Merino wool is a brilliant fiber. One of the best merino wool clothes by some means manages to be snug in 95-degree warmth, and merino base layers maintain you heat properly beneath freezing. Not like artificial fibers derived from petroleum, merino wool is pure and renewable.
Merino wool’s versatility means there’s a bewildering array of blends and choices to select from. Listed below are our favourite merino wool merchandise that we have examined by sporting and washing (often in chilly water, and hung to dry, though we do machine dry them simply to see what occurs) over the course of months and even years in some instances. When you’re finished right here, remember to take a look at the remainder of our attire guides, just like the Finest Merino Wool T-Shirts, Finest Base Layers, Finest Puffer Jackets, Finest Hoodies, and Finest Mountaineering Boots.
Up to date November 2025: We’ve added a number of new T-shirts from Huckberry’s Proof model and Taylor Sew, a Minus33 base layer for excessive chilly, Ridge Merino’s wonderful Cloudripper merino-grid fleece mix, Wool&’s Roam Convertible Wrap Bra, and Correct Fabric’s beautiful gown shirt.
Desk of Contents
Why Is Merino Wool So Nice?
Merino wool is nice since you’re stealing a sheep’s skill to maintain itself heat or cool primarily based on the temperatures it is in, a course of sometimes called thermoregulation. If you happen to’ve solely ever worn the kind of itchy wool sweaters your proverbial grandmother supposedly made, you may marvel what all of the fuss is. The reply is that Merino sheep have thinner, softer wool, which has advanced to maintain them snug throughout a variety of temperatures and is snug to put on subsequent to your pores and skin. Wool is sustainable, too.
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 that softer wool although, and merino wool is a exceptional material that is turn out to be the cornerstone of my wardrobe.
Merino wool is available in completely different weights, which you’ll continuously see listed as “200 gsm” or one thing comparable. (The “gsm” refers to grams per sq. meter, typically listed as g/m.) What’s essential is the dimensions and the place your garment falls on it. On the low finish, you may have T-shirts and underwear, that are usually 150 gsm, although we’ve got seen some as little as 120 gsm. Usually, something beneath 200 gsm will likely be base layer or T-shirt. From 200 to 300 gsm are your mid-layers, and something above 300 is a heavier garment.
If you happen to’re extra accustomed to artificial scores like these usually used on fleece, know that, in my expertise, about 120–160 gsm wool corresponds to 100-weight fleece, 160–200 gsm wool roughly matches 200-weight fleece and 200+ wool is like 300-weight fleece. In each occasion, the wool is hotter as a result of it is higher at trapping warmth, particularly within the wind. (That stated, there are causes to go together with fleece at occasions, like how extremely light-weight it may be.)
Nuyarn is a merino wool/artificial hybrid weave, whereby merino wool is wrapped round a nylon core for heat, lightness, and additional sturdiness. The concept is to get the temperature regulation advantages of merino, however so as to add among the longevity of nylon. In my expertise, Nuyarn principally works. It is our high choose for base layers, although I discover it much less vital in additional informal clothes, the place I choose 100% wool.
Tips on how to Take care of Merino Wool
Most merino merchandise may have care directions. More than likely will probably be to scrub chilly and lay flat to dry. The latter is essential, as hanging wool to dry will stretch it out (due to the water weight). Whereas most merino labels say the garment may be machine washed, my expertise has been that hand-washing merino will lengthen its life. That is significantly true of very light-weight (150 gsm) merino base layers and T-shirts. The exception is Minus33’s Microweight Raglan brief sleeve T-shirt, which is machine-washable and dryer-friendly. Having finished each to mine for over a 12 months, I can vouch that it does certainly maintain up.
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 are taking precautions towards moths, that are infamous for consuming holes in wool. I’ve misplaced merino clothes to moths.
