Merino or cotton for an everyday tee?

Different jobs. Cotton is soft, cheap, durable, and easy to wash — the default everyday tee, best in warm weather and hard rotation. Merino wool manages moisture and odor unusually well, so it can be worn more times between washes and packs well for travel, at a higher price and with more delicate care. For a plain daily tee on a budget, cotton wins on value; for travel, layering, and low-laundry wear, merino’s odor resistance earns its premium. Micron count (softness) and knit weight decide the merino; GSM and cotton grade decide the cotton. Pick for the use, not the hype.