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Guide
Long-Sleeve Shirts
For hiking, choose a merino or synthetic long-sleeve shirt that wicks sweat away from your skin. Cotton stays wet and chills you when you stop.
Key points
- For hiking: merino or synthetic, not cotton.
- Merino around 150 g/m² is light, from 250 g/m² warm.
- UPF shows the fabric's UV protection.
Which long-sleeve for which day?
| Use | Choose | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Hiking, ski touring, multi-day trips | ChooseMerino long-sleeve | ReasonWarm when damp, smells less. Dries more slowly |
| Running, summer hikes, sun | ChooseSynthetic long-sleeve | ReasonDries fast, often with UPF. Smells sooner |
| Every day, travel, camping | ChooseCotton long-sleeve | ReasonComfortable, soft. Stays wet, chills you |
| Climbs, spring and autumn | ChooseHalf-zip long-sleeve | ReasonVenting through the collar. Bulky under layers |
Types compared
Merino long-sleeve
Warm when damp, smells less, for hiking.
- Advantage: Warm even when damp
- Drawback: Dries more slowly
Synthetic long-sleeve
Quick-drying, for running and sun.
- Advantage: Dries fastest
- Drawback: Smells sooner
What to look for when buying
| Question | In brief | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Merino, synthetic or cotton? | In briefFor hiking: merino | WhyMerino stays warm when damp and takes longer to smell. Synthetic fibre dries fastest and suits sweaty hikes. |
| What does the fabric weight tell you? | In brief150 light, 250 warm | WhyFor merino, the weight in g/m² tells you how thick the fabric is. |
| What does UPF mean? | In briefUV protection factor | WhyUPF shows how much UV radiation the fabric blocks: UPF 50 lets through about one fiftieth. |
Frequently asked questions
Is a long-sleeve shirt the same as thermal underwear?
Almost. Thermal underwear fits close and is made to go under clothing. Outdoor long-sleeve shirts are often a little looser and can be worn on their own.
Is merino wool itchy?
Fine merino hardly itches because the fibres are very thin. Sensitive skin may still notice a difference. Then a blend with synthetic fibre helps.
How do I wash merino long-sleeve shirts?
On the wool cycle at 30 to 40 °C with wool detergent and no fabric softener, as the care label says. Dry them flat in the air so the shirt does not shrink.
Does every long-sleeve shirt protect you from the sun?
Not equally well. Dense, dark fabrics block more UV radiation than thin, light ones. Only a stated UPF value is reliable.
Read more in the magazine
Merino wool: benefits and limitsMerino wool turns up in lots of outdoor clothing. We look at its properties, its strengths and its limits across different activities.
UV protection in the mountainsUV radiation rises by up to 18% for every 1,000 metres of altitude, and snow reflects up to 94% of it. What research shows about UV risk in mountain sports and how to protect yourself.
Last updated: October 2026
Hiking
For hiking, choose a merino long-sleeve as a base layer. It stays warm when damp and takes longer to smell: around 150 g/m² for summer, from 250 g/m² for the cold.
- Merino
- Close fit
- 150 to 250 g/m²
Sun
In the sun, a long-sleeve with a stated UPF protects your arms and shoulders. Light synthetic fibre dries fast and stays comfortable in the heat.
- Stated UPF
- Light
- Quick-drying
Running
For running, choose a close-fitting synthetic long-sleeve that dries fast. Thumb loops keep the sleeves over your hands on cold days.
- Synthetic
- Close fit
- Thumb loops
Every day
For every day and travel, a cotton long-sleeve is comfortable. It does not suit sweaty hikes: cotton stays wet and chills you.
- Cotton
- Loose cut
- Soft
Brands we carry
- adidas
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- Under Armour
- Uyn
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- VAUDE
- Wheat
- Wild Country
- X-Bionic
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