KÜHL TEAM 1/4 ZIP Merino Wool Top Review
KÜHL TEAM 1/4 ZIP Merino Wool Top Review
I have owned and used the KÜHL TEAM 1/4 ZIP Merino Wool Top for years, and it remains one of the nicest merino layers I have owned for cold-weather hiking, travel, and everyday use. The current version has evolved slightly, but the qualities I liked most about the original are still central to the design.
I have always rated KÜHL gear highly and have also reviewed the KÜHL Free Rydr Pants, which are another good example of the brand combining outdoor performance with clothing you can comfortably wear away from the trail.
Merino wool is one of my favorite outdoor materials because it manages temperature, moisture, and odor extremely well. I have covered the benefits of merino wool in much more detail elsewhere.
The TEAM 1/4 ZIP is a particularly good example because it manages to work as a practical outdoor mid-layer while still looking smart enough to wear casually.
LONG-TERM VERDICT
Best for: Hiking, travel, cold-weather layering, camping, and everyday wear.
What I like: Warmth for the weight, excellent temperature regulation, soft fabric, thumb loops, comfortable fit, and understated styling.
Main downside: Premium merino clothing is expensive and needs more careful washing than a basic synthetic fleece.
Would I buy it again? Yes. The current version is slightly different, but the concept is still one I rate very highly.
Original vs Current KÜHL TEAM Merino 1/4 Zip
The version I originally tested was made from 100% boiled merino wool.
KÜHL has since updated the TEAM Merino 1/4 Zip.
The current version uses KÜHL’s AEROKNIT™ fabric, which combines superfine merino wool with nylon. The nylon filament is added to improve strength and fabric stability while retaining the temperature-regulating and odor-resistant properties of merino.
The current model still uses the same basic formula I liked about mine:
- Quarter-length front zip
- Merino-based performance fabric
- Thumb loops
- Flat seam construction
- Articulated fit
- Designed for layering
- Minimal, understated styling
So while this review is based on my long-term experience with the older 100% merino model, most of the things I liked about it remain relevant to the current version.
Warmth and Temperature Regulation
The thing that impressed me most when I first started wearing the TEAM 1/4 ZIP was how warm it felt without being particularly bulky.
Merino works differently from a thick synthetic fleece.
Instead of simply relying on a large volume of insulation, the fibers trap air while also allowing moisture vapor and excess heat to escape.
That means the top feels warm when you are standing around in cooler conditions but doesn’t immediately become unbearable once you start walking uphill.
I wouldn’t literally say it replaces three substantial mid-layers, as I did in the original review, but it can certainly replace the need to carry multiple lightweight tops for slightly different temperatures.
That helps reduce pack weight and, more importantly, reduces the amount of time you spend stopping to change layers.
The quarter zip also helps enormously.
When I start getting warm, opening the neck releases heat quickly. When the temperature drops, I zip it back up and use the thumb loops to close some of the gaps around my wrists.
Comfort
This is one of the biggest differences between quality merino wool and the coarse wool clothing many people associate with itching.
The TEAM 1/4 ZIP feels soft against the skin.
I can comfortably wear mine over a T-shirt or directly against the body, although because it is thicker than a lightweight merino base layer, I normally prefer it as a mid-layer.
The flat seams also help.
Raised stitching can become irritating underneath backpack straps or after hours of repetitive movement, whereas the flatter construction reduces obvious pressure points.
The thumb loops are another small feature I genuinely use.
They keep the sleeves extended when adding another jacket over the top and also help close the gap between sleeves and gloves in cold weather.
Fit
The fit is one of the reasons I’ve always liked this top.
It isn’t excessively tight, but it also doesn’t hang loosely around the waist like some outdoor fleeces.
Mine has enough room to comfortably fit over a T-shirt or lightweight base layer while still looking reasonably fitted when worn on its own.
The fabric also gives you plenty of freedom to move.
When reaching overhead, climbing, or carrying a backpack, I don’t feel restricted across the shoulders or arms.
The quarter-zip collar is snug when fully closed but not uncomfortable.
Most of the time I wear it partly open unless the temperature is particularly cold.
Style
KÜHL has always been better than many outdoor brands at making technical clothing that doesn’t immediately look like technical clothing.
That is particularly noticeable with the TEAM.
I can wear it hiking during the day and then wear the same top with jeans in a pub or restaurant without looking like I’ve forgotten to change out of my expedition gear.
The branding is also restrained.
Rather than covering the chest and sleeves in oversized logos, KÜHL generally keeps things subtle.
