The Finest Merino Wool Shirts of 2023-2024

How We Examined Merino Wool Shirts

Of us at GearJunkie have been dyed-in-the-wool followers of merino since properly, perpetually. Merino wool has been the premium activewear textile of selection for a lot of GearJunkie testers, and we’ve used shirts created from the fabric for years. So as to discover the perfect merino wool shirts, we raided our closets, pulled out our most trusted tops, and put them to work.

On high of that, we additionally surveyed the marketplace for the newest and best merino wool choices — discovering new applied sciences like Nuyarn — and added them into the combination. Our seek for the perfect merino wool shirts accessible at the moment started with eight woolen tops in 2021, which we chosen for his or her broad attraction and availability, after which set about carrying them threadbare in our seek for the softest, most breathable, and hardiest merino wool shirts on the market at the moment.

In 2022, our horizons broadened when Senior Editor Nick Belcaster and contributor Rebecca Ross introduced in a brand new slate of 5 further merino wool shirts and added an award-winning selection for hunters. Our most up-to-date testing noticed merino wool shirts used throughout the planet, from the backs {of professional} climbing guides within the granite crags of the North Cascades to the world-famous Laugavegur Path in Iceland. Our awards as soon as once more expanded to incorporate a merino wool solar hoody, in addition to a handful of different distinctive shirts from upstart firms centered solely on merino.

Our testers included open air folks from throughout the nation, who hit the hills and trails decked out in merino as a way to take a look at match, consolation, fashion, and sturdiness. We paid particular consideration to discovering layers that had an ideal steadiness of the softness of merino whereas nonetheless sustaining some energy over the long term. Our longest-running merino items now have three years of use on them, and we’ll proceed to check them to study extra about their final longevity.

Purchaser’s Information: Find out how to Select a Merino Wool Shirt

What’s Merino?

Merino wool is a pure fiber that’s grown by Merino sheep, that are considered the oldest breed of sheep on the earth and have tailored to thrive in harsh environments, such because the highlands of New Zealand, Australia, and South America. Their wool is way finer and softer than different robust wool breeds, and when woven into clothes gives quite a few different advantages that all of us can recognize.

For one, merino wool has a novel scale-like construction that aids it in wicking moisture away from the pores and skin — one thing that artificial fibers aren’t nice at. These constructions are additionally the rationale merino wool is so good at temperature regulation, with sweat being transported away when it’s scorching, and insulating air being trapped subsequent to pores and skin when it’s chilly.

Merino wool additionally isn’t slowed down by the standard funk of artificial clothes, and is amenable to being layered over high of attributable to its breathability. There are some tradeoffs, nonetheless, which come within the type of total sturdiness (full merino weaves can develop holes over time), and value. It isn’t low-cost to supply hard-working materials, and also you’ll definitely fork over the dough for the great things.

Sustainable Wool Sourcing

Merino wool comes from sheep, and since we wish to deal with our woolen pals with the entire respect they deserve, the overwhelming majority of merino wool garment producers at the moment are demanding wool that has been produced in sustainable and moral methods. One observe of concern has been mulesing, which removes pores and skin from the hind finish of sheep to restrict infections, and has been banned in New Zealand. Fortunately, many producers now assure their merino to come back from mulesing-free farms.

Due to this demand for sustainable wool, quite a few totally different non-profit entities supply certifications and audits of the merino wool provide chain. One such is the Woolmark Firm, which is an Australian non-profit that assessments merino wool to make sure high quality, sturdiness, and traceability. One other is the ZQ Program, which ensures that merino sheep underneath their certification are handled ethically, are by no means mulesed, and that the atmosphere is considered in any respect steps of the fiber-production course of.

Lastly, the Accountable Wool Commonplace, or RWS, is one other world certification that ensures that all the provide chain from starting to finish upholds the tenets of animal welfare safety, land preservation, and dealing circumstances, and is all audited by third-party certification our bodies.

100% Merino and Merino Mixs

The choice to go full-merino or with a mix can be a private choice. That stated, there are specific issues that 100% merino wool is hands-down good at. First, 100% merino wool gives a extra next-to-skin really feel than a merino mix, particularly people who have a better artificial content material. Second, merino wool affords pure antibacterial, UV safety, and moisture-wicking properties that synthetics don’t naturally have.

