The 20 Best Merino Wool T-Shirts For Men
Merino is the fabric that your next favorite T-shirt is going to be made of — that we can pretty much guarantee. It’s why we’re here after all, is it not? To tell you about the best merino wool T-shirts for men is to unlock an underappreciated secret in the menswear game. That secret? Well, it’s that your T-shirt can be durable, stylish, rugged, easy to wear … and it’ll last even longer than expected. Merino wool is what you might call a wonder fabric of sorts — it’s a natural fiber sourced sustainably from Merino sheep, and it’s got properties that put your regular cotton T-shirt to shame.
Not that you should forgo wearing a classic cotton T-shirt, but for our money’s worth, these shirts can really do it all. Because it’s lighter and thinner in terms of material, merino wool is moisture-wicking and antimicrobial, so you can wear your new favorite shirt for hours and hours (and days) on end. To get you through plenty of seasons and your next big outdoor adventure — or just a comfortable day hanging out at home — here are our picks for the best merino wool T-shirts for men. Try ‘em out now, and thank us later.
Proof 72-Hour Merino Tee
One of the best examples on the market of an absolutely essential merino T-shirt comes courtesy of Huckberry, and the Proof line of performance menswear. The 72-Hour Merino Tee really is guaranteed for 72 hours of wear (seriously, you should see how our buddies at Huckberry took it off-road and off-trail). Available in a wide array of colors, once you try one, you’ll certainly want to pick up extras for the everyday and your next excursion. Still on the fence? Read our hands-on review.
Taylor Stitch Merino Tee
You’ve never felt a T-shirt quite as soft as this one from Taylor Stitch. The all-purpose shirt combines 95% Merino wool for lightweight ultra-soft durability and 5% Lycra for just the right amount of versatility. Whether you need a warm base layer for the winter or a cool shirt for the hot summer, this casual tee delivers style and comfort.
Oh, and did we mention that it’s fully biodegradable, water-repellent, moisture-wicking, and quick-drying? It even has an incorporated anti-microbial lining to keep smells at bay and UV protection so your skin is shielded during those long days at the beach or lake. You’ll never want to wear another shirt once you’ve felt this beauty against your skin.
Ten Thousand Merino Tech Shirt
I (Andy) tend to sweat a lot, but I’ve found that when I run, lift, or train in the Ten Thousand Merino Tech Shirt, I stay cooler, drier, and fresher-smelling for longer. That’s largely thanks to the natural thermoregulating, moisture-wicking, and anti-odor properties of the Merino wool used in the fabric blend.
The addition of a touch of nylon adds durability and quick-drying capabilities, as well as just enough flexibility I can move easily and unencumbered. It’s also a wonderfully soft shirt against my skin, and the flatlock seams reduces chafing over a 10K run or 25K hike. Just an all around win of an athletic T-shirt in my books.
Ministry Of Supply Men’s Composite Merino Tee
For a cooler-looking and cooler-feeling day off, the Ministry Of Supply Men’s Composite Merino Tee is my go-to shirt. The soft-spun wool is cloud-soft to the touch and nicely lightweight, so it never feels bulky or stuffy even on a hot summer’s day. I particularly appreciate the natural odor-fighting properties of the shirt—I can wear it while chasing my kids around at the park, then head straight to brunch with my friends without having to change.
The polyester blended into the Merino wool makes it tougher and more resilient, great for a daily commute or running errands around town. It also holds its shape very nicely even if I’m loaded down with a heavy backpack or bundled up in winter clothing. This Ministry of Supply shirt has become one of my favorite weekend choices.
GORUCK 24.7 Merino Wool Tee
The GORUCK 24.7 Merino Wool Tee is designed to “wear 24/7”, and I can say it definitely lives up to that claim. The natural structure of the shirt makes it look crisp and stylish when at the gym, but it’s suitable for a night out with friends, a visit with the neighbors, or meeting with my kids’ teachers at school.
The shoulders are reinforced with GORUCK’s synthetic “indestructible training fabric”, which resists the bunching and scrunching caused by the weight of a heavy backpack or messenger bag. Thanks to its light weight and breathability, it’s a shirt I’ll gladly wear even in the harshest summer heat.
