Best Merino Wool T-Shirts
If you haven’t made merino wool t-shirts a staple in your outdoor adventure (or just life in general) outfit, be ready for an upgrade. After switching to a merino sun hoody, I wondered why I didn’t use merino t-shirts when a sun hoodie wasn’t entirely as appropriate.
Merino wool has advantages over other commonly used t-shirt materials such as cotton or polyester. It’s soft, naturally antimicrobial – which means it takes much longer to get stinky – it’ll insulate when wet and causes far less chafe (in my experience, at least – which is extensive).
Since starting to train for my first ultramarathon, I have tested every merino shirt I could get my hands on (and the testing is ongoing). Because of this, I have personally used all the merino t-shirts listed in detail here. The chart at the bottom compares all the shirts listed below and some other merino shirts available.
If you have a favorite you don’t see here, I’m always looking for others to try out!
Best Overall: Ridge Merino Journey T-Shirt
+ Comfortable, sweat wicking, and durable fabric
+ Doesn’t stink or chafe – even on extended/sweat-filled outdoor adventures
+ Large variety of colors available
+ Sizes up to XXL
– Frequently out of stock
– Slim fit can make sizing tricky (but free returns!)
The Ridge Merino Journey T-Shirt from Mammoth Lakes, CA-based Ridge Merino, is my top pick for merino t-shirts. I’ve run hundreds (if not thousands) of miles in Journey T-shirts – from humid Brazilian jungles to arid Utah deserts – and they’ve yet to let me down. The Journey is made of 87% merino wool and 13% nylon and has double-stitched shoulder and neck seams, making it comfortable and durable. Ridge offers a variety of colors, and the shirt has no external branding or interior tags. All Ridge products are backed by the Ridge Guarantee, “If you are not 100% satisfied with the quality of your Ridge product, send it back for a repair, replacement, or refund.” Check out the Ridge Merino Journey T-Shirt here (men’s/women’s).
Runner Up: Smartwool Short Sleeve Tee
+ Comfortable merino-nylon blend
+ Moisture-wicking fabric doesn’t stink or chafe
+ Two-year guarantee
+ Sizes up to XXL
– Limited color options
– On the pricier side
– Sizing inconsistent across Smartwool products
The Smartwool Short Sleeve Tee is another excellent choice I’ve used extensively. Like the Ridge Merino Journey, this shirt’s material is an 88% merino wool, 12% nylon blend (a 1% difference). It’s a comfortable, moisture-wicking shirt with no external branding and a slim fit; I won’t hold the generic name against it. The shirt also has a fun, colorful stripey bit at the back of the neck. But in all honestly, this is one of my top picks as it’s lightweight, comfortable, avoids the chafe, has no external branding, and strikes a balance between transparency and sweat-wicking, not seen in some of the other options available. However, it is a bit on the pricier side. Check it out here (men’s/women’s).
The Cooling Option: Icebreaker Sphere II T-Shirt
+ Extremely lightweight and breathable fabric
+ Side splits at hem for ventilation/mobility
+ Sizes up to XXL
– Thin fabric makes lighter colors transparent
– Available colors are not great
– One-year warranty
The Icebreaker Sphere II T-Shirt is an excellent option if you’re looking for a lightweight merino shirt to keep you cool on sweltering days. Icebreaker’s 60% lyocell, 40% merino blend feels featherlight against the skin, and the side splits show that this shirt was designed with ventilation in mind (how much they help, I have no idea). I love running in this shirt on hot days, but the lighter colors get transparent when you get sweaty; potentially something to keep in mind. The Sphere II is also pricier, and Icebreaker has one of the less comprehensive warranties regarding its products. Check it out here (men’s/women’s).
The Locker Loop Option: KUHL Cashmerino Tee
+ Lightweight, soft, merino/nylon blend
+ Interior locker loop for hanging shirt
+ Good selection of colors
+ Sizes up to XXL
– Exterior banding on shirt sleeve
– Expensive
– Vague warranty covering defects
The KUHL Cashmerino Tee is another merino-nylon blend (although the KUHL website does not provide the exact blend) shirt that balances durability and weight. It has a small logo patch on the right shoulder, which can sometimes be annoying (I prefer zero exterior branding and I’m not a fan of the sewn-on logo). Tag aside, the shirt is comfortable and provides all the benefits of a merino-nylon blended shirt. It’s available in a solid selection of colors but comes at a premium price (especially when you consider that KUHL is not a merino specialty company). Check it out here (men’s/women’s).
The Lightweight Option: Patagonia Capilene Cool Merino Shirt
+ Lightweight at just 3.9 oz / 111 g
+ Back-neck yoke with hanger loop
+ Available in graphic and long-sleeve versions
+ Patagonia will repair products (typically) at no cost
+ Sizes up to XXL
– Thinner fabric not quite as durable as other options
– All versions of the shirt have some sort of exterior branding
– Limited color selection
The Patagonia Capilene Cool Merino Shirt is one of the lightest options I’ve found for merino shirts. They’re available in short-sleeve, long-sleeve, or graphic versions (which look nice enough that I’m always hesitant to use them outside casual settings). Unlike many other options, this shirt uses a polyester instead of a nylon blend. You would think this means it stinks more, but I haven’t noticed anything. It has a locker loop and a slight drop tail with a small logo at the hem (on the non-graphic version). Check it out here (men’s/women’s).