Nevertheless, relating to a merino mix, there are specific helpful options, reminiscent of tending to be cheaper and simply outlasting their extra fragile counterparts. Merely: including smaller percentages of synthetics may help to shore up the deficiencies of merino, with out completely stripping out the advantages.

In order for you a merino layer for mountain climbing, searching, or simply spending time exterior, think about all of the makes use of 100% merino wool has to supply. And if you happen to’re investing in a merino shirt for, say, a rugged backpacking journey or mountain climbing, or if sturdiness is of excessive significance, then go for a merino mix.

Additionally, in case you are model new to merino and simply wish to attempt it out and see what all of the fuss is about, a merino mix is usually a bit extra wallet-friendly the primary time round.

Polyester: Polyester is a artifical materials that has significantly better dry instances than merino wool and resists shrinking within the wash — one thing merino wool struggles with. A mix can supply a textile with parts that complement one another so you find yourself with a garment that works for a lot of conditions.

Most merino wool shirts have a tendency to make use of as excessive of a proportion of merino wool as they’ll get away with whereas nonetheless receiving the advantages of polyester. We want at the very least 75% merino wool in our blended materials. In our testing, it was no shock the 100% merino shirts have been the softest of the bunch.

Nylon: One other artifical fiber, nylon can add spectacular sturdiness to cloth blends. Clothes just like the Ridge Merino Journey Merino Wool Shirt incorporate a proportion of nylon into their weave and acquire energy in return. It doesn’t take a lot to maneuver the needle when it comes to added sturdiness, and we discovered a 20-30% nylon mix to be preferable.

Applied sciences just like the Nuyarn used within the KUIU ULTRA Merino 120 LT SS Crew-T draft merino wool round a nylon core as a way to supply the advantages of nylon whereas avoiding compressing the merino wool. Many different manufacturers additionally supply related nylon/merino blends, and all with the identical impact.

TENCEL Lyocell: A branded fiber that comes from the pulp of eucalyptus timber, Lyocell is much like rayon in development however affords a extremely sustainable course of the place each solvent and water are recycled throughout the weaving.

Clothes that use Lyocell of their blends have high-strength properties as a result of excessive tenacity of the material.

Thickness and Weight

One other essential side to contemplate when purchasing for a merino wool layer is thickness and weight.

In terms of weight, you’ll come throughout one thing written as GSM or g/m² — the burden of the fabric. Merely put, the decrease the quantity, the thinner the fabric. For all-year-round layers, you’ll need one thing on the decrease aspect, like round 120 to 180 g/m². And for additional heat, you’ll wish to go greater.

As for thickness, it’s all in regards to the microns (µm) — the diameter of a single wool fiber. The decrease the quantity, the thinner it’s. It additionally means it’s softer and dearer. In our opinion, the decrease the micron, the extra you’ll wish to stay in it, however you’ll have to take additional precautions attributable to its delicateness. For reference, the common human hair is about 70 microns thick, whereas the common merino wool fiber is between 15-20 microns.

Advantageous Merino: Advantageous merino represents the division between true merino fibers and fibers which are sourced from merino sheep which have been crossbred with one other breed for enhanced sturdiness (however better itchiness). These advantageous fibers are sometimes between 20 and 18 µm, and are the best portion of wool shorn from merino sheep. Sturdy shirts just like the Ibex 24-Hour Quick Sleeve Tee are made with merino on this tier.

Superfine Merino: Superfine merino fibers take the softness up one other notch, and are sometimes 16-18 µm. These fibers rival cashmere for its plushness, and can include some further price for clothes made with it. A few of our favourite merino shirts just like the Unbound Merino Crew Neck and Ridge Merino Solstice Light-weight Pullover Hoodie are made with superfine merino.

Ultrafine Merino: Probably the most premium merino wool, these fibers are sub 16 µm and are slightly delicate for true on a regular basis put on for open air folks. However for the cash ($$$), that is the perfect stuff you will get your mitts on.

Match and Types

We included quite a lot of shirts on this checklist: tees, long-sleeve tops, and even some hoodies. Every has benefits, relying on the kind of exercise you propose to have interaction in.

For individuals who want one thing for primarily chilly temperatures, a layer that’s tighter-fitting with a great deal of mobility that gained’t really feel restrictive underneath an additional one or two layers is beneficial. Others who need one thing that may be worn all 12 months, like our staffers, ought to go for one thing looser with a extra relaxed match.

