Budget Merino Wool T-Shirts: My Honest Review After Buying & Testing 4 Brands (Updated 2025)

As a full-time traveler embracing a carry-on lifestyle, my search for budget merino wool t-shirts led me to test four options – three affordable and one premium brand. In this review, I compare their features, comfort, and durability.

UPDATED!: It’s been almost a year since we headed out on our fulltime travels around the globe and I’ve posted an update at the bottom of this post.

Travel Clothes for a Carry-On Lifestyle

When you’re living out of a carry-on, your clothing priorities shift dramatically. I needed clothes that could handle different climates, dried quickly, wouldn’t wrinkle easily, and minimized the need for ironing. Plus, with limited luggage space, versatility became key.

My initial search led me to moisture-wicking and quick-drying shirts. However, I recently discovered wool t-shirts’ intriguing promise of temperature regulation – a lifesaver for someone like me who dislikes extreme heat. Reviews also highlighted their durability and odor resistance, perfect for extended wear on the go.

The Magic of Merino Wool

Here’s what I leaned about lightweight merino wool tshirts and why they are quickly becoming my travel wardrobe essential:

• Breathable Comfort: They allow air to circulate and wick away moisture, keeping you cool in warm weather.
• Odor Resistance: Wool naturally inhibits odor-causing bacteria, making them ideal for multi-day wear.
• Softness: Despite being lightweight, merino wool offers a luxuriously soft feel against the skin.
• Quick-Drying: The moisture-wicking properties allow them to dry quickly, ideal for traveler like me as we’ll need to wash clothes on the go.
• Versatility: These tshirts are perfect for outdoor activities, casual wear, and layering in cooler weather.
• Durability: High-quality merino wool tshirts are surprisingly durable and can withstand regular wear and washing.
• Natural UV Protection: The tightly woven fibers offer some protection from harmful UV rays.

Understanding Quality

One essential aspect to consider is the wool quality. Wool can vary in quality based on its fiber diameter, with finer fibers generally considered higher quality. Superfine, fine, medium, and coarse are some common wool grades.

Here are some common wool grades:

• Superfine: Superfine wool has the finest and softest fibers, usually ranging from 15 to 18.5 microns. It is often associated with luxury and is commonly used in high-end garments and accessories.
• Fine: Fine wool has slightly thicker fibers than superfine wool, with a diameter ranging from 18.5 to 20 microns. It is still considered high quality and is widely used in a range of clothing items.
• Medium: Medium-grade wool has a fiber diameter of approximately 20 to 24 microns. It is often more durable and less expensive than the finer grades, making it suitable for a variety of garments, including sweaters, socks, and outerwear.
• Coarse: Coarse wool refers to fibers with a diameter above 24 microns. This type of wool is typically less soft and may be used in applications where durability and insulation are prioritized, such as rugs or heavy-duty outerwear.

But the wool grade is not the sole factor determining the quality of a wool garment. Other factors, such as the type of wool, the processing methods, and the overall craftsmanship, can also influence the quality and performance of the final product.

Which Merino wool tshirts did I compare and why

For this review, I focused on merino wool tshirts in a similar price range, all falling between $34 and roughly $65. Since everyone has different “budget” priorities, I wanted to see how features and performance varied within this more affordable price range.

Here are the four merino wool shirts I purchased to compare:

The Results of My First Merino Wool Shirt Comparison

Comfort and Consistency Across the Board

The Icebreaker, Metarino, and Merino Protect all provided consistent comfort and softness against the skin. The Icebreaker and Metarino were an inch longer than the Merino Protect, though being shorter myself, this wasn’t a deal-breaker.

Sheerness

There was a slight visibility issue with lighter colored shirts. However, upon closer inspection, it seemed more related to the color itself than the fabric weight. That being said the Icebreaker was the only one that exhibited enough sheerness for me to return it.

