Merino wool is an excellent fiber. Merino T-shirts someway handle to be comfy in 95-degree Fahrenheit warmth, and merino hoodies hold you heat properly beneath freezing. Not like 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 is as a result of the sheep that make merino wool drink solely the purest alpine waters and research the artwork of consolation beneath the tutelage of these stuck-up Pashmina goats, who, let’s face it, may know a factor or two about splendidly, pillowy softness. Simply kidding. Merino sheep do have thinner, softer wool, which has developed to maintain them comfy throughout a variety of temperatures and is comfy to put on subsequent to your pores and skin. It is unclear whether or not the the sheep discovered to do that from Pashmina goats, however I do know that merino wool is a exceptional cloth that is turn into the cornerstone of my wardrobe.
Sure, even in summer season. I’ve worn merino T-shirts on 100-degree days and felt wonderful, although that is much less true for those who throw excessive humidity into the combo—merino sheep don’t trip within the tropics, apparently. Regardless of the case, the wool’s versatility means there is a bewildering array of blends and choices to select from. Listed here are our favourite merino wool merchandise that we have examined.
Up to date February 2024: Adrienne and I’ve added just a few new T-shirt choices, a number of jackets we love, a number of new bras and underwear, and up to date hyperlinks and costs all through.
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What Does GSM Imply?
Merino wool is available in totally different weights, which you’ll continuously see listed as “200 GSM” or one thing related. (The GSM refers to grams per sq. meter.) What’s necessary is the dimensions and the place your garment falls on it. On the low finish, you’ve gotten T-shirts and underwear, that are sometimes 150 GSM, although now we have seen some as little as 120 GSM. Typically, something beneath 200 gsm shall be a superb base layer. From 200 to 300 GSM are your mid-layers, and something above 300 is a heavier garment.
Begin With a Hoodie
Merino wool is flexible, however I might nonetheless argue that the very best use case for it’s as a light-weight mid-layer, like a hoodie. It is heat sufficient for cool days by itself, surprisingly wind-resistant, and may pair with an outer shell to kind an incredible light-weight day-hiking layering system. It is also a superb go-to for the gymnasium 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 incredible choice for days when the climate could range significantly–it is heat sufficient for a chilly morning however will not be a burden in your pack the remainder of the day. That is on the tight-fitting facet, so if that is not your factor (and it isn’t mine), get the subsequent measurement up.
For those who do not need to go 100% merino in your first buy, that is OK. There may be now a ton of blended attire available on the market that will get a lot of the advantage of 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 is 76 % polyester, 18 % merino, and 6 % elastane, which supplies it a smooth, stretchy really feel that makes it ultimate for figuring out, mountaineering, or another outside exercise the place you want your jacket to flex and stretch with you.
Alternate options
Ibex Men’s Indie Hoodie ($170): WIRED’s commerce director, Martin Cizmar, examined this midweight wool hoodie and says it is now “certainly one of my absolute favorite items of clothes.” See what good wool does for you? Makes you a fan. The reduce on this one is sporty however not too tight that you could’t layer beneath it. The thumb loops, zippable tall neck, and hood make it much more versatile than a typical wool long-sleeve shirt. Cizmar says it is good for basic winter use, whether or not you are doing yardwork, biking, or tossing a soccer round within the park.
A Hoodie for Youngsters
There is a dearth of merino wool for teenagers. Maybe the value for one thing that youngsters could outgrow in just a few months makes the economics unappealing for producers. Regardless of the case, only a few firms supply kids-size merino (see beneath for extra). In truth, this Minus33 hoodie is not obtainable in youngsters’ sizes, however the additional small ladies’s match my 10-year-old completely and continues to suit her as an 11-year-old. You may need to examine the match chart on Minus33 to your personal youngsters, but when they do match, this can be a unbelievable hoodie. It is lots heat (and my daughter is all the time chilly), sturdy sufficient to face as much as child life, climbing timber, and operating by way of the woods, and the hand heaters pair properly with mittens on chilly days. Better of all when youngsters are concerned, this one might be machine washed and tumble dried. It will not shrink or lose its form, and the colours will not bleed.
