Fall/Winter Essentials! 10 Recommended Merino Wool Base Layers to Wear Now [2015]
Written by Yasushi Hisatomi
table of contents
- The latest article for 2016 has been published. Click here to find out the latest recommendations
- Recommended as a price-conscious entry model
- Recommended for those who want the ultimate in comfort
- Recommended for those who want to wear it as everyday wear and who value design
- Recommended for those who prioritize sweat absorption and wicking during intense winter sports
- Recommended for those who prioritize fit and ease of movement!
The latest article for 2016 has been published. Click here to find out the latest recommendations
Merino wool's comfort has transformed winter life, not just for the outdoors
Winter preparations are just beginning in the mountains, with comfortable weather and colorful landscapes. For camping, hiking, and trekking enthusiasts, the best season has arrived. While it's also the perfect time to start hiking, we highly recommend merino wool base layers for everyone this fall and winter. Eliminating the itchiness of traditional wool, merino wool offers a comfortable feel and exceptional comfort. Its moderate stretch allows for easy movement, keeps you warm even when you sweat, and even boasts natural odor resistance. Offering all the essential winter undergarments, its high quality makes it ideal for both harsh outdoor environments and everyday winter wear. Its constant comfort, no need for layering, and no heating required make it a winter necessity for many outdoor enthusiasts
The more you dig, the more you find great and new merino wool products
Previously, this site has conducted comparative tests of base layers, including merino wool . However, due to physical limitations, the comparison report was unable to cover the various high-quality products released by other manufacturers. So this time, we have selected 10 merino wool base layers recommended by our editorial team from the dozens of types available from each manufacturer that we were unable to introduce in the previous report. Of course, we will be conducting further side-by-side comparison tests from here and publishing a report on them soon, so please look forward to it. Let's get started.
Recommended Merino wool base layer selection criteria
- Basically, it is intended to be used mainly for activities such as mountain climbing rather than as street wear
- Models that contain at least 50% merino wool
- From among those that meet a minimum overall quality (degree of completion), types are selected based on their characteristics
- Thickness and temperature range are not taken into consideration
Recommended as a price-conscious entry model
mont-bell super merino wool
It offers a level of functionality that's beyond reproach, and is surprisingly affordable (official price: 4,381 yen plus tax). Could there be any benefits more obvious than this? While it doesn't stand out in any particular way, it does have the merino wool properties of "suppleness," "thermal regulation (heat retention)," and "odor resistance," so I think this is enough... as I said in my previous review . (Although I personally find the silhouette disappointing,) if you're willing to use it as an inner layer, it's definitely a great deal.
Recommended for those who want the ultimate in comfort
Houdini Airborn Crew
If you're looking for comfort alone, Houdini's merino wool is a must-have. The addition of a small amount of silk makes it even softer, more stretchy, and gentler on the skin. Silk, like wool, is a highly temperature-regulating material, so it's cool in the summer and warm in the winter, making it not only comfortable but also highly functional. For colder seasons, the lineup also includes the Altitude Crew, which offers enhanced insulation. The only drawback is the price. For the price of one of these, you could buy three Montbell jackets
SmartWool NTS Micro 150 Pattern Crew
This is a garment that truly allowed me to appreciate the wonders of merino wool. I want to emphasize one thing: just because it's featured here, don't assume that this model is only about comfort. Honestly, Smartwool's NTS series is top-class in terms of comfort, warmth, sweat management, and odor resistance. However, while there are many functionally excellent 100% merino wool base layers, Smartwool is the only one that has managed to deliver such a wonderful package, especially in terms of comfort, which is why it's featured here. Please read this review for more details .
