0123456789 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz あいうえおかきくけこさしすせそたちつてとなにぬねのはひふへほまみむめもやゆよらりるれろわをん アイウエオカキクケコサシスセソタチツテトナニヌネノハヒフヘホマミムメモヤユヨラリルレロワヲン
0123456789 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz あいうえおかきくけこさしすせそたちつてとなにぬねのはひふへほまみむめもやゆよらりるれろわをん アイウエオカキクケコサシスセソタチツテトナニヌネノハヒフヘホマミムメモヤユヨラリルレロワヲン
100% Light Merino
Tank Top
MEN
Tシャツ
6818396831853
This product was given a new name in 2025.
During the transition period, you may receive a product with the old name.
*For details, visit our news page: Changes to Product Names in 2025

Brick Red, Light Blue, Olive, and Teal colors will be available starting at 6:00 PM on June 16th.
SPEC
Material
100% Merino Wool (145-155g/m²)
Weight
86g (Size S)
92g (Size M)
100g (Size L)
111g (Size XL)
Made in Akita, Japan

Introduction

Comfortable and easy to move in

A light (145-155g/㎡) merino tank top that promises unparalleled freedom and comfort.

Our 100% pure Merino wool will make your hiking more comfortable by keeping unwanted odors to a minimum.

Not only does it help regulate both temperatures and humidity when you hike, it can also be tumble-dried (maximum 60°C), making it a great piece for long-distance adventures.

Product story

Love for Merino

Akira Natsume, Yamatomichi Founder

I really love Merino fabrics. They are almost odor-free even when I sweat, comfortable, and keep the humidity and temperature constant even if I get soaked. Merino wool has so many natural and excellent properties that make it perfect for hiking.

When thru-hiking over a longer period, I really start to feel that I myself am part of nature. It is like my body somehow resonates and links with the greatness of my surroundings.

Deep in the mountains, as I walk, run, sweat, sleep, wake up and walk again, Merino wool is always my choice. For me, it connects my body with nature, and that is why I continue to focus on items made of pure Merino wool without any added synthetic fibers.

I have spent so much time and money developing our proprietary merino fabric. Why? This is all because of my love for merino!

Nori KO, wearing the 2023 version Black color.

Form and function

Where the 100% Light Merino stands

Though this product dries slower than general synthetic base layer T-shirts, it is less likely to cause hypothermia caused by the evaporation of sweat or other moisture. In other words, the new 100% Light Merino series focuses on moisture absorption rather than quick-drying, and on thermal insulation rather than cooling properties.

Recommended scenes

When the temperature changes drastically
Wool is good at maintaining a constant temperature inside the garment, keeping you dry and comfortable even in situations where temperatures can suddenly change.

When worn under an outer shell
Synthetic base layers with low moisture absorption can feel very humid and stuffy. On the other hand, our 100% Merino’s superior moisture absorption properties, will help to keep you dry and comfortable when worn under an outer shell.

When worn for long hours
Synthetic clothes often become smelly relatively early on, even if they are deodorant finished. Wools, on the other hand, naturally eliminate odor when the fabric dries even after being soaked in sweat. This powerful anti-odor performance allows you to keep moving day after day, relatively comfortably without smelling too bad. For details, please visit HERE (Currently available in Japanese only).

When packing capacity is limited
Our Merino wool products can be worn in various situations for long hours without getting too smelly, minimizing the need for extra clothes in your backpack.

Naturally odor resistant

Wool base layers are chosen by many hikers for the material’s excellent odor-neutralizing performance. Some say it’s almost odor-free even after a week of heavy hiking, but we’ll let you (and your friends) be the judge of that…

Wool’s deodorant mechanism is still a mystery. One theory has it that wool absorbs a large amount of odor-causing elements, and consequently, the odor is minimized to the level that cannot be detected by the sense of smell. We will conduct our own experiments and tests in the future.

Great moisture control

Wool is great to help you keep warm and cool as it naturally controls the moisture level within the clothes, always keeping you comfortable throughout the year.

Merino wool feels cool when it’s hot and warm when it’s cold. This is thanks to the unique “crimped” structure of wool fibers creating little pockets of air in the fabric. The air pockets act as loft, similar to down or synthetic fibers, trapping heat and providing excellent insulation compared to cotton or synthetic fibers. It also adjusts its moisture absorption according to the humidity of the surrounding air, absorbing more moisture as the humidity increases.

