Finest Merino Wool Clothes (2025): Base Layers, Hoodies, Jackets & Extra

Merino wool is a brilliant fiber. The perfect merino wool clothes one way or the other manages to be snug in 95-degree-Fahrenheit warmth, and merino base layers preserve you heat effectively 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) over the course of months and even years in some circumstances. When you’re carried out right here, do not forget to take a look at the remainder of our attire guides, just like the Best Puffer Jackets, the Best Hoodies, and the Best Hiking Boots.

Up to date March 2025: We’ve added new base layers and T-shirts, and we’ve up to date hyperlinks and costs all through.

Base Layers

To essentially see how outstanding merino wool is, begin on the backside, with the garments subsequent to your pores and skin. Merino actually shines as a base layer . I’s hotter for the load, wicks moisture higher, and in contrast to artificial materials, merino stays stink-free for days of damage. These are the very best merino wool base layer tops and bottoms that we have examined. Make sure you learn our layering guide for extra on find out how to put all of it collectively and keep snug in any climate.

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 p.c merino wool and 15 p.c nylon—the merino wool is wrapped round a nylon core, which will increase the heat whereas being lighter (5 oz for the boys’s giant) and extra sturdy. That is my high decide for all issues technical. It is what I carry mountain climbing, backpacking, and it is opinions editor Adrienne So’s decide for working, climbing and different high-aerobic actions when it’s chilly. I additionally love the tech-base-layers/merchandise/mens-woolies-pro-tech-bottom” class=”external-link” data-event-click=”{"ingredient":"ExternalLink","outgoingURL":"https://cna.st/affiliate-link/3DgAfmDFCbAvbnD13jNvyznDcmWLx9ysMDX3cLxRf3EiRHMHMQ6jnpv1B6xQg4S4aXLX5TPsd7txEmYny2zc2jX7Xv6FLoLeTqFsGAWqm8LoedsXKAQgdZUQVxDGeJnnq8KFsgiDcbr9WVWU5fREpnMZnjkKmibx934pxM2g1ihgpftM25ohQegp5biEvHUtRdbE1R7QVDhQqHv5b5CdSbUA5i7qXAb"}” href=”https://cna.st/affiliate-link/3DgAfmDFCbAvbnD13jNvyznDcmWLx9ysMDX3cLxRf3EiRHMHMQ6jnpv1B6xQg4S4aXLX5TPsd7txEmYny2zc2jX7Xv6FLoLeTqFsGAWqm8LoedsXKAQgdZUQVxDGeJnnq8KFsgiDcbr9WVWU5fREpnMZnjkKmibx934pxM2g1ihgpftM25ohQegp5biEvHUtRdbE1R7QVDhQqHv5b5CdSbUA5i7qXAb” rel=”sponsored” goal=”_blank”>Woolies Professional tech Bottoms ($115), that are what I carry backpacking in all however the warmest of climate. There’s additionally a tech-1-4-zip” class=”external-link” data-event-click=”{"ingredient":"ExternalLink","outgoingURL":"https://ibex.com/collections/mens/merchandise/mens-woolies-pro-tech-1-4-zip"}” href=”https://ibex.com/collections/mens/merchandise/mens-woolies-pro-tech-1-4-zip” rel=”nofollow noopener” goal=”_blank”>quarter zip model of the shirt in the event you favor.

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 dad and mom purchased her two units of Ibex base layers in 2001 that she nonetheless wears right this moment, within the yr of our Lord 2025. Correctly cared for, Woolies will preserve you snug heat for years to come back.

Once I need one thing a bit hotter than the light-weight Woolies above, I attain for Smartwool’s Basic 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-duty seams (learn: sturdier, longer lasting) that do not rub, and sit off the shoulder for extra consolation when sporting a pack. At 87 p.c 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), have been my fixed companions by way of a cold Wisconsin winter.

If you are going to be in severe chilly, Minus33 is the corporate to buy. It calls this a midweight, however I discover it the right heavyweight base layer for snowy days. It is good and mushy, and paired with the Minus33 Expedition weight hoodie beneath, it is loads heat sufficient for winter mountain climbing and snowshoeing. The seams do not rub, even with a heavy pack on, and the minimize is roomy with out being too dishevelled. I have been testing this shirt for over a yr now and it nonetheless seems to be prefer it did the day I obtained it—nearly no pilling and no fraying. Notice that the ladies’s model is named the Ossipee, but it surely’s functionally the identical shirt.

