The Best Men’s Merino Wool T-Shirts To Wear This Summer

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.

Price: $78

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.

Price: $85

Unbound Merino Merino Crew Neck T-Shirt

For guys (like me) who tend to sweat a lot even when just strolling around the grocery store or running a quick errand, Unbound built their Merino Crew Neck T Shirt just for you. The Merino wool is soft but wonderfully sturdy, with natural moisture-wicking properties that keep you from getting soggy and stinky even on hot days.

The shirt can be worn multiple days in a row and is tough enough it won’t run, sag, or bleed color when you wash it. It’s velvety smooth against your skin and guaranteed to never rub you the wrong way—now that’s a shirt you can love.

Price: $90

Smartwool Merino Short Sleeve Tee

Head from the hiking trail to the supermarket aisle to the backyard BBQ in this shirt. It’s built to do it all in style, blending Merino wool with nylon for an ultra-durable and highly versatile natural-and-synthetic fabric. It’s tough and thick enough you can wear it under a hiking or running pack, but light and soft enough it’ll breathe on hot days.

The slim fit accentuates your masculine physique and clings to the contours of your body to keep you comfortable even beneath multiple layers. Thanks to the flatlock seam construction, it won’t chafe or rub while you’re running, cycling, or rucking.

Price: $80

Ministry of Supply Composite Merino Raglan Tee

The Ministry of Supply Composite Merino Raglan Tee is the ideal everyman everyday shirt. Made from a polyester-forward blend that combines cutting-edge synthetic fabrics with resilient Merino wool and stretchy elastane, it’s among the most versatile shirts you could add to your wardrobe.

The ergonomic raglan construction hugs your frame and sits nicely on your shoulders and arms to show off your muscles to best effect. With reinforced stitching, you can trust it’s tough enough to use at the gym, track, or around town. It’s naturally moisture-wicking and breathable, and keeps body odors firmly in check. It’s definitely a shirt I (Andy) have loved having in my wardrobe every summer for the past three years.

Price: $65

Reigning Champ Merino Jersey T-Shirt

This is among the most comfortable Merino wool T-shirts I (Andy) have worn to date. It’s cut a bit looser to hang on your frame so you can move easily, but it’s form-fitting enough to make a comfortable base layer beneath a spring coat or a winter parka.

The flatlock seams ensure no chafing ever, the underarm and side gussets offer great flexibility and mobility, and the bound collar prevents the typical sagging that comes from hard use and heavy sweating. It’s just a great all-around casual shirt that makes a solid addition to any wardrobe.

Price: $135

Allbirds Soft Merino Tee

For those days you want to move fast and keep going for hours, the Allbirds Soft Merino Tee is the perfect choice. The Merino wool is naturally moisture-wicking to keep you dry and odor-controlling to make sure even heavy sweaters don’t stink after long hours on the go.

However, it blends in enough organic cotton to be wonderfully lightweight and breezy over the summer and Tencel Lyocell to be stretchy and quick-drying. Made in Peru, it’s the right shirt to throw on during those busy weekend days when you want to run, hike, or bike before heading out for a dinner or drinks.

Price: $45

Bombas Merino Wool Blend Crew Neck Short Sleeve T-Shirt

The Bombas Merino Wool Blend Crew Neck Short Sleeve T-Shirt is the ideal summer shirt. Made with a light, breathable, quick-drying, and moisture-wicking fabric (a 50/50 blend of Tencel Lyocell and Merino), it’s extra soft and extra tough, with integrated UPF protection that’ll shield your skin from solar radiation.

The tagless design means nothing to irritate your back or neck, and the seams are soft enough you’ll never feel them even after a long day of camping, mountaineering, or kayaking. As a lovely extra, the purchase of every Bombas shirt is matched by a clothing item (socks, underwear, or shirts) being donated to local community organizations. Give back and look good? Yes, please.

Price: $115 for two

Seadon Traveler Merino Tee

Seadon built its Traveler Merino Tee for guys who like to see the world in comfort and style. The purely natural fabric is soft and comfortable for long airplane flights, plus naturally wrinkle- and odor-resistant so you can step off your plane looking and smelling as fresh as when you boarded. The eucalyptus fiber integrated into the fabric will keep you cool even on stuffy and overly hot airplanes.

It’s capable of staying fresh for up to a week—yes, you read that right, a week—before it needs washing, and the natural antimicrobial properties protect it from wear and deterioration. It’s even got integrated UPF 30+ protection to keep your skin safe when you wear it in the jungle, on the beach, or in the desert. World travelers and urban explorers, this is the shirt you’ll want to throw in your bag.

Price: $79

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.

Price: $79

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.

Price: $95 $71

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.

Price: $70

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.

Price: $70 $49

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.

Price: $80

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.

Price: $85

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