The Best Merino Wool Apparel We’ve Tried (2024): 27 Socks, Hoodies, Shirts, Pants, Sweaters, and Jackets
Merino wool is an excellent fiber. Merino T-shirts by some means handle to be comfy in 95-degree Fahrenheit warmth, and merino hoodies maintain you heat effectively 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 yr. 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, would possibly know a factor or two about splendidly, pillowy softness. Simply kidding. Merino sheep do have thinner, softer wool, which has advanced 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 outstanding cloth that is grow to be the cornerstone of my wardrobe.
Sure, even in summer season. I’ve worn merino T-shirts on 100-degree days and felt high quality, although that is much less true in case you 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 below are our favourite merino wool merchandise that we have examined.
Up to date February 2024: Adrienne and I’ve added a number of 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 often see listed as “200 GSM” or one thing comparable. (The GSM refers to grams per sq. meter.) What’s vital is the dimensions and the place your garment falls on it. On the low finish, you may have 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 might be 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 would nonetheless argue that one of the 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 type an ideal light-weight day-hiking layering system. It is also go-to for the health club 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 model pictured, however very near it. This jacket is 100% merino and extremely heat, regardless of not being all that thick. That makes it an ideal choice for days when the climate might fluctuate 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 dimension up.
When you do not need to go 100% merino in your first buy, that is OK. There’s now a ton of blended attire in the marketplace 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 provides it a smooth, stretchy really feel that makes it perfect for understanding, mountaineering, or some other 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 “one in every of my absolute favorite items of clothes.” See what good wool does for you? Makes you a fan. The lower on this one is sporty however not too tight that you may’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 normal winter use, whether or not you are doing yardwork, biking, or tossing a soccer round within the park.
A Hoodie for Children
There is a dearth of merino wool for youths. Maybe the worth for one thing that children might outgrow in a number of months makes the economics unappealing for producers. Regardless of the case, only a few firms provide kids-size merino (see beneath for extra). Actually, this Minus33 hoodie is not out there in youngsters’ sizes, however the further 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, it is a improbable 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 means of the woods, and the hand heaters pair effectively with mittens on chilly days. Better of all when youngsters are concerned, this one may 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 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, somewhat than simply protecting you heat like fleece and different synthetics do.
Kora’s Yardang Jersey is designed as a midweight mid-layer. It’s most likely 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 prime of it if 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. When you like this mix, there’s additionally a hat and neck gaiter within the Yardang line.
You probably have 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 in case you prefer to maintain 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 future.
Base Layers
I’m sufficiently old to recollect when a “base layer” was no matter cotton T-shirt you placed on. When you bought chilly in that, you placed on a jacket. When you bought scorching in it, you sweated. Do you want a particular shirt to go mountain climbing? No. Simply go mountain climbing. That stated, outside gear advertising and marketing 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 vastly totally different from cotton, however they do not scent after you’ve got been sweating in all of them day, which is a large bonus on multiday mountain climbing journeys, or simply journeys to the health club.
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 “perfect 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.
Remember 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 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 basic Icebreaker leggings, which have lasted me nearly 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): If you would like a softer shirt, we like these blends, that are 50 % wool and 50 % Tencel, a light-weight eucalyptus fiber. Tencel may be very silky to the contact, which makes this shirt significantly versatile—it’s heat if you want it and offers UPF50 safety if you wish to put on it within the solar (simply don’t get the black coloration). I will even say that I, Adrienne, am 5’2″ and located this shirt to be the proper size, which implies that it’s going to most likely be fairly quick on anybody taller.
Woolies Pro Tech Crew ($115): If you would like a hard-wearing shirt, this one is barely dearer and is made from 85 % merino wool and 15 % nylon. These are created from Nuyarn, which is a merino wool-specific expertise 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 should say that Ibex is no matter passes for a heritage firm on this area; the corporate was based in 1997, and my dad and mom purchased me two units of Ibex base layers in 2001 that I nonetheless put on at the moment, within the yr of our Lord 2024. That bodes very effectively for Ibex’s longevity, and I stay up for seeing if these replacements additionally final that lengthy.
A Few Ladies-Particular Choices
And now, a phrase on match. Ladies aren’t the one individuals 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 maintain you heat if it rucks up round your waist or sags beneath your hips.
Most main manufacturers provide a ladies’s model of their base layers. Nevertheless, in case you’re having a variety of problem discovering a pair that works, Kari Traa’s leggings have a really excessive waist that helps maintain them up. The patterns are additionally fairly, for these of you who object to parading across the lodge in what seems 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 dimension, and if the one you need is offered out, be affected person, Unbound often updates its inventory.
