The honest lifespan of a good merino shirt
A quality merino shirt, worn regularly and cared for properly, should last 3 to 5 years of real use. Often longer.
That means:
- Weekly wear
- Sweat
- Movement
- Backpack straps
- Washing, but not babying
If a merino shirt looks tired after one year, it wasn’t built for use. It was built for selling.
What actually determines lifespan
Not all merino shirts are equal, even if the label says “merino wool”.
1. Fabric weight (GSM or g/m²)
Very light merino feels great in a shop. It also wears out faster.
- Under 150 GSM: comfort-focused, short lifespan
- 160–190 GSM: balanced daily use
- 200 GSM+ : durability-focused, heavier feel
Ultralight fabrics sacrifice longevity. There’s no way around physics.
2. Fibre quality, not just fibre length
High-quality merino uses longer, more uniform fibres.
Short fibres pill, thin out, and break faster.
You can’t see this on a product page. You see it after months of wear.
3. Blends done right
Contrary to popular belief, 100% merino is not always better.
A small percentage of nylon, when spun correctly inside the yarn, dramatically improves:
- Abrasion resistance
- Shape retention
Resistance to holes
A good blend extends lifespan without killing comfort or breathability.
4. Construction matters more than logos
Seams, stitch density, panel placement, and stress zones decide how long a shirt survives.
Most merino shirts don’t fail in the middle of the fabric.
They fail at:
- Underarms
- Shoulders
- Necklines
How merino ages when it’s good
A well-made merino shirt doesn’t suddenly die. It ages gradually.
- Slight softening of structure
- Light pilling in friction zones
- Color fading before fabric failure
That’s normal.
What shouldn’t happen:
- Holes within a year
- Severe thinning after a few washes
- Permanent stretching
- Itchiness developing over time
Those are quality issues.
Washing mistakes that kill merino early
Merino is forgiving, but not indestructible.
Avoid:
- Hot water
- High spin speeds
- Tumble dryers
- Washing with heavy cotton or denim
- Use:
- Max 30 °C
- Gentle cycle
- Mild detergent
- Air drying
Cost per wear is the real metric
A cheap merino shirt that lasts one year costs more than a good one that lasts five.
Example:
- 400 zł shirt lasting 4 years, worn weekly
- ≈ 2 zł per wear
That’s cheaper than most fast-fashion cotton shirts. And far more comfortable!
The bottom line
A quality merino shirt should not feel disposable.
It should feel like something you trust.
If it doesn’t survive real use, it’s not premium.
It’s just more expensive.
That’s the standard we believe in.
