There are pieces like that: once you know them, you wonder how you ever got along without them until now.
I myself have had a few "revelations". Today, I could no longer spend the winter without a chunky knit. Similarly, I can no longer imagine myself without wool trousers, as the difference with jeans is so clear when faced with icy winds. They improve daily life so much that we can no longer ignore them.
And if there is one piece that I regret not having known before, it is the men's merino wool t-shirt ...
"Just a T-shirt", you say? Not so sure...
Why a merino wool t-shirt?
Valentin, my adventurer friend, only wears this now (yes, he has completely banned cotton t-shirts).
He never stopped singing its praises to me, especially about its softness and anti-odor properties. But when I told him that it must be too hot in the summer, he replied:
That's not true, the temperature is very well regulated! During my motorcycle trip this summer in Vietnam, all my base layers were merino t-shirts!"
And then one day, I had enough. I remember it very well: I was wearing a sweatshirt and a cotton tee, with a bomber jacket. I had mishandled the thing, I was a little cold... and I hate being "a little cold". But I knew that by putting on a warmer piece, it would be too much. That's when I decided to follow Valentin's advice.
And there I understood what I had been missing for years.
Note: to find advice from Valentin and Bruno, two entrepreneurs always between flights, don't hesitate to reread our article on what clothes to take when you travel a lot .
At the same time, Alex and I became increasingly interested in mountain wear. . He had also bought himself an Ice Breaker merino t-shirt, which convinced him of the merits of this piece in turn.
That being said, polyamide is found in most cases. As this is a primarily technical part, this presence is justified by a need for strength, preventing the material from tearing.
While I wanted a t-shirt made entirely of merino, for the special feel it offers...
The benefits of merino
Wool is definitely a very special material, even when it is in the form of jersey.
A matter of thermoregulation
Who says wool, says warmth! A merino t-shirt retains it much better than its cotton counterpart. It obviously does not replace a coat, but it is a very practical first layer that makes a good difference. Without being too hot, you feel "an absence of cold".
Even if the T-shirt gets a little damp, you'll still feel warm: wool can absorb 30% of its dry weight before feeling damp . For some synthetic fabrics, it's only 7%...
As a first layer, a merino t-shirt is ideal. It helps keep you warm and regulates moisture well.
It also works the other way around. Since wool retains a lot of air compared to cotton, and it wicks away perspiration, it is also appreciated in summer because it is breathable . There is never a feeling of dampness.
Anti-odor properties
It is a material that does not absorb odors, including bad ones. Wearers of our chunky knit cardigans will see what I mean... Since merino wicks away moisture, sweat odors cannot get stuck in it.
For example, as I write this, I've had to wear this shirt for two days and have been on a 10-hour plane ride. I could also wear it on the return flight without any problems, and then wash it afterwards.
For this reason, it is a very popular piece among travelers:
- no need to change it every day (so you can travel light),
- temperature regulation, including in the face of an airplane's air conditioning,
- and comfort of the jersey.
The quest for the right jersey
100% merino or nothing!
This was the challenge for Alexander. He had to:
- find the right jersey , without the unnecessary synthetic in an urban context,
- in a rich color , far from the garish shades generally reserved for mountain clothing,
- at the right price , because the amounts soar as soon as you want a 100% wool jersey (merino or not).
We can clearly see that the jersey is knitted, like a sweater, and not woven.
So we chose a 100% extrafine merino yarn from Italy. It then arrives in our usual workshop in Portugal, where it is knitted and assembled into a t-shirt.
What is meant by extra fine ?
The notion of extrafine refers to the diameter of the thread. It's a bit of a mess between the different names but overall, a wool cannot be described as extrafine if the diameter of its fibers exceeds 17.5 microns. Which means that the thickest fiber is 17.5 microns, and the others are finer, therefore even softer!
As a guide, a cashmere thread ranges from 14 to 18 microns.
So you will have extremely soft wool. And to find out more about these grade stories, it's here .
Merino vs. cotton: only advantages?
To say that merino is superior to cotton in every way would be dishonest and, in the interests of objectivity, it is necessary to tell you about the limitations of the merino t-shirt:
- It is a more expensive material than cotton, undoubtedly. For example, it is totally impossible to offer a merino wool t-shirt for less than ten euros. Even Decathlon, although well-versed in very low-cost clothing (some of which are under €10), cannot manage to release a merino wool t-shirt for less than €18... and even then, with 30% acrylic in it.
- A merino model is less resistant to friction than a cotton t-shirt. Basically, if you go on a trek wearing the same merino t-shirt for a week, with a heavily loaded bag for several hours a day, it will fluff up a lot, or even get holes in the most intense conditions. On the other hand, for urban and daily use, this is absolutely no problem.