Exchange Fleece With a Mid-Layer
I’ve nothing towards artificial fleece. It has its place, however I not often put on it nowadays. I desire a hoodie just like the one above or the mid-layers beneath. Merino is best at serving to your physique regulate its temperature, somewhat than simply preserving you heat like fleece and different synthetics do.
Kora’s Yardang Jersey is designed as a midweight mid-layer. It’s in all probability probably the most versatile factor I’ve in my wardrobe. It is lots by itself on a cool spring day however then skinny sufficient to place one other layer on high of it while you want extra. It is pleasantly breathable and really smooth. The Yardang is a mix of 70 % merino, complemented by 30 % Himalayan yak wool. It is the softest little bit of merino in my assortment. For those who like this mix, there’s additionally a hat and neck gaiter within the Yardang line.
You probably have issues 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 prefer to hold your core heat however your arms cell otherwise you need to get an additional soupçon of heat with out including an excessive amount of bulk. I (Adrienne) prefer to layer Ibex’s Wool Aire Vest beneath my common wool coat if I am going out for the evening or on a long term.
Base Layers
I’m sufficiently old to recollect when a “base layer” was no matter cotton T-shirt you placed on. For those who acquired chilly in that, you placed on a jacket. For those who acquired scorching in it, you sweated. Do you want a particular shirt to go mountaineering? No. Simply go mountaineering. That stated, outside gear advertising or not, base layers are a thing. I’ve come to like some merino T-shirts, particularly in spring and fall. They actually do not feel massively totally different from cotton, however they do not scent after you have been sweating in all of them day, which is a big bonus on multiday mountaineering journeys, or simply journeys to the gymnasium.
We love these long-sleeve Smartwool shirts for a way smooth they’re. An 87 % merino wool mix with nylon means they’re extremely comfy. In our base layer information, we are saying this shirt is an “ultimate 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.
Do not forget your legs! It by no means fails to shock me (Adrienne) how many individuals put a number of layers of insulation on their high half and depart their legs completely bare. Relying on the climate, I’ve a number of totally different weights of leggings that I can swap in. My favorites are the traditional Icebreaker leggings, which have lasted me virtually a decade. Nevertheless, the remainder of my household (my partner and two kids) 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.
Alternate options
Bombas Merino Wool Blend Long-Sleeve Shirts ($74): In order for you a softer shirt, we like these blends, that are 50 % wool and 50 % Tencel, a light-weight eucalyptus fiber. Tencel could be very silky to the contact, which makes this shirt significantly versatile—it’s heat while you want it and gives UPF50 safety if you wish to put on it within the solar (simply don’t get the black shade). I may even say that I, Adrienne, am 5’2″ and located this shirt to be the right size, which suggests that it’ll in all probability be fairly quick on anybody taller.
Woolies Pro Tech Crew ($115): In order for you a hard-wearing shirt, this one is barely costlier and is fabricated from 85 % merino wool and 15 % nylon. These are created from Nuyarn, which is a merino wool-specific know-how whereby merino wool is wrapped round a nylon core for heat, lightness and additional sturdiness. This can be a actually mild base layer that I put on for operating and high-aerobic actions when it’s chilly. I do need to say that Ibex is no matter passes for a heritage firm on this area; the corporate was based in 1997, and my mother and father purchased me two units of Ibex base layers in 2001 that I nonetheless put on right this moment, within the 12 months of our Lord 2024. That bodes very properly for Ibex’s longevity, and I sit up for seeing if these replacements additionally final that lengthy.
A Few Girls-Particular Choices
And now, a phrase on match. Girls will not be the one folks whose our bodies can differ from normal sizing. However I (Adrienne) am 5’2″ and wrestle to search out clothes choices that can match—particularly ones that are supposed to match subsequent to the pores and skin. As high-quality as the bottom layer is, it will not hold you heat if it rucks up round your waist or sags beneath your hips.
Most main manufacturers supply a ladies’s model of their base layers. Nevertheless, for those who’re having lots of problem discovering a pair that works, Kari Traa’s leggings have a really excessive waist that helps hold them up. The patterns are additionally fairly, for these of you who object to parading across the lodge in what appears to be like like pajamas.
