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Details
- Price $125 at outlier.nyc
- Material 75% 16.5-micron merino, 25% ciclo branded polyester
- Fabric Weight 150 gsm
- Made in Thailand
Overview
As a long-time Outlier fanboy, I’ve tried just about every Outlier offering, excluding the ones that are outrageous to wear outside a runway. As impressed as I am by their continual experimentation and willingness to push boundaries, my love for Outlier is rooted in their basics.
The Outlier New Way Shorts and more recently, the Outlier F.Cloth Bigs, are some of the pieces that base pieces of my packing list. I am an avid traveler of South-East Asia and the tropical weather really makes it easy to grab these.
But above all the wonderful mainstay offerings, Outlier’s t-shirts are, without a doubt, my absolute favorite. I’m not exaggerating when I say I am a connoisseur of basic black t-shirts. I’ve tried just about every brand that offers one and if you want and are willing to pay for the absolute best, then Outlier’s is it.
Their most popular Outlier Ultrafine Merino T-Shirt is the most versatile. I wear this all year round. Even in the brutal summer in Tokyo, they work well for me.
If you can afford a t-shirt just for hot climates, then the Outlier Ramielust T-Shirt is my pick. The breezy openness of the fabric really keeps you cool. The only downside is that it has a mesh-y look that, I feel, looks less refined.
I fondly remember the runweight t-shirts that Outlier offered years ago that had the perfect balance between the lightness and refinement of merino for the hot and humid.
The Daydry T-shirts look to be a tweak to the runweight formula and I’ll see how it turns out as a hot-climate dweller.
Style
Black t-shirts aren’t hard to figure out, but there are those out there that get it wrong. Keep it black and clean. Don’t distract with ostentatious-looking branding. And let the material do the work.
Outlier has spent the decade getting this perfect. Their masterful selection of materials has made it easy. Merino looks and feels luxurious in person. For those who think that all black t-shirts look the same, I can say that you are wrong.
At the time of review, Outlier offers three variations of the Daydry T-shirt; cut zero, cut one, cut two, and long sleeve. I’ve got the cut one and two on hand for this review, but let me break the differences down for you.
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- Cut zero – the most standard cut, similar to other black t-shirts in your wardrobe
- Cut one – classic, straight, and long cut
- Cut two – box cut, squared out with broad shoulders and a high neck
- Long sleeve – From the pictures, looks like cut two with a long sleeve
If you still have a hard time figuring out which is good for you, I suggest going for cut zero as the most versatile variation. Even from photos, it's hard to distinguish the differences in fits. Look closely and you'll see differences in the neckline and boxiness of sleeves. Both look similar and are basic and versatile enough to go with most outfits. Just go with your gut and you’ll be good.
Speaking of gut, I’ve lost a bit of weight over the year and am back to my former glory days of not being a tub of lard. As 6 ft and about 190 lbs, the XL fits great for me. I’ve found that their t-shirts are usually half-size smaller than most American sizing, so it is best to size up if you are between sizes.
Material
Outlier is known to be obsessed with getting materials right. And among those materials, it’s merino wool that they have zoomed in and mastered.
Merino wool is one of the most feature-rich and luxurious materials you can wear as a traveler. It repels odor, stays clean for days, is breathable, and dries fast. On the flip side, it is not as durable and more expensive.
While I love 100% merino wool t-shirts, they are not the best choice unless you are made of money and am willing to burn through expensive t-shirts.
Merino blends are a more sensible choice, offering an indiscernible difference with 100% merino yet being more durable and affordable.
The Daydry T-shirts use a blend of 75% super soft 16.5-micron top-capped merino and 25% Ciclo branded polyester.
Micron count indicates the softness of merino wool. This document gives a good rundown, but 16.5 is officially in the ultrafine category. I’ve only seen lower micron counts from Outlier themselves but at exorbitant prices.
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Outlier’s stated micro count is top-capped, meaning a maximum of 16.5 microns. Other brand's micron counts are usually the average, meaning that you might get wool of micron count above 16.5 in there. I’ve always loved this detail about Outlier and you can sense the pride in their materials.
This merino is blended with 25% polyester. The range of around 25% is a pretty standard amount of blend to enjoy added durability while still feeling like merino. Take for example, the Wool&Prince Merino Wool Crew Neck T-shirt is still 78% merino wool and 22% nylon.
The 25% of polyester is selected because it absorbs almost no water. Ciclo’s polyester includes an ingredient that prevents the natural breakdown of wool. Outlier themselves are stating that they are taking the claim with a grain of salt and it does take time before the effectiveness of the claim can be proven.
Ciclo’s fabrics carry an Oeko-Tex certification, which means that a textile product has been tested for harmful substances and is safe for human use. The certification ensures that the product meets strict environmental and safety standards, making it a trustworthy choice for consumers looking for non-toxic and eco-friendly textiles.
I’ve never been one to think twice about the environmental effects of my clothes as I think a lot of it is just marketing, but it doesn’t hurt that it is tested to be safe for human use.
The main differentiator for the Daydry T-shirts will probably be the weight. At 150 gsm, these were similar to the discontinued Runweight series and will be perfect for hotter climates.
Usage
Outlier t-shirts have always been durable, no matter the material makeup. I especially love how the collar doesn’t stretch out like Uniqlo t-shirts, but this is to be expected at the premium.
Despite the lightness, you can still feel some weight of the t-shirt on your torso. You can feel the difference in weight from the Ultrafine T-Shirts, but are not light enough to say that they feel like nothing.
Just like the Ultrafine version, this feels luxurious on your skin and looks elevated compared to basic t-shirts. I have no issues wearing it into the office, topped with a nice overshirt like the Outlier Strongshank.
Even at a lighter weight, I expect nothing less from the Daydry T-shirt. I will be wearing these t-shirts daily, no matter the activity, on a trip to Bangkok and will update this section on the condition.
Conclusion
Fans of the Outlier Ultrafine Merino T-Shirt looking for a lighter version might find solace in the Daydry Merino T-Shirt, given that Runweight has long been discontinued. The luxurious merino looks much better than the mesh-y material of ramielust, making it my preferred material choice for warm weather.
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