REI Co-op  Merino 185 Long-Sleeve Crew Base Layer Top - Men's

Quality long sleeve shirt! I love the color and fit. I'm 5'11", medium build, and so many shirts fit poorly because they are either too short in the torso or sleeves, but this one hits just right, without being baggy or too long. Slight scratchiness, so you will be able to tell it has wool fiber content, but not really itchy. Haven't washed it yet to evaluate durability, but I'm looking forward to wearing it casually and skiing this winter.

I was very excited to try this shirt out because I needed another base layer. I have a warm base layer for late fall or winter and then a hot weather base layer. I would say this is solidly in the middle. It’s not gonna keep you super warm on a cold day but surprisingly also won’t make it too hot on a sunny day because it does breathe really well and lets the breeze through quite nicely. Despite the positives of this shirt, I had a hard time finding an optimal situation for it. It wasn’t quite warm enough for layering when I took it on a cold and windy backpacking trip. But it also isn’t quite thin enough to be worn in hot weather when I took it climbing, soon as the sun came out I got a warm with it on. Therefore, it’s kind of relegated to shoulder season in limited fashion. I will say I was impressed with the feel . It’s very soft. Being 100% merino wool it’s not scratchy. I packed it wadded up in a backpack several times and I washed it about four times and it hasn’t pilled or bled colors or faded. I wore it hiking on a chilly morning and it worked out great. Didn’t snag on all the branches. So it seems very durable, however, I don’t see myself taking it too many places where weight and space is a factor like backpacking. I think I’ll use it for biking on a chilly morning in the spring or fall, when the afternoons are warmer but not scorching. It definitely breathes well.

The REI base layer is designed to hug your skin, which is great for keeping you warm. It’s easy to care for, just toss it in the washing machine and avoid using high heat. The insulation is comparable to a thin layer of wool. I haven’t noticed any pilling yet, but I imagine it could happen if you wear it for extended winter hikes. It’s incredibly breathable, wicking away moisture and sweat just like wool does. You can easily slip it on during a chilly fall day with a light jacket.

I received the REI Merino top, full sleeve. It has been in the high 80s in Central Oregon until this last week. Temperatures dropped recently & now Mt Bachelor has snow. I wore this top last weekend when the temperatures dropped while i worked on my decks. Morning temperatures were in the low 50s so this was a perfect base layer. This top looks nice enough to be worn on its own to the local watering hole in Sunriver. The material looks nice and wears great. I really like the color It did get into the 60s as the day went on. I moved a bunch of 2x6 that I took off the old decks, replacing with Trex. It wasn’t long before I broke a good sweat. The great thing about this Merino top, it keeps you warm even when exposed to moisture. A good breeze picked up while I was in the middle of my project. I felt the cool breeze but never felt clammy or chilled. The fabric wicked and dried quickly to keep me comfortable as I worked through the day.