If you happen to do not wish to scent like mothballs, there are higher options. I be certain that to scrub and completely dry no matter I’m storing, then I seal it in a compression bag, like this. An alternative choice is to place your merino garment in a cotton bag or in any other case wrap it in cotton after which put it in a plastic bin. It is essential to guarantee that the garment is totally dry earlier than utilizing any of those storage strategies, in any other case your wool will scent musty and moldy. Different choices embrace storing your garment in a cedar chest, which is an efficient pure deterrent for moths, or use moth traps or lavender sachets, which can repel the moths.
100 % Merino vs. Blends
Do you have to purchase 100% merino or must you go for a mix? The reply is … it relies upon. On the garment in query, the use case, and your preferences. Most likely one of the best ways to seek out out is to strive a number of and see what you want. One benefit to blends is that they are stretchy, which makes them higher for energetic pursuits like mountaineering, mountaineering and the like. I like 100% merino for heavier mid-layers like hoodies or jackets, however I choose blends for lighter layers. My expertise has been that the nearer I get to my pores and skin, the extra mix I would like, with Nuyarn being my high choose for base layers.
There are additionally some alpaca blends on the market which are additionally splendidly comfortable (I like the whole lot I’ve tried from Paka and Arms of Andes). If you happen to’re one of many uncommon individuals who do discover merino itchy, you is perhaps allergic to lanolin, which is the pores and skin oil produced by sheep. Alpacas do not make lanolin, and the fibers are thinner and finer than merino. That makes alpaca hotter and softer, but it surely’s additionally costlier.
Merino vs. Artificial Fibers
Which is healthier? The reply once more is … it relies upon (sorry). However often merino. By synthetics, I typically imply polyester, nylon, polypropylene, rayon, or blends of those and different materials—the whole lot however cotton, wool, and linen.
Synthetics typically win for wicking away sweat, which implies they have a tendency to really feel drier. Additionally they are likely to dry sooner, so relating to issues like socks and underwear, even most “merino” choices are sometimes greater than 50 % artificial. Synthetics are simply higher at dealing with moisture. How a lot this issues relies on a number of non-public components. For instance, I really feel bizarre and virtually clammy in something artificial, so I do not actually care how a lot moisture it wicks away.
The draw back to that moisture wicking is that synthetics retain odor. There are some chemical remedies that may assist, however I’ve by no means tried something artificial that was as odor-resistant as merino wool.
One other distinction is breathability. Synthetics are satisfactory on this division, but it surely’s the place merino actually excels. If you happen to’re sizzling and are mountaineering up an uncovered slope towards an open cross after which dropping down into the cool of a forest, merino is your pal, as a result of the breathability means much less sweat to chill you while you get out of the solar. Once more, how a lot this issues relies on your physique.
The ultimate issue price enthusiastic about is sturdiness. In some instances, synthetics will last more than pure merino, significantly in situations the place abrasion is a significant supply of damage. To my thoughts, that is simply another excuse to decide on a merino mix reasonably than going all the best way to synthetics, but it surely’s one thing to consider should you do numerous off-trail mountaineering or mountaineering—any exercise the place your garments are going to take a beating.
Base Layers
To actually see how exceptional merino wool is, begin on the backside, with the garments subsequent to your pores and skin. Merino actually shines as a base layer. It is hotter for the burden, wicks moisture properly, and in contrast to artificial materials, merino stays stink-free for days of damage. Be sure you learn our layering information for extra on easy methods to put all of it collectively and keep snug in any climate. We even have a separate information to the very best base layers if you need know all of your choices, however listed here are our high merino picks from that information.
Finest Light-weight Base Layer
Ibex Woolies Professional Tech base layer crew is the very best light-weight merino base layer we have examined. In order for you a hard-wearing shirt, this it it. Woolies are Nuyarn (see above), which is 85 % merino wool and 15 % nylon—the merino wool is wrapped round a nylon core, which will increase the heat whereas being lighter (5 oz for the lads’s giant) and extra sturdy. That is my high choose for all issues technical. It is what I deliver mountaineering, backpacking, and it is evaluations editor Adrienne So’s choose for operating, climbing and different high-aerobic actions when it’s chilly. I additionally love the Woolies Professional Tech Bottoms ($115), that are what I deliver backpacking in all however the warmest of climate. There’s additionally a quarter zip model of the shirt should you choose.