The picks above all have what my spouse calls “that sporty look,” which the business refers to as “technical.” This one hundred pc merino shirt from Unbound is the other: it simply seems to be like an extended sleeve shirt. It is extremely mushy and whereas it does capsule a bit in the event you run it by way of the dryer (do not), it is proved itself loads sturdy—I have been sporting it always for over a yr now and it nonetheless seems to be prefer it did once I obtained 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 excellent 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 bought out, be affected person; Unbound continuously updates its inventory.

Different Nice Base Layers:

• REI Merino 185 Base Layers for $80 (Men’s): Our favourite finances merino base layers, these REI tops and bottoms are snug, heat, and significantly cheaper than a few of our different favorites. We additionally love the bottoms and leggings (Men’s/Women’s), that are likewise fairly priced
• Ridge Merino Aspect Midweight Base Layer for $75 (Men’s): This is without doubt one of the uncommon base layers you could really the place as only a T-shirt round city and you will not seem like you simply drove in from the trailhead, which makes it a bit extra versatile then a number of the others right here. In order for you one thing multi-use, this can be a good choice.
• Bombas Merino Wool Blend Long-Sleeve Shirts for $74: In order for you a softer shirt, we like these, that are 50 p.c wool and 50 p.c Tencel, a light-weight eucalyptus fiber. Tencel may be very silky to the contact, which makes this shirt significantly versatile—it’s heat whenever you want it and offers UPF 50 safety if you wish to put on it within the solar.
• Kari Rose Base Layer Bottoms for $110: I’m 5’2″ and wrestle to search out clothes choices that can match—particularly ones that should match subsequent to the pores and skin. As high-quality as a base layer could also be, it will not preserve you heat if it rucks up round your waist or sags beneath your hips. Kari Traa’s leggings have a really excessive waist that helps preserve them up. The patterns are additionally fairly, for these of you who object to parading across the lodge in what seems to be like pajamas. —Adrienne So
• Artilect Boulder 125 Leggings for $120 (Men’s): These base layer pants have been my introduction to Nuyarn and so they’re a wonderful selection for something energetic—they’ve a ton of stretch and suppleness due to the numerous material panels and sew traces that truly make sense. They’re fairly skinny and fairly tight, however I actually like these for working on cool mornings.
• Ridge Aspect Midweight Merino High Rise Bottoms: These are one other nice choice fro ladies searching for one thing that may be worn round city in addition to on the path. My daughter has even worn them below shorts for no-gi juijitsu and so they’ve held up nice, which is a testomony to their sturdiness.

Merino Mid Layers

Fleece has its place, however I not often put on it today. I favor 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 nearly at all times lighter for comparable heat, at the least in mid layers.

An Icebreaker hoodie was my introduction to merino wool, and it stays my favourite jacket I’ve ever owned. Alas, after about 10 years, mine had a run-in with moths (see our care information) and needed to be retired. Mine was not the precise fashion pictured, however very near it. This jacket is one hundred pc merino and extremely heat, regardless of not being all that thick. That makes it a terrific choice for days when the climate might differ significantly–it is heat sufficient for a chilly morning however will not be a burden in your pack the remainder of the day. That is on the tight-fitting facet, so if that is not your factor (and it is not mine), get the subsequent dimension up.

Finest Heavyweight Hoodie

Just like the Northern Lights or the McRib, the thickest Ibex wool hoodie seems irregularly and with some fanfare. The Mammoth Hoodie is certainly a giant, furry beast of a garment—it is principally the load of the basic American Large hoodie however manufactured from 85% wool minimize with 15% nylon for added heat and stretch. Ibex says it is the warmest hooie 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 below a helmet which suggests it is too small to offer sufficient heat for my giant shaved head by itself. —Martin Cizmar

Different Nice Hoodies:

