This shirt was provided by Pistol Lake for the purpose of review.

The Minimalist Performance Tee is Pistol Lake’s core product and is made out of their unique Lightweight Eudae fabric. The fabric is custom knit and the shirts are assembled in the US. Since developing this fabric, Pistol Lake has also developed a Midweight Eudae and an Eclon (their heaviest synthetic fabric). Their focus is on performance apparel that is at home on the road or in the woods as it is in the gym.

Fabric

The Eudae fabric is 76% polyester, 19% Tencel, and 5% spandex. If you aren’t familiar with Tencel, it is a brand of lyocell fiber. This means it is derived from wood pulp. The Tencel brand is also know for its ecofriendly production process.

While the care instructions allow for machine drying, I’ve only machine washed and air dried the shirt. I have not seen any pilling or fading. This could be a nice benefit over merino for those who like to use a dryer.

Performance

This tee performs very well. From my experience, it is on par with merino in every category but odor resistance. While I can get 5+ workouts with merino, I can only get about 4 out of the Eudae. Keep in mind, however, I choose to wash my shirts when they start to get a little smell rather than let them get as bad as a standard polyester shirt is after one wear.

Fit and Finish

The fabric has great drape, looks like cotton, and doesn’t get staticky like many other synthetic fabrics. It is great to have a workout shirt that is very thin (but not sheer or see-thru) and breathable, yet still looks like a standard T-shirt. The fabric is completely matte and doesn’t have that “polyester sheen”, or even the slight sheen that some merino has.

I also find the fit to be perfectly athletic and slim while not tight or constricting of any movement. Unlike many of my other workout shirts, the length is perfect (I usually end up with shirts that feel a little short).

Overall

The Minimalist Performance Tee has taken the top spot in my workout wardrobe. Once the warm weather comes around, I expect it to become part of my non-workout rotation on the warmest days. If you are in the market for something that can hold its own against merino, Eudae is up to that challenge.

Ben’s Thoughts

I’ve been very impressed with the hand feel of this fabric. You’d not be alone in thinking that this was a standard cotton shirt, perhaps with some stretch in it. I really like it, it’s been a little too cold to wear it for me right now, but it’s going to be fantastic when the weather warms up. This is one of my favorite shirts yet, and it’s hard to believe it performs as well as it does.

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Minimalist Performance Tee Long Term Update

Updated: 2/14/2021

Four years later these are still in my workout line-up. While they aren’t my top choice, they have held up pretty well. There is some pilling throughout that developed relatively quickly, but it hasn’t gotten worse.

While I though these might become part of my everyday t-shirt rotation in the warmest weather, that never happened. The pilling makes them look less presentable, and I have plenty of other t-shirts that look sharper. Over time, I also came to feel that this fabric is more of a “workout first” fabric — meaning that it looks better for everyday wear than something like a Patagonia Capilene, its not the same as a good merino blend or natural fiber tee.

If you want a “do-everything” tee, I think this shirt is still worth a look. I’ve also found the Pistol Lake cut to be one of the longest, so this makes them interestng if you are tall and have an issue with shirts being too short. However, I’m not likely to purchase more as I favor having my workout tees (pushing a bit more performance) and my everyday tees (pushing a bit more style).

Still recommended if you want tees that can cover casual and athletic wear.

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The Convoy Tee is Olivers Apparel’s merino wool athletic t-shirt. I’ve been giving it a workout for the past few months, and I’m impressed. As part of what is becoming a crowded market (performance athletic t-shirts), the Convoy Tee can certainly hold its own.

Fabric

The fabric is 18.5 micron (which seems to be the standard), 100% merino wool with a 165 gsm weight. This means the shirt is perfect for workouts, warm weather, and layering. I’ve sensed little scratchiness, and have been very impressed with how it has held up to workouts. I have yet to find any areas of pilling nor has the shirt become stretched out with repeated wears between washes.

Fit, Finish, and Performance

The fit of the Convoy Tee is athletic. I chose my size from the measurements on the website (I’m always a L or XL and ended up with an XL here), and the shirt fits very tight. The fit seems to be geared more towards a slim, rather than muscular build. It works well for exercise, but is too tight for me to wear for other purposes. If you are planning to wear this shirt for more relaxed, casual wear, you might want to consider sizing up one from where you land on the sizing chart (I could not do this as XL is their largest size). The shirt also seems to me to run a little short (at least for someone tall like me — I’m 6’ 2”), again OK for exercise, but not for everyday wear.

Note: I reached out to Olvers to discuss the fit and they indicated that the batch of shirts currently on the site turned out smaller than they had hoped. They’ve updated the size chart with a note to size up for a relaxed fit. They are working on updating their sizing chart with garment measurements.

The finish on this shirt is excellent. The fabric lays nicely and the seams are all comfortably sewn. My favorite aspect of this shirt is how the sleeves and shoulders are constructed (Olivers calls it a “reverse raglan sleeve”). I find this sleeve style gives excellent range of motion — I don’t get the constriction and bunching that sometimes comes with standard sleeves.

