Snowgum Merino 180 Merano Tee Review

The Ultimate Test: Eight Days on the Alta Via 2

Merino wool has earned a reputation among hikers for being comfortable, temperature regulating and naturally odour resistant. But the real test is not wearing a merino shirt on a short day walk. The real test is wearing it day after day, under a backpack, while sweating through long climbs, dealing with changing weather, and trying to keep your pack weight down.

That was exactly the environment I wanted to test the Snowgum Merino 180 Merano Tee.

I took two of these shirts with me on my 12-day traverse of the Alta Via 2 through Italy’s Dolomites. This was not a gentle introduction to the shirts. The trek involved approximately 196 km of hiking, more than 11,000 metres of accumulated elevation gain, exposed alpine terrain, steep climbs, via ferrata sections and long days carrying a 14 kg pack.

I started wearing the Snowgum shirts from day five of the trek, using them through to the finish. Each shirt was worn for four consecutive hiking days without washing. And they surprised me.

Disclosure: Snowgum provided me with two Merino 180 Merano Tees for the purpose of field testing and review. They did not have any input into this review other than providing technical product information. As always, this review reflects my honest experience using the product in real hiking conditions.

About the Snowgum Merino 180 Merano Tee

The Snowgum Merino 180 Merano Tee is a lightweight short-sleeve hiking shirt made from 100% Australian merino wool.

Key specifications:

The 17.3 micron fibre is particularly fine, which contributes to the soft feel of the fabric against the skin. For hikers unfamiliar with merino terminology, fibre diameter matters. Finer fibres generally feel softer and less itchy, which is one of the reasons quality merino clothing is so comfortable when worn directly against the skin.

If you want to learn more about how merino works, including the differences between merino and synthetic fabrics, I have previously written a detailed guide on Merino Base Layers for Bushwalking.

First Impressions

When the shirts arrived, the first thing I noticed was the fabric. The two colours I received were blue and chocolate, both of which looked great and were practical hiking colours. More importantly, the fabric felt noticeably soft compared with some other merino shirts I have used.

I have worn several merino products over the years, including Icebreaker, Ktena Merino Skins and Zorali merino layers. The Snowgum fabric felt lighter and softer than I expected. I was also impressed by the price point.

Merino clothing can become expensive very quickly, and I was interested to see whether a more affordable option could deliver the same performance as some of the premium brands.

Fit and Comfort

I tested a size Medium. For reference, I am approximately 180 cm tall, weigh around 85 kg, and generally wear medium to large depending on the brand. The fit was excellent.

The shirt has a relaxed fit that worked well for hiking. It was not restrictive during climbing, did not ride up under my pack, and I experienced no issues with the collar, sleeves or seams. Most importantly, it was comfortable when worn directly against my skin for long days. This matters because a hiking shirt can spend seven or eight hours a day in direct contact with your skin, especially when carrying a backpack.

Throughout the Alta Via 2, I wore the shirts under my backpack for at least seven hours each day, and I had no issues with discomfort or chafing.

Field Testing the Snowgum Merino 180 on the Alta Via 2

The conditions provided an excellent test.

During the days I wore the shirts:

• Morning temperatures were around 4°C
• Daytime temperatures reached approximately 18–20°C
• Conditions ranged from cool mornings to humid climbs
• I experienced rain and hail on some days
• I perspired heavily during sustained ascents

Despite relatively modest temperatures, the humidity made many climbs feel hot. On long uphill sections, I was sweating heavily through my chest and back. This is where merino clothing is supposed to shine.

Temperature Regulation

The Snowgum Merino 180 performed extremely well across changing conditions. During steep climbs, when I was generating significant body heat, the shirt remained comfortable and breathable. Despite becoming damp from perspiration, it never felt clammy. When temperatures dropped, particularly in the morning or on exposed ridges, the shirt still provided a comfortable level of warmth.

This is one of merino’s greatest strengths. Rather than being designed only for cold conditions, it works by helping regulate temperature across a wider range of environments.

I wore these shirts through:

• early morning starts
• exposed alpine ridges
• high altitude sections
• long climbs
• cooler evenings around mountain huts

They were comfortable throughout.

Moisture Management and Drying

One of the biggest surprises was how quickly the shirts dried. When I stopped for breaks and removed my backpack, the shirt was generally dry within around 15 minutes before we continued walking. After rain showers, once I put my rain jacket away and continued hiking, the shirt recovered quickly. It absorbed moisture but never felt heavy.

