The Best Merino Wool Shirts of 2024

Now in its third iteration, we’re still on team Icebreaker Merino 150 Tech Lite III ($80) when it comes to the best Merino tees around. This 150-weight tee is primed for warm weather and physical activity, and even though the fit is slightly let out in the torso in this version, we’re still convinced it’s perfect for everything from the gym to the jetway.

As a full 100% Merino tee, there’s no hiding the true properties of the wonder fiber here (though you will need to treat it a bit nicer), and the 18.9-micron fiber used in the Tech Lite III is right on the line between fine and superfine Merino. Sliding this new tee on for the first time, we were reminded of why we loved the previous version so much: a supremely soft touch. From mountain bike laps in British Columbia to rainforest hikes on the Olympic Peninsula, it performed flawlessly.

This new version of the Tech Lite has a bit of a less athletic cut than the previous, with a slightly baggier fit in the torso. Some will love this, while others who appreciated that cling may want to pivot to something else like the Patagonia Capilene Cool (or the really trim Ortovox 185 Rock’N’Wool). We found it to be a better all-around fit that felt a little more casual, and as a bonus, the updated version gains improved shoulder seams that are stronger than our last tee.

Now, obviously, going with a full Merino tee is going to come with some durability shortcomings, and it’s true that nearly every wool tee we’ve tested has eventually gained a few holes through use. The Tech Lite III is no different, and while surveying the damage after a full week in this tee, we found two small holes in the torso. That’s just the way it goes, in our opinion, and found that laundering this tee on a gentle cycle was a good way to slow the process.

$80 is about the going rate for a quality Merino tee like the Tech Lite III these days and is even a bit competitive when compared to the $100+ you might spend on a full Merino sun hoody. If you’re after the genuine article (and are willing to trade a bit of longevity for performance), there’s nothing quite like a full Merino tee and we think the Tech Lite III is one of the best you’ll find.

While other wools can be as coarse as 40 microns (think itchy grandma sweaters), Merino wool can be as thin as 24 to 15 microns, which is exactly why the Ridge Merino Journey and Wander Merino Wool Shirts ($60) — made with 17.5-micron Merino — are so dang buttery smooth. And at $60, these tees slide in far below other comparable Merino shirts. Now a few seasons into wear, we can confidently anoint the Ridge Merino tees to the best value in our review.

Having crafted an entire line revolving around sheep’s clothing, it’s clear that Mammoth Lakes-based Ridge Merino certainly has a thing for good wool. The Journey tee is easily one of its most popular, and we found it’s for good reason. This tee is just all-around cozy, and the 17.5-micron Merino is finer than even our top pick, the Icebreaker Tech Lite III.

Sewn with a double-stitched neck and sleeves, the Journey felt like it was made for the long run in our testing. Couple that with the nylon core-spun Merino textile, and you’ve got a durable Merino piece that’ll keep up for as long as you wear it. When holding a nylon-Merino hybrid tee next to a full Merino cut, we noticed that the blend has a good bit more stretch and that it bounces back with little bagging.

There’s also no external branding on this tee — which is something we’ve actually come to appreciate. The look isn’t as travel-ready as the sleeker Unbound Merino Crew Neck, but its nice to not feel like a billboard when you’re stepping out for a jog.

We particularly liked the cut of this tee, which is a bit slimmer and longer — though washing and drying will shrink it to some degree. This can cause a little confusion when trying to find the right size, but thankfully, Ridge Merino provides a sizing chart to assist. Across three different testing team members, we all were able to get into a size that fit perfectly.

When comfort is king, but price is still a consideration, the Journey and Wander Merino Wool Shirts are high on our list of most cozy Merino wool shirts.

Vermont-founded Ibex has been making Merino apparel since 1997. After a short out-of-business stint (that then lasted two years), the Ibex brand is finally back. We’ve been testing a number of styles since then, including this 24 Hour Short Sleeve Tee ($90) for two years now, which is made with 100% 18.5-micron Merino wool and is just as soft and light as it sounds.