• Ibex Men’s Indie Hoodie ($170): WIRED’s commerce director, Martin Cizmar, examined this midweight wool hoodie and says it is now one among his “absolute favourite items of clothes.” See what good wool does for you? Makes you a fan. The minimize on this one is sporty however not too tight you could’t layer below it. The thumb loops, zippable tall neck, and hood make it much more versatile than a typical wool long-sleeve shirt. Cizmar says it is excellent for common winter use, whether or not you are doing yardwork, biking, or tossing a soccer round within the park.
• Ridge Merino Hyde Hoodie ($150): This one hundred pc merino wool hoodie makes use of a 275 GSM terry weave merino that does not really feel like wool. Just like the Icebreaker, it is a midweight hoodie, excellent for these cool days in autumn and spring. It encompasses a full size zipper, thumb holes within the sleeves and zipper on the pocket. I actually like this hoodie, apart from that undeniable fact that it’s minimize on the longer facet, which makes it look slightly giant, though it is not. There is a women’s version as effectively.

There is a dearth of merino wool for teenagers. Maybe the worth for one thing that children might outgrow in a couple of months makes the economics unappealing for producers. Regardless of the case, only a few firms supply kids-size merino (see beneath for extra). In truth, 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 need to test the match chart on Minus33 on your personal children, but when they do match, this can be a implausible hoodie. It is loads heat (and my daughter is always cold) and sturdy sufficient to face as much as child life, climbing bushes, and working by way of the woods, and the hand heaters pair effectively with mittens on chilly days. Better of all when children are concerned, this one will be machine-washed and tumble-dried. It will not shrink or lose its form, and the colours will not bleed.

Minus33 calls this an expedition-weight base layer, however for these of us not climbing Mt. Washington at daybreak in a windstorm, it is actually extra of a mid-layer, a pullover sweatshirt—an insanely heat, cozy pullover sweatshirt. My testing time was restricted. After a month, my spouse stole it and now refers to it as a safety blanket and has mentioned it is the one merchandise of clothes she can not dwell with out.

I did handle to strive it in every single place from the seashore on cool mornings to across the campfire on winter evenings, and at the same time as a base layer below a puffer jacket when the temps dropped beneath freezing final winter. In all these conditions I stayed loads heat. The looser match means it will possibly go over a base layer, however is not so cumbersome you’ll be able to’t put a jacket over it.

A rising variety of research have proven that there are PFAs—hormone-disrupting chemical substances which are generally utilized in numerous plastics—in ordinary sportswear, like leggings and sports activities bras. For those who, like me, are on a quest to switch your polyester clothes with pure fibers, then Ibex’s one hundred pc merino wool Shak Jacket is the pure candidate to switch your (my) worn-out Patagonia Better Sweater ($159).

I took this jacket on a visit this spring to Eire. It’s surprisingly dense and mushy to the contact. It stored me heat on blustery 30-degree days, layered simply below my rain jacket and over my tank high, and appeared glossy sufficient to exit to dinner. In western Eire, at the least (“I like your jumper!” mentioned many an Irishman). It would not pack down fairly as compactly as an artificial layer would possibly, neither is it as gentle, but it surely seems to be a lot nicer and it will not really feel like slime in your pores and skin when it will get moist. —Adrienne So

If in case you have considerations about utilizing goose down jackets as an insulation layer, merino wool can also be a good substitute for artificial insulation. Vests are just like the cheat code of layering in the event you prefer to preserve your core heat however your arms cell, otherwise you need to get an additional soupçon of heat with out including an excessive amount of bulk. I prefer to layer Ibex’s Wool Aire Vest below my common wool coat or rain shell, if I am going out for the night time or on a future. —Adrienne So

The Finest Merino Wool T-Shirts

Wool won’t look like a sensible choice for a summer season T-shirt, however merino is surprisingly snug even when it is heat. To a degree anyway. On humid days over about 90 levels Fahrenheit, I often go along with cotton or linen, however something below 90 and I am sporting merino. There are way more merino T-shirt choices on the market than we will cowl, however listed here are a few of our favorites. Notice that whereas I’m a fan of crew neck types, most of those are additionally obtainable as V neck shirts.

These are my absolute favourite T-shirts. They’re the softest, best-made, best-fitting T-shirts I’ve ever worn, merino or in any other case. Sure, they’re that good. They’re extremely versatile. I’ve worn them doing the whole lot from backpacking in the summertime warmth to rolling jiujitsu to sitting across the fireplace on cool autumn evenings. They’re by no means something however cozy. I additionally like that they haven’t any emblem. Unbound’s Active Merino T-shirt ($95), aimed particularly at understanding, can also be fairly good, but it surely’s a tighter minimize than the common T-shirt.