Patagonia Men’s Capilene Cool Merino Graphic Shirt
Patagonia is one of my favorite outdoor adventure brands, and the Capilene Cool Merino Graphic Shirt has quickly become my T-shirt of choice if I’m heading out for a weekend of camping, hunting, hiking, fishing, or backpacking. Nicely breathable, it’ll be cool enough to wear on a hot summer day but still serve as a good base layer beneath a jacket or coat when the weather turns cold.
Though it’s only about two-thirds Merino wool, the addition of extra nylon lends more durability to make it a shirt that can handle rough-and-rugged use (like hiking and hunting). The slim fit does a great job of accentuating my chest and shoulders while hiding the extra heft around my midsection, so I look better and feel more comfortable when wearing it.
Stio Men’s Alpin Lightweight Merino Pocket Tee
The Stio Men’s Alpin Lightweight Merino Pocket Tee is the T-shirt I recommend if you want a “summer dress up” T-shirt. Yes, I know that sounds oxymoronic, but it’s true.
The crisp look, eye-catching colors, sharp crew neck collar, and the chest pocket make this tee a great choice to pair with Bermudas or khaki shorts and deck shoes so you can step up your style game while still feeling relaxed and comfortable. It’s lightweight and breezy enough you’ll hardly feel it, but it’s built tough to stand up to sport and athletic use.
Western Rise StrongCore Merino Tee
Western Rise makes gear that’s fit for adventure and fit for style at home — that’s what all the best merino T-shirts do so well, after all. We love the fact that the StrongCore Merino Tee features a versatile fit and is built with plenty of mobility. It also teams quite nicely with the Western Rise line of durable, versatile pants made with loads of stretch and toughness. Talk about a winning formula.
Olivers Convoy Tee
Olivers Apparel takes the fabric you know and love (at least, now anyways) and upgrades it with its own take on merino wool for one of the coolest, and most stylish, workout shirts out there. The Convoy Merino Tee is built simply but effectively, using Merino Active Jersey fabric. It’s also available in a plethora of colors to pair with any workout gear or casual style staples once your training session wraps. Can’t ask for much more than that from a merino T-shirt, right?
Black Diamond Rhythm Merino T-Shirt
When you hit the mountain, trails, forests, or rivers, you want Black Diamond clothing every time. The Rhythm T-shirt makes the ultimate base layer for cold-weather hikes, climbs, or treks, but it’s equally amazing for the summer heat. The soft merino wool is dynamic, highly mobile, odor-resistant, and both moisture-wicking and temperature-regulating. Now matter how aggressively you tackle the challenges of nature, this shirt has — literally — got your back.
Icebreaker 200 Oasis Crewe Base Layer Merino T-Shirt
Icebreaker brings the style to your vacations with the 200 Oasis Crewe Base Layer Top. Whether you need a warm base layer for a weekend on the ski slopes or a sleek and heat-resistant shirt for your beach trip, this ultra-breathable, lightweight, super-soft shirt serves as the perfect choice for any setting. You even get UPF 30 sun protection to keep the sun’s UV rays away from your skin all day long.
KUHL Klimitizer T
KUHL delivers the perfect summer t-shirt in the form of the Klimitizer T, a lightweight, beautifully dyed shirt that will look great paired with jeans, chinos, slacks, or board shorts. The blend of Merino wool and Tencel fabric makes for a naturally cooling shirt that will endure even the worst of the summer heat, and you’ll find it’s both highly breathable and moisture-wicking. It feels as good as it looks, too. All in all, it’s an easy-wearing t-shirt you’ll absolutely want to add into your wardrobe.
REI Co-op Merino 185 Base Layer Top
When hiking, cycling, running, or trekking, you want a base layer that is warm enough to keep out the chill without causing you to overheat, and soft enough that it won’t chafe or irritate your skin. That’s exactly what you get with REI’s Co-op Merino 185 Base Layer Top.
The ultra-fine, super lightweight Merino wool shirt is naturally breathable and cooling, guaranteed to pull moisture away from your body and dry quickly. It’s also odor-resistant, so you can wear it day after day and never worry about smelling bad. For those long days hiking under the bright sun, you’ll find the UPF30 sun protection is an absolute must-have to keep you from getting sunburned.
Peter Millar Excursionist Flex Performance-Merino Tee
For guys who hate stiff, confining tees, the Peter Millar Excursionist Flex Performance-Merino Tee will be a truly beloved addition to your wardrobe. This tee is made with a blend of super-soft (and super-tough) Merino wool that is made sturdier and more versatile by the addition of nylon.
