Ibex 24 Hour Long Sleeve Low Crew Shirt Review

I still remember getting my first merino shirt nearly 20 years ago while working at an outdoor shop. The material was something relatively new to the North American activewear market, which, at the time, was dominated by the overwhelmingly popular synthetics of the previous decades. I took what I learned about merino wool to heart and wore that shirt everywhere, including every backpacking trip that I went on in the Rocky Mountains.

In the intervening years between then and now, I’ve watched merino grow in popularity as a performance fabric. It is now ubiquitous, to the point that you can even find shirts spun from this miracle fiber at Costco. While the 24 Hour Long Sleeve Low Crew from Ibex reminds me of that first merino shirt that I loved all those years ago, the technology has come a long way since, and I was excited to put this shirt to the test.

Who is Ibex?

Founded in 1997, Ibex was one of the first brands to introduce natural wool fiber for performance apparel to the American market. After decades of success, a turbulent period forced the brand to shut down, but not before making its mark on the outdoor apparel industry and nurturing a loyal fanbase. It wasn’t long before Ibex was resurrected. The company relaunched in 2019, and they’re on a mission to help you care about what you wear.

READ NEXT —

• Gear Wars: Merino Wool vs. Synthetic Base Layers
• Base Layers for Backpacking: What You Need to Know

Ibex 24 Hour Long Sleeve Low Crew At-a-Glance

• MSRP: $98
• Materials: 100% merino wool
• Weight: 5.8 ounces / 162 grams
• Origin: fabric, Australia / garment, Vietnam

Circumstances of Review

I received my Ibex top in April, and have worn it as a base layer on many spring hikes. I’ve also layered it over a t-shirt to cut the early-morning chill at the beginning of a hike. But it hasn’t been limited to just trail use either, and it has accompanied me around town, paired with jeans. I’m 5’5″ and about 130 pounds (generally considered of average build) and tested the women’s size small.

Intended Use

The Ibex 24 Hour series of tops are designed for all-day and multi-day wear. My long sleeve version can be worn next to the skin as a base layer or comfortably layered on top of a tank or t-shirt. Because of merino wool’s amazing odor-fighting properties, this shirt can be worn many days in a row before developing a funk, and would be great as a layering piece on a backpacking trip, or during travel in general.

Ibex 24 Hour Long Sleeve Low Crew Features

100% Merino Wool: The Ibex 24 Hour series of tops is made of 100% merino wool. This means you get the full benefits of merino which include impressive durability, thermoregulation, odor resistance, and breathability.

Performance Finish: Ibex uses a proprietary steaming process on the wool fabric, which helps the material feel cooler to the touch and makes it more versatile across a wide range of climates. It will help keep you warm in cold conditions, and you won’t overheat on hot days.

Versatility: The 24 Hour Long Sleeve is designed to be worn from mountain peak to brewery, or from airport to evening out. The merino wool effectively wicks away sweat, then dries quickly with nary a slight whiff of odor. The fabric is also wrinkle-resistant, which means it’s ready to wear straight out of your bag.

Ibex 24 Hour Long Sleeve Low Crew Pros

Comfortable Fit: I found the fit of the Long Sleeve Low Crew really comfortable. Ibex lists it as a “Regular” fit which suits my body better than the slim fit of similar tops offered by other brands. The slightly lower crew neckline sits nicely without feeling like it’s choking me when I’m on the move. It also makes it a bit easier to pull over my head.

Another really nice detail is the curved hemline. This is a feature of both the men’s and women’s crew tops and helps the shirt fit more comfortably over my hips without riding up.

Softness: The fabric is incredibly soft and stayed that way even after a couple of washings. This shirt feels so good next to my skin and, for that reason, quickly became the first top I’d grab from my closet before heading out for the day.

Sleeve Length: A small but important detail that I really appreciated was the sleeve length. They can cover my hand to the base of my thumb, which is enough to allow me to hold onto them as I pull on another layer. The sleeve cuffs were also wide enough that I could push them up past my elbow when I needed to cool off. There they stayed without constricting blood flow.

Climate Neutral Certified: Ibex has been Climate Neutral Certified annually since 2020, and with the help of this non-profit, Ibex measures its greenhouse gas emissions across the entirety of their supply chain. The company then offsets this impact by buying carbon credits. In addition, they actively work on reducing the emissions of their wool suppliers, production facilities, and air transport.

Ibex 24 Hour Long Sleeve Low Crew Cons

Color Options: The color choices for the Long Sleeve Low Crew are limited to just six options. Ibex’s website includes photos of other colors so I’m hoping this is just a supply chain issue. The men’s version is available in seven colors, and the 24 Hour short sleeve equivalents are available in eight colors, so there’s hope.

I also wish for less gender bias in both the naming and availability of colors. I don’t understand why the women’s yellow is called Gilded, while the men’s is called Dried Tobacco. And why can’t I buy Charcoal or Sitka in the women’s version?

Non-Inclusive Sizing: Everyone should have access to high-quality merino wool base layers, no matter their body size. Unlike some other brands, Ibex doesn’t yet offer any of their products in sizes larger than XL (14-16).

Overall Value

I really like my Ibex 24 Hour Long Sleeve Low Crew top. Of course, I love all my merino clothing, but the softness, versatility, and comfortable fit have me reaching for my Ibex top over the other brands that I own.

One of the many reasons I wear merino is the material’s relative sustainability, and Ibex is one of the few companies in the industry with a truly transparent sustainability plan. I also have a lot of appreciation for the fact that this Vermont-born company is still based in the U.S. (now in Boulder, CO), and not owned by a giant international conglomerate. With all these factors at play, I’d say that the Ibex 24 Hour Long Sleeve Low Crew top is great value.

Shop the Women’s Ibex 24 Hour Long Sleeve Low Crew

Shop the Men’s Ibex 24 Hour Long Sleeve Crew

Similar Long Sleeve Tops

REI Co-op Merino 185 Long Sleeve Base Layer Top (Men’s)
MSRP: $79.95

Icebreaker Merino 175 Everyday Long Sleeve Crewe Thermal Top (Men’s)
MSRP: $85

Smartwool Classic All-Season Merino Base Layer Long Sleeve (Men’s)
MSRP: $90

The Ibex 24 Hour Long Sleeve Low Crew Top was donated for the purpose of review.