What we appreciated most about this tee: It regulates the body’s temperature in hot weather, is moisture- and odor-wicking, and is lightweight. On to of that, it feels nice against the skin, works as a standalone tee or base layer, and it’s easy to hand wash and hang dry, which is perfect for travel.

Merino wool sourcing is a big deal in this market slice, and Ibex leans into the pursuit, refining its supply chain and tailoring its wool suppliers based on the different garment needs. The 24 Hour Tee gets its Merino from good ol’ Oz and is then sewn in Vietnam. Our eyes have never seen a loose stitch, and the wool is exceptionally soft.

Our main warning with this tee is that it is more fitted than others (similar to the Ridge Merino Journey: athletic without being a suction fit). The torso still has a nice drape to it, and we found the arms to retain a good amount of mobility. Climbing in this tee this summer in Squamish, B.C., we had no problems pulling awkward pivots when negotiating marathon crack systems. That said, if you want a roomier fit or if you are in between sizes, we recommend sizing up.

If you want a tee that breathes, the 24 Hour Short Sleeve is it. Synthetic performs by the numbers, but the feel of natural materials — Merino wool in particular — is unparalleled. Few brands, if any, do Merino better than Ibex, so it’s great to see the brand back in full swing!

And heads up: this Ibex Merino tee comes in a tank (in the same premium 18.5-micron wool) and long-sleeve versions as well, giving you more options for style and fit.

One of the downsides of the plushness of Merino wool is its fragile nature — not something that’ll fly when scrubbing around in the brush. Thankfully, the KUIU ULTRA Merino 120 LT SS Crew-T ($79) makes use of a new fabric tech, known as Nuyarn, that pushes the strength of Merino to new heights and makes it perfect for your next hunting trip.

Nuyarn takes the soft touch of Merino wool and spins it around a nylon core, greatly increasing its durability and stability. And, since the fiber is drafted as opposed to twisted, it retains all of the high-loft softness and breathability we love about Merino.

We loved the feel of the ULTRA Merino 120 LT SS in hand and during use. It felt like a fabric we wouldn’t be worried about moving around in the woods with. KUIU claims its fabric has a 35% increase in stretch over normal Merino, and we believe it.

Currently, there isn’t a women’s version of the ULTRA Merino 120 tee. The closest you’ll get is the Women’s ULTRA Merino 145 LS Crew ($79), a version with a thicker 145 g/m² fabric weight. While we understand that oftentimes different body types require different levels of insulation, the absence of a tee cut for women is something we’re still after. We would love to see the thinner and more breathable fabric brought to the entire lineup.

If sun protection is a bigger concern on your hunt, pivoting to something with a bit more built-in UPF rating is a good move, and a hoodie like the Voormi River Run should serve you well. The lighter 100 g/m² fabric will breathe even better than the ULTRA Merino 120, and the hood and long sleeves will go a long way in preserving your sunscreen reserves. The tradeoff (there always is one) will be in durability.

Since the temperature-regulating qualities of Merino are allowed to shine through, the ULTRA Merino 120 would make a perfect tee for anyone looking for a standalone hot-weather hunting shirt or a base layer for cooler days.

Unbound Merino says, “We want you to pack and own less,” and the brand’s Merino Crew Neck T-Shirts ($90) make that vision possible. With a classic cut, versatile color pallet, and no visible logos, this 100% Merino tee is an ideal travel shirt. 

Perennial traveler Katie Griffith wore this top for 5 days straight while hiking, climbing, running, and going out for drinks. Even after working up a sweat several times in the sun, the Merino Crew Neck held very little odor, especially when compared to a cotton tee. We were also impressed by the wrinkle resistance after days of use. The 17.5-micron Merino is so comfortable that we fell asleep in this shirt several times and just continued wearing it the next day. 

The 190 GSM fabric weight is a little heavier than most others we’ve tested, but we found this to be a benefit in cool airplane cabins, where we often look for a little more insulation. Worn side-by-side, we could certainly feel the difference between this tee and something lighter like the 120 GSM KUIU ULTRA. Sizing is spot-on for travel as well, with a classic fit that incorporates a good amount of drape. This is also one of the only Merino tees we’ve tested that comes in specific tall sizes.

