Review: Ottie merino t-shirts

Disclaimer: Ottie gifted me two merino t-shirts to trial in exchange for sharing my views. Sadly they forgot to include a chocolate down-payment to make sure the review was a positive one, so here are my honest, unfiltered opinions.

I was lucky enough for Paul, one of the founders of Ottie, to reach out to me and ask if I wanted to try their merino products. I was already a big fan of merino layers for tramping. Plus the principle behind Ottie’s products intrigued me (clothing designed by hikers, for hikers). So it was a resounding yes!

I’ve used Ottie’s t-shirts on several tramping trips now, and I will definitely be using them on many more. Paul, one of the founders, seems like a genuinely nice guy and I really love the premise of their brand.

So here’s what I did (and didn’t) like about my Ottie merino t-shirts.

What I like about Ottie merino t-shirts:

– They’re made from merino

Merino, or merino blends, have been my go to fabric for tramping for years now. It’s light-weight and perfect for layering. Plus it helps me regulate my body temperature (keeping me cool when it’s hot, and warm when it’s cold). Merino is a natural fibre rather than synthetic (Ottie is compostable). And it’s odour resistant, which means it’s the perfect choice for multi-day tramps. You know, those trips when you still want to be friends with your tramping buddies by the end of the adventure.

– They’re created by trampers (ahem, bushwalkers)

The founders of Ottie are avid hikers, so they know what people look for when selecting layers for adventures. The t-shirts are a loose fit style (instead of the body hugging fit of many athletic brands). I found this so comfy, especially for my upper arms which often feel like they’re being strangled by tight ‘female’ outdoor t-shirts. The longer sleeves offer great sun protection too. The t-shirts also have an extra long length so they don’t ride up under your pack, which is always a bonus!

– They don’t pander to women

I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve wanted to buy (or have bought) the ‘men’s’ version of a clothing item because the colour or fit was so much nicer than the ‘female’ version. You’d think designers would realise that ladies don’t exclusively wear pink and purple! Ottie’s range comes in the same fit and colours as the men’s t-shirts, which also means the neck lines actually provide sun protection rather than just another area of skin you have to sunscreen.

What I don’t like as much:

– They’re not made in NZ / from NZ wool

Sorry Ottie, but as a daughter of a New Zealand sheep farmer, I couldn’t really let this one slide. Ottie is proudly Australian founded, sourced and made – which is great! But as a Kiwi, I normally try to support local, especially with great wool right on our doorstep from (in my opinion) an undervalued industry.

– They’re not specifically female fitted

This is both a pro and a con for Ottie in my opinion. I love the idea behind not pandering to ladies and having increased colour choices and higher necklines. Plus the loose fit around my arms and waist was so comfy! But the flip-side is that while the t-shirt was loose around my waist, I found that it hugged my hips (not in an uncomfortable way, but definitely tighter fitting in that area compared to the rest). My husband Matt didn’t have this problem at all, and the t-shirts fitted him really well.

Does this detract from the comfortableness? Not at all, and in some ways I think it helped the t-shirt stay in position while climbing up and down routes that were more tree roots than track. So while I love these t-shirts for tramping, I probably wouldn’t wear them out for dinner or drinks.

So those are my thoughts on Ottie and their merino t-shirts! If you’re interested, you can take a look at their clothes here. Ottie have lots more products on offer, such as long-sleeve tees, thermals and merino undies & socks. I can’t wait to take my merino tees on more adventures, especially as the weather starts to get colder – they’ll be the perfect under-layer to keep my warm and cosy.

Stay safe and get outside!

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