The Inexpensive Option: Decathlon Forclaz Travel 100 Merino Wool Hiking T-Shirt
+ Perhaps the least expensive option for a merino shirt
+ Ultra-fine merino wool
+ Sizes up to XXL
– Strange branding on chest (why?)
– Frequently out of stock
– Limited color selection
– Not much to be said of warranty
The Decathlon Forclaz Travel 100 Merino Wool Hiking T-Shirt is an affordable alternative – like many Decathlon products. At less than half the price as some of the other merino t-shirts listed here, the Forclaz Travel 100 is a merino-synthetic blend, but Decathlon does not offer any additional information. Maybe it’s only 10% merino, which makes it so affordable. For some reason, each of the (only) two available colors has a strange (and different) image on the left breast. That said, it is – again – quite affordable compared to the other options. Check it out here (men’s/women’s).
The Expensive Option: Ibex Journey Short Sleeve Crew
+ Comfortable, lightweight, sweat-wicking fabric
+ No interior tags
+ Sizes up to XXL
+ Decent color selection
– Has a sometimes scratchy exterior logo on the sleeve
– Expensive
The Ibex Journey Short Sleeve Crew is the most expensive merino t-shirt featured here, pushing close to triple digits after tax depending on where you live. It’s an 89% merino, 11% nylon blend and is comfortable against the skin – whether dry or soaked in sweat. Inside the shirt, you won’t find any itchy stage, but there is a small, sewn Ibex logo on the right sleeve which I have found to be an annoyance at times. It’s an excellent shirt and one I’m happy to have as an option, but the price will likely turn off some of you would-be Journey Shirt wearers. Check it out here (men’s/women’s).
The Small or Large Option: Minus33 Algonquin T-Shirt Crew
+ Sizes from XS to XXXL
+ No interior neck tag
+ No exterior branding
+ Decent color options (but nothing super bright)
– 100% merino wool knit not as durable as nylon blend alternatives
– Limited one-year warranty
– Women’s t-shirt has a different name?
The Minus33 Algonquin T-Shirt Crew is the only option in sizes from XS to XXXL. It’s available in various colors without exterior branding or an interior neck tag. It’s also the only option featured here that’s 100% merino wool instead of a blend. This makes the shirt super soft but less durable than its blended counterparts. For some reason, the women’s version appears to have a different name – the Appalachia instead of the Algonquin, but they’re both 100% merino 17.5-micron fabrics. Check it out here (men’s/women’s).
The Heavier Option: Point6 Merino Alpine Extra-Fine Merino Wool Tee
+ Made with 18.5-micron extra-fine 100% merino wool
+ No interior neck tag or exterior branding
+ Doesn’t turn transparent when sweaty
+ Warranty covers “premature wear, problems with fit/comfort, and quality control issues”
– Closest women’s t-shirt is slightly different
– Heavier fabric dries slower than other options
– Frequently out of stock
– Limited color selection
The Point6 Merino Alpine Extra-Fine Merino Wool Tee is a heavier option for a merino shirt suited for slightly cooler climates. It’s a comfortable shirt, but it holds sweat noticeably longer than its lighter counterparts (I’ve mistakenly worn this one on hotter days, and it can get quite heavy with sweat). This shirt is only available in a few colors and is frequently out of stock (even as I write this). Note that the women’s t-shirt from Point6 is only available in their “ultra-fine” blend and is slightly lighter than the “extra-fine” blend of the men’s shirt. Check it out here (men’s/women’s).
Merino T-Shirt Detailed Breakdown
| T-Shirt | Weight | Price | Materials | Fabric Weight | Branding | Colors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ridge Merino Journey T-Shirt | 5.2 oz / 147 g | $60 | 87% Merino, 13% Nylon | 145g/m | None | 12 |
| Smartwool Short Sleeve Tee | 5.6 oz / 159 g | $80 | 88% Merino, 12% Nylon | 150g/m | None | 4 |
| Icebreaker Sphere II T-Shirt | 5.28 oz / 150 g | $75 | 40% Merino, 60% Lycell | 150g/m | None | 6 |
| KUHL Cashmerino Tee | 5.5 oz / 156 g | $80 | Merino/Nylon | N/A | Sleeve | 8 |
| Patagonia Capilene Cool Merino Shirt | 3.9 oz / 111 g | $69 | 65% Merino, 35% Recycled Polyester | N/A | Hem | 4 |
| Decathlon Forclaz Travel 100 Merino Wool Hiking T-Shirt | 5.22 oz / 148 g | $40 | Merino/"Synthetics" | 155g/m | Chest | 2 |
| Ibex Journey Short Sleeve Crew | 4.96 oz / 141 g | $85 | 89% Merino, 11% Nylon | 150g/m | Sleeve | 4 |
| Minus33 Algonquin T-Shirt Crew | 6.6 oz / 186 g | $70 | 100% Merino | 170g/m | None | 8 |
| Point6 Merino Alpine Extra-Fine Merino Wool Tee | 7 oz / 199 g | $75 | 100% Merino | 190g/m | Hem | 3 |
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