I appreciate that because I would rather pay for the materials and construction than become a walking advert for the company.
The overall design has aged well too.
It doesn’t rely on a particularly fashionable cut or unusual color blocking that suddenly looks dated a few years later.
Moisture and Odor Management
This is one of the main reasons I prefer merino for multi-day trips.
Merino doesn’t prevent you sweating, but it manages moisture extremely well and doesn’t develop strong odors as quickly as many synthetic tops.
That means I can wear a merino layer repeatedly on camping or backpacking trips without immediately feeling like it needs washing.
This is particularly useful when you’re traveling light or spending several days outdoors.
The fabric also continues to feel relatively comfortable when slightly damp.
I wouldn’t describe the TEAM as waterproof or even especially water-resistant, though.
The original version could handle a little drizzle without immediately feeling saturated, but it is still a wool sweater rather than a rain layer.
If proper rain protection is needed, I wear a waterproof shell over the top.
Durability
Merino has a reputation for being more delicate than heavy synthetic fleece, and very lightweight merino garments can certainly develop holes if abused.
The TEAM feels considerably more substantial.
My older version uses a relatively dense 100% merino construction, and it has always felt much tougher than an ultralight merino base layer.
The current model goes a step further by wrapping superfine merino around a nylon filament specifically to improve strength and fabric stability.
That makes sense to me.
You retain most of the reasons for wearing merino while reducing one of its traditional weaknesses.
As with any wool garment, I would still avoid unnecessarily rough treatment and follow the washing instructions carefully.
How I Use the KÜHL TEAM 1/4 ZIP
For me, this isn’t really a conventional base layer.
It is too substantial for the way I normally use a base layer.
Instead, I think it works best as a lightweight mid-layer or standalone top.
My favorite combinations are:
- Cool, dry weather: T-shirt underneath with the TEAM as the outer layer.
- Cold hiking: Lightweight base layer, TEAM, then a shell if needed.
- Camping: Pulled on in the evening when the temperature drops.
- Travel: Worn as both outdoor clothing and a smarter casual top.
- Very cold weather: Base layer underneath and an insulated or waterproof jacket over the top.
That versatility is probably the biggest reason I still like it.
A dedicated technical layer may outperform it in one very specific situation, but the TEAM works well across a much broader range of circumstances.
Quarter Zip vs Full Zip
I actually prefer the quarter-zip design for this type of garment.
A full zip gives you more ventilation and makes the top easier to remove, but it also adds weight, hardware, and a long zip down the front.
The quarter zip keeps the front mostly uninterrupted while still allowing enough ventilation for temperature control.
It also makes the sweater look much less like a conventional hiking fleece.
For something intended to work both outdoors and casually, I think that is an advantage.
What I Don’t Like
There isn’t much fundamentally wrong with the TEAM, but there are a few trade-offs.
The first is price.
Good-quality merino wool clothing is rarely cheap, and KÜHL is positioned as a premium outdoor brand.
The second is care.
I wouldn’t throw a merino sweater into a hot wash and tumble dryer in the same way I might with an inexpensive synthetic top.
The current model is machine washable on a cold delicate cycle, but KÜHL recommends air drying.
Finally, if you’re looking purely for maximum insulation for the least money, a conventional synthetic fleece will probably win.
The reason to buy something like the TEAM is the combination of warmth, breathability, odour resistance, comfort, low bulk, and appearance.
Is the KÜHL TEAM Merino 1/4 Zip Worth It?
I think it is, particularly if you value versatility.
The original TEAM I tested managed to combine the comfort and temperature regulation of merino with a cut that worked equally well outdoors and casually.
The current version has changed from the 100% boiled merino construction of mine to KÜHL’s AEROKNIT merino-and-nylon fabric, but I actually think that change makes sense for this type of top.
Adding some nylon should improve long-term durability without removing the characteristics that make merino useful in the first place.
The biggest compliment I can give the TEAM is that it doesn’t feel limited to one job.
It works as a hiking mid-layer, a cold-weather top, something to wear around camp, and something I am perfectly happy wearing away from the outdoors.
If you want one sweater that can cover several of those jobs rather than buying a highly specialized layer for each one, the TEAM remains a very good option.
Where to Buy
The current KÜHL TEAM Merino 1/4 Zip is also available directly from KÜHL.
Thanks for reading this KÜHL TEAM 1/4 ZIP Merino Wool Top Review. If you have any questions about how my original version has held up or how I use it, leave them below.
