Ibex Merino for 2025
Our favorite winter merino layers for the past few years have been from Ibex. This year, Ibex has doubled down on their summer offerings with the Springbok Hoodie and the Paradox short sleeve. Blends of Australian merino wool and synthetics that increase durability and provide UPF protection. I’ll be rocking these shirts all summer long, testing their durability and ability to stand up to multiple days on the trail without being washed (that’s the point of Merino, right?). In the meantime, here are our impressions after our first few wears.
The Springbok Sun Hoodie
It’s an understatement when I say I am happy Ibex is back with a Sun Hoodie. For ages I have worn polyester sun hoodies, day in and day out, every summer for the past five years. They do a fantastic job at blocking the sun and breathing but really cannot be worn day-to-day without being washed every night. With the Ibex Springbok Sun Hoodie I can hike from hut to hut and not need to carry a shirt for everyday for fear of offending other trail goers with B.O.
Overview
- Material: 83% Merino Wool (australian), 12% Nylon, 5% Elastane
- Made in: Merino from Australia, Shirt made in Vietnam
- UPF: 35+
Pro Tech Lite Merino
The Springbok Hoodie is made with Pro Tech Lite. This is Ibex’ lightest weight material. It blends nylon with elastane to increase the durability and stretch of the material.
At 18.9 microns this hoodie is still considered fine merino and is good for a base layer. That’s perfect because I have no intention of wearing a sun hoody as a second layer. I found Ibex merino to need one wash before becoming soft enough for next to skin wear. The same applies with the Springbok hoodie.
At 140 gram2 this fits the shirt right into the lightweight category for merino, but at 245 grams in an XL (measured on my kitchen scale) this shirt is a little heavier than others I have tested. That said, I no longer need to bring several shirts with me due to odor. This is a trade I am willing to make.
The Fit
The Ibex Springbok hoodie fits loose. At 6’1” and 91kg the shape fits me well. If I were a bit more athletic I could potentially size down but the looseness aids in air movement keeping the hoodie cool on hot days.
The Sleeve length is just long enough. Any shorter and they would be too short. There is some light stretch to the Springbok so once I use the thumb loops the sleeves still are comfortable as the stretch makes up for the slightly shorter length. Due to the thumb hole being attached to the seam that runs from the armpit you will have to twist the sleeve a little to put your thumb in.
The Armpits are gusseted to allow for a little more freedom of movement, especially important for those who wear hoodies while climbing. Shoulder seams are placed forward to keep any potential pressure point away from backpack traps.
The Hood
The main reason I wear a hoodie in the summer is for coverage on my ears and the back of my neck. The hood fits well and covers my head while wearing a hat and with a ponytail. At the front of the hood is a small button that pops into a loop snugging the hood in front. It’s a small button that is a little tricky to open. This is the price to pay considering making it easy would require a massive button under your chin which would be quite uncomfortable. So far I have found the hood to be a little too tight buttoned up and pretty much perfect with the button undone.
Paradox Short Sleeve
The Paradox Short Sleeve shirt may just be the softest thing you will ever wear. A blend of merino, tencel and nylon, it’;s built to last and keep the funk down. I’ve switched to merino shirts nearly full time for training. I was initially concerned about durability and just not found this to be the factor I thought it would be. I’m now not having to do laundry every two days to keep sweat soaked garments from getting funky.
Overview
- Material: 45% Merino Wool, 45% Tencel, 10% Nylon
- Made in: Merino from Australia, Shirt made in Vietnam
Merino plus Tencel
The Paradox shirt is made with 100% Australian merino wool wrapped around Tencel, a fiber made from Eucalyptus.
At 9.5 micron for the material, this is a fantastically soft merino. So soft, it is the first time I have not pre-washed an Ibex shirt. I don’t think I have ever worn a softer shirt.
At 150 gm2 it is still a lightweight shirt. My XL weighs in at 166 grams. I am sure there are lighter man made materials on the market, but this shirt replaces several poly tees in your collection. If you are on a multi day adventure or even a one-bag trip, merino is the way to go.
The Fit
Much like the Springbok, the XL fits me well. The length of the body sits just below the belt line and the sleeves, mid upper arm. The body is loose enough to allow for good air flow while not fitting too baggy.
At the back of the neck is a very thick seam that Ibex labels “neck tape.” I cannot see any tape, nor am I willing to pull apart the shirt to confirm there is tape. The bulk of this “neck tae” goes unnoticed while worn and I applaud any effort to keep the neck hole of my shirts getting stretched due to my large head.
Furthermore, there are reinforced side seams. As merino garments are often quite thin they become more fragile and likely to tear at the seems. The reinforced side seems are designed to combat this which is definitely a nice addition to a shirt meant to take outdoor abuse.
Overview of Ibex Merino 2025
Ibex already makes my favorite merino under layer, the Woolies Tech (review here). I have a feeling they will now be making my favorite merino sun hoodie and Tshirt for summer 2025. STay tuned to this page for my end of season update and durability test as I am about to put some serious miles on these shirts.
If you are interested in picking up a Springbok Hoodie, head here: Springbok
If you are interested in picking up a Paradox Tee, head here: Paradox
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Black Sheep Adventure sports was provided with a Springbok and Paradox shirt to review. This in no way affected our opinion nor the review.