Apart from consolation and heat, a bit a part of the explanation we advocate Woolies is that they final. Ibex is what passes for a heritage firm on this house; the corporate was based in 1997 and has been cranking out merino garment for a very long time. Adrienne’s mother and father purchased her two units of Ibex base layers in 2001 that she nonetheless wears in the present day, within the 12 months of our Lord 2025. Correctly cared for, Woolies will maintain you snug heat for years to return.
Finest Heavyweight Base Layer
Once I need one thing a bit hotter than the light-weight Woolies above, I attain for Smartwool’s Traditional lengthy sleeve base layer. These could also be the preferred merino shirts round, and for good cause: They’re very snug, tending to the looser facet, function heavy obligation seams that do not rub, and sit off the shoulder for extra consolation when sporting a pack. At 87 % merino wool (blended with nylon), these are additionally very sturdy whereas remaining light-weight (10.3 oz for a males’s giant). This Smartwool shirt, together with the matching pants ($115), are nice for cold winter days.
The picks above all have what my spouse calls “that sporty look,” which the business refers to as “technical.” This 100% merino shirt from Unbound is the other: it simply appears like an extended sleeve shirt. It is extremely comfortable and whereas it does tablet a bit should you run it by means of the dryer (do not), it is proved itself a lot sturdy—I have been sporting it continuously for over a 12 months now and it nonetheless appears prefer it did after I acquired it. It is the long-sleeve, base layer twin to our favourite T-shirt (see beneath). It is on the skinny facet for a base layer, which makes it good for these cool climate mornings within the shoulder seasons. It is versatile too; it may be used as a base layer, but it surely additionally works as a T-shirt when it is not too chilly. Match runs true to dimension, and if the one you need is offered out, be affected person; Unbound continuously updates its inventory.
There are such a lot of! Here is a number of extra to think about, however actually, go learn the bottom layer information.
Merino Mid Layers
Fleece has its place, however I hardly ever put on it today. I choose merino for my mid layers. It is higher at serving to your physique regulate its temperature. The one place fleece nonetheless wins for me is backpacking, it is virtually all the time lighter for comparable heat, no less than in mid layers.
Just like the Northern Lights or the McRib, the thickest Ibex wool hoodie seems irregularly and with some fanfare. The Mammoth Hoodie is certainly an enormous, furry beast of a garment—it is principally the burden of the traditional American Big hoodie however fabricated from 85 % wool minimize with 15 % nylon for added heat and stretch. Ibex says it is the warmest hoodie they’ve ever made, and in my week of testing, I’ve used it instead of a jacket in mid-30s temps. It has an athletic minimize with zippered pockets and thumb holes. I do put on a stocking hat with it within the chilly as a result of the scuba hood is supposed to suit beneath a helmet which implies it is too small to offer sufficient heat for my giant shaved head by itself. —Martin Cizmar
There is a dearth of merino wool for teenagers. 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 corporations provide kids-size merino. In reality, this Minus33 hoodie is not obtainable in children’ sizes, however the extra-small ladies’s match my 10-year-old completely and continues to suit her as an 11-year-old. You may wish to verify the match chart on Minus33 in your personal children, but when they do match, it is a implausible hoodie. It is a lot heat (and my daughter is all the time chilly) and sturdy sufficient to face as much as child life, climbing timber, and operating by means of the woods, and the hand heaters pair properly with mittens on chilly days. Better of all when children 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.
The Finest Merino Jacket
A rising variety of research have proven that there are PFAs—hormone-disrupting chemical substances which are generally utilized in quite a few plastics—in peculiar sportswear, like leggings and sports activities bras. If you happen to, like me, 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 Higher Sweater ($159).
