Merino wool has long been hailed for its versatility, offering natural benefits like moisture-wicking, temperature regulation, and odor resistance. While it’s commonly known for its ability to keep you warm, it can be surprisingly effective at cooling you down too. The key challenge with merino, however, is that it tends to retain warmth, making it less suitable for scorching summer days or high-intensity activities in hot climates. Fortunately, various brands have worked to perfect merino blends, creating fabrics that manage heat better while still maintaining the qualities that make merino a favorite.
In this post, I’ll dive into some of the best lightweight merino blends I tested over the summer, each promising to provide superior comfort during hot weather. These blends feature merino mixed with fabrics like polyester, Tencel, and nylon to offer enhanced cooling, moisture-wicking properties, and faster drying times. If you’re someone who struggles with overheating when the sun is out, these options could be game-changers.
1. Outlier Runweight: The Stylish Option
If you’re looking for a simple, no-nonsense t-shirt that blends high performance with style, Outlier’s Runweight Merino T-shirt is a solid choice. Made from a 50/50 blend of merino wool and polyester, it balances durability and comfort. The polyester adds a silky smooth feel and quick-drying ability, making it ideal for warm weather. This shirt holds up well after multiple washes and offers a sleek, minimalist design without any distracting logos or details.
While the polyester blend might reduce the shirt’s odor resistance slightly compared to 100% merino, it still offers a solid two or three days of wear before needing a wash. For an athletic fit, consider sizing down as the shirt tends to have a more relaxed cut.
- Fabric: 50% merino, 50% polyester
- Weight: 150 grams per square meter
- Cost: $88
- Drying time: 6 hours in a warm room
2. Icebreaker Cool-Lite: The Soft and Absorbent Option
Icebreaker’s Cool-Lite fabric is another excellent choice for summer. This fabric combines 52% merino wool, 35% Tencel, and 13% nylon to offer a soft, breathable, and quick-drying garment. Tencel, a type of rayon, is highly absorbent and dries faster than other fabrics, making it an excellent addition to merino blends. The fabric wicks moisture away from your skin and disperses it across the surface, helping it dry more quickly than 100% merino.
One thing to note, though, is that Tencel can absorb a lot of moisture, so if you’re caught in a rainstorm or sweating heavily, the drying time may not be as quick as you’d expect. The fabric is also slightly fuzzy, which gives it a cozy feel. Overall, this shirt strikes a great balance between performance and comfort, with a slim fit that can function as either a base layer or a standalone piece.
- Fabric: 52% merino, 35% Tencel, 13% nylon
- Weight: 130 grams per square meter
- Cost: $70
- Drying time: 8 hours in a warm room
3. Oliver’s Terminal Tee: The Ultra-Breathable Option
If you need a shirt that can withstand high-intensity activities, like uphill biking or sweaty hikes, Oliver’s Terminal Tee might be your best bet. This shirt features a unique double-sided structure, with merino wool on the inside for softness and comfort, and polyester on the outside for moisture management and faster drying. The result is a fabric that dries incredibly fast—about half the time of pure merino.
The shirt is incredibly breathable, thanks to its open mesh structure that allows air to flow freely. It’s the lightest and thinnest option on this list, making it perfect for hot days and vigorous outdoor activities. The fit is slim, making it ideal for athletic types who need maximum performance and comfort.
- Fabric: 54% merino, 46% polyester
- Weight: 125 grams per square meter
- Cost: $68
- Drying time: 4 hours in a warm room
4. The Disappointment: Ibex Essential
Despite the excitement surrounding the Ibex Essential, I ran into some issues with this particular blend. Made from 80% merino and 20% silk, the fabric promised to be a luxurious, all-natural alternative to polyester blends. Silk adds a touch of strength and smoothness, but unfortunately, this shirt developed significant pilling after only a few months of use. The durability was underwhelming, especially considering its high price tag of $95.
In terms of breathability and drying time, it didn’t outperform other options, and the fabric absorbed moisture slower than others I tested. This was a bit disappointing, as I had high hopes for its unique blend. The overall durability issues make it less ideal for long-term use compared to some of the other options on this list.
- Fabric: 80% merino, 20% silk
- Cost: $95
- Drying time: 8 hours in a warm room
Honorable Mentions
While the above options were my top picks, there are a couple of other blends worth considering:
- Rohan Merino Union 150: A mix of merino and polyester, this shirt is cool, durable, and breathable. It’s available in both short-sleeve and long-sleeve options, making it a versatile addition to your summer wardrobe.
- Royal Robbins Merinolux Tee: A budget-friendly option made from a blend of merino and polyester. While I haven’t tested it extensively, the reviews suggest it performs well in hot weather and dries quickly.
Final Thoughts
The blend of merino wool with other fabrics has certainly evolved to meet the demands of summer adventures. From the sleek and stylish Outlier Runweight to the ultra-breathable Oliver’s Terminal Tee, these shirts have redefined comfort during hot days and high-intensity activities. While merino wool on its own is an excellent fabric, these blends have taken its natural benefits a step further, offering moisture-wicking, odor-resistant, and fast-drying properties that make them ideal for outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you’re biking, hiking, or simply enjoying a sunny day, these merino blends will keep you feeling fresh and comfortable.
Leave a Comment