Extra Nice Choices
Unbound Women’s Long Sleeve Merino Crew ($95): This 100% merino shift from Unbound is extremely smooth. It is a versatile shirt that can be utilized as a base layer, however it additionally works as a T-shirt when it isn’t too chilly. Match runs true to measurement, and if the one you need is offered out, be affected person, Unbound continuously updates its inventory.
T-Shirts
Wool may not appear to be a good selection for a summer season T-shirt, however merino is surprisingly comfy even when its heat. To some extent anyway. On humid days over about 90 levels, I normally go together with cotton or linen, however something beneath 90 and I’m sporting merino. There are way more merino T-shirt choices on the market than we will cowl, however listed below are a few of our favorites.
These are my absolute favourite T-shirts. They’re the softest, best-made, best-fitting T-shirts I’ve ever worn, merino or in any other case. Sure, they’re that good. They’re extremely versatile. I’ve worn them doing every thing from backpacking in the summertime warmth to rolling jiujitsu to sitting across the fireplace on cool autumn evenings. They’re by no means something however cozy. I additionally like that they haven’t any emblem. Unbound’s Energetic Merino T-shirt (men’s $95, women’s $85), aimed particularly at figuring out, can be fairly good, however it’s a tighter reduce than the common T-shirt.
Artilect’s mix of merino wool and Tencel (a fiber created from eucalyptus) is shockingly light-weight and versatile. This summer season, the Utili-Tee turned my (Adrienne) favourite shirt for climbing and backpacking. It was smooth and cozy once I was within the tree shade, after which magically stayed mild and breathable once I broke by way of the tree line and the temperature all of the sudden rose by 15 levels within the daylight. The flat seams didn’t trigger chafing on my shoulders or waist by way of backpack straps or a harness, and despite the fact that it’s a flattering slim match, it didn’t constrict the motion of my shoulders or arms in any manner.
These Icebreaker T-shirts had been certainly one of my gateways to merino wool. They’re heat, but someway cool, and surprisingly good at stopping the wind. These shirts aren’t nice in humidity; for that, I might in all probability go together with a mix. Word that a few of Icebreaker’s T-shirts are blends, so examine the small print in your favourite design earlier than you make investments.
Minus33 is aware of a factor or two about preserving you heat. The corporate is in New Hampshire, in spite of everything. This 170-GSM T-shirt is comfy, with a free reduce that works properly over a base layer on cool mornings or as a T-shirt throughout hotter components of the day. It is an incredible all-around alternative for all however warmest of summer season days.
Different Nice Choices
- Unbound Women’s Merino Muscle Tank ($70): Need a cooler choice for warm days? This tank high is ideal for hotter, humid climates. It is 100% merino (175 GSM) and does not have any emblem or tag, which we like.
- Paka Men’s Tee ($55): This is not merino, it is a mix of natural cotton and Alpaca wool, however it’s such a pleasant, cozy T-shirt I am together with it right here. If you wish to go pure fibers, however aren’t positive you possibly can decide to merino, this makes an inexpensive different.
Socks
Whereas merino wool could be very smooth, most merchandise on this class are blends, normally with some type of nylon. Darn Powerful socks are a WIRED favourite. They’re nice for snowboarding, mountaineering, climbing, and absolutely anything else you need to do. These blends range by weight, however most of them are round 50 % nylon and 50 % merino, which makes them dry a bit quicker than pure merino whereas remaining lots heat and cozy.
The bizarre factor about socks is that, as a warm-weather lover, properly, I hate socks. On daily basis with socks is a form of failure. That stated, these Carhartts (gifted to me by a buddy who was nervous that I wandered about in sockless sandals within the snow) are very nice. They’re extremely heat and smooth, they usually by no means scent. They’re probably my favourite socks—if I really took the time to choose my favourite socks.
Underwear and Bras
The phrase “wool underwear” may conjure photographs of some lumberjack from the 1800s with hair rising by way of the weaves of his itchy, scorching lengthy johns, however that is not what the merino underwear we have examined is like. Generally these are blends, with some nylon as properly.
As with the corporate’s T-shirts, Unbound’s boxer briefs stood out for simply how smooth and cozy they’re. These are 84 % merino wool, 12 % nylon, and 4 % spandex, in order that they do have a little bit of stretch to them. The 180-GSM merino is mild sufficient for even the warmest of days.
