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Outdoor T-Shirts

If you sweat a lot, choose synthetic or merino. Cotton suits quieter days.

Guide

Outdoor T-Shirts

For hiking, choose a synthetic or merino T-shirt, not pure cotton: polyester dries fast, merino smells less even after days. Cotton soaks up sweat and dries slowly, but it still suits every day and the hut.

Key points

Polyester dries fast, merino smells less.
Cotton dries slowly: fine for the hut and every day.
Merino often just needs airing, not washing after every wear.

Which type for which use?

Use	Choose	Reason
Multi-day trips, travel, huts	ChooseMerino (100%)	ReasonBinds odours, absorbs a lot of moisture. Dries more slowly than synthetics
Hikes with a rucksack, climbing	ChooseMerino with nylon and elastane	ReasonMerino feel, sturdier and stretchier according to manufacturers. Slightly less merino
Hot days, running, sweaty climbs	ChoosePolyester	ReasonDries fast, light. Smells sooner than merino with heavy sweat
Hiking day with a stroll in town	ChooseCotton with polyester	ReasonFeels like cotton, dries faster than pure cotton. Dries slower than pure polyester
Every day, hut, camp	ChooseCotton (100%)	ReasonSoft on the skin. Soaks up sweat and dries slowly

Types compared

Merino shirt (100% merino wool)
For multi-day trips with no washing machine.
- Advantage: Binds odours
- Drawback: Dries more slowly than synthetics
Example: Icebreaker M 200 Oasis Short Sleeve Crewe ›
Synthetic shirt (Polyester)
For sweaty hikes and hot days.
- Advantage: Dries fast
- Drawback: Smells sooner with heavy sweat
Example: Columbia Men’s Hike Technical T-shirt ›

What to look for when buying

Question	In brief	Why
Merino or synthetics?	In briefOdour or drying time	WhyMerino binds odours and, according to Woolmark, can absorb up to 35% of its weight in moisture, but dries more slowly.
What do 150 or 200 mean on merino?	In briefFabric weight in g/m²	WhyThe number in the name is the fabric's weight per square metre. The lower it is, the thinner and airier the shirt. Many summer merino shirts are 150; all-rounders are 200.
How well does a shirt block UV?	In briefThe denser, the better	WhyA shirt only protects the skin underneath. Densely woven fabrics protect better. A rating to UV Standard 801 is reliable: it also measures the fabric wet and stretched.

Frequently asked questions

Why do polyester shirts smell sooner?

Wool binds odour compounds in the fibre; polyester doesn't. In a New Zealand study cited by Woolmark, wool fabrics had on average 66% less body odour intensity than polyester. That is why some polyester shirts have an anti-odour finish.

Should I wash a new UV-protective shirt before wearing it?

It makes sense. In one study, the UPF of every shirt rose after several washes. Some only reached the value on the label after ten washes.

What does nylon add to merino?

In blends such as 83% merino, 12% nylon and 5% elastane, the merino sits against your skin, while nylon and elastane make the shirt sturdier and stretchy, according to the manufacturer. The merino content drops a little.

Can I hike in a cotton shirt?

On short walks in good weather, yes. In the mountains it gets tricky: cotton soaks up sweat and dries slowly, so you get cold at the summit break. Pack a dry shirt to change into.