T-Shirts
Wool won’t look like 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 along 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 the whole lot from backpacking in the summertime warmth to rolling jiujitsu to sitting across the hearth on cool autumn evenings. They’re by no means something however cozy. I additionally like that they don’t have any brand. Unbound’s Energetic Merino T-shirt (men’s $95, women’s $85), aimed particularly at understanding, can be fairly good, however it’s a tighter lower 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 grew to become 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 means of the tree line and the temperature instantly rose by 15 levels within the daylight. The flat seams didn’t trigger chafing on my shoulders or waist by means of backpack straps or a harness, and though it’s a flattering slim match, it didn’t constrict the motion of my shoulders or arms in any means.
These Icebreaker T-shirts have been one in every of my gateways to merino wool. They’re heat, but by some means cool, and surprisingly good at stopping the wind. These shirts aren’t nice in humidity; for that, I would most likely go along with a mix. Observe 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 protecting you heat. The corporate is in New Hampshire, in spite of everything. This 170-GSM T-shirt is comfy, with a free lower that works effectively over a base layer on cool mornings or as a T-shirt throughout hotter elements of the day. It is an ideal all-around selection for all however warmest of summer season days.
Different Nice Choices
- Unbound Women’s Merino Muscle Tank ($70): Desire a cooler choice for warm days? This tank prime is ideal for hotter, humid climates. It is 100% merino (175 GSM) and does not have any brand 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 certain you’ll be able to decide to merino, this makes an reasonably priced various.
Socks
Whereas merino wool may be very smooth, most merchandise on this class are blends, normally with some type of nylon. Darn Robust socks are a WIRED favourite. They’re nice for snowboarding, mountain climbing, climbing, and absolutely anything else you need to do. These blends fluctuate by weight, however most of them are round 50 % nylon and 50 % merino, which makes them dry a bit sooner than pure merino whereas remaining lots heat and cozy.
The bizarre factor about socks is that, as a warm-weather lover, effectively, I hate socks. Every single day with socks is a form of failure. That stated, these Carhartts (gifted to me by a pal who was anxious that I wandered about in sockless sandals within the snow) are very nice. They’re extremely heat and smooth, and so they 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” would possibly conjure photographs of some lumberjack from the 1800s with hair rising by means 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 effectively.
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, so 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 comparable mix (83 % merino, 12 % nylon, 5 % Elastane) to the Unbound above, however lighter weight at 150 GSM. They match true to dimension and are on the shorter facet by way of size. Icebreaker additionally makes a long version that I examined as effectively. They’re just about 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 implies each element of the clothes has been independently examined towards an inventory of as much as 350 poisonous chemical substances. This is likely one of the most generally identified and revered labels for shopper security. These match true to dimension. (I suppose it’s vital to notice right here that I’m a small-busted lady, and that Branwyn makes a Busty Bra ($58) in case you 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 would like one thing a bit extra compressive for that—however it’s good for almost some other 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
If you suppose merino, you most likely take into consideration heat. That is precisely what these mid-layer and heavier objects 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’t reside with out.
I did handle to attempt it in every single place from the seaside on cool mornings to across the campfire on winter nights, and whilst 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 may go over a base layer, however is not so cumbersome you’ll be able to’t put a jacket over it.
A rising variety of research have proven that there are PFAs—hormone-disrupting chemical substances which might be generally utilized in numerous plastics—in ordinary sportswear, like leggings and sports activities bras. When you, like me (Adrienne), are on a quest to interchange your polyester clothes with pure fibers, then Ibex’s 100% merino wool Shak Jacket is the pure candidate to interchange 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 stored me heat on blustery 30-degree days, layered simply beneath my rain jacket and over my tank prime, and seemed glossy sufficient to exit to dinner. In western Eire, no less than (“I like your jumper!” stated many an Irishman). It does not pack down fairly as compactly as an artificial layer would possibly, neither is it as mild, however it seems 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 aren’t the itchy scratchy stuff you could not wait to get out of if you have been youthful. These sweaters are smooth, luxurious, and ideal for extra modern 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 arms down one of the best sweater I’ve ever worn. The unlucky factor is that the Lodge Sweater has been discontinued. If there is a dimension that matches you out there, snatch it up. I have never tried it, however the subsequent closest factor within the Taylor Sew catalog is the Evans Sweater ($148), a wool-nylon mix.
Easy methods to Take care of Merino Wool
Most merino merchandise may have care directions. Almost certainly it is going to be to scrub chilly and lay flat to dry. The latter is vital, as hanging wool to dry will stretch it out (due to the water weight). Whereas most merino labels will say the garment may 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.
