RRP: £59.95 (at time of writing)
Weight: 250g
Material: 80% Merino Wool, 20% PolyesterTransparency statement: This product was purchased from the Keela website, using a discount code available to all customers for 15% off. This review has not been sponsored, commissioned or requested by Keela.
This summer I was looking for a natural fabric base layer. 100% polyester options are certainly durable and wick well, but can get a little whiffy after a full day’s use. At the other end of the spectrum, 100% merino, while very comfortable and excellent at odour control – can suffer from durability issues. I’ve owned a few 100% merino garments in the past and they tend not to hold up long to the kind of use I subject my clothing to.
When I saw Keela had base layers in an 80/20 blend, I decided to give them a go, and purchased both the Merino Round Neck top and the (now-discontinued) Merino boxers.
I have been wearing both the boxers and the Merino round neck top since Summer 2025. They’ve been used in hot summer weather, crisp autumn walks and under full waterproofs during torrentially rainy winter trudges. I haven’t opted to “keep them good” for hill use only. I don’t believe in doing this, gear is for using. I do a lot of city walking as well as my hiking (30-50 miles per week) and this often involves calling into a shop / cafe or similar while running errands. Not exactly something you wanting to be doing in the midst of a 10 mile walk with a haze of synthetic fabric reek emanating from your person! I am happy to say that the odour control element from the merino wool is very effective.
This base layer has exposed stitching around the shoulder area and down the sides. I think it’s a nice aesthetic detail. The seams don’t rub at all, and I’ve never felt discomfort from them. The cut of the neck isn’t ideal for me, I prefer a bit more of a dip at the front.
The long sleeves are useful when it’s chilly, and don’t feel pinch when rolled up in the heat. Despite regular use in the summer heat directly under rucksack straps, I have no significant durability concerns at present.
Since the summer I’ve worn and washed (in plain liquid soap!) the base layer about 30 or so times. It is only showing some very minor pilling in some of the higher contact areas and is holding up very well so far. We like our reviews to be “living documents” on this site, so I’ll be checking in over time with durability updates on this one. When the base layer eventually breaks down – you’ll know!
The base layer wicks well, which has been beneficial both on summer hikes and when wearing it under the Keela Munro during long days in the rain. The Munro coat deals well with condensation/sweat, but if you’re wearing a base layer under it that holds onto sweat, you’re getting clammy regardless. I’ve found that if I arrive sweaty at camp and it’s dry/breezy (the latter is pretty likely on a summit!) stripping down to the base layer and walking around in the breeze for a while is enough to air the sweat out of the base layer and get things nice and dry again before settling down for the evening.
When it comes to garment care, the usual cautions for wool apply. Use a wool cycle. Keep it away from anything with velcro in it, use plain liquid soap or tech wash rather than detergent and keep the temperature of the water down. Don’t tumble dry, a spell on the line or 20 minutes on a radiator are all it needs. Washing inside out helps keep the abrasion of the outside to a minimum. If you’re feeling a little extra, throw in a drop or two of lanolin while washing, to help keep the wool strong. This is far from necessary, but if eking out as long as you can from your kit is important to you – it’s a worthwhile step to take.
Summary
Overall I’m pleased with this product. It was bought primarily for odour control during long walks or multi day trips and on that front it delivers. It is expensive for a base layer, wool will never compete with polyester on price. It wicks sweat very well both under a robust coat (Munro!) and on its own during summer hikes. Durability has been acceptable so far after five months of heavy use, with no signs of rapid or premature deterioration.
I’ve since purchased the zip-neck version of the top direct from Keela, for a bit of variety and because I do think a higher neck suits me better aesthetically. Given my good experience with this version, it seemed a solid choice.
The Men’s Merino Round Neck Top is available directly from the Keela website (click) as well as through third party stockists.
