Graphene-X Merino Wool Tees: FirstLook
Breathes, regulates temperature, resists odor...and now, TOUGH???
We have been singing the praises of merino wool for years.
The reason? Merino wool shirts:
- absolutely do not smell even after being worn for days,
- dry quickly after washing, and
- are super comfortable in all conditions. Two of our favorite brands are Unbound Merino and Wool &Prince.
Having extensive experience with them, we can say that while merino wool shirts are great, they do suffer from a few drawbacks:
- They are not cheap,
- They are kind of delicate, and
- They are finicky to care for.
While Merino wool is absolutely awesome in travel shirts, we find them to not be durable enough for daily wear.
What is durable enough for daily wear?
Long-time RainyDayMagazine readers know that our favorite daily-wear brand is Graphene-X. No clothing maker has shirts that wear longer. That’s because they use a special graphene-infused fabric that is practically indestructible.
We have tested Graphene-X’s clothing extensively over the years, and we have had only one “failure.” It wasn’t a rip or a hole, but a seam that became “unwelded” after six years of wear.
That Graphene-X Layer-X shirt is still in our “rotation” because the fabric itself has not shown any signs of wear. The graphene-infused fabric is pretty amazing considering that none of the merino wool shirts we have ever had made it to year three!
NOTE: Some of Graphene-X’s graphene-infused shirts are not sewn together, but the seams are joined using stitchless construction techniques. We are not sure how to fix our unwelded seam, but we’ll give it a try when we find some time 🙂 It should be an interesting RainyDayProject!
Timeless Merino
When Graphene-X announced that they were releasing a new line of shirts made from a blend of graphene-infused fabric and merino wool, we were excited!!!
- Naturally breathable
- Naturally odor-resistant
- Moisture-wicking
- Temperature regulating
GRAPHTOUGH™ is a proprietary textile technology developed by Graphene-X that integrates graphene into dense polymer yarns and fabrics such as nylon and polyester.
- Extreme Abrasion Resistance: Engineered to withstand harsh friction, testing up to 150,000 rubs under the Martindale abrasion protocol without failure (far exceeding standard military specifications of 20,000 rubs)
- Structural Reinforcement: Added to delicate or high-wear fabrics—like 16.5-micron Australian Merino wool or lightweight travel gear—to prevent thinning, pilling, and premature wear from packs, commutes, and daily use.
- Weather & Environmental Protection: Utilized in heavy-duty outerwear, shells, travel organizers, and pants to provide high durability against rocks, branches, and extreme weather.
This is the proprietary technology that makes it possible for merino wool to be woven into a fabric that is both soft and tough.
GRAPHTOUGH™ graphene-integrated fabric features:
- More structure than pure merino,
- Durability for daily wear, travel, summer movement, layering, and repeated use.
FirstThoughts
We love wearing Merino wool tees. They are super comfortable, breathable, and very light. They are amazing for short and long trips because they pack well, don’t hold odor, and dry quickly. However, what we didn’t like was how susceptible to pinholes they are.
Apparently, the folks at Graphene-X have a solution. Their approach is to combine the best of Merino wool with the strength and adaptability of graphene. Genius!
We are excited by the Timeless Merino tees from Graphene-X!
The shirts we got feel amazingly soft and light, but have enough thickness to not feel cheap or thin. We noticed that the seams are traditionally sewn rather than bonded, as with their Layer-X shirts.
We assume that this is because the fabric is 70% ultra-fine Australian Merino wool / 30% graphene-integrated nylon, which is not suitable for the stitchless construction techniques used in making their Layer-X tees.
If these tees really do hold up to daily wear, we just might have to completely rethink our entire tee collection! Look for our FirstUse report later in the Fall.
Links to items mentioned:
Leave a comment