I took this jacket on a visit this spring to Eire. It’s surprisingly dense and comfortable 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 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 may, neither is it as gentle, but it surely appears a lot nicer and it will not really feel like slime in your pores and skin when it will get moist. (The total-zip model is at the moment out of inventory, however Ibex notes that will probably be again quickly.) —Adrienne So
The Finest Grid Fleece Merino Jacket
Grid fleece is superior. It is heat for the burden, and really breathable, making it nice for extremely cardio actions. Regardless of all that I choose the consolation of merino, and produce my merino mid layers backpacking though there is a particular weight penalty. Because of Ridge Merino’s Cloudripper jacket although, I can now have my merino and eat my grid fleece too. Ridge has mixed grid fleece with merino wool to present you the benefits of each, protecting the merino towards your pores and skin, however utilizing grid fleece to enhance air flow and make the jacket a lot lighter. The boys’s giant I have been testing weighs simply 16.1 ounces on my scale. That is 4 ounces greater than Patagonia’s R1 Air hoodie ($189), in all probability the preferred grid fleece jacket on the market, however I’ve discovered the Cloudripper to be significantly hotter than the Air.
The Cloudripper jackets (there’s additionally a 1/2 zip model and a crew neck model) are fabricated from two materials. The primary is wool grid fleece (265 gsm) which is 69 % merino, 15 % recycled polyester, 13 % nylon, and three % spandex. The secondary material is a grid fleece(180 gsm) that is 51 % recycled polyester, 41 % Merino wool, and eight % lycra. The extra conventional grid fleece with the upper polyester depend is used primarily on the hood and decrease again, whereas the whole lot that might contact your pores and skin (if you do not have on a base layer) is merino.
I have been testing the total zip Cloudripper for a couple of month now, and it is rapidly turn out to be my go-to mid layer on the cool fall mornings and evenings which have settled in the place I stay. It is confirmed itself on some early morning bike rides, the place it strikes a stability between protecting me heat after I’m first beginning out, and venting off the surplus warmth I am producing as soon as I get going. It additionally does not get pungent like my purely polyester grid fleece. I am nonetheless within the strategy of placing collectively a devoted information to mid layers, however the Cloudripper is an early contender for finest grid fleece. It is the very best of grid fleece, married to the very best of merino wool to create what is perhaps the final word technical mid layer.
You probably have considerations about utilizing goose down jackets as an insulation layer, merino wool can be a good substitute for artificial insulation. Vests are just like the cheat code of layering should you wish to maintain your core heat however your arms cell, otherwise you wish to get an additional soupçon of heat with out including an excessive amount of bulk. I wish to layer Ibex’s Wool Aire Vest beneath my common wool coat or rain shell, if I am going out for the night time or on a long term. —Adrienne So
The Finest Merino Wool T-Shirts
Wool won’t appear to be a sensible choice for a summer time T-shirt, however merino is surprisingly snug even when it is heat. To some extent anyway. On humid days over about 90 levels Fahrenheit, I often go together with cotton or linen, however something beneath 90 and I am sporting merino. There are far a ton of merino T-shirts on the market, so many the truth is that we now have a information devoted to only the very best merino t-shirts. Listed below are our favorites from that information.
The Finest All-Round Merino T-Shirt
Huckberry’s Proof-brand 72-hour Merino T-Shirt is my favourite all-around merino tee. The minimize and magnificence are usually not overly sporty, making it extra versatile than a extra technical tee. It is an extremely comfortable T-shirt, due to the 150-gsm weave of superfine merino wool (16.5 micron). It is a mix, 87 % merino and 13 % nylon, which provides it some stretch—with the trade-off that it’ll begin smelling earlier than a 100% merino T-shirt. Within the 12 months or so I have been sporting it, I’ve discovered the identify correct. You will get about three days out of it earlier than it wants a wash (relying on ambient temps and what you are doing, however typically talking this one will go three days).
I actually like that this shirt is available in all kinds of colours, greater than some other shirt I’ve examined. Proof makes use of the very same material to make lengthy sleeve tees, in addition to polos and henleys, should you’re in search of one thing greater than a T-shirt.