The only time I washed one of the shirts was during the trek. After washing it in a basin at a rifugio, it was dry by the following morning. For multi-day hikers, this is a significant advantage. Being able to carry fewer shirts, wash occasionally when needed, and have clothing dry overnight reduces both pack weight and complexity.

The Four-Day Odour Test

This was probably the most impressive part of the review. I wore each shirt for four consecutive hiking days without washing.

That meant:

• daily hiking of 7–8 hours
• heavy perspiration
• wearing the shirt under a backpack
• multiple days in mountain environments

I expected some odour. That is normal. However, after four days, I did not notice any significant body odour. Julie certainly did not tell me I was smelly, which is usually a reliable test!

Compared with synthetic hiking shirts I have used, the difference was significant. My synthetic shirts generally need changing every couple of days and can develop noticeable odours after only one day of hard hiking. With the Snowgum Merino 180 Tee, I genuinely believe I could have worn one shirt for the entire 12-day trek if required.

Durability After Eight Days of Hard Use

Durability is always the question mark with merino. My previous experience with some merino shirts has been mixed. Around eight years ago, I used Icebreaker shirts that developed holes around the waist and shoulders where my pack contacted the fabric after limited use. That experience made me particularly interested in how the Snowgum shirts would handle a demanding trek.

After eight days of use:

The good:

• No holes
• No loose stitching
• No stretching
• No significant fabric damage
• Shape remained consistent

There was some very minor pilling on the shoulders and back where my backpack contacted the fabric. However, this was minimal and not unexpected with superfine merino. Given the terrain, pack weight and daily use, I was actually impressed with how well they held up. I will continue to monitor durability as I use them on future hikes and update this review if anything changes.

How Do They Compare with Other Merino Clothing I Have Tested?

I have previously tested several merino products, but each serves a different purpose.

Snowgum Merino 180 Merano Tee

Best suited for:

• hiking
• warm weather trekking
• multi-day adventures
• travel
• everyday wear

It is lightweight, comfortable and versatile.

Ktena Merino Skins Sports Active Range: Ktena uses a dual-layer merino construction, which makes it warmer. I find these better suited to camp use, sleeping or cooler conditions rather than high-output hiking.

Zorali Merino Long Sleeve Base Layer: The Zorali base layer serves a different role. I use it when I need more warmth and coverage, particularly in cooler hiking conditions.

The Snowgum shirt fills the lightweight hiking tee role better.

Minor Issues

No product is perfect, and there were a couple of small things worth mentioning.

Minor pilling: As mentioned, I noticed slight pilling in areas where my backpack contacted the shirt. This was minor and did not affect performance.

Colour fading: After spending long days exposed to alpine sun, I noticed some slight fading on the chocolate-coloured shirt around the shoulders. You need to look closely to notice it, and it is purely cosmetic, but it is worth mentioning.

Crew neck preference: Personally, I prefer V-neck shirts from a style perspective. However, this is a personal preference and does not affect hiking performance.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Excellent comfort against the skin
• Very soft 17.3 micron Australian merino wool
• Outstanding odour resistance
• Excellent temperature regulation
• Quick drying during multi-day hiking
• Comfortable under a backpack
• Lightweight and versatile
• Excellent value compared with many premium merino brands

Cons

• Long-term durability still requires further testing
• Minor pilling in high-contact backpack areas
• Chocolate colour showed slight fading after prolonged sun exposure
• Crew neck may not suit everyone’s preference

Final Verdict

Would I Recommend the Snowgum Merino 180 Merano Tee?

After wearing these shirts for eight days on the Alta Via 2, my overall impression is that I was genuinely surprised by how well they fitted, felt and performed at this price point.

They handled everything I asked of them:

• long alpine days
• heavy perspiration
• changing temperatures
• rain
• backpack friction
• multiple days without washing

For hikers looking for a comfortable, versatile and reliable merino hiking shirt, the Snowgum Merino 180 Merano Tee is an excellent option. I would happily take these on another multi-day trek, and I would recommend them to Trail Hiking Australia readers. In fact, Julie has already asked me to buy some for her. For hikers who want the benefits of merino without paying premium-brand prices, this shirt deserves serious consideration.

Highly recommended.

Product: Snowgum Merino 180 Merano Tee
RRP: $89.95 AUD
Club Price: $59.95 AUD
Material: 100% Australian 17.3 micron merino wool

This review was based on real-world field testing during a 12-day Alta Via 2 trek through the Italian Dolomites.