Once I’m heading out mountain climbing, backpacking, paddleboarding, absolutely anything outdoor, that is the T-shirt I attain for first. It is light-weight (84 p.c 145 GSM merino, 16 p.c artificial) jersey knit is mushy and cozy—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 effective) and mechanically cleanable. You’ll be able to even throw it within the dryer, no have to child this T-shirt.

Artilect’s mix of merino wool and Tencel (a fiber produced from eucalyptus) is shockingly light-weight and versatile. This summer season, the Utili-Tee grew to become my favourite shirt for climbing and backpacking. It was mushy and cozy once I was within the tree shade, after which magically stayed gentle and breathable once I broke by way 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 way 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 approach. —Adrienne So

Different Nice T-Shirts:

• Icebreaker tech T-Shirt for $85: These Icebreaker merino wool shirts have been one among my gateways to merino wool. They’re heat, but one way or the other cool, and surprisingly good at stopping the wind. These shirts aren’t nice in humidity; for that, I would most likely go along with a mix. Notice that a few of Icebreaker’s T-shirts are blends, so test the small print in your favourite design earlier than you make investments.
• Minus33 Algonquin T-Shirt for $70: Minus33 is aware of a factor or two about retaining you heat. The corporate is in New Hampshire, in any case. This 170-GSM T-shirt is snug, with a unfastened minimize that works effectively over a base layer on cool mornings or as a T-shirt throughout hotter components of the day. It is a terrific all-around selection for all however warmest of summer season days.
• Paka Tee for $55 (Women’s): This is not merino—it is a mix of natural cotton and Alpaca wool. Nevertheless it’s such a pleasant, cozy T-shirt I am together with it right here.
• Arms of Andes Alpaca Wool T-Shirt for $75 (Women’s): This could be a merino wool information, however we additionally function fairly a couple of alpaca gadgets, together with this T-shirt, which I like for its shocking heat. This isn’t a heavy shirt and but it manages to be fairly heat, particularly worn over a base layer in winter, it does a wonderful job of insulating and respiration on the identical time.
• Unbound Merino Tank Top for $70 (Men’s): Desire a cooler choice for warm days? This tank high is ideal for hotter, humid climates. It is one hundred pc merino (175 GSM) and would not have any emblem or tag, which we like. It does go out and in of inventory continuously, so if it is bought out, test again later, Unbound continuously provides extra inventory.

Socks, Underwear and Bras

You may 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. If you have not tried it but, you are in for a deal with. After testing dozens of every, these are our favorites.

Whereas merino wool may be very mushy, most merchandise on this class are blends, often with some type of nylon. Darn Robust socks are a WIRED favourite. They’re nice for snowboarding, mountain climbing, climbing, and absolutely anything else you need to do. These blends differ by weight, however most of them are round 50 p.c nylon and 50 p.c merino, which makes them dry a bit sooner than pure merino whereas remaining loads heat and cozy. Darn Robust’s socks additionally final. Mine are happening two years now and not using a worn space or gap in sight.

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 not often put on them (they’re excellent with the temps drop beneath 0F although). My favourite are the Lightweight Mountain Heritage Boot Wool Socks, that are excellent for mountain climbing or sporting round city. Minus33 would 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.

Different Nice Socks:

• Carhartt Midweight Merino Wool Blend Crew Sock for $22: The bizarre factor about socks is that, as a warm-weather lover, effectively, I hate socks. On daily basis with socks is a form of failure. That mentioned, these Carhartts (gifted to me by a pal who was frightened that I wandered about in sockless sandals within the snow) are very nice. They’re extremely heat and mushy, and so they by no means scent.

The phrase “wool underwear” would possibly conjure photographs of some lumberjack from the 1800s with hair rising by way of the weaves of his itchy, sizzling lengthy johns, however that is not what the merino underwear we have examined is like. Usually these are blends, with some nylon as effectively.

Due to WIRED readers for stating Woolly to us. These one hundred pc merino (190 GSM) boxers are implausible and inexpensive. They ventilate effectively and regulate to altering circumstances to maintain you snug even on days when the climate begins sizzling and ends chilly, or as I prefer to name it, mountain climbing within the mountains. They’re on the shorter facet with a 4-inch inseam, however Woolly makes the same thing in a longer cut.