The four-way stretch means you can move comfortably whether you’re running to catch the train, sitting in your office chair, or lounging on your couch. However, the fabric is sturdy enough to retain its shape and will hold its color even after years of regular use. Modern elegance meets casual sophistication in this epic T-shirt.
Filson 210G Merino Wool Short Sleeve Crewneck
Filson’s sport apparel is crafted with comfort and versatility in mind, and the 210G Merino Wool Short Sleeve Crewneck. Made of a lightweight Merino wool, it’s silky soft to the touch and breathable enough that you’ll stay cool on even the hottest summer day. The Merino wool is also naturally quick-drying and moisture-wicking, not to mention odor-resistant.
Whether you wear it for a workout, a night out on the town, or a game of pick-up basketball, it’ll keep you looking and feeling your best. Best of all, when the temperature drops and the snow starts to fall, it makes an excellent base layer to provide insulation against your skin without ever getting sodden or causing you to overheat.
Kuhl Cashmerino T-Shirt
Want the luxury of cashmere without paying the insanely high prices or worrying about your clothes being too delicate? Give the Kuhl Cashmerino T-Shirt a second (and third) look. This shirt is made using “Cashmerino”, a blend of 16.5 micron New Zealand Merino wool and nylon that is treated to feel as soft as cashmere, but with the durability of wool and synthetic fabrics.
The shirt offers natural odor-resistance and moisture-wicking properties, so you can wear it longer and wash it less frequently (even for heavy-sweating guys like me). Thanks to its temperature-regulating properties, it’s a shirt you’ll want to wear all year around—whether on its own when the summer sun is beating down on you, or as the base layer when bundled up against the winter cold.
Arc’Teryx Ionia Merino Wool Shirt
Hikers, trekkers, campers, snowboarders, and skiiers, this one’s for you. The Arc’Teryx Ionia Merino Wool Shirt is built for an active outdoors lifestyle, using synthetic fibers blended with the Merino wool that not only increase the shirt’s durability, but offers better performance for sport and athletic use.
The material has an innate breathability that helps you to stay cool and dry even when the days are blisteringly hot, and the fabric will stay soft and comfortable against your skin no matter what you’re doing. All of the shirts are also crafted in a Fair Trade-certified facility as part of Arc’teryx’s commitment to transition at least 80% of their products to Fair Trade certification by 2025. It’s a shirt you can fall in love with and wear over and over knowing it’s sustainable and promoting ethical working conditions.
Tracksmith Harrier Tee
For runners who don’t want to be weighed down, the Tracksmith Harrier Tee is a game-changing choice. Like all Tracksmith gear, the Harrier Tee is built specifically with runners in mind, be they marathoners, Ironmen, triathletes, or even the casual weekend warriors.
The blend of Merino wool with nylon makes the shirt beautifully lightweight, and imbues it with a natural odor resistance and moisture-wicking properties that will keep you from getting bogged down by sweat over a long-distance run. It’s even odor-resistant so you can wear it multiple times without needing a wash.
Finisterre Eddy Short Sleeve Merino Wool Base Layer T-Shirt
The Finisterre Eddy Short Sleeve Merino Wool Base Layer T-Shirt is designed to be worn all year around. As its name suggests, it makes a great base layer, thanks to the moisture-wicking and quick-drying properties inherent in Merino wool that will keep you from overheating when bundled up against the cold.
However, it’s still beautifully breathable so you can wear it all summer long and still stay breezy. The fabric is even naturally anti-bacterial to prevent odors when worn multiple days in a row. The blend of superfine Merino and polyamide makes for a tougher, all-around more versatile shirt.
Artilect Utilitee
This shirt is crafted to be the one you love to throw on in the morning, no matter what your day has in store. The blend of Merino wool and TENCEL gives it more loft, greater mobility, and a faster drying time (perfect for those who sweat a lot) even in hot climates.
The no-chafe flatlock seams and the softness and natural breathability of the superfine 19 micron non-mulesed Australian Merino wool makes it excellent for guys with sensitive skin or who just hate to be uncomfortable or constricted. The shirt is even biodegradable (thanks to the wood-derived TENCEL) and made in a bluesign-accredited facility. Quality meets comfort and versatility in a shirt you’ll be glad to wear all year, every year, until it firmly takes its place as your favorite go-to T-shirt.
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