Mission Workshop The Faroe : Merino review

Mission Workshop's Faroe : Merino is a mid-layer pullover that’s constructed using 100 per cent Merino wool and should offer all of the performance advantages associated with the wonder fabric.

Mission Workshop has a reputation for selling top-quality kit that's made in the USA from the best materials, and most of its products have a lifetime guarantee, which means, more often than not, they’re worth every penny of their lofty price tags. So does this garment live up to the reputation?

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Mission Workshop The Faroe : Merino details and specifications

Constructed from 100 per cent mid-weight Merino wool, The Faroe has a relaxed fit that makes it well suited to duties as a mid-layer with a baselayer and shell or next to your skin.

It has a well-fitted hood, a zipped pocket on the rear left-hand side that’s big enough for a modern smartphone and comes in two minimalist colours: black or heather grey. Along with the simple colour palette, The Faroe’s design is simple but classic.

The cuffs, collar and hem are all stitch-rimmed to help improve the pullover’s robustness by reducing fraying.

Mission Workshop The Faroe : Merino performance

Whether a garment works well and offers high-value performance or not is usually indicated by how often I’ll reach for it.

As a tech editor, I’m lucky enough to have the lion’s share of products to choose from, but I’ll frequently grab the same pieces again and again. The Faroe : Merino is one of those products, and gets more than its fair share of use.

Its fit means that it works well as a mid-layer, providing enough space underneath for one or multiple baselayers or T-shirts. However, the thin construction also means that it’s not so bulky that it can’t fit underneath a jacket shell.

It’s best-suited to particularly chilly days on the bike, providing an excellent amount of warmth on its own when you’re riding slowly or underneath a windproof shell if you’re going faster. That’s because stronger or colder winds do penetrate the top, although it does an impressive job of brushing off less intense gusts, so you won’t be reaching for the shell on every descent or if it’s just a bit windy.

Layer up correctly and it feels like you can take on even the most arctic conditions when you’ve got The Faroe on.

And that Merino fabric is great at being as versatile as it’s claimed to be. It wicks sweat away exceptionally well, even with a baselayer underneath, and then once it does finally get wet, the Merino’s properties keep you warm. Plus, it’ll dry out quicker than a synthetic equivalent, as long as take your shell off.

As a mid-layer underneath a shell it does a fantastic job at keeping your temperature controlled and stable through a host of conditions while the shell works hard to keep the elements out.

The hood is tight-fitting, which means that it’ll go under most lids on incredibly cold days when you’re climbing or hanging about in the car park. I don’t recommend wearing it under your helmet on descents though, because it could interfere with how much protection your lid can offer.

And as much as it’s great out on cold rides, it’s perfect as an after-ride companion and I always look forward to putting it on after a long or chilly lap.

At 427g for the medium it isn’t especially packable, but because it works well in a wide range of conditions you can depend on it to perform on most autumn, winter and spring rides, so the weight penalty is well worth the benefits on the trail.

The stitching around the cuffs, collar and hem has held up to a lot of abuse and the top is showing no signs of wear, even after a full year of hard testing.

Worn under backpacks it hasn’t started to bobble or wear either.

Thanks to its neutral colour and elegant styling, I also found myself wearing The Faroe casually as much as on the bike – a testimony to its versatility.

Mission Workshop The Faroe : Merino bottom line

As one of my go-to bits of kit both on and off the bike, The Faroe’s flexibility and inoffensive styling makes it an incredible bit of kit that's well worth its price tag.

It’ll keep you warm when it’s chilly and can work in a mixed bag of conditions, highlighting how important it is to own fewer, better-quality bits of kit.