We also appreciate Unbound’s commitment to ethical production alongside quality, with wool sourced from mulesing-free wool farms in Australia. Mulesing is a controversial practice that removes skin from a sheep’s backside to prevent parasitic infections. Unbound’s production facilities are also WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production) certified, and its Merino is Woolmark certified. 

Unfortunately, the price of this premium tee has crept up since our last encounter, and at $90, it is at the upper end of the Merino tee spectrum. Compared to something like the Icebreaker Tech Lite III, that extra $10 does net you a finer 17.5-micron wool, but otherwise, it’s tough to split hairs between the two.

Unbound warns to “never tumble dry” this top, making it a little more high maintenance than some Merino shirts. Though with its excellent odor resistance, you’ll rarely have to wash it. With its simple design, it can easily transition from sightseeing or hiking to an evening out. If you want to pack a single t-shirt for a week-long trip, look no further than the Unbound Merino Crew Neck.

Senior Editor Nick Belcaster donned the Ridge Merino Solstice Lightweight Pullover Hoodie ($85) for a romp on Iceland’s Laugavegur Trail last summer and came away sold. Long an adherent to using sun hoodies for hiking, this was the first Merino wool cut he had tried, and reported “killer breathability, quick drying, and just a nice loose drape to the fit.”

Made with a 17.5-micron Merino wool that’s been blended with 13% nylon for strength, the Solstice hits about the perfect ratio in our books when it comes to adding a little durability to the Merino garment, without totally diluting the natural properties you’re looking to hold onto. Ridge Merino’s wool comes from the land of the long white cloud and is sourced from Kiwis in the McKenzie Basin.

While sun protection typically isn’t a priority for hikes across Iceland’s highlands, our testing with this hoody yielded an out-of-character three full days of UV, and we were pleased to be able to tuck away under the voluminous hood. Compared to the Voormi River Run Hoodie, we preferred the slightly more robust 145 GSM fabric on the Solstice, which we felt cut through the sun even better.

The sleeves on the Solstice are also cut a bit on the longer end, and are finished off with low-profile thumb loops to keep the sleeve ends over the backs of your hands. Even breaking a sweat couldn’t overwhelm the Solstice, which moved moisture out of the hoody and kept the funk off us after the full 35 miles.

Alas, everything has a limit, and the end of our hike was marked by a small wear hole in the right sleeve. Not surprising after three days of hard use, but it goes to show that Merino needs to be treated with extra care to ensure that it goes the distance. We put the estimated life span of this hoody at one good thru-hike — which for most folks will be plenty long. Our testing will continue with it until we find the true end of this hoody.

For those looking for the ultimate sun protection top that doesn’t inhibit breathability, the Ridge Merino Solstice sun hoody provides full coverage in a premium Merino weave.

The brand doesn’t make just socks, and the Smartwool Merino Short Sleeve Tee ($80) is proof of that. This all-arounder moisture-wicking tee kept us cool on warmer-weather hikes but also offered good coverage.

This layer is a super-comfortable piece at a reasonable price and is now more sustainably made. In terms of construction, we like that it is made with 88% Merino with a nylon-spun core, striking a good balance between soft and durable. This puts it in good company with other blended tees we’ve tested, like the Ridge Merino Journey and KUIU ULTRA. Shirts like this are better for the long haul, but they won’t get the full measure of Merino performance because of it.

We also like that the layer was durable when packed, worn, and washed multiple times over the few months we tested around Colorado. This tee has a lot to offer while still being reasonably priced, making it a great option for those who want a more budget-friendly tee.

Despite loving that this tee runs taller for those with a longer torso, we did discover that the sizing for different body types was a bit trickier than other tees we’ve tested — possibly due to some versions of the tee being colored with plant-based dye. It’s also good to note that these colorways have an added ‘On-of-a-Kind Plant-Based Dye’ logo that runs on the hem, which can be a turn-off for some folks.