The Finest Technical Merino Wool T-Shirt
OK, however what about while you do need a extra technical minimize, with flatlock stitching and offset seams? Once I’m heading out mountaineering, backpacking, paddleboarding, absolutely anything open air, that is the T-shirt I attain for first. It is light-weight (84 % 145-gsm merino, 16 % artificial) jersey knit is comfortable and comfy—not too sizzling within the solar (it is also UPF Score 20), heat sufficient when it is cool. It is also sturdy (I have been rolling jiu jitsu on this shirt for years and it is fantastic) and machine cleanable. You may even throw it within the dryer, no must child this T-shirt.
The Most Luxurious Merino T-Shirt
As I say in our information to the very best merino T-shirts, if I might have just one merino T-shirt, it could be this one. It is the softest, most luxurious merino shirt I’ve examined. It is 95 % merino wool, which means it could actually go fairly some time earlier than it smells, and it is nice while you wish to journey gentle—deliver two of those and that is all you want in half the world. Did I point out how comfortable that is? It jogs my memory extra of cashmere than merino. Taylor Sew says that’s as a result of it makes use of a mercerization course of on its wool. Regardless of the case, it’s comfortable. Very, very comfortable. My solely actual gripe right here is the very restricted coloration choice. Taylor Sew usually has a heather blue and heather black obtainable on a regular basis, and now and again another colours will likely be obtainable on a really restricted foundation.
The Finest Merino Wool T-Shirt for Journey
Unbound Merino’s T-shirt has lengthy been a favourite of WIRED readers, and it is lengthy been a favourite of vacationers. It’s totally comfortable, and since it is 100% merino wool it’s going to keep odor free longer than any blended shirt. It is also light-weight and packs all the way down to a tiny roll, which is ideal should you’re trying to simplify down to 1 bag (actually, is there some other solution to journey?). I like how comfortable these shirts are, and so they dry the quickest of any merino T-shirt I’ve examined.
The Finest Girls’s Merino T-Shirt
Artilect’s mix of merino wool and Tencel (a fiber comprised of eucalyptus) is shockingly light-weight and versatile. This summer time, the Utili-Tee grew to become my favourite shirt for climbing and backpacking. It was comfortable and comfy after I was within the tree shade, after which magically stayed gentle and breathable after I broke by means 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 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 manner. —Adrienne So
Socks, Underwear and Bras
You possibly can argue that is the true base layer, however we’ll skip that and simply say that merino wool underwear, socks, and bras are a lot nicer than their artificial counterparts. The caveat is that whereas merino wool could be very comfortable, most merchandise on this class are blends, often with some type of nylon. Nonetheless, if you have not tried merino underwear but, you are in for a deal with. After testing dozens of every, these are our favorites.
Darn Robust socks are a WIRED favourite. They’re nice for snowboarding, mountaineering, climbing, and absolutely anything else you wish 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 a lot heat and comfy. Darn Robust’s socks additionally final. Mine are happening two years now with no worn space or gap in sight. If you happen to do develop holes, Darn Robust socks include a unconditionally lifetime assure. You may return them for an additional pair, no receipt wanted, which is sort of loopy should you contemplate the abuse that mountaineering socks take.
Minus33 socks are my private favourite merino socks. I’ve a number of pairs of the lighweight and midweight and even one pair of the expedition, although these are so thick and heat I hardly ever put on them (they’re good with the temps drop beneath 0F although). My favourite are the Light-weight Mountain Heritage Boot Wool Socks, that are good for mountaineering or sporting round city. Minus33 does not publish a mix breakdown for these, however I might guess they’re about 60/40 wool to nylon, with loads of each softness and stretch to them.
The Finest Males’s Merino Underwear
The phrase “wool underwear” may conjure pictures of some lumberjack from the 1800s with hair rising by means of the weaves of his itchy, sizzling lengthy johns, however that is not what the merino underwear we have examined is like. Generally these are blends, with some nylon as properly.