These are the one one hundred pc 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 slightly 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 Underwear:

• Unbound Merino Boxers for $45: Unbound’s boxer briefs are very mushy and cozy. These are 84 p.c merino wool, 12 p.c nylon, and 4 p.c Spandex, in order that they do have a little bit of stretch to them. The 180-GSM merino is gentle sufficient for even the warmest of days.
• Icebreaker Merino Anatomica Boxers for $45: One other nice pair of boxers, these Icebreakers are a really related mix (83 p.c merino, 12 p.c nylon, 5 p.c elastane) to the Unbound above, however lighter weight at 150 GSM. They match true to dimension and are on the shorter facet by way of size. Icebreaker additionally makes a long version that I examined as effectively. They’re just about the identical, only a bit longer.
• Ridge Merino Wool Boxer Briefs for $35: These Ridge Merino boxers are 83 p.c merino wool (170 GSM), with the rest of the material manufactured from nylon and spandex. The mix offers them a stretchier really feel, and so they’re good and mushy as effectively. They typically match true to dimension, and have a 6-inch inseam.

Branwyn makes what they name merino wool efficiency units. I’m a fan of Branwyn’s clothes, all of that are Oeko-Tex 100 certified, which suggests each element of the clothes has been independently examined towards a listing of as much as 350 poisonous chemical substances. This is without doubt one of the most generally recognized and revered labels for shopper security. These match true to dimension. (I suppose it’s necessary to notice right here that I’m a small-busted girl, and that Branwyn makes a Busty Bra ($58) in the event you want extra assist.)

Nevertheless, this isn’t fairly supportive sufficient to go working, which is why Branwyn launched the Racerback Bra ($75). It is fairly spectacular that Branwyn obtained merino wool to be compressive sufficient for medium impression exercise. I like that it gives 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 need to do one thing energetic, which is on a regular basis. —Adrienne So

Different Nice Underwear:

• Ibex Natural Briefs for $35: in the event you’d favor a thinner choice, Ibex’s pure briefs really feel far more like your primary, breathable cotton lingerie. I often line dry my merino wool, however these look sufficient like my cotton briefs that I threw them within the dryer and shrank them. If this sounds such as you, you would possibly need to dimension up. —Adrienne So
• Icebreaker Siren Bra for $35: I solely have one Branwyn bra, however these are the bras that I put on each different day of my life. Like Icebreaker’s males’s underwear, they’re 83 p.c merino, 12 p.c nylon, and 5 p.c elastane, and so they match true to dimension. —Adrienne So
• Wool& Roam Merino Bra for $70: Wool&’s merino material is the softest I’ve felt in my total life, most likely as a result of the mix has a a lot decrease merino content material at 68 p.c merino wool, 25 p.c nylon and seven p.c spandex. I attempted these and Wool&’s underwear. They’re insanely mushy, however overpriced when in comparison with our different choices, and it’s a must to dimension up. —Adrienne So

The Finest On a regular basis Merino Garments

I am going to confess that once 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 sweet 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. The perfect stuff I’ve examined is beneath.

Merino wool pants? Sure. Merino wool all of the issues. I used to be skeptical, however I really love these pants. Do not let the title idiot you, they are not store pants within the sense that Carhartts are. They are much lighter and have a extra fitted minimize, however there are a number of leg pockets and a loop you would possibly connect a device to. Principally, although, they’re simply good informal pants—not too heavy, not too gentle. They are a mix of 75 p.c merino wool (450 GSM), 21 p.c bamboo, and 4 p.c elastane, which supplies them only a little bit of flex.

These tremendous cozy, informal sweatpants from Ridge Merino are a number of 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 might be a soft j), however they’re nice round the home. These are one hundred pc merino wool (275 GSM) with what Ridge calls a terry material (they really feel like sweatpants).

What do you do whenever you’ve obtained good merino wool pants, merino wool underwear, and merino wool socks, however you want one thing nicer than a T-shirt? That is the place this button-down long-sleeve shirt from Woolly is available in. It is slightly extra formal, what you would possibly name enterprise informal, however nonetheless snug and mushy. The one factor I’m not fairly so keen on is the marginally shimmery look, however that is simply private desire.