YETI Launches Merino Line With Nuyarn Spinning
YETI has integrated Nuyarn's proprietary spinning technology into two new merino apparel styles.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Camping
YETI introduced two merino apparel styles built with Nuyarn Technologies' spinning technology, including the Caprock Merino 250 Quarter-Zip and the Hueco Merino 310 Full-Zip. Nuyarn, a performance yarn and fabric company based in New Zealand, announced the official partnership on October 28, 2026.
Why it matters
The collaboration brings a publicly traded cooler and drinkware company into performance merino apparel, a category built on durability and thermal comfort. Nuyarn has further styles in development with YETI, signaling that the partnership extends beyond this debut collection.
Nuyarn's manufacturer-reported figures claim 9x greater durability and 35% more thermal retention than conventional spun merino, with triple the drying speed and 30% less material use. These comparisons come from the company itself, and independent verification and retail pricing have not been reported.
The players
YETI
YETI is a publicly traded company best known for its coolers and drinkware, now expanding into performance apparel.
Nuyarn Technologies
Nuyarn Technologies is a New Zealand-based performance yarn and fabric company that develops proprietary spinning technology for merino wool.
The details
The debut YETI merino collection includes the Caprock Merino 250 Quarter-Zip, which uses a waffle-knit construction, and the Hueco Merino 310 Full-Zip. Both styles use Nuyarn's proprietary spinning technology, which the companies position as a performance upgrade to standard merino wool.
Timeline
October 28, 2026: Nuyarn announced the official partnership with YETI for merino wool apparel.
Roadmap
Merino wool has long been a staple of outdoor base layers because of its natural temperature regulation and odor resistance. The YETI and Nuyarn collaboration reflects a push by non-apparel brands to compete in performance outerwear by reengineering the fiber itself.
Campers and hikers considering merino base layers can compare the claimed durability and drying speed when evaluating new gear. Because the figures come from the manufacturer, buyers may want to wait for independent reviews and retail pricing before purchasing.
The takeaway
Performance claims for new fibers are easiest to judge through independent testing, so shoppers should look for third-party reviews alongside manufacturer specifications. Comparing durability, thermal retention, and drying speed against your own use case will show whether a premium merino style is worth the cost.
Further reading
For more on outdoor gear and layering for time in the backcountry, explore Camping.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Textile World.