Learn more about this down below!

Warm when wet

Wool has some remarkable natural properties that make it ideal for outdoor use. When it gets wet, it releases a small amount of heat through moisture absorption—a process known as heat of sorption. At the same time, wool’s low thermal conductivity means it doesn’t pull heat away from your body like some synthetic fabrics can.

Even when soaked, wool fibers remain naturally springy, so they don’t collapse like cotton. This helps trap insulating air between the fibers, maintaining warmth. Plus, wool absorbs moisture into the core of each fiber, rather than sitting on the surface—so it can wick sweat away from your skin and still feel relatively dry to the touch.

“Absorption heat ” is generated in all fibers. Wool’s adsorption heat performance is twenty times of polyester, and 2.5 times of cotton.

Tumble dryable pure Merino

Normally, Merino wool products cannot be tumble dried as the heat causes shrinkage and deformation of the fabric, but our proprietary 100% Merino wool can be tumble dried at low temperatures (Upper limit of 60 Celsius). This makes it better suited for long hikes and travels, as you can easily use dryers at laundromats and hotels.

Details

The neckline and armholes feature a durable, stretch-resistant binder finish.

Material

Tumble-dryable 100% Merino wool made in Japan

At Yamatomichi, we are committed to 100% merino wool with no synthetic fibers.
Production is based in Bishu, Japan’s historic wool textile region. We work closely with spinning companies, textile mills, dyeing and processing factories, and testing institutions. Through continuous prototyping and research, we pursue better quality every day.

Compatible with Low-Temperature Dryers
The 100% Light Merino series undergoes a pre-shrinking process by being dried before the final finishing stage. This careful and time-intensive process allows the garments to be used with low-temperature dryers—something rarely achieved with merino wool. The heat treatment also creates a uniquely textured surface on the fabric.

Compact Spinning for Stronger, More Uniform Yarn
We use the compact spinning method, which wraps fiber fuzz into the core during twisting—a technique rarely applied to wool. This results in stronger, smoother yarns and highly durable fabrics with excellent uniformity.

Its distinctive texture comes from the subtle undulations formed by varying degrees of yarn shrinkage during pre-treatment heat processing.

100% Merino Wool
Weight
145-155g/m²
Yarn count
1/52
Burst strength (JIS L1096A)
274kPa
Measured as the pressure at which the fabric bursts when inflated against a rubber membrane.
Thermal insulation (JIS L1096A)
24%
Represents the energy loss of the heat source when fabric is placed over it.

Why 100% Merino?

Our merino wool products are purely made of merino wool, with no synthetic fiber added. Why? Let me explain.

Merino wool has various unique features such as temperature/moisture control and odor-resistant performance and is perfect for hiking. However, it does have drawbacks that should not be underestimated: the tendency to deform and shrink, and poor durability.

To compensate for the drawbacks, many manufacturers add synthetic fibers to strengthen their merino fabrics. We, however, are certain that pure merino’s advantages outweigh its weaknesses, so we want to stick with 100% merino to maximize the natural benefits of pure merino wool.

As shown below, our in-house tests show that as the percentage of the synthetic fiber increases, merino wool’s natural advantages, such as temperature/moisture performance, inevitably decrease:

The above chart shows the comparison of moisture content ratio of three types of fabrics in a humid and hot environment (up, 30˚C with 90% humidity) and a more comfortable environment (down, 20˚C with 65% humidity).

In a humid and hot environment, the fiber with superior moisture absorption keeps you dry and comfortable. On the other hand, in dry conditions, it is more comfortable when the fiber provides a certain level of moisture without excessively absorbing available humidity. The difference of the moisture content ratio in the above chart indicates the moisture control performance: the greater the value is, the better the fabric’s moisture control performance is, therefore the larger percentage means better comfort.

The 100% merino fabric, as shown above, has a 6.8% moisture ratio difference. This means that our merino material can effectively control the moisture compared to the other fabrics, keeping you dry when it’s hot and humid while supplying a moderate amount of moisture when the humidity is low.
This is the reason why the merino wool is known as “a natural air conditioner”.

Merino wool

Wool is a natural material with various unique features such as temperature/moisture control, thermal insulation, and anti-odor performance; all of them developed by sheep to survive the harsh environment over time.

Merino wool comes from merino sheep and compared to other kinds of wool, merino fiber is finer, softer, and less scratchy, and hence even suitable for making underwear.