While this tee gives the Icebreaker Tech Lite III a good run for its money, we feel that if you’re going to have just one, it should be the real deal and 100% Merino. This isn’t to say that we don’t love blends like the Smartwool — they are nigh essential for pieces we plan on wearing into the ground — but its tough to explain the luxurious feel of pure Merino until you’ve tried it. For this reason, we recommend folks grab the Tech Lite first, then a blended tee like the Merino Short Sleeve for more contact sports.

As a general tee, however, the Merino Short Sleeve Tee certainly lives up to every part of its name.

Testing the Patagonia Capilene Cool Merino Shirt ($69) exceeded our expectations, especially for the price. This shirt is a blend of 65% RWS-certified Merino wool and 35% polyester, which kept us cool — as the name suggests — while hiking in balmy summer temperatures. Yet when we added another layer, it kept us comfortable when the air got chilly.

Another thing we appreciated about this shirt is how lightweight, airy, and not quite as sheer it is as other Merino tops — making it an easy standalone top for various activities. Additionally, after wearing it all day and underneath a pack while backpacking, it stayed surprisingly odor-free. In fact, it easily made it on our list of go-to shirts for multi-day excursions.

Unfortunately, this top isn’t perfect. We found signs of pilling and snags after a couple of washes. However, given its reasonable price and the fact it requires fewer washes in between wears, we still like it. And since it has a sizable percentage of polyester, it’s not exactly as soft as other 100% Merino shirts, but still, we think it’s pretty soft considering.

For a budget Merino shirt that has a higher percentage of wool, consider the Ridge Merino Journey and Wander shirts as excellent alternatives. We’ve noticed that our version of the Capilene Cool shirt has held up better in the long run, but the trade-off in breathability is noticeable compared to the higher Merino percentage of the Ridge Merino cuts.

If you want a shirt that fits comfortably, doesn’t impede mobility, is versatile in both cool and warmer temperatures, and is reasonably priced, then the Capilene Cool Merino Shirt is a strong contender, in our opinion.

Billed as an all-around base layer for mountain adventures, the Ortovox 185 Rock’N’Wool Short Sleeve ($100) is a 100% Merino cut done up in a funky asymmetric design that we grew to love. The shirt clings close for active pursuits, and an extra-long cut hem means the tee won’t pull up when executing a tough move on rock or in the skin track. While wearing it this winter, we couldn’t even feel it beneath our layers.

As a brand, Ortovox has been big on Merino wool for decades, and that obviously hasn’t been a passing interest. The stuff is in nearly all the apparel they churn out, including the soft cheek inserts on its ski jackets, and it’s done just as well in the Rock’N’Wool — using a very fine 185 g/m² 19-micron weave.

This Merino is fairly well scrutinized for sustainability, as well, having passed the brand’s internal Ortovox Wool Promise standard. These requirements ensure that their Tasmanian Merino comes from farmers who never practice mulesing, care for the land, and are entirely transparent about textile production.

That Merino is put to work in a snug, athletic-cut tee that slides effortlessly underneath our layering systems for winter wear. The asymmetric-sewn panels don’t seem to have much use other than aesthetics, but we liked the detail anyway, and with 7 colorways in both men’s and women’s (not to mention long-sleeve cuts), it’s a colorful respite from the muted tones that many other Merino tees are offered in.

This tee, however, doesn’t place as high on our lineup for a few different reasons. The first is the seams, which aren’t flat-locked and ride directly over the shoulders. This seems an oversight in a winter-primed baselayer that slightly rubbed us the wrong way when wearing a ski pack. The long cut will also be an issue for some (on at least one of us, it can be stretched to near tube-top status).

The $100 price tag is undoubtedly owed to the 100% Merino build (and the fact that Ortovox is a Swiss brand), but for a Merino tee that we’d suggest wearing as a base layer more than anything else, we still feel good about the value on the 185 Rock’N’Wool. Other fitness-forward slim cuts include the Smartwool Merino Short Sleeve and Patagonia Capilene Cool Merino Shirt, which both cost a good bit less.