One other nice pair of boxers, these Icebreakers are a really related mix (83 % merino, 12 % nylon, 5 % Elastane) to the Unbound above, however lighter weight at 150 GSM. They match true to measurement and are on the shorter facet when it comes to size. Icebreaker additionally makes a long version that I examined as properly. They’re nearly the identical, only a bit longer.
Branwyn makes what they name merino wool efficiency units. I (Adrienne) am a fan of Branwyn’s clothes, all of that are Oeko-Tex 100 certified, which suggests each part of the clothes has been independently examined towards a listing of as much as 350 poisonous chemical compounds. This is among the most generally recognized and revered labels for shopper security. These match true to measurement. (I suppose it’s necessary to notice right here that I’m a small-busted lady, and that Branwyn makes a Busty Bra ($58) for those who want extra assist.)
The material itself is smooth and clean to the contact, with simply sufficient heft to be supportive. I wouldn’t put on the bralette to go operating—I need one thing a bit extra compressive for that—however it’s good for almost another exercise. It precludes the necessity to change from cotton “on a regular basis” underwear to tight nylon “sport” underwear each time I need to do one thing energetic, which is principally on a regular basis.
Jackets
While you suppose merino, you in all probability take into consideration heat. That is precisely what these mid-layer and heavier gadgets are.
Minus33 calls this an expedition-weight base layer, however for these of us not climbing Mt. Washington at daybreak in a windstorm, it is actually extra of a pullover sweatshirt—an insanely heat, cozy pullover sweatshirt. My testing time was restricted. After a month, my spouse stole it and now refers to it as a safety blanket and has stated it is the one merchandise of clothes she can not stay with out.
I did handle to attempt it all over the place from the seaside on cool mornings to across the campfire on winter nights, and at the same time as a base layer beneath a merino jacket when the temps dropped beneath freezing final winter. In all these conditions I stayed lots heat. The looser match means it could actually go over a base layer, however is not so cumbersome you possibly can’t put a jacket over it.
A rising variety of research have proven that there are PFAs—hormone-disrupting chemical compounds which are generally utilized in a variety of plastics—in ordinary sportswear, like leggings and sports activities bras. For those who, like me (Adrienne), are on a quest to exchange your polyester clothes with pure fibers, then Ibex’s 100% merino wool Shak Jacket is the pure candidate to exchange your (my) worn-out Patagonia Better Sweater ($149).
I took this jacket on a visit this spring to Eire. It’s surprisingly dense and smooth to the contact. It saved me heat on blustery 30-degree days, layered simply beneath my rain jacket and over my tank high, and appeared modern sufficient to exit to dinner. In western Eire, at the very least (“I like your jumper!” stated many an Irishman). It does not pack down fairly as compactly as an artificial layer may, neither is it as mild, however it appears to be like a lot nicer and it will not really feel like slime in your pores and skin when it will get moist.
Sweaters
Wool sweaters can conjure some disagreeable childhood recollections, however worry not, these will not be the itchy scratchy stuff you could not wait to get out of while you had been youthful. These sweaters are smooth, luxurious, and excellent for extra trendy events.
This Taylor Sew sweater is not technically merino, however it’s shut: It is 100% child yak wool (which is definitely the smooth undercoat yak’s shed yearly). It’s kind of extra like cashmere than merino, however it’s presupposed to be extra sturdy. That is been true in my testing. That is fingers down the very best sweater I’ve ever worn. The unlucky factor is that the Lodge Sweater has been discontinued. If there is a measurement that matches you obtainable, snatch it up. I have not tried it, however the subsequent closest factor within the Taylor Sew catalog is the Evans Sweater ($148), a wool-nylon mix.
How you can Look after Merino Wool
Most merino merchandise can have care directions. Almost definitely it is going to be to clean chilly and lay flat to dry. The latter is necessary, as hanging wool to dry will stretch it out (due to the water weight). Whereas most merino labels will say the garment might be machine washed, my expertise has been that hand-washing merino will prolong its life. That is significantly 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’re taking precautions towards moths, that are infamous for consuming holes in wool. I’ve misplaced merino clothes to moths.
