) am 5′ 2″ and struggle to find clothing options that will fit—especially ones that are meant to fit next to the skin. As high-quality as the base layer is, it won’t keep you warm if it rucks up around your waist or sags below your hips.
Most major brands offer a women’s version of their base layers. However, if you’re having a lot of difficulty finding a pair that works, Kari Traa’s leggings have a very high waist that helps keep them up. The patterns are also pretty, for those of you who object to parading around the lodge in what looks like pajamas.
Wool might not seem like a good choice for summer T-shirt, but merino is surprisingly comfortable even when its warm. To a point anyway. On humid days over about 90 degrees, I usually go with cotton or linen, but anything under 90 and I am wearing merino. There are far more merino T-shirt options out there than we can cover, but here are some of our favorites.
These are my absolute favorite T-shirts. They are the softest, best made, best fitting T-shirts I’ve ever worn, merino or otherwise. Yes, they are that good. They’re incredibly versatile. I’ve worn them doing everything from backpacking in the summer heat, to rolling jiujitsu, to sitting around the fire on cool autumn evenings. They’re never anything but comfy. I also like that it has no logo. Unbound’s Active Merino T-shirt (men’s $95, women’s $85), aimed specifically at working out, is also quite nice, but it’s a tighter cut than the regular T-shirt.
Artilect’s blend of merino wool and Tencel (a lightweight fiber made from eucalyptus) is shockingly lightweight and versatile. This summer, the Utili-Tee became my (Adrienne’s) favorite shirt for climbing and backpacking. It was soft and comfortable when I was in the shaded trees, and then magically stayed light and breathable when I broke through the treeline and the temperature suddenly rose by 15 degrees in direct sunlight. The flat seams didn’t cause chafing on my shoulders or waist through backpack straps or a harness, and even though it’s a flattering slim fit, it didn’t constrict the movement of my shoulders or arms in any way.
These Icebreaker T-shirts were one of my gateways to merino wool. They’re warm, yet somehow cool, and surprisingly good at stopping the wind. These shirts aren’t great in humidity; for that, I’d probably go with a blend. Note that some of Icebreaker’s T-shirts are blends, so check the details on your favorite design before you invest.
Minus33 knows a thing or two about keeping you warm. The company is in New Hampshire, after all. This 170-gsm T-shirt is comfortable, with a loose cut that works well over a base layer on cool mornings or as a T-shirt during warmer parts of the day. It’s a great all-around choice for all but warmest of summer days.
While merino wool is very soft, most products in this category are blends, usually with some form of nylon. Darn Tough socks are a WIRED favorite. They’re great for skiing, hiking, climbing, and just about anything else you want to do. These blends vary by weight, but most of them are around 50 percent nylon and 50 percent merino, which makes them dry a bit faster than pure merino while remaining plenty warm and comfortable.
The weird thing about socks is that, as a warm-weather lover, well, I hate socks. Every day with socks is a kind of failure. That said, these Carhartts (gifted to me by a friend who was worried that I wandered about in sockless sandals in the snow) are really nice. They’re incredibly warm and soft, and they never smell. They’re possibly my favorite socks—if I were to have favorite socks.
When you think merino, you probably think about warmth. That’s exactly what these midlayer and heavier items are.
Minus33 calls this an expedition-weight base layer, but for those of us not climbing Mt. Washington at dawn in a windstorm, it’s really more of a pullover sweatshirt—an insanely warm, comfy pullover sweatshirt. My testing time was limited. After a month, my wife stole it and now refers to it as a security blanket and has said it’s the one item of clothing she cannot live without. I did manage to try it everywhere from the beach on cool mornings to around the campfire on winter nights, and even as base layer under a merino jacket when the temps dropped below freezing last winter. In all those situations I stayed plenty warm. The looser fit means it can go over a base layer, but isn’t so bulky you can’t but a jacket over it.
A growing number of studies have shown that there are PFAS—hormone-disrupting chemicals that are commonly used in a number of plastics—in ordinary sportswear, like leggings and sports bras. If you, like me (Adrienne), are on a quest to replace your polyester clothing with natural fibers, then Ibex’s 100 percent merino wool Shak jacket is the natural candidate to replace your (my) worn-out Patagonia Better Sweater ($149). I took this jacket on a trip this spring to Ireland. It’s surprisingly dense and soft to the touch. It kept me warm on blustery 30-degree days, layered easily under my rain jacket and over my tank top, and looked sleek enough to go out to dinner. In western Ireland, at least (“I like your jumper!” said many an Irishman). It doesn’t pack down quite as compactly as a synthetic layer might, nor is it as light, but it looks much nicer and it won’t feel like slime on your skin when it gets wet.
These 100 percent merino base layers are warm, tight, but not too tight, and fit true to size. My eight-year-old loves them, and they’ve held up well to the kinds of abuse that only an eight-year-old boy can dish out. Despite frequent washing, there’s next to no pilling. There’s also no tag to rub on the neck, which my kids hate.
Merino wool comes in different weights, which you will frequently see listed as “200 gsm” or one thing comparable. (The gsm refers to grams per sq. meter.) What’s vital is the size and the place your garment falls on it. At the low finish, you have got T-shirts and underwear, that are sometimes 150 gsm, although we’ve got seen some as little as 120 gsm. Generally, something beneath 200 gsm will likely be base layer. From 200 to 300 gsm are your mid layers, and something above 300 is a heavier garment.
How to Care for Merino Wool
Most merino merchandise can have care directions. Most probably it is going to be to clean chilly and lay flat to dry. The latter is vital, as hanging wool to dry will stretch it out (due to the water weight). While most merino labels will say the garment will be machine-washed, my expertise has been that hand-washing merino will lengthen its life. This is especially true of very light-weight (150 gsm) merino base layers and T-shirts.
I’ve by no means had an issue storing merino in my closet between wears, however for long-term storage, I like to recommend you are taking precautions towards moths, that are infamous for consuming holes in wool. I’ve misplaced merino clothes to moths.