Nevertheless, we didn’t embrace the entire merino wool layers underneath the solar. We centered on shirts as a result of they’re versatile for quite a lot of climate circumstances and actions. A number of the layers we examined are just a little extra sporty, whereas others, just like the Unbound Merino Crew Neck, have a traditional lower that’s a bit extra versatile. If you’re in search of winter-specific merino base layer units, zip-up merino layers, or merino underwear (sure, it’s a factor!), we’ve bought separate protection on that, too.

Coloration

Layers that are available in an assortment of colours are all the time welcome — they combine issues up from the monotonous black and grey we regularly see. Nevertheless, whereas we love mixing issues up, our testers have routinely seen layers that are available in pastel colours are usually sheerer than navy, black, and darkish grey.

Preserve this in thoughts if you happen to don’t need your undergarments displaying via, except you strictly use them as a base layer and can all the time be lined.

Value

While you purchase a merino wool shirt or garment, you aren’t simply shopping for, you might be investing. Investing in a higher-quality, naturally odor-wicking, and hopefully a lot longer-lasting layer. Synthetics are nice, and there might be high-quality artificial blends which have the identical properties, however many of us swear by merino.

If you recognize you desire a pure cloth that comes with all of the smooth, cooling, and wicking properties that merino has, hold the worth in thoughts ($80 for a tee?!). It sounds ridiculous at first, however the value does actually mirror the standard of merino wool cloth.

Why the upper value within the first place? Merino wool is a dearer cloth — extra time-intensive to supply, costly to import, and extra fragile to work with in comparison with thicker artificial yarns. So, we all the time weigh that issue when buying something made with merino.

FAQ

Merino wool is a pure materials, that means it doesn’t come from artifical plastics or synthetics. It’s light-weight and smooth to the contact. It wicks away moisture and odors, and it helps regulate physique temperature. All of that wrapped right into a single cloth. No marvel people have been utilizing and carrying wool since 10,000 BCE.

Nevertheless, due to merino’s nice properties, it’s in excessive demand and normally dearer than different materials. The slim sourcing and provide chain of merino wool additionally contributes to its market worth. The vast majority of the wool in the marketplace is produced in Australia, Argentina, and New Zealand.

In easy phrases, sure. In terms of exercising or spending numerous time within the outside components, double sure. Merino is best within the sense that it’s a pure and porous fiber. So, in case you are sweating, that sweat can escape — that is what makes merino a pure at regulating moisture and physique temp, wicking away odor, and cooling.

Cotton is an particularly thick artificial cloth, a lot totally different than light-weight or nano-spun synthetics, and far totally different than merino wool.

Heavy wool blankets or wool-lined slippers may evoke concepts of itchy, coarse cloth, however put these ideas apart — merino wool is totally different. Merino wool is notoriously advantageous — with advantageous, fragile, and smooth fibers.

Merino clothes are even measured by the tiny diameters of the fibers, referred to as microns. Most merino wool shirts we examined used merino wool that measured between 17.5 and 20 microns.

And the smaller the microns, the finer the material. If you’re in search of the softest merino layer cash can purchase, you’ll wish to look someplace within the 15- to 17-micron cloth vary.

Merino wool (wool from a sheep) naturally traps air and retains warmth to maintain you heat. However, thanks once more to its porous fiber nature, it’s nonetheless breathable on the similar time.

The truth that merino wool each retains warmth and wicks away sweat — it really works to each heat you up and funky you down — is one in all its finest properties. Wool retains you cool by letting sweat escape via the fibers and away out of your pores and skin and physique. This implies you gained’t get clammy or chills, and it additionally helps with wicking physique odor.

Different fibers — synthetics or plant-based materials — are usually not as advantageous, porous, or breathable. They’ll do the job, however not pretty much as good a job. (That being stated, our workers has a good time testing the newest in bio-based materials — distinctive layers sewn with all the things from bamboo to hemp to corn.)

You’ll wish to deal with your merino shirts and layers with care. As a result of merino is a pure fiber, you additionally don’t wish to use bleach, scents, or cloth softeners that may clog up the wool and forestall merino from doing all of the issues it does naturally.

Washing each few wears — generally even simply a couple of times a month — with chilly or heat water and a gentle cleaning soap is all you want. Even once we put on a whole lot of merino wool when open air, we attempt to wash sparingly. And we all the time air dry or grasp it to dry.