Like Smartwool, Bombas is another brand known for making high-quality socks — but it also crafts other apparel, like the Merino Wool Crew Neck Long Sleeve T-Shirt ($78). Right off the bat, we loved the silky-soft feel of this tee, which felt like a plush pajama top.

That’s thanks to its 50% merino and 50% TENCEL Lyocell blend, which not only makes it feel incredibly comfortable but also aids in its ability to dry quickly when sweating or battling light precipitation. It also contains cooling elements that are perfect for hiking in warmer temperatures. Other bonuses we admired were its UV protection properties and thumb holes for properly staying put underneath layers or under gloves.

Oh, and we can’t forget about the flattering colors this Merino tee comes in — welcome additions to the otherwise standard black and gray shirts. Unfortunately, we would be remiss if we didn’t discuss a few of the tee’s shortcomings. For starters, we weren’t thrilled that this midweight top is quite see-through, especially in the lighter colors. Since it claims to be made for layering, however, it’s not a problem with that in mind.

Another issue was its odd fit. We found it a bit tight in the arms and bust area and too loose everywhere else. If you’re finding the sizing too tight, as we did, we suggest sizing up.

After taking a moment to select a size that works for you, you will be happy to have this ridiculously soft and warm Merino Wool Crew Neck Long Sleeve for your cold-weather hiking, biking, or camping adventures.

We’ve only tested one item from Australia-born and bred brand Ottie Merino, but that one Merino T-shirt ($76) really knocked it out of the park. The texture is soft and light, but not too soft that it feels fragile and can’t handle abrasion or hiking with a pack on.

While testing, we brought this Merino tee to Asia this past summer, and we were thankful to have it on our backs, even in 91-degree F heat. Compared to similar short-sleeved Merino tees like those from Ibex or Icebreaker, the Ottie tee has a less feminine cut and tailoring and a more relaxed fit. It’s slightly longer in the hem, as well.

For more performance, hiking, and all-day use, we’d pick this tee in a heartbeat. For a more fitted and flattering town-to-trail look with similar quality fabric, we’d give the edge to Ibex’s 24 Hour tee. We found it didn’t wrinkle nearly as much when packed as some other tees we’ve tried. And unlike many brands, Ottie’s fabric is made in Melbourne, as are its products: 100% Australian local Merino!

While we’ve previously praised the Ottie Merino T-Shirt for its budget-savvy price of $63, the tag has slowly crept up in recent years to $76, making this tee not as hot of a deal. It also suffers from a built-in disadvantage compared to domestic manufacturers: Availability. As a direct-to-consumer brand out of Oz, it can be a bit tough for Yanks to get our mitts on tees like this. But rest assured, if you snag one, you won’t regret it.

The Voormi River Run Hoodie ($139) is made of 100% merino wool, but with a unique blend and construction. This USA-made hoodie uses an ultralight Precision Blended Wool, a fabric weighing under 100 g/m². That’s 30 to 50 grams lighter than the leading Merino fabrics currently on the market, Voormi claims.

When packing and when wearing, we can attest that this hoodie is light. In fact, it’s so light and versatile that we’re not sure where we haven’t worn this Voormi layer — paddleboarding, camping, climbing, snowshoeing, kayaking, hiking, and running errands. And with the amount of time spent under the sun, the UPF 50-rated protection of this sun protection shirt is a welcome feature.

So what are our cons? It’s crazy ultralight and soft, meaning it’s prone to snag easily, which also doesn’t bode too well with the high cost. But ultimately, with the amount of wear this hoodie has gotten, it’s well worth the investment. If you’re after a Merino sun hoody that’s got a longer lifespan (at a very slight weight ding), the Ridge Merino Solstice Hoody is highly comparable and a bit less liable to snags.

The River Run Hoodie was designed with everything from fly fishing day trips to multiday river trips in mind, which is one of the main reasons we love it so much. If you are heading up into alpine territory, or looking for a Merino base layer for fall, we think it’s a good choice for that as well.