A Merino-blend, long-sleeve shirt is one of the more versatile pieces anyone should have. Whether it’s used alone or as a base layer, the Patagonia Long-sleeve Capilene Cool Merino Shirt is great for trail running, hiking or around town.
Patagonia Long-sleeve Capilene Cool Merino Shirt Features:
- Optimized for breathability
- Naturally odor-resistant
- Slight drop hem
- Hanger loop
- Made from 3.5 oz 65% RWS-certified merino wool/35% recycled polyester jersey
- $79
All-day versatility in the mountains or office
Solid colors and Merino-blend are always a great combination in my book. There’s something about the performance of wool when blended just right. From the Snek Dry Creek Merino Pocket Tee to the Ibex Merino Tencel Tee, the past few months have featured a smattering of Merino shirts. Without hesitation, if I had one type of shirt to wear every single day, it would be a woolly.
Patagonia has a long history of using Merino blends and the new Capilene Cool Merino LS is one of the best. To get the most out of natural wool, it needs to be blended with another material. Patagonia has a 65/35 ratio of wool-to-polyester and it feels just about right. The poly adds durability and optimizes the performance of the fabric.
At 5’11” and 173 lbs, I’m always torn between going medium or large in Patagonia’s tops. This time, I went with a large for a more comfortable overall fit. For most of my test conditions, the added size has been awesome. It doesn’t feel too tight at all and allows me to comfortably wear it beyond trail running or hiking. Both the hem and sleeve length is excellent. Merino blends can feel really delicate. This one feels durable, but as a weave, it does require a little more “adult care.”
Alone on a cool morning trail run, the Long-sleeve Capilene Cool Merino Shirt is super-comfortable. It provides solid next-to-skin comfort and does a great job managing moisture — unless it’s really warm. In those cases, it can get a little saturated and saggy. Most of the time, I’ve been wearing it underneath the Patagonia Airshed Pro Pullover or the Outdoor Vitals Ventus Active Hoodie for trail running in 45-25 degree weather. While it’s not a “thermal” material, Merino wool does wonders adding warmth when needed. And, as temperatures rise, this long-sleeve should also be a great partner (albeit better in the lighter color ways).
After a trail run or hike, the Long-sleeve Capilene Cool Merino Shirt, it dries out in no time and stays stink-free — even after multiple uses. I intentionally wore this shirt after a trail run over the course of several days and after a couple of trail runs, it does get a little stinky. For travel or long adventures, this one is a great choice.
I haven’t been super careful about following the wash/dry instructions. It’s hard to do that with our family of six. But, I can say that washing in warm and drying in medium heat hasn’t caused harm and actually returns the shirt back to a little tighter weave, which loosens a little with wear. As opposed to most Merino-blends, this fabric doesn’t attract all the blond hair floating around our home. With other shirts, my wife has to stop me and pull them off, but the Capilene Cool Merino blend doesn’t seem to attract loose hair.
Fit: I’m 5’11” and 173 lbs, wearing the size medium.
The Good
- Next-to-skin comfort
- Stays stink-free for days
- Excellent sleeve and hem length
- Great for winter layering or summer protection
- Breathes well and dries quickly
The Bad
- Fabric gets saggy when saturated
- You may see some pilling if worn alone under a backpack
The Bottom Line: Patagonia Long-sleeve Capilene Cool Merino Shirt
It’s always good to have a long-sleeve Merino shirt for year-round use. Patagonia’s Capilene Cool Merino blend offers just the right mix of comfort, warmth, breathability and classic style on top of top-notch anti-odor properties.
Buy Now: Available from Patagonia.com
