Best Merino Wool Clothing (2026): Base Layers, Hoodies, Jackets

Merino wool is great because you’re borrowing a sheep’s ability to keep itself warm or cool based on the temperature, a process often referred to as thermoregulation. If you’ve only ever worn the sort of itchy wool sweaters your proverbial grandmother supposedly made, you might wonder what all the fuss is. The answer is that Merino sheep have thinner, softer wool, which has evolved to keep them comfortable across a wide range of temperatures and is comfortable to wear next to your skin. Wool is sustainable, too. One sheep can produce 4 to 5 pounds of wool per year. But be aware of merino greenwashing, as the process from sourcing the wool to the end product may still involve chemicals, polluted waters, synthetic fabrics, and other things that increase the carbon footprint. Research a company’s methods and claims, as cheaper merino wool may not be as sustainable as marketed.

Most merino products have care instructions that say to wash them in cold water and lay flat to dry. The latter is important, as hanging wool to dry will stretch it out (because of the water weight). While most merino labels say the garment can be machine washed, my experience has been that hand-washing will extend its life. This is particularly true of very lightweight (150 GSM) merino base layers and T-shirts. The exception is Minus33’s Microweight Raglan short-sleeve T-shirt, which is machine-washable and dryer-friendly. Having done both to mine for over a year, I can vouch that it holds up.

I’ve never had a problem storing merino in my closet between wears, but for long-term storage, I recommend you take precautions against moths, which are notorious for eating holes in wool. I have lost merino garments to moths.

If you don’t want the fabric to smell like mothballs, there are better solutions. I make sure to wash and thoroughly dry whatever I am storing, then I seal it in a compression bag. Another option is to put your merino garment in a cotton bag or wrap it in cotton, then put it in a plastic bin. It’s very important to make sure that the garment is completely dry before using any of these storage methods; otherwise, your wool will smell musty and moldy. Other options include storing your garment in a cedar chest, a good natural deterrent for moths, or using moth traps or lavender sachets, which will repel moths.

Should you buy 100 percent merino or go for a blend? It depends on the garment in question, the use case, and your preferences. Probably the best way to find out is to try several and see what you like. One advantage of blends is that they’re stretchy, which makes them better for active pursuits like hiking, rock climbing, and the like. I like 100 percent merino for heavier mid-layers like hoodies or jackets, but I prefer blends for lighter layers. My experience has been that the closer I get to my skin, the more blend I want, with Nuyarn being my top pick for base layers.

There are also some alpaca blends out there that are wonderfully soft (I love everything I’ve tried from Paka and Arms of Andes). Alpaca is not merino, but both share similar qualities. If you’re one of the rare people who do find merino itchy, you might be allergic to lanolin, which is the skin oil produced by sheep. Alpacas don’t make lanolin, and the fibers are thinner and finer than merino. That makes alpaca warmer and softer, but it’s also more expensive.

Synthetic fabrics include polyester, nylon, polypropylene, rayon, or blends of these and other fabrics—everything but cotton, wool, and linen. In most cases, they are less expensive than natural fibers.

Synthetics generally win for wicking away sweat, which means they tend to feel drier. They also usually dry faster, so for things like socks and underwear, even most “merino” options are often more than 50 percent synthetic. Synthetics are just better at handling moisture. How much this matters depends on a host of personal factors. For example, I feel weird and almost clammy in anything synthetic, so I don’t really care how much moisture it wicks away.

The downside is that synthetics retain odor. Some chemical treatments can help, but I’ve never tried anything synthetic that is as odor-resistant as merino wool.

Another difference is breathability. Synthetics are passable in this department, but it’s where merino really excels. If you’re hot and are hiking up an exposed slope toward an open pass and then dropping down into the cool of a forest, merino is your friend, because the breathability means less sweat to cool you when you get out of the sun. Again, how much this matters depends on your body.

The final factor worth thinking about is durability. In some cases, synthetics will last longer than pure merino, particularly in scenarios where abrasion is a major source of wear. To my mind, this is another reason to choose a merino blend rather than going all the way to synthetics, but it’s something to consider if you do a lot of off-trail hiking or rock climbing—any activity where your clothes are going to take a beating.