SmartWool Microweight Crew Review

Smartwool Microweight Crew

The Smartwool Microweight is no longer available but you can get Smartwool’s Merino 150 wt. l/s crew here.

Test Period: 2 months

Field Tester: Scatman

I’ve always been a fan of Smartwool socks so I was interested in seeing how they did when it came to shirts.  My first impression upon receiving theSmartwool Microweight Crew was it was soft, nice to the touch and the construction looked great.  Smartwool claims it to have a semi fit but I found it to be like that of an ordinary t-shirt.  For most of my activities I would prefer it to be more fitted.

The flat seams and lack of tags add to the comfort of the shirt.  I did compare this shirt to other brands I have and though soft it was not the softest to the touch.  That’s not to say it’s uncomfortable, it’s quite the opposite.  The shirt hangs nicely on the body; has a snug neck fit which I like; and has great stretch and recovery.  Branding is limited to a small logo on the left hem and one small neck tag.  You won’t feel like a billboard in this piece.

Because it’s wool this shirt stays fresh even when you don’t.  When it is time to wash it, washing is a simple as tossing it in the washing machine and then drying on low heat.  During my testing I did not notice any shrinking and wrinkling was minimal when hung right away.

Care instructions:

Machine Wash Warm Gentle Cycle, Turn inside out before washing. Tumble Dry Low, Lay flat or line dry for best appearance.  Iron Low, Hot irons can scorch the fabric.  Do Not Bleach, Bleach damages the natural wool fiber.  Dry Clean, Professionally dry clean as necessary.

The Facts:

Knit in Vietnam of 100% Merino Wool

• Semi Fit
• Crew neck with set-in sleeves
• Contrast neck binding and subtle color detail within flatlock stitching
• Flatlock seam construction eliminates chafing
• Sizes: S – XXL

Great as a baselayer in cooler conditions, or by itself when it heats up. Made from our lightest NTS fabric, this crew was designed with flatlock seam construction to eliminate chafing. -Smartwool

Pros and Cons: Pros:  The crew neck, no stink factor and appearance are definitely Pros in my mind.  It comes in five great colors so you can have one for everyday of the week.   Cons:  I find it’s fit to be too loose to make a great base layer.  The flatlock seams might eliminate chafing but the looseness of the shirt chafed my nipples while running. (this being the case this shirt has become one of my favorite everyday pieces)