Recommended for those who want to wear it as everyday wear and who value design
SmartWool NTS Mid 250 Colorblock Crew
What makes Smartwool, a top-class brand in terms of functionality, even more impressive is the wide variety of patterns available in addition to the sporty, single-color designs. The fine stripes on the NTS Micro 150 mentioned above, and the NTS Mid 250 (heavyweight) are both pretty impressive designs for outdoor wear. However, I personally find the 250 a bit too thick, and wish there was a thinner version with this pattern. It's a shame, but it's perfect for winter situations where you don't move around much
Icebreaker Oasis LS Crewe Stripe
Alongside Smartwool, Icebreaker is a leading manufacturer of merino wool base layers and has long released a number of highly refined models. Their classic Oasis series is particularly noteworthy, boasting just the right thickness for the fall season, a very smooth feel, and a stylish form and design, making it the best overall choice for everyday wear ( see my review here for more details if you're interested, there are even more stylish patterns available in the US, where they originate .
Ibex Woolies 1 Crew Stripe
IBEX, a merino wool apparel manufacturer, uses ultra-fine, high-quality merino wool from New Zealand to expand the possibilities of merino wool in a variety of situations, from the harsh outdoors to everyday life. They offer a wide range of simple yet stylish silhouettes and designs that blend seamlessly into your everyday life. While their breathability and mobility are inferior to Smartwool and Icebreaker (in our editorial evaluation), their garments offer ample comfort in terms of fit and stretch, making them perfect for a high-quality outdoor experience. There also appears to be a type (pictured below) that is looser than the base layer models listed above, which may be more comfortable for everyday wear
Recommended for those who prioritize sweat absorption and wicking during intense winter sports
Teton Bros. Power Wool Base L/S
Teton Bros., which has a track record of being the first to introduce new materials into many of its items, has adopted "Powerwool," the latest wool blend material from Polartec, a leading high-tech manufacturer that develops a variety of outdoor fabrics, including fleece (apparently it will be available exclusively in Japan this season ). Unlike regular blends, the lining is made of merino wool, which has the benefits of warmth and a smooth feel, while the outer layer is made of synthetic fiber, which has the benefits of excellent moisture absorption, quick drying, and breathability, in a new way that enhances its functionality as a base layer.
Millet Roseg Wool Zip LS
The outer layer is made of wool, which has excellent heat retention and moisture absorption properties, while the inner layer (lining) is made of soft polyester, which is highly absorbent and quick-drying, resulting in a hybrid structure that is both warm and comfortable. While the Power Wool mentioned above is "lining: wool, outer layer: synthetic fiber," this model is "lining: synthetic fiber, outer layer: wool," which is the complete opposite approach, but achieves the same effect (combining the best of wool and synthetic fiber). We picked this model because it combines the two and is an interesting combination. Of course, this one also pursues greater comfort during exercise, with 100% polyester placed under the armpits, suggesting it will be extremely sweat-resistant
SmartWool PhD Light Long Sleeve
Smartwool's PhD series is optimized for active winter sports, with a semi-form fit that's a little looser than the 100% wool standard line, mesh under the arms, and more, so the overall quality remains the same. This jacket alone is perfect for winter trail running
Recommended for those who prioritize fit and ease of movement!
Patagonia Merino Air
View the Patagonia Merino Air Crew at the official online store
This season, Patagonia's newly developed "Merino Air" series is a revolutionary model that combines lightweight warmth and breathability by seamlessly knitting ultra-fine merino wool sourced from Patagonia and Capilene (a synthetic fiber) with a zigzag weave. While its novelty and high quality are a given, what really made an impact with this innovative spinning technology was the incredible fit. I haven't worn it in practice yet, but I could tell from the moment I put it on that it felt like it was snugly fitting my body without ever feeling too tight, providing an unprecedented level of comfort ( you can read my try-on report here ).
That's all for today. In our next base layer feature, we'll be doing a comprehensive comparison of over 10 merino wool base layers, including some that aren't listed above, so stay tuned!
Related reading
Once you try them, you'll never go back! 10 recommended merino wool base layers (innerwear) that are even more comfortable
Comparison Review: Trying out different merino wool base layers (underwear)
Comparison Review: What I Learned After Trying Over 20 Merino Wool Base Layers
[Fall/Winter 2025] Recommended base layers for this season and purpose, selected after comparing over 200 items, and how to choose the perfect one for you