A must-have for the fall and winter season! 10 recommended merino wool base layers you should wear now [2015]
Written by Yasushi Hisatomi
table of contents
- The latest articles for 2016 have been published. Click here to find out the latest recommendations.
- Recommended as a price-oriented entry model
- Recommended for those who want to be particular about the ultimate comfort
- Recommended for people who want to wear it as everyday wear and who value design.
- Recommended for those who value sweat absorption and wicking in intense winter sports
- Emphasis on fit and ease of movement! Recommended for those who are
The latest articles for 2016 have been published. Click here to find out the latest recommendations.
Not just the outdoors, but the comfort of merino wool has completely changed winter life
It's about time that winter is ready on the top of the mountain, and the scenery is changing with a comfortable season and a colorful landscape. For camping, hiking and trekking enthusiasts, the best season has arrived. It's the perfect season to start hiking, but for the fall and winter season, the base layer of Merino wool is definitely something I would highly recommend to everyone without hesitation. The tingling sensation that traditional wool has been removed, and it feels comfortable to wear is great, and has moderate elasticity, making it easy to move around, keeping you warm even when you sweat, and also has a natural deodorizing effect. The high quality, which evenly covers the functions necessary for winter underwear, is great for use in harsh environments like outdoors, as well as everyday wear in winter (underwear). Many outdoor enthusiasts are always comfortable, no layering or heating required, and have become a must-have for winter.
The more you dig, the more you dig, the more you'll find great and new merino wool works
Previously, this site has been conducting comparison tests of base layers including merino wool . However, in reality, the comparison report does not cover all the good products released by other manufacturers due to physical issues. So this time, we have selected 10 Merino wool base layers recommended by our editorial team, out of dozens of different types available from each manufacturer that we were unable to introduce in the last time. Of course, we will be conducting a side-by-side comparison test from here, and we will also be releasing the report in the near future, so please look forward to it. Let's go now.
Prerequisite criteria for selecting recommended merino wool base layers
- Basically, it is intended to be used for activities such as mountain climbing rather than for city wear.
- A model with a minimum of about 50% merino wool blend
- Among the minimum overall quality (degree of perfection), the type can be selected according to the characteristics.
- Thickness and temperature range are not considered
Recommended as a price-oriented entry model
mont-bell super merino wool
It has a certain level of functionality that is hard to complain about, and is surprisingly affordable (official price: 4,381 yen + tax). Is there any more obvious advantages? Although there's nothing stand out, it has the characteristics of merino wool, such as flexibility, temperature control (heat retention) and odor-resistant properties, so it's probably enough, as I reviewed previously , and if you consider it as an inner layer (although I personally find the silhouette disappointing), it's definitely a great deal.
Recommended for those who want to be particular about the ultimate comfort
Houdini Airborn Crew
If you're focusing on comfort, you can't take off Houdini's merino wool. After all, by mixing some silk, it feels even better on the skin, has excellent elasticity, and is very gentle on bare skin. Silk is a material that is highly regulating temperature, just like wool, so it's cool in the summer and warm in the winter, so of course it's not only comfortable to wear but also functionally high specs. The lineup includes Altitude Crew, which has improved heat retention, for colder seasons. The downside is the price after all. This one item will allow you to buy three Montbells.
SmartWool NTS Micro 150 Pattern Crew
![Smart Wool SW64024 M\'s NTS Micro 150 Pattern Crew Cadet Blue Navy M [Mens]](https://images-fe.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/A1FYwEFiAlL._SS300_.jpg)
This is a piece that really really impressed me the wonders of merino wool. One thing I would like to say is that just because we've picked it out here, don't think this model is just "comfortable." To be honest, Smartwool's NTS series has the highest level of comfort, heat retention, sweat removal ability, and odor-resistant properties. However, although there are many functionally excellent 100% Merino wool base layers, we are here that only smart wool has put such a beautiful finish to the comfort of the item. Please read this review for more details .
Recommended for people who want to wear it as everyday wear and who value design.
