Technical T-shirts
Product 2024
Man
Merino wool t-shirts are gaining popularity in outdoor sports. Indeed, they offer many advantages compared to synthetic or cotton fabrics, especially in long-term activities. Forclaz offers its MT500 long-sleeved t-shirt in this category. We tested it this winter while trekking and climbing.
It can be used alone or as a base layer in the famous 3/4 layering technique. Upon first impression, the Forclaz Merino MT500 t-shirt is comfortable, with a soft feel, and it doesn’t itch, which can sometimes happen with merino wool.
The fit is good, really nice and snug, the shirt hugs the skin, following its movements. Worn alone, it doesn’t sag, which is a plus in terms of thermal qualities. It covers the lower back well and stays in place under a backpack. It tends to ride up a bit, but it’s easy to adjust due to the fabric’s flexibility. When worn under a climbing harness, it stays put, providing relief from the chilly Mistral breeze that can nip at the lower back.
The neckline is round and fairly snug, another plus for keeping warm in cold weather, although when it’s hot, a bit more flexibility would be appreciated!
The long sleeves reach down to the hands, and the seams don’t cause any irritation. In terms of colors, the Forclaz Merino MT500 t-shirt comes in red ochre, blue-black, and khaki-green, all fairly discreet.
In terms of weight, it’s a lightweight shirt, although merino wool is always a bit heavier than synthetic fabrics. The Forclaz Merino MT500 t-shirt is made of 86% merino wool and 14% synthetic polyamide filaments, which reinforce the merino fibers. The advantages of this blend: a more durable shirt, a slight reduction in weight, and a decrease in manufacturing costs (merino wool is expensive), hence the lower retail price. There is a 100% merino wool version of the Forclaz Merino MT500 t-shirt (only available in white), which costs five euros more.
During this test, we didn’t notice any premature wear and tear. Over time, we’ll see how the fabric holds up, knowing that merino wool is more fragile than cotton or synthetic materials, so it requires a bit more care… Avoid, for example, thick brush, as it will win the battle! Over time, it may pill slightly, which is quite common with merino wool, but it doesn’t affect the quality of the wool used.
In action, the Forclaz Merino MT500 t-shirt performs admirably, keeping warm when it’s cold and being fairly breathable when it’s hot. When wet, you don’t feel cold (thank you, wool), and it dries very quickly, which has two advantages: it prevents catching a cold on your back, and you can wash it during a long trek without having to wait too long before putting it back on.
In terms of sweat, it does a good job at limiting odors, it doesn’t saturate quickly, but eventually it does… probably due to the synthetic fiber content. Just rinse it with water, let it dry, and it’ll return to normal. This is an advantage on a trek, where you often rotate between two shirts to save weight. The Forclaz Merino MT500 t-shirt is designed with a single weight, 190 g/m2. It provides warmth in cold weather but is unusable solo in summer; however, it’s perfect for evenings at the bivouac. This weight makes it an excellent adaptable layer for spring and autumn activities. In winter, it quickly reaches its limits (below 10°C), unless it’s used as a base layer under high thermal value layers (thick fleeces and down jackets). But unless you really want to prioritize lightweight, it’s better to opt for a version with a higher weight, like the Forclaz MT900.
Similarly for summer, there are t-shirts with lighter weights, around 150 g/m2, which are much better suited. One last point, the merino wool used by Forclaz is produced in South Africa on farms that respect animal welfare, which is an essential first step. However, and this applies to almost all brands, the shirts are manufactured in Asia (China, Vietnam, etc.), and then they come back to us… This is quite absurd environmentally, with a stratospheric carbon footprint, but it explains the low price… It’s up to each individual to decide based on their means! If we accept that the first step for the planet is to better manage our equipment. We probably don’t need to have five almost identical shirts, and most importantly, we can try to make them last as long as possible, not throw them away at the first snag, or because the color is no longer fashionable… And when it’s time to dispose of them, if possible, in fabric recycling containers, which is why you shouldn’t cut the labels in clothes so that they can be sorted correctly later on. By the way, manufacturers, reduce the number of labels to the bare minimum, or even less, to spare us from having to cut these label catalogs that scratch us and help us recycle properly… The loop is closed!
The Forclaz Merino MT500 t-shirt is tailored for adventure, from day hikes to multi-day treks. A very good shirt, well-cut, comfortable, warm, which can be used solo or as a base layer in mid-season mountain conditions. It offers excellent value for money considering the use of merino wool.
We used this equipment over a long period of time
These are our thoughts after intensive use:
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