Short answer: the best merino vest for a man in 2026 is the one whose label tells you the fibre content, whose knit holds its shape, and whose cut works over a shirt. Check those three before price or brand. Ours is a blend, not pure merino: the Alpaca Rittervest is 34% alpaca, 33% merino and 33% nylon, $349.
I own Ritter, so weigh what follows accordingly. But these are the checks I would make buying any merino vest, mine included.
1. Read the fibre label
"Merino" on a product page can mean anything from a pure merino knit to a blend with a small share of merino. Look for the percentages. A vest that gives you a number is easier to trust than one that does not. If you want a pure merino vest, buy one that says so. If you want something that holds its shape and wears longer, a blend with a stronger fibre is a reasonable trade.
2. Look at the knit, not just the fibre
Fine-gauge merino looks smart and is light, but it can pill and stretch at the zip and hem. A denser, felted knit looks more like a waistcoat and keeps its edges. Neither is wrong. It depends on whether you want a dress layer or a working one.
3. Check the cut and the front
A good office vest sits flat at the shoulder, has a plain zip and carries no logo on the chest. That is what lets it go under a blazer or over a shirt without looking like outdoor gear. I wrote about what works under a blazer if that is your use.
4. Know the care before you buy
Most wool vests want cold water, no dryer and flat drying. Ours is the same. The steps are in how to wash an alpaca vest.
About the Alpaca Rittervest
It is a felted knit made in small batches in Peru, with a plain full-zip front, two hidden zip pockets at the hip and no logo. It comes in eight colours in sizes S to XXXL. Shipping is free in the US, and returns and size exchanges are free for 30 days. If you are weighing alpaca against merino, I explain how the fibres differ in plain terms.
Questions I get asked
Is it pure merino? No. It is 34% alpaca, 33% merino and 33% nylon.
What size should I get? If you are between sizes, ask me. I answer the emails myself, and size exchanges are free.
If you want the one I make, the Alpaca Rittervest is the plain one.