All wools, including merino wool, are cool in summer and warm in winter. It is warm even when it’s wet, and practically odor-free even after many hours of wear.

Wool’s structure

The wool’s fiber is composed of amino acid-based protein, just like human hair and skin. The surface is called the “scale”, which is similar to a fish scale, and the inner part is the “cortex.”

The cortex is composed of the ortho-cortex and para-cortex, each with different moisture absorption performances. Because each of them differs in property, the combination of ortho and para cortexes makes the fiber “crimped.”

This crimped structure produces the wool’s unique features such as moisture/temperature control property and thermal insulation performance, avoiding the coldness caused by sweat.

Disadvantages of wool

As explained above, wool or merino wool has various features and functions, but it is not flawless.

  • Easily absorbs moisture and becomes heavy
    Wool can get quite heavy as it is great at absorbing moisture. This also means that wool takes longer to dry than synthetic fibers, but compared to cotton, it actually dries faster.
  • Liked by insects
    Soft, natural fibers such as wool, cashmere, and silk are prone to damage by insects.
  • Easily damaged
    The relatively short fibers of wool mean that wool fabrics are easier damaged than synthetic and cotton fibers. However, small holes can easily be fixed with a bit of pure wool and a needle.
  • Shrinks easily
    Wool generally shrinks easily, even when shrink-proofed. To reduce shrinkage, after washing, stretch the shirt to its original shape and gently iron it before drying.
  • Distortion
    When knitted wool fabrics are washed, the material is likely to distort diagonally because the yarned fibers absorb water, swell, and tend to untwist. Consequently, the shape of the shirt may distort slightly with washing.
  • Distinctive smell
    The wool comes from sheep and you may experience a distinctive animal-like smell coming from your t-shirt when damp. This smell usually disappears after the fabric dries.

The above information was compiled and edited based on the interview with the textile company and the research institute, and the reference book below:

Bibliography:
Structure and Physical Properties of Wool, Japan Wool Industry Association, Seni Co., Ltd.

Size guide

Size chart

Men
Size S M L XL
Weight (kg) 52~61 59~69 67~78 76~85
Chest (cm) 80~90 85~95 92~102 100~110

Product dimensions

Men

Unit:cm
Size S M L XL
Length 61 64 66 68
Shoulder Width 27.5 28.5 30 31.5
Body Width 44.5 47 51 55
Hem Width 44.5 47 51 55

The fabric will stretch approximately 1 cm vertically when hung to dry from from the listed values.

  • The above values show the measurement when the item is brand-new and unwashed.
  • Due to the characteristics of elastic knit materials, the sizing may vary 1-2cm.
  • Due to the difference in the shrinkage tendency, there may be some individual differences in the measurements of the product.
  • Tumble-drying at low temperatures may cause more shrinkage than when dried by natural drying. The shrunk item will be restored by washing and line-drying again.
  • Iron with steam if shrunk after the wash and drying. Gently stretch the fabric while ironing for the best results.

Our 100% Light Merino series have a wide-fit, standard-fit, and slim-fit: 100% Light Merino Tank is slim-fit.

Fitting

Oji 176cm 60kg
Size M (Teal)

Oji 176cm 60kg
Size M (Teal)

Beyonce 169cm 63kg
Size S (Navy)

Beyonce 169cm 63kg
Size M (Olive)

Oji 176cm 60kg
Size M (Teal)

Oji 176cm 60kg
Size L (Brick Red)

Pony 173cm 76kg
Size L (Charcoal Marl)

Pony 173cm 76kg
Size XL (Light Blue)

Oden 168cm-85kg
Size L (Navy)

Oden 168cm-85kg
Size XL (Olive)

Tsuka 183cm 65kg
Size L (Teal)

Tsuka 183cm 65kg
Size XL (Brick Red)

Kenken 183cm 77kg
Size L (Charcoal Marl)

Kenken 183cm 77kg
Size XL (Light Blue)

Moss 182cm 95kg
Size XL (Olive)

Beyonce 169cm 63kg
Size S (Navy)

Beyonce 169cm 63kg
Size M (Olive)

Oji 176cm 60kg
Size M (Teal)

Oji 176cm 60kg
Size L (Brick Red)

Pony 173cm 76kg
Size L (Charcoal Marl)

Pony 173cm 76kg
Size XL (Light Blue)

Oden 168cm-85kg
Size L (Navy)

Oden 168cm-85kg
Size XL (Olive)

Tsuka 183cm 65kg
Size L (Teal)

Tsuka 183cm 65kg
Size XL (Brick Red)

Kenken 183cm 77kg
Size L (Charcoal Marl)

Kenken 183cm 77kg
Size XL (Light Blue)

Moss 182cm 95kg
Size XL (Olive)

Notes before use

Potential color transfer

Please be aware that color may transfer if this product rubs against white or light-colored shirts when wet from sweat or rain.