At this altitude, it's still okay 😉 . Jokes aside, you can lean back as much as you want on your bar stool, take unlimited selfies with your friend who has his hand on your shoulder, carry a backpack with your stuff for the day... It's not a problem .
- Maintenance is more delicate than a cotton T-shirt, most of which will withstand 2.5 hours of washing at 40°C without any problems. Here, you will have to be more careful. We will come back to this later.
But it's so worth it that I now hardly ever wear cotton T-shirts in autumn/winter: they've all been replaced by my merino T-shirts.
The importance of the right color
As I was telling you, technical merino t-shirts often come in quite improbable colours.
For us, it was important to offer you a rich nuance .
This is one of my goals that you are beginning to know: to have a simple color to wear but with something extra, which can easily accompany an open jacket.
As a winter undershirt, you can wear your T-shirt as a separate piece on sunny days, to be integrated into your looks like any other. Needless to say, mountaineering colours had no place. I chose a steel grey, which I find both masculine and easy to match.
Alex and I really wanted a piece that you wouldn't want to part with this winter. A must-have piece for traveling AND an interesting element for your outfit, because of the visual aspect that a wool knit brings.
Close to a steel gray, the material takes the light very nicely. Without being flat, you will have no problem integrating it.
A sought-after cut
As always, we needed several prototypes... Defining the cut of a t-shirt is always a bit of a headache.
I am very happy with the result. I wanted a fluid and comfortable silhouette, with ease , while maintaining its allure .
Neither too tight nor too loose, I wanted to give comfort and fluidity to this t-shirt...
... While maintaining a pretty silhouette and a natural fall. ( NB: Oranges are a source of vitamins in winter )
I would like to draw your attention to one point: the jersey may shrink very slightly during the first wash, before completely stabilizing. We have therefore provided a little more length for this purpose.
A construction that highlights you
An open collar just right
A good T-shirt collar should not be too deep, without strangling you.
Here, we have given it a ribbed edge: an aesthetic detail, it will prevent the collar from moving when worn.
Thanks to the ribbing, the collar keeps its shape longer. Note the length of the sleeves, which are suitable for rolling them up.
Inside you will find a clean strip, always with the aim of obtaining greater longevity.
An underlined build
The shoulders follow the build . In this regard, the cleanliness strip deliberately does not continue up to them: the strip created unsightly bulges, altering the finesse of the shoulders.
The shoulders of the T-shirt follow the natural line of the body.
How to choose your size?
The sizing is very classic on this piece, just take your usual size.
How to maintain the part?
If you want to machine wash it, we strongly recommend using the wool program .
Otherwise, hand wash in warm, soapy water, then in clean water.
You will see, it will dry very quickly!
How to wear a men's t-shirt?
You know it: if there is one item to wear without any hassle, it is the t-shirt .
We still look at some inspirations together. 😉
The color of the T-shirt lends itself well to workwear looks. Here, Luca pairs it with a big flannel overshirt: it is interesting to see how two wool pieces can have very different textures. The canvas pants are a good alternative to raw denim and are in keeping with the outfit, as are the sturdy boots. (RRL overshirt, BonneGueule canvas pants, Grenson boots, Métal Pointu's, Gudule and Harpo rings)
Without an overshirt, it works too! The canvas bag recalls the pants; its retro design, the influences of the outfit. This is where the accessories reveal all their power. (Bleu de Chauffe Bag)
For a more casual look, swap the canvas pants for raw denim. Desert/chukka boots, thinner than the previous ones, will bring more lightness to the outfit (especially when they are made of suede calfskin). (Jean BonneGueule, chukka boots Paire & Fils, Tibet Forever bracelet)
And for a more formal look, put on a pair of suit pants and derby shoes. The contrast in style works well. This is also the advantage of choosing a steel gray color: on simple outfits, where white would still work, we end up with even richer associations. (BonneGueule navy pants, Meermin derby shoes)
Steel gray pairs easily with all earth tones and other variations of brown, like here with the camel jacket. The casualness of the bleached jeans echoes that of the top of the outfit, the look is effective and comfortable. In the same vein, Luca wears sneakers, even if ankle boots would have also been appropriate. Observe his plaid socks, a good way to bring fantasy without difficulty. (Vicomte A. jacket, Hèdus jeans, Royalties socks, JUCH sneakers)
The final word
I'm so proud of this piece. Really.
To my knowledge, there are few French brands that offer 100% merino t-shirts with an urban look, designed from the start as an element that absolutely must bring something to an outfit. A piece that we want to wear above all for its aesthetic qualities and not only for its functionality.
It’s this mix between techwear and casual pieces that makes me very happy.
I really hope you enjoy wearing this tee on all your future adventures, as I did myself.
How to get the merino t-shirt?
The t-shirt is now available on the BonneGueule shop .
