The Best Merino Wool Shirts of 2023-2024

Our staff testers love the Tech Lite II Crewe T-Shirt ($80) by icebreaker because we can wear it all year. In hot weather, this tee is light, breathable, airy, and made of 100% natural merino that has built-in odor-wicking properties. In cooler weather, it feels soft and comfortable as a base layer.

For a tee that can be used in any type of weather, it was easy for us to consider the Tech Lite II as the best merino wool shirt overall.

While comparing this tee to others that we had tested, we did feel that the Tech Lite II felt slightly thinner than other tees, which made us wary about its durability. However, after a few years worth of testing now, we’re comfortable with the quality and longevity.

Overall, we are impressed by the amount of use we get from this tee, regardless of the weather. We also really love the fit and coverage, especially the sleeve length on the women’s cut. While the Tech Lite II Crewe is a bit thinner for the price, the outstanding quality makes it a great buy.

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 — 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-tos for multiple-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.

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.

Vermont-founded Ibex has been making merino apparel since 1997. After a short out-of-business stint (that then lasted 2 years), the Ibex brand is finally back. We’ve been testing a number of styles, including this 24-Hour Short Sleeve Tee ($88), which is made with 100% 19.5-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. Additionally, 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.

Our main warning with this tee is that it is more fitted than others. So, if you want a roomier fit or if you are in between sizes, be sure to size up.

If you want a tee that breathes, the 24-Hour Short Sleeve Tee is it. Synthetic performs by the numbers, but the feel of natural materials — merino wool in particular — is unparalleled. And no one does merino better than Ibex, so it’s great to see the brand in full swing!

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

Light and airy — that’s almost everything you need to know about the Allbirds Natural Run Tee ($58), though we should also mention the sustainability factor: this tee is made of a mix of eucalyptus tree fiber and merino wool, so you can feel good about what you wear.

Made of an ultra-breathable mesh weave, this tee was made to run. We especially appreciated the anti-chafe seams and sneaky drop pocket on the hem of the shirt, perfect for stowing keys or cards. During a few test trail runs, the Natural Run regulated temps wonderfully during a chilly fall day that turned warm by afternoon.

Because it is a rather thin weave, you’ll have to be careful not to snag it on anything — something we weren’t capable of. The shirt held up well, but we could imagine a failure in the worst-case scenario. Speaking of the sheer fabric, it isn’t going to be for everyone, as you can see through it against direct light.

Perfect for a day of running where you aren’t sure what the weather has in store for you, the Allbirds Natural Run Tee ticks all the boxes we look for in an active-wear running merino shirt.

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 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. We would love to see the thinner and more breathable fabric of this tee brought to the entire lineup.

Since the temperature-regulating qualities of merino are allowed to shine through, the KUIU ULTRA Merino 120 LT SS Crew-T would make a perfect tee for anyone looking for a standalone hot-weather or base-layer cold-weather hunting shirt.

Unbound Merino says “We want you to pack and own less,” and their Merino Crew Neck T-Shirts ($88) make that vision possible. With a classic cut, versatile color pallet, and no visible logos, the 100% merino tee is the ideal travel shirt. 

Our tester wore this top for five 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 our tester fell asleep in this shirt several times and just continued wearing it the next day. 

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 their merino is Woolmark certified. 

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.

Our Senior Editor Nick Belcaster donned the Ridge Merino Solstice Lightweight Pullover Hoodie ($85) for a romp on Iceland’s Laugavegur Trail this 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.

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 will need 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.

Smartwool doesn’t make just socks; it makes all sorts of apparel, like the Merino Short Sleeve Tee ($80). This 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 87% merino with a nylon-spun core, striking a good balance between soft, stretchy, breathable, and durable.

We also like that the layer was durable when packed, worn, and washed multiple times over the few months we tested. This tee has a lot to offer while still being reasonably priced, making it a great option for those who want a 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 merino tees we’ve tested — possibly due to some versions of the tee being colored with plant-based dye.

However, after finding the right fit, we actually enjoyed the options of plant-based colors, which make this tee a unique departure from the standard black or gray hues we usually see in merino layers. And who doesn’t love tie-dye?

If you want to keep on the go while still remaining stylish, look no further than the Smartwool Merino Short Sleeve Tee.

When the temperature starts to drop, you’ll stay cozy in this 100% merino long-sleeved crew. With a knit of 235 g/m2, this top is a bit heavier than others on this list, making it a great option for cooler weather. We mainly wore it as a low-profile mid-layer, but it could also be used as a base-layer during winter activities like skiing or snowshoeing. 

The Minus33 Ossipee and Chocorua Crew ($80) is loosely fitted, making it easy to pull on over a light layer. Tester and climbing guide Katie Griffith brought it along on cloudy cragging days to stay warm while belaying, and also wore it hiking during a typical overcast and rainy June day in the Pacific Northwest. Overall a big fan of the Ossipee, Griffith did note that when the sun came out, she quickly became a bit too warm while active in this mid-weight top. 

The 100% merino wool fabric is super soft against the skin; we forgot to take it off at night and ended up wearing it as a pajama top several times. The Ossipee crew can also join the rest of your laundry in the washer and dryer, making it a pretty low-maintenance wool piece. 

When you’re moving fast during warmer weather, Minus33 recommends its micro or lightweight wool tops. But the Midweight Ossipee and Chocorua Crew are perfect for winter sports or activities like belaying or fishing that don’t require high output.

Like Smartwool, Bombas is another brand known for making high-quality socks — but they also craft other apparel, like the Merino Wool Crew Neck Long Sleeve T-Shirt ($74). 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 merino 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.

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.

Mammoth Lakes-based Ridge Merino certainly has a thing for good wool, having crafted an entire line revolving around sheep’s clothing. 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.

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’ll wear it. There’s also no external branding on this tee — which is something we’ve actually come to appreciate.

We particularly liked the cut of this tee, which is a bit slimmer and longer, though washing and drying will shrink the tee to some degree. This can cause a little confusion when trying to size the tee, but thankfully Ridge Merino provides a sizing chart to assist.

When comfort is king, the Ridge Merino Journey and Wander Merino Wool Shirts are high on our list of most cozy merino wool shirts.

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.

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. So, if you are heading up into alpine territory, or looking for a merino base layer for fall, it’s a good choice for that as well.