Tumble drying instructions

Use a low-temperature setting (up to 60°C) when using a tumble dryer. However, frequent use may cause fabric pilling, so we recommend limiting dryer use.

To prevent wrinkles, avoid bunching during drying. Do not use a laundry net—dry items individually or with plenty of space, and remove them promptly after drying.

Tumble-drying may cause the fabric to shrink by about 1–2 cm, but this can be reversed with repeated washing.

Instructions

Care instructions

  • Merino wool can attract moths if body oils build up in the fabric. Wash regularly to help prevent insect damage.
  • When storing, use mothballs and keep the item sealed to protect it from insects.
  • Yamatomichi’s 100% Merino Wool can be machine-washed on a gentle cycle.
  • Due to the short fibers, some pilling or fuzz may appear at first, but this will lessen with washing as loose fibers are removed.

Care instructions page

For detailed tips on how to wash, store, and take care of your gear, visit our Care Instructions page.

If It shrinks

If your Merino shrinks, you can gently stretch it back using an iron. Set the iron to medium heat, apply steam to dampen the fabric, and while holding one side in place, gently stretch the other. Repeat gradually until it returns to its original length.

Removing wrinkles

Wrinkles from washing or drying can be eased by stretching the garment while hanging or using an iron. For ironing, use medium heat and steam to lightly dampen the fabric, then turn off the steam and slowly press to dry and smooth it out.

Payment

  • We only accept payment by credit card. We currently do not accept payment via bank transfer from overseas accounts.
  • We accept the following Credit Cards: Visa, Master, American Express, and JCB.
  • To download your receipt, please click the link included in the Dispatch Notice, which we will send by email as soon as the items are dispatched.
  • Bank transfer is only availble for those that own a Japanese bank account.

Delivery

  • Order Confirmation will be sent after the order.
  • The items will be dispatched within 3 days after the payment is confirmed.
  • The dispatch notice will be sent by email as soon as the items are dispatched.
  • The delivery may be delayed by unforeseeable reasons such as natural disasters and other logistics issues. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
  • We cannot ship multiple orders in one package due to how our delivery system is currently set up.
  • We will ship to regions in North America, Oceania, and Europe (excluding Russia) via DHL. For regions in Asia, the Middle East, Central and South America, Africa, and Russia, we use EMS (International Express Mail Service) for shipping.
  • Shipping fees and delivery times vary depending on the shipping destination as well as the size and weight of the items.

Size exchange

  • Overseas customers who need to change the size of their order, should note that the time needed for shipping will vary greatly depending on your country of residence.
  • We only accept exchanges when the item is unused (except for fitting).
  • If you wish to exchange the size of the item, please contact us within seven days of receiving your order.
  • Exchanges can only be made for the same color in a different size.
  • If the size you wish is out of stock, we will suggest a different color.
  • If the product is out of stock, we may simply have to ship the item back to you.
  • All shipping costs to be carried by the customer.
  • We will only send the exchanged item to you, upon receipt of return shipping cost via PayPal.
  • Please be aware that some countries charge customs duties depending on the price of the item.
  • We are unable to answer any questions on local customs. Please contact your local customs bureau.

Repair

A natural fiber, merino wool has wonderful properties such as excellent temperature and humidity control and deodorant performances, but it also has a weakness; yarns are likely to break and develop holes due to abusive use and moth eating.

For inquiries on repairing holes or products damaged over time, please feel free to contact us from the “Repair” section of the SUPPORT page.

Needle Felting

Holes in merino wool cut-and-sewn products caused by thread breakage or moth bites can be repaired by felting, a technique to patch the hole with the raw wool using a special needle. You can repair by yourself, and Yamatomichi also offers felting repair services using raw wool of the same color as the product.

For more details of felting and how we repair the merino items, visit Yamatomichi JOURNALS “#1 Repairing Holes in Merino Wool“.