Because of WIRED readers for mentioning Woolly to us. These 100% merino (190 gsm) boxers are implausible and inexpensive. They ventilate properly and modify to altering situations to maintain you snug even on days when the climate begins sizzling and ends chilly, or as I wish to name it, mountaineering within the mountains. They’re on the shorter facet with a 4-inch inseam, however Woolly makes the identical factor in an extended minimize.
These are the one 100% merino underwear I’ve examined (there’s elastic within the waistband, but it surely’s surrounded by wool), and so they’re additionally a few of my favorites, particularly in chilly climate. These are longer than any of the opposite boxers I’ve tried. These are 170 gsm, making them a little bit lighter, however as a result of they merino content material is larger, these are the warmest I’ve examined. After years of testing merino underwear, these are my favourite on all however the hottest days.
Different Nice Males’s Underwear:
The Finest Girls’s Merino Underwear
Branwyn makes what they name merino wool efficiency units. I’m a fan of Branwyn’s garments, all of that are Oeko-Tex 100 licensed, which implies each part of the clothes has been independently examined towards an inventory of as much as 350 poisonous chemical substances. This is among the most generally recognized and revered labels for shopper security. These match true to dimension. (I suppose it’s essential to notice right here that I’m a small-busted lady, and that Branwyn makes a Busty Bra ($58) should you want extra help.)
Nonetheless, this isn’t fairly supportive sufficient to go operating, which is why Branwyn launched the Racerback Bra ($75). It is fairly spectacular that Branwyn acquired merino wool to be compressive sufficient for medium impression exercise. I like that it provides full protection, with no annoying small and twisty straps and no padding. It precludes the necessity to change from cotton “on a regular basis” underwear to tight nylon “sport” underwear each time I wish to do one thing energetic, which is on a regular basis. —Adrienne So
Different Nice Girls’s Underwear:
The Finest On a regular basis Merino Garments
I am going to confess that after I launched this information years in the past I considered merino wool primarily as an outdoor-related material. It’s nice for that, however I’ve since found that merino is nice for the whole lot, particularly journey, since it may be worn a number of occasions with none odors. I’ve tried merino pants, gown shirts, exercise garments, hats, and extra. One of the best stuff I’ve examined is beneath.
The Finest Merino Costume Shirt
Correct Fabric’s Reda gown shirt is among the nicest issues I’ve ever examined. The pictures actually do not do justice to how good this shirt appears in particular person. As you’d anticipate from merino, the Reda is properly breathable, a lot lighter and extra breathable than your typical gown shirt. I discovered it fairly snug even in the summertime humidity. The Reda material is skinny, although, and moisture wicking, which implies you do see some arm pit sweat when it is heat. The excellent news is in fact it will not retain any smells.
I strongly counsel babying this one a little bit bit. I machine-washed chilly and laid it flat to dry (which was fairly fast), however you may doubtless wish to give it a light-weight urgent to get it wrinkle free. If you happen to’re touring, packing these down will get you a number of wrinkles, but it surely’s nothing you possibly can’t get out fairly rapidly. The massive query I had moving into was, how sturdy will this be? Given the skinny material, and the typically fragile nature of merino when spun this fantastic, I anticipated there to be some apparent indicators of damage fairly rapidly. Luckily, I used to be mistaken. Greater than three months of regular use now has finished nothing to this shirt, it appears pretty much as good because the day I acquired it.
These tremendous comfortable, informal sweatpants from Ridge Merino are among the most snug pants I’ve ever worn. I do not usually work out in them, I’ve by no means really jogged in them (or yogged, it is perhaps a comfortable j), however they’re nice round the home. These are 100% merino wool (275 gsm) with what Ridge calls a terry material (they really feel like sweatpants).
This button-down long-sleeve shirt from Woolly is far more informal than the Correct Fabric shirt above. It is extra what you may name enterprise informal. It is snug, comfortable, well-made, and has the 100% merino benefit of being odor-resistant. The one factor I’m not fairly so keen on is the marginally shimmery look, however that is simply private desire.
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