I put a pair of Ortovox 150 Cool Merino shirts through their paces, from international travel, long days on the trail and in the gym. Aside from a little sunfade, they prove that the combo of merino and tencel is a hard wearing odor defying winner. 

Ortovox 150 Cool Merino Shirt

• Material: 44% Merino, 43% Tencel, 13% Polyamide
• Weight: 160 grams for XL
• Origin: Vietnam
• Tester: 187cm, 93kg

  

 

Sheep, Trees and Spun Yarn

The Ortovox 150 Merino Cool shirts are made primarily of two materials: Virgin Merino Wool and Tencel.

The Merino wool is sourced exclusively from Tasmania, Australia, where Ortovox utilizes only mulesing-free and RWS-certified (Responsible Wool Standard) wool. This ensures the sheep are treated humanely and the land is managed responsibly throughout the entire production process. 

Tencel is a brand name for Lyocell, a semi-synthetic fiber derived from sustainably sourced wood cellulose. The manufacturing follows a closed-loop system, which recycles water and solvents to minimize waste and hazardous chemicals. This creates a material prized for its eco-friendly footprint as well as its exceptional softness, breathability, and moisture-wicking properties. 

To increase durability, Polyamide fibers are wrapped around the merino wool using Betaspun spinning technology. This protective outer shell makes the fabric more robust and significantly less prone to pilling or tearing  

The result is a shirt that is very soft to the touch and, in my experience over two years, has resisted all pilling. It continues to do an amazing job of resisting odors after repeated wears and has maintained its shape perfectly without stretching out.

The Fit

The cut of the Ortovox 150 Cool Merino shirt is slim, providing a true athletic fit. The length is precise, not overly long, but just enough to cover a belt buckle. The sleeves run a bit short, exposing more of the bicep, which leans more toward a fashion statement than a purely functional design choice. You will need to add a little more sunscreen or you’ll have one heck of a trucker’s tan. 

This is a lightweight garment that is barely noticeable while on the body. At just 166 grams for a size XL, that lack of weight is impressive. It breathes exceptionally well and remains comfortable even as temperatures climb into the high 30s during mid-summer. Additionally, owing to the nature of the blended materials, there is none of the “merino itch” often associated with wool garments

The Ortovox 150 Cool Merino Shirt on Trail

After two years of wearing the Ortovox 150 Cool Merino shirts, one the 150 Cool Logo and the other a 150 Cool Brand tee, I can confidently recommend them to anyone looking for a high-performance, athletic-fit merino blend. The only visible sign of wear I’ve encountered is minor sun fading on the black shoulders of my 150 Cool Logo T—a small price to pay for the amount of time they’ve spent in the alpine sun.

The weight of the yarn, 150 gsm (grams per square meter), sits on the lighter side of the spectrum. However, thanks to the inclusion of Tencel™ and the Betaspun construction, these shirts have truly stood the test of time. This lightweight profile allows the fabric to breathe incredibly well, making it a staple for high-output mountain days.

Hit this link if you are interested in the Ortovox 150 Cool Merino Shirt, head on over to our partners at Valhalla Pure to pick one up. 

For more Merino reviews head here: Merino on BlackSheep

For more Ortovox reviews, head here: Ortovox on BlackSheep

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BlackSheep was provided with a free sample of the Ortovox 150 Cool Merino Shirt for this review. This in no way affected our editorial stance. This post also contains affiliate links; if you choose to purchase gear through these links, we may earn a small commission which supports our independent testing at no extra cost to you.