I’ve been extremely impressed with the odor resistance of the Convoy Tee — I’ve worn it for at least 5 sweaty workouts before washing every time. Hanging it up to dry and air out seems to work magic along with the 100% merino composition of the fabric.

Overall

I purchased this the Convoy Tee with the intention of having it as a multipurpose (casual and exercise) shirt, however due to the fit it has become an exercise only shirt. The fabric and construction are excellent, and I’d imagine I would love it even more if I could size up.

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Outdoor Research (OR) makes a number of zip-up tops and I’ve been giving the Sequence L/S Zip Top a workout recently. OR uses some very interesting fabric in this top, with some surprising odor resistant properties. With a slim fit and a light fabric, this shirt works great as a next to skin layer, whether that’s as a base layer or a shirt.

Fabric

The Sequence top is made with drirelease polyester (88%) and merino blend (12%) with FreshGuard technology. The drireelease fibers claim to have unique moisture wicking and evaporating properties. OR even claims that this fabric dries four times faster than 100% wool while being even warmer. FreshGuard is proprietary, but the fabric manufacturer claims that it prevents odors from growing rather than attacking bacteria.

When I first purchased this shirt, I was skeptical of how well the odor resistance would actually work (due to the low merino content). After wearing the shirt while traveling, I can say I am thoroughly impressed. Even after three wears, I could detect no odors. I ended up wearing the shirt five times before deciding to give it a wash. The real test will be to see if the odor-resistant nature will reduce with wear/washing. If the “FreshGuard” is some kind of treatment, it probably will.

Fit, Comfort, and Finish

The shirt is slim cut and very thin, as it is designed as a next to body piece. I find it to be very comfortable as a shirt (with an undershirt) or a base layer. Worn as a shirt, the Sequence is very warm while not being too hot. This is typically a property I’ve only found in shirts with much higher merino content.

I’ve gone from wearing this shirt through the airport with a backpack to cool weather and never once felt damp or too cool. Yet on the warm plane or in the afternoon sun, I was never too warm.

The seams on the shirt are great and don’t cause any hot spots, even with a backpack. The OR branding isn’t too obvious, and the zipper is the perfect scale and has a nice lockdown tab (to prevent that annoying jingle).

Pilling

The only issue I’ve had with this shirt is pilling. After taking my first trip with a backpack, the shirt has developed some pilling on the back where the bottom of the backpack was resting, as well as in the underarms where straps could have rubbed. For me, this isn’t a dealbreaker, but definitely something to consider before making the purchase.

Verdict

The Outdoor Research Sequence L/S Zip Top was certainly a surprise with its excellent odor-resistant properties. It has become my go-to shirt for cool fall weather and I see it becoming a staple for the winter, whether as a shirt or base layer.

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Around here, we love merino clothing, and T-shirts are certainly a staple. Woolly Clothing Co. makes 100% merino T-shirts, henleys, etc. Their T-shirts come in two different weights (150 and 190 gsm) and the rest of the products come in one weight only.

What I Tested

I have a Short Sleeve Crew Neck Tee, Short Sleeve Ultralight V-Neck Tee, and a Long Sleeve Henley. I’ve been wearing them for almost a year now and have certainly put them through their paces.

Fabric Difference

The 150 gsm (what Woolly calls ultralight) and 190 gsm fabrics are quite different. The heavier fabric has shown more pilling (or maybe more aptly described as “it has become fuzzy with wear”). The ultralight fabric is certainly lighter, but is not what I would necessarily call ultralight. Both fabrics are soft and not scratchy/itchy.

There is a definite difference in warmth between the two weights. On some warm summer days, the 190 gsm fabric was almost too warm. The 150 gsm fabric is perfect for year round wear and the 190 gsm fabric is great for a henley.

Fit

These shirts fit me extremely well. They are fitted, but not too slim, and they are just the right length. I have had no issues with bacon neck and the button placket on the Long Sleeve Henley hasn’t become distorted.

Holes

After I washed my Long Sleeve Henley the first time, I found a hole near the side seam. When I contacted customer service, they were very responsive and sent a replacement. I just recently discovered a similar hole in the same location on my Ultralight V-Neck (I’ve had the shirt for about a year). This time customer service suggested it might be moth damage. I have reservations about this as my closet has plenty of other tasty merino that has not shown any signs of moths. Since the hole occurred in the same place along the side seam on both shirts, I can envision a possible issue when the fabric was sewn.

Branding

If you don’t care to advertise the brand of clothing you are wearing, Woolly puts a fairly large tag on the bottom hem of their shirts. The tag blends in with the black fabric much better than the charcoal. This is not a dealbreaker for me, but not my favorite thing either.

Verdict

The Woolly shirts are not my favorite shirts, however, comparing the 100% merino shirt market (at full price), these shirts are certainly a good value. The fit is also great. Many times I run into shirts that are either too slim or boxy, but these are cut perfectly.

