Why so good then? Well, quite simply, it’s that 56% merino wool content. Merino really is an excellent fabric. It’ll keep you nice and warm, so makes for a great layer to wear, say, in your sleeping bag, but it also provides good temperature regulation and this makes it suitable for active use as well. I’ve worn this while hiking right in the middle of summer and haven’t regretted doing so.

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What’s really noticeable when wearing it is that it’s so quick at wicking moisture. It lifts any sweat right off you before spreading it thinly across the fabric to allow the fibres to dry out quickly. This performance is at its most evident when you take the t-shirt out of the wash. While all my clothes that I’ll have washed will come out of the machine sodden, this, on the other hand, will be almost dry enough to wear. 

On that note, as I write this, I’ve just spotted on the label that you’re supposed to wash this at a cool 30 degrees. I’ve been washing it at 50 and it’s absolutely fine. I haven’t been tumble drying it – it air dries so quickly that I’ve found there’s not much need for machine assistance. I’ve also found that after six months of near constant use, it’s kept its shape well and feels pretty much good as new.

The other great thing about this t-shirt, and merino wool in general, is that it has anti-microbial properties, which in other words, means it naturally suppresses any of the nasty types of bacteria that will cause cotton or synthetic t-shirts to stink after just a day of use. I’ll be honest, I’ve worn this for four days non-stop before and as far as I could tell it didn’t ever start to smell. My girlfriend and maybe my colleagues might have picked up a pong but no one said anything, so I can only assume – or maybe hope, even – that the merino did the job.