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Best Menâs Merino T-Shirt
Huckberry (Classic Fit)
Best Womenâs Merino Wool T-Shirt
Artilect (Men's)
Most Luxurious Merino T-Shirt
Taylor Stitch
Best Merino Wool T-Shirt for Outdoors
Amazon (Men's)
I was born and raised in Southern California, land of the perpetual T-shirt. I think I was about 24 before I realized there were in fact shirts other than the T-shirt. Why would you want to wear anything other than a soft, comfy, short-sleeve T-shirt?
I used to wear cotton T-shirts, but somewhere along the line I discovered merino wool. Merino wool T-shirts are much more comfortable than cotton, and merino wool is thermoregulating, meaning you'll stay cool even in the summer heat. The best part? You can wear merino T-shirts for days and they won't smell. These are the best merino wool T-shirts I've tried. For simplicity, I've linked the the crew neck versions, but nearly all of these are available as V-neck T-shirts if you prefer.
Want more than a T-shirt? Check out our full guide to all the best merino wool clothes. Once youâve got your base layers sorted, be sure to read up on the Best Rain Jackets, Best Puffer Jackets, and Best Hoodies.
Why Are Merino Wool T-Shirts So Great?
Merino wool makes the perfect T-shirt because it's soft, comfortable, and thermoregulating, which is a fancy term for âkeeps you cool in the heat, warm in the cold.â
The softness comes from the fact that merino sheep have thinner, softer wool than those itchy sweaters of yore. Merino sheep evolved to stay comfortable across a wide range of temperatures, which is why merino wool is so good at doing the same for you. Wool is sustainable too. One sheep can produce 4 to 5 pounds of wool per year. Thanks, sheep.
Are Merino Wool T-Shirts Worth It?
We are talking about $80 (or more) T-shirts here, so this is valid question. I think merino T-shirts are worth the investment. They offer considerable benefits over cotton and other natural fibers, as well as synthetics. Merino offers great temperature regulation, excellent moisture wicking, and they don't smell, which means you can wear them more and don't need as many of them. Three merino T-shirts in your wardrobe will last you as many days as 10 cotton shirts, so from a financial angle it's a wash.
Here's a quick rundown of some of the benefits of merino wool:
Odor-resistant: One of merino wool's superpowers is that itâs naturally resistant to odors. This means you can wear a merino T-shirt multiple times before needing to wash it. How many times? I'd say that depends where you are and what you're doing, but usually three to seven times. Our top pick is, after all, called the 72-hour shirt, because that's how long you can wear it before it needs a wash.
Thermoregulation: Merino wool can keep you warm in cold weather and cool in warm weather. Yes, there are limits to thisâno T-shirt is going to keep you cool on a hot summer day in the tropicsâbut merino far outshines cotton and synthetics.
Moisture wicking: This is an important one for anything you're wearing while hiking or at the gym. Merino wool is excellent at moving moisture away from your skin, through the fabric, where it can evaporate quickly. This is why it makes such a good base layer.
Versatility: Merino wool shirts are great for travel, hiking, backpacking, and as everyday shirts for around town. They can also be used year-round, even in the cold, as part of a good layering system.
Packable: Merino wool T-shirts tend to pack up smaller than cotton and many synthetics, meaning they take up less room in your bag when traveling. Combine this with the odor resistance above and your have the ultimate travel T-shirt.
The one place cotton and nylon blend T-shirts might possibly have an edge is durability. Merino wool isn't really any less durable in my experience, but it can pill, which is where the wool fibers break and tangle together in tiny knots, forming little balls on your T-shirt. Some pilling isn't a big deal, but if a T-shirt pills a lot you know it's made of very made of short wool fibers, rather than longer continuous fibers.
Unfortunately, most manufacturers don't advertise the length of their spun fibers, which is where our testing comes in. I hate pilling, and I have eliminated all the T-shirts that have pilled on me, except one, which I like anyway (the pilling is not that bad).
Proof
Huckberry (Classic Fit)
Huckberry (Slim Fit)
Huckberry's Proof-brand 72-hour Merino T-Shirt is my favorite all-around merino tee. The cut and style are not overly sporty, making it more versatile than some others, and it's incredibly soft even after six months of wear and washing.
At 87 percent 150 gsm superfine merino wool (16.5 micron) and 13 percent nylon, this T-shirt makes a great starter for those new to merino wool. There's enough nylon to be stretchy, making it suitable for everything, from everyday wear around town to a trip to the gym. The nylon does mean it'll smell sooner than 100 percent merino T-shirts (I find 72 hours to be a very accurate name), but it makes it a touch more durable than a 100 percent merino tee.
I also like that this shirt comes in a wide variety of colors, more than any other shirt in this guide. Proof uses the exact same fabric to make long sleeve tees, as well as polos and henleys, if that's your bag.
Artilect
Artilect (Men's)
Artilect (Women's)
This is my favorite T-shirt. In fact, I'm wearing it right now underneath my giant hoodie. Artilect uses a blend of 150-gsm Nuyarn merino woolâwhat you might call performance merino, that is spun around a durable inner fiberâand Tencel, which is a light, silky cellulose fiber. The result is a T-shirt that is shockingly lightweight, comfortable, and versatile. I wear the Utilitee while climbing and hiking, as well as while typing at my desk, and it's also crisp enough in appearance to wear to work events (if your boss is cool about it).