My reservations for recommending these shirts are the “fuzziness” that develops and the issues I’ve had with holes.

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Woolly Clothing Long Term Update

Updated: 2/14/2021

I don’t remember exactly when, but I’ve long since gotten rid of these shirts. They got rougher and more scratch with wear, and didn’t seem to hold their shape very well. Since more mid-priced merino has come on the market, I wouldn’t go for these again. Maybe they’ve improved, but there are others that I know are good that I would go with first.

Not recommended.

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Wool & Prince started in 2013 with a 100 day field test of their 100% merino wool button down shirt. Yes, you read that right, the founder of the company wore one of their original shirts for 100 days in a row without washing or ironing. That’s a pretty incredible demonstration of merino wool.

Fast forward to today, and Wool & Prince now makes long and short sleeve button-downs, spread collar dress shirts, work shirts, polo shirts, long and short sleeve tees, boxer briefs, and socks. I have yet to try any of their other products, but they are definitely on my list.

Merino Fabric Weight

The button-downs come in three different fabric weights (130, 170, and 210 gsm). The two lighter weights come in a few different types/prints of fabric (oxford, twill, solid, and tattersall) while the heavier weight fabric comes only in an oxford. The weight of the fabric changes the feel, wearability (comfort, breathability, etc.), and drape of the shirt.

My Experience

I currently own the Light Gray Oxford (130 gsm) and Burgundy Oxford (210 gsm) Button-downs. While neither looks or drapes like a traditional oxford shirt, the heavier Burgundy Oxford comes the closest. The collars on the shirts are nice and stiff and hold their shape (something a lot of merino wool collared shirts struggle with). I can also fold the shirts to pack and take them out when I arrive at my destination with no wrinkling. At the end of the day, there are no wrinkles at the elbows, where the shirt was tucked in, or if the sleeves were rolled up (although it is tougher to keep them rolled than a cotton shirt). The length and the shape of the bottom hem of the shirts also makes them suitable to wear untucked.

Light Grey Oxford

This shirt is very light and breathable and can be almost translucent in the right conditions (so an undershirt is a must). The drape looks most like a standard cotton button-down, due to the very light texture of the fabric. Comfortable in any temperature, this is definitely a staple shirt.

Burgundy Oxford

This shirt is noticeably heavier and warmer. While the comfortable temperature range definitely overlaps with that of the lighter fabric, this is not a shirt for very hot climates (although it will take the chill off in an overly air-conditioned conference room). The drape is closer to that of a standard oxford, however, it feels heavy as it moves (not a bad thing, just different). This shirt is a great staple if you don’t need comfort in very hot weather (as a Northeasterner, this is my favorite shirt in the colder months, although I just wore it in 70 degree F weather and was perfectly comfortable).

Conclusion

Wool & Prince is the leader in merino wool button-downs and seems to be the only one to have gotten the collars and cuffs right. Being 100% merino, I can get many wears out of one shirt, especially when paired with a undershirt. It is possible to get at least a week’s worth of wears out of one shirt (and probably many more). This adds to the value of the shirt; there is no way you can get five equal quality cotton shirts for the price of one Wool & Prince. I’ve replaced all my cotton shirts (with the exception of a suit shirt) with the Wool & Prince button-downs because they are the perfect mix of comfort, style (not too casual or formal), and value.

The shirts now come in “slim” and “regular” fits (check out the extremely detailed size guide). I found the slim fit to be very slim cut and ended up with the regular fit (which is also described as a “traditional” fit). In addition to the cut, the fabric weight makes a difference in the shirt comfort and drape, and that should guide what you pick. I love both shirts and find plenty of occasions to wear both all year round.

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Ben’s Thoughts

I’ve had Wool & Prince shirts for over a year now and I absolutely love them. For the price, you can’t beat them. My only complaint would be that the patterns I like tend to be the 130 gsm weight and thus a little thin for winter wear on their own. However if you tend to layer, the lighter weight is excellent. These are the best merino button downs I’ve tried.

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Wool&Prince Button-down Long Term Update

Updated: 2/4/2021

I’ve had my oldest Wool&Prince shirt (Burgundy Oxford) now since late 2016 and it still looks as nice as it did when I wrote this review in 2017. While I don’t wear these button-downs daily, they were a big part of my travel wardrobe before COVID hit and certainly will retain that top spot.

They still amaze me with their ability to come out of the wash and look pressed with just a light steam. I never smell or look wrinkled after a long day of travel, and the shirt is still good for more wears. In fact, I spent a full week of international business travel with just these two shirts. The one I wasn’t wearing never came out of my bag looking wrinkled, and they still really didn’t need to be washed when I got home.

4+ years later, these still remain the merino button-down to beat. For business wear, you really could get away with only owning two of these shirts, but with some of the new patterns they’ve come out with, it’s hard to just stick with two.

Still highly recommended.

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