Ibex 24-Hour Merino Short Sleeve Crew (Men's) Review (2026)

Who this shirt is built for

This crew neck tee targets travelers who want a single high-quality merino shirt that can be worn across a full day of flights, sightseeing and dinner without needing a wash. Ibex markets the fabric as suited to 24 hours of wear, which fits the one-bag approach of packing fewer, better garments instead of a stack of cheap tees. The short sleeve crew cut is casual enough for daily travel wear but neat enough to pass for smart-casual in a restaurant, making it a reasonable one-shirt solution for warm-weather trips or as a base layer on cooler ones.

Fabric and construction explained

Ibex builds this shirt from 100 percent merino wool in a weight the brand lists in the 165 to 185gsm range with an 18.5 micron fiber, a gauge fine enough to sit comfortably against skin rather than feel scratchy. The fabric goes through a steaming finish the brand says makes it feel cooler to the touch, which helps the shirt breathe in warm weather while still trapping enough air to insulate on cooler days. That combination of a fine merino fiber and a mid-range gsm gives the shirt more structure and durability than the lightest merino travel tees, at the cost of being slightly heavier to pack.

Wearing and washing it on a trip

Like other merino garments, this shirt relies on the wool's natural lanolin content to resist the bacteria that cause odor, so it can typically go several wears between washes even after sweaty travel days. Care still calls for a gentle, cold wash cycle and air drying rather than a hot machine dryer, since high heat can shrink or felt merino fibers over time. On the road, that means a sink wash in a hotel room or a delicate cycle at a laundromat works better than tossing it in with a load of regular laundry, and hanging it to dry overnight is usually enough to have it ready the next day.

How it compares with other merino travel tees

Against the budget Merino.Tech 165gsm tee, which scores the same 8.4 overall, the Ibex shirt uses a heavier gsm range and a specialized finish that should hold up better at friction points like backpack straps, but it costs noticeably more per shirt, which shows up in its lower value score. Western Rise's Limitless Merino Button-Down targets a similar premium buyer but in a collared, dressier style rather than a crew neck tee, useful for travelers who want one shirt that works in both casual and business-casual settings. Ibex also sells a matching women's version of this same 24-Hour crew, so couples traveling together can standardize on one fabric and care routine for both.

Verdict and who might choose differently

For a traveler who wants to pack two or three shirts total and trusts them to perform through a demanding trip, this Ibex crew is a solid premium pick backed by a brand that focuses specifically on merino travel and outdoor apparel. Budget-conscious packers who are happy replacing shirts more often, or who only travel a few times a year, may find the price hard to justify next to cheaper merino options that offer similar comfort for less money. Anyone who prefers a collared, dressier merino shirt over a plain crew neck should also look at Western Rise's button-down instead.

Frequently asked questions