SmartWool NTS Mid 250 Color Block Crew
What makes smart wool, which is top-class functional, is even more impressive is that it offers a variety of options other than the sporty pattern of a single color. Whether it's the fine stripes of the NTS Micro 150 introduced above or the NTS Mid 250 (thick type), it's probably not a bad design for outdoor wear. However, personally, I think the thickness is a bit excessive at 250, so I wish there was a thin type with this pattern, which is a shame. Perfect for winter situations where it doesn't move very well.
Icebreaker Oasis LS Crewe Stripe
Along with smartwool, Icebreaker, a leading manufacturer of merino wool base layers, has long been releasing a number of highly-finished models. Among them, the classic Oasis series is the perfect thickness for the fall season, extremely smooth comfort, and has a stylish shape and design, and I secretly believe that it is the best overall ability, including it as everyday wear ( see the review here for more details ). This year's model also offers striped patterns that are more comfortable and everyday, but in our home country of America, there are more diverse and fashionable designs, so please check them out if you're interested .
ibex Woolly's 1 Crew Stripe
ibex, a merino wool apparel manufacturer that uses ultra-fine, high-quality merino wool from New Zealand, expands the possibilities of merino wool in a variety of situations, from harsh outdoor activities to everyday life.It has a huge selection of simple and stylish silhouettes and designs that blend into your daily life. In terms of functionality, although it is inferior to smart wool and icebreakers in terms of functionality (as per the editorial review), it is also very comfortable when worn, such as fit and elasticity to the body, making it perfect for a high-quality outdoor experience. It seems that there are some types that can be worn more loosely than the base layer models mentioned above (photo below), so this one may look even more comfortable for everyday use.
Recommended for those who value sweat absorption and wicking in intense winter sports
Teton Bros. Power Wool Base L/S
Teton Bros, who has a proven track record of introducing new materials in many of its items, has adopted Power Wool, the latest wool blend material created by PolarTech, the largest high-tech manufacturer that develops many outdoor fabrics, including fleece, (apparently it can be used exclusively in Japan this season ). Unlike regular blends, the lining is made of merino wool, which has advantages of heat retention and smoothness, and the synthetic fiber, which has advantages of excellent sweat absorption and quick drying and breathability, is placed on the outer fabric, which has advantages, making it more functional as a base layer.
MILLET ROSEG WOOL ZIP LS
The surface is wool with excellent heat retention and moisture absorption, and the skin (lining) is made of soft polyester with excellent water absorption and quick drying properties, resulting in a hybrid structure with excellent heat retention and comfort. Yes, if the power wool introduced above is "lining: wool and outer fabric: synthetic fiber," this model is "lining: synthetic fiber and outer fabric: wool," which is an interesting model that combines the two, as it has the exact opposite approach, but has the same effect (conveying the good points of wool and synthetic fiber). Of course, this model also pursues greater comfort during exercise, and with 100% polyester under the armpits, it seems to be a model that is quite resistant to sweating.
SmartWool PhD Light Long Sleeve
Even smart wool is a semi-form fit that is slightly more relaxed than the normal line of 100% wool, and mesh underarms, making this PhD series optimized for active winter sports, as is the same overall level of perfection. This one is a jacket and can be used for winter training runs.
Emphasis on fit and ease of movement! Recommended for those who are
Patagonia Merino Air
View on the official online shop patagonia Merino Air Crew
The Merino Air series, newly developed by Patagonia this season, is a novel model that combines lightweight heat retention and breathability by seamlessly knitting ultra-fine merino wool and caprine (synthetic fiber) sourced from the Patagonia region, with zigzag grooves crawling. Not only is its newness and high quality, but what made this innovative spinning technology particularly impactful was the wonderful fit when it came. Although it has not been used in practice, I realized from the moment I felt it was unprecedented, as it fits tightly and fits onto my body ( I'm writing about trying on clothes here ).
Well, that's all for this time. In the next special feature on base layers, we will be comparing and reporting on over 10 Merino wool base layers, including other recommendations listed above, so stay tuned!