Stitching and Price: Where They Diverged

While all the shirts felt well-made, the Metarino had slightly flatter stitching when laid out flat. The most significant difference, however, came down to price. The Icebreaker was the most expensive at $63.23, followed by the Metarino at $39.99. The Merino Protect emerged as the most budget-friendly option at $34.99. Interestingly, the Merino Protect also boasted the widest color selection!

The SHEEP RUN Update

The SHEEP RUN Women’s Merino Wool TShirt arrived 20 days later than the others. It has a looser fit, true-to-size fit, and is made of 100% wool with a weight of 180 GSM. It is available in several colors not offered by other brands. The Sheep Run wool tshirt also features lie-flat seams, making it a favorable option.

The seams on the Metarino were all the lie flat type seam making this my favorite wool tshirt.

Icebreaker: The shoulder seams were the lie flat type but the other seams where the same as the other brands

The Icebreaker (light blue)and the Metarino (dark blue) were an inch longer in the body than the Merino Protect (striped).

The Icebreaker (light blue)and the Metarino (dark blue) were an inch longer in the body than the Merino Protect (striped).

The Merino Protect was not very sheer. In person you can barely see skin tone.

None of the seams on the Merino Protect were of the lie-flat variety available in the other brands. (This is pic is a better representation of the color)

Of all brands tried, the Icebreaker was the sheerest and you can see skin tone through the fabric.

The Sheep Run wool tshirt also features lie-flat seams

Long-Term Testing Results

Best Wool TShirt Update after just a few days of wearing

An Update to the Update: I have now worn the wool tshirts for several mid-summer days, in and around our home in central Oregon, and they are now my favorites. The actually help me stay cooler in hot temperatures. I tried wearing one of my cotton shirts and immediately took it off in favor of a wool tshirt because the cotton tshirt was too hot.

Best Wool TShirt Update – One Year-ish Later

My experience revealed some interesting insights about climate compatibility. While these shirts worked wonderfully in Portugal, Spain, France, and England, they weren’t ideal for hot and muggy conditions in Panama and Costa Rica. The itchiness became intense in high humidity!

Due to luggage constraints (we each had a backpack, day pack, and shared space in a smaller roller bag), I ended up not packing the SHEEP RUN t-shirt – mainly due to its color not fitting my what turned out to be primarily blue, white, and black travel wardrobe. Totally my fault, I should have ordered a blue one.

Final Verdict

After almost a year- plus of wear, the METARINO 100% Merino Wool TShirt Women remains my favorite, though it only slightly edges out the Merino Protect. The deciding factor? The METARINO has maintained its shape better than the Merino Protect, and I absolutely love its color more than the others.

Care and Maintenance Tips

After more than a year of travel experience with merino wool tshirts, I’ve learned some valuable lessons about keeping them in good condition:

• Washing: Despite what some may think, these shirts don’t need special care. I usually sinkwash them in warm water but have thrown them in with the rest of my shirts.
• Drying: We rarely have access to a dryer so we just drape them over a towel rod or drying rack. They dry surprisingly quickly!
• Storage: I roll rather than hang them to prevent stretching.
• Packing: When traveling, I roll them instead of folding to minimize wrinkles.

Cost Per Wear Analysis

Given the higher initial investment compared to regular t-shirts, here’s my breakdown of value:

• Regular wear (2-3 times per week)
• Multiple wears between washes (thanks to odor resistance)
• Durability after numerous washings
• Versatility across different settings and weather conditions

This makes the cost per wear significantly lower than it might initially appear, especially compared to cotton t-shirts that need more frequent washing and replacement.

Layering and Styling Tips

Through my travels, I’ve found these shirts to be incredibly versatile. They can be worn alone, under my cardigan or over my sunshirt.

Packing Tips for Fellow Travelers

If you’re considering adding merino wool t-shirts to your travel wardrobe, here’s what I’ve learned:

• Start with colors that match multiple outfits
• Two shirts can easily handle over a years worth of travel
• Consider your destination’s climate when choosing weight/thickness
• Pack coordinating layers to maximize versatility