Outlier Merino Wool T-Shirt

I have been working on a hack recently and realized that a previous post that is in our Word Press archives would help to serve as a reference point.  This entry is a Bike Hacks Classic and I will likely have a few related posts up soonish . . .

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Outlier is a bike clothing retailer that occasionally sends press releases our way.  In response to one of their releases I emailed them and said Bike Hacks would be happy to wear test anything they would like to send along.  They responded by sending one of their merino wool tees for me to wear test -

I was quite skeptical at first, mainly because in the past wool products have always caused me to itch.  I remember when I was a kid my mom gave me some wool socks to ski in and it was torturous because with hard plastic ski boots on, it's impossible to scratch your itchy feet.  

I have put the Outlier merino tee through several weeks of commuting and I can state unequivocally that I am 100% sold on merino wool.  It does not itch at all and is extremely resistant to odor.  After my morning and evening commutes I simply hang the tee over my bike to air out and it only starts to stink about after a week. 

The summer might be a different story (I have been riding in extremely cold weather) but this shirt performs like no other shirt I have owned in my life.  It is hard to believe it took me almost four full decades of inhabiting this planet to discover the joy of wearing wool.

The issue that might shock some, like it did me at first, is the price of merino wool tees.  Outlier for example prices them at $75.

However, Outlier makes the shirts in the U.S. (local to where I live in NYC), they are high quality, and perform incredibly well.  There are other companies that produce similar t-shirts so it is possible to shop around.  I actually made a visit to Paragon Sports in NYC recently and they had base layer merino wool tees, made by Icebreaker, for around $50. 

So if you are looking for a high quality tee that will perform well, will lighten your laundry load and you want to support an NYC start up company, do consider Outlier. 

Comments

[Simon]

Same here, but it only took me 35 years to discover Merino :). The Merino buff, leggings & socks are great as well. Mainly "Icebreaker" here but also "Smartwool".

[John]

I picked up a smartwool l/s shirt from REI at their garage sale for $19, I almost felt guilty. Love Merino. I just did some work in the same building as "Icebreaker" in Portland, and it was the first I'd heard of them, they may be my Merino clothing choice in the future though (nice stuff)

[Laura]

Merino wool tshirts and socks are tremendously comfortable and stinkless. I received a wool tshirt from some camping store and it is my favourite. I have worn it under short sleeve cycling jerseys in the spring and early fall, when it was a bit too cool in the morning and evening for only a jersey, and it was great. This spring I'll be on the look out for sale merino tshirts in whatever colour is in the bargain bins.

[sluggish]

Not only comfy, stinkless, and good across wide temperature ranges, but it's pretty damn durable too. If you machine wash it, use a gentle cycle and zip up your jeans and sweatshirts. Hang dry, not the dryer. I have Icebreaker stuff that's seven years old and holding up fine. Other people who have made decent wool stuff: Arcteryx, Ibex, Swobo, MEC, and Smartwool, of course.

[Will]

I'm a fan of the SmartWool merino socks, best I've ever had. I complete agree with the anti-smell. I air them out and wear them at least twice. The airing out is a big key.

With that in mind, a few years ago I picked up a SmartWool long sleeve tee to wear on my commute. I can't stand it! It itches something fearce. Well, not exactly. It is tollerable, but it's bad enough that I hardly wear it and I've been leery of picking up another tee, especially given the high price.

Has the tech improved in the recent years? Should I give it another shot, then?

[Matt]

I am not sure about SmartWool, but I can tell you that I wear Outlier and Icebreaker shirts every single day and have never had an itching problem.

[Cleverhoods]

Great review, moves me to order one. Surely you can find one that is cheaper but the quality of their products are excellent and they are MADE IN US unlike Smartwool.