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Smartwool Merino 250 Glove
#2 — Best Merino Liner

Smartwool Merino 250 Glove Review (2026)

Warm when damp, and it does not smell after four days

★★★★★
8.9/10
Reviewed by William • Updated August 2026 $45

Merino's advantage over fleece is that it holds warmth when damp, and on a multi-day trip gloves are damp most of the time. The 250-weight knit is warmer than it looks and pairs cleanly under a shell without bunching. Odor resistance is not a luxury feature on a section hike — fleece liners are unpleasant by day three and these are not. The trade is abrasion: merino wears through at the fingertips faster than synthetic, and these will not survive years of scrambling.

TrailCraft Score

What Works

  • Retains warmth when damp
  • Excellent odor resistance on multi-day trips
  • Thin enough to layer under a shell
  • Touchscreen-compatible thumb and index
  • Comfortable directly against skin

Limitations

  • Wears through at fingertips faster than fleece
  • $45 for a liner is a premium price
  • Not windproof or water resistant

At a Glance

TypeMerino liner
Material250g/m² merino blend
Weight2.8oz / 79g pair
TouchscreenThumb and index
Temp range28-48°F moving
CareMachine wash cold
WarrantySmartwool 2-year

Score Breakdown

Value for Money
8.4
Dexterity
9.2
Warmth
8.8
Durability
7.8
Weather Protection
7.6

What Sets It Apart

Used as a sleep glove and a hiking liner on the same trips. The 250 weight is the sweet spot — 150 is too thin to matter and 400 is too warm to hike in. Wearing them into a sleeping bag on cold nights is the underrated use case, since damp merino still insulates and damp fleece against skin does not feel the same.

Warm when damp, and it does not smell after four days

Who This Is For

Section hikers and anyone doing multi-day trips where laundry is not an option, hikers who run cold in damp conditions, and people who want one glove that works hiking and sleeping.

Note: Prices are current as of August 2026. Some links are affiliate links.

Also Consider

See the full comparison

All 15 options in this category ranked side by side.

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Common Questions

Merino or fleece for a liner?
Merino if trips are multi-day or conditions are damp. Fleece if durability and cost matter more — fleece survives abrasion better and costs less.
Do these work under a shell mitt?
Yes. The knit is thin enough not to bunch inside a shell, which is the main failure mode of thicker liners.