When I go rock climbing, it stays soft and warm in the shade, then magically stays light and breathable when I break through the tree line and the temperature suddenly rises by 15 degrees in direct sunlight. The flat seams didnât cause chafing on my shoulders or waist through backpack straps or a harness, and even though itâs a flattering slim fit, it didnât constrict the movement of my shoulders or arms in any way. âAdrienne So
Taylor Stitch
Taylor Stitch
If I could have only one merino T-shirt, it would be this one. It's the softest, most luxurious of all the tees on this page. Because it's 95 percent merino wool, this shirt will go quite a while before it starts to smell. Everyone is different of course, but I find I can routinely get five days out these. Obviously if it's hot out and you're sweating a lot you might get less than that, but not much. Either way it's nice and quick-drying.
I find this shirt too nice to work out in, but it's perfect for around town, and it's my go-to any time I want to travel super light. My only real gripe here is the very limited color selection. Taylor Stitch typically has a heather blue and heather black available all the time, and every now and then some other colors will be available on a very limited basis.
Ibex
Amazon (Men's)
Amazon (Women's)
Ibex (Men's)
Ibex (Women's)
This Ibex shirt is my hiking uniform. I don't think I've hit the trail in anything else since I got this Ibex shirt. Ibex is deservedly legendary for its wool, especially its base layers (see below, and in our merino wool guide). This T-shirt fits nicely into that mold with a little bit slimmer cut that makes it great for layering in the outdoors. It's still loose enough to be comfortable, but when the weather turns you can slip a fitted mid layer over it without any trouble.
The fabric here is 83 percent merino, 12 percent nylon, and 5 percent elastane, which gives it a good amount of stretchiness. The stretch, along with the gusseted underarm, give this shirt a nice range of motion that makes it ideal for active outdoor pursuits like hiking and climbing. I also like that you get a UPF 35+ rating for some sun protection outdoors.
The Ibex also has flatlock seams on the shoulders to cut down on chafing when wearing a backpack. Honestly, the flatlock part (that's a method of stitching that makes the seam as flat as possible) isn't what's helpful here, it's that the seams are forward, off the shoulders enough that they aren't where you pack straps will rub.
Unbound
Unbound (Men's)
Unbound (Women's)
Unbound Merino's T-shirt has long been a favorite of WIRED readers. It's the most popular T-shirt in our merino guide and well loved by travelers. It's very soft, and because it's 100 percent merino wool it'll stay odor free longer than any other shirt in this guide. It's also lightweight and packs down to a tiny roll, which is perfect if you're looking to simplify down to one bag (really, is there any other way to travel?).
I love how soft these shirts are, and they dry the fastest of any merino T-shirt I've tested. My only gripe is that they they're very lightweight merino (190 gsm, superfine 17.5 micron) and seem to be more prone to small holes than other merino tees in the guide. It's not enough to stop me from recommending them, but do know that Unbound's T-shirts need to be babied a little. I recommend hand washing and line-drying these when you can.
Minus33
Amazon
Minus33
Minus33 is one of our favorite brands for midweight and heavier merino (the company is based in New Hampshire so they understand real winters), but I also love this lightweight T-shirt. It's my favorite shirt for working out. Any other company would call this 100 percent merino T-shirt lightweight, but at Minus33 it qualifies as microweight (170 gsm, 17.5 micron wool).
The jersey knit is soft and comfortableânot too hot in the sun (it also has a UPF rating of 20), and warm enough when it's cool. It's also durable (I've been rolling jiujitsu in this shirt for years and it's fine). It's machine washable, and you can even throw it in the dryer. No need to baby this T-shirt.
REI (Men's)
REI (Women's)
I think of this Smartwool classic crew long-sleeve shirt more as a base layer than a T-shirt, but it's a loose enough cut to wear it alone, and it doesn't look like you're half-dressed for a trip to the slopes. Even if you never wear it alone, I'd recommend getting one of these if you live in a cooler climate. I have two and they are pretty much attached to my body all winter long here in Wisconsin.
This shirt is 88 percent merino wool and 12 percent nylon. Smartwool doesn't use the term Nuyarn, but it does say that the merino uses a recycled nylon core for added durability and keeps the merino layer next to your skin, which pretty much describes Nuyarn. Whatever terms you want to use, the result is a nice blend that doesn't need to be babied. You can wash this one warm and tumble dry it on low without worry. Mine are two years old now and still look brand new. There's also a quarter zip version if you prefer.
Ibex
Ibex (Women's)
Ibex (Men's)
Ibex Woolies Pro Tech base layer crew is the best lightweight merino base layer we've tested. If you want a hard-wearing shirt, this it it. Woolies are Nuyarn (see above), which is 85 percent merino wool and 15 percent nylonâthe merino wool is wrapped around a nylon core, which increases the warmth while being lighter (5 ounces for the men's large) and more durable. This is my top pick for all things technical. It's quite tight, which makes it great for layering. It's my go-to for bring hiking, backpacking, and winter in general. I also love the Woolies Pro Tech Bottoms ($115), which are what I bring backpacking in all but the warmest of weather.
Aside from comfort and warmth, a big part of the reason we recommend Woolies is that they last. Ibex is what passes for a heritage company in this space; the company was founded in 1997 and has been cranking out merino garment for a long time. Adrienne has Ibex merino base layers that have lasted 20 years without a problem. Properly cared for, Woolies will keep you comfortably warm for years to come.
There are a lot of merino wool T-shirts on the market. We've tested dozens, and many of them are very good, but not quite right for a top spot in this guide. Here a few more that we've tried and liked.
Smartwool (Men's)
Smartwool (Women's)
Smartwool's T-shirts are soft and comfortable, though they do tend to run large.
Icebreaker
Icebreaker (Men's)
Icebreaker (Women's)
Icebreaker merino T-shirts are slim fitting, making them good for active pursuits. They also offer some fun outdoor-themed prints.
Minus33
Minus33 (Men's)
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.
What's Next
We're currently testing T-shirts from Wool&Prince, Woolly, Smartwool, and Ridge Merino.
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