Why We Travel With Merino Wool Clothes
When we were packing for our one year trip around the world we had no idea where to even begin. How do you pack for a year of travel? We read many blogs, talked to experienced travelers, and decided to start packing the three packing cubes we were each taking with us in our backpacks.
We packed clothes that were comfortable, versatile, and lightweight. At that time we didn’t know too much about merino wool clothes and all the great benefits for travel, but we were told that if we were going to do lots of hiking then we should highly consider buying merino wool socks. That was the best decision we made because from then on we were converted to merino wool clothing and swapped many of our clothes for it.
This post is in collaboration with Wool& and WoolandPrince. All opinions and thoughts are our own and based on our experience. Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that if you click on a product link, we may receive compensation. This compensation comes at no additional cost to you and allows us to keep serving you with great content.
What is so Special About Merino Wool?
Merino Wool has been around for centuries. Merino wool comes from the fleece of a Merino sheep. The Merino sheep are known for their fine, soft wool, and their ability to survive in extreme climates. The sheep originally are from Spain but now can be found in countries like New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Chile and others. The majority of Merino Wool products out there are produced in Australia and New Zealand. Once a year the Merino sheep get a haircut and the wool is collected. Shearing is a relaxed and natural thing for the sheep to experience. It’s not painful, in the same way we get haircuts.
Surprising Benefits Of Traveling with Merino Wool Clothing
- It is odor resistant
- Merino Wool breathes and manages moisture better than other types of fibers
- Ability to wick away moisture
- Wrinkle-resistant
- Natural Heating and Cooling
- Lightweight and easy to pack
- Strong and Resilient Fibers (will last a long time if taken care of properly)
- Not itchy and very comfortable
- Static Resistant
- Sun protection
- It’s natural
Is that convincing enough?!
Is Merino Wool Itchy?
Remember those thick wool socks or that thick itchy sweater? Now that’s actual wool, but Merino Wool is very different. It’s not itchy like regular wool. The merino wool fibers are actually finer, flexible and bend softly when pressed together against the skin. Regular wool is made of fibers that are larger and broader which are not as flexible and result in the prickly feeling causing a person wanting to itch.
Best Ways To Wash and Care For Merino Wool Clothes While Traveling
If you invested a good amount of money into buying Merino Wool clothes then you probably want them to last you a long time. The trick is to make sure you pay attention to the care instructions on the tag or your shirt or any other clothing item.
Here’s an example of what our Merino Wool clothes care instructions say,
- Machine wash cold with like colors.
- Tumble dry low.
- No iron. Do not dry clean.
Another thing you want to watch out for is to make sure you use a mild detergent. If you are traveling and you’re turning in your clothes to be washed the best thing that you could do is to just hand wash it yourself. Since Merino Wool clothing is very odor-resistant you won’t need to wash it that often. When it comes time to wash the best thing that you could do to make sure it lasts, is to wash it with care.
If hand washing it,
- Soak in cool water with mild soap or detergent for a few minutes
- Rinse in cool water
- Wring out your clothes gently with a towel so you’re not stretching your clothes
Women’s Merino Wool Clothes
There are many options for women now for Merino wool based clothes. You can basically get a entire wardrobe consisting of Merino wool. It’s totally worth it in the long run!
During our travels I struggled with the cotton and even the quick dry shirts I brought. They would always not last even a couple days and would start smelling. When you are traveling you are moving a lot more, so that’s why Merino wool is perfect. You don’t have to wash your clothes as much, you don’t smell, it wicks well, and it keeps you warm in cold weather and cool in hot weather!
Women’s Merino Wool Dresses
First of all I love dresses and especially for travel because there are days when you want to dress up a little bit more nicer than shorts and t-shirt. Wool& has the most comfortable and perfect travel dresses! Their mission is to “…. design the most practical, most wearable dress in your wardrobe.” They have done just that!
The dresses come in different styles and colors. They are super soft, breathable, comfortable to wear, temperature regulating, odor resistant, and UV protecting! I have the Brooklyn Wrap Dress in Seafoam color and the Rowena Swing in Burgundy. I’ve been wearing them ever since I got them and they have become my go-to dresses!
Women’s Merino Wool Shirts
There are a few different companies that I like for wool shirts. Wool & Prince has some great dress shirts that you can take traveling or for work. Woolx has great shirts and tanks for travel that I have been eyeballing and hoping to invest into in the near future! You can also never go wrong with Patagonia wool shirts and SmartWool! Another great company that I’ve heard a lot about is Icebreaker. They have a variety of clothing for women that are made from merino wool!
Women’s Merino Wool Layers
Meriwool Layers has great and affordable options for under layers as well as some other companies that are mentioned above. This past winter instead of wearing thin leggings for winter hikes under my hiking pants, I got wool under layers that have kept me warm during the cold months!
Women’s Merino Wool Underwear and Bras
Icebreaker, Smartwool and Woolx have some great options available to women for merino wool underwear and bras. I haven’t tried out any of them personally, but hope to someday. I can imagine how great they are for backpacking trips, hikes, and travel.
Women’s Merino Wool Socks
I have several pairs of socks from Smartwool that I have been wearing for a couple of years now. They have been perfect for travel because I don’t need to bring as many socks with me and they last a lot longer. There were times when I wore them for a week straight and didn’t have a problem with them smelling. I know that might sound gross, but it’s true! I used to buy those 10 pack socks from Costco and go through them in a year because they would always get lost somehow or get holes.
Another great brand for wool socks is Darn Tough. They make great women’s socks and gave an awesome warranty!
Men’s Merino Wool Clothes
Men’s Merino Wool Dress Shirts
Wool and Prince has some of the best merino wool dress shirts out there. Their vision is to bring the benefits of merino wool to everyday garments.
I (Alex) have two dress shirts that I having been wearing this year. I have the Button Down Heather Gray Twill and a Short Sleeve Button-Down Vintage Blue Wool Linen shirt which has been great for the summer months.
Check out their website for other great options. They always come out with something new!
Men’s Merino Wool Shirts & Layers
I’ve been wearing merino wool shirts and base layers for a few years now. They are great for everyday wear, hiking, layering when it’s cold and even for working out in.
Some of my favorite and affordable merino wool layers are from Meriwool. They have lasted me for over a year now and will continue lasting me for awhile.
Other great companies for layers and shirts, Woolx, Minus33, Smartwool, Icebreaker.
Men’s Merino Wool Underwear
I also decided it would be a good idea to also invest into merino wool boxer briefs instead of buying polyester or cotton. They have been great for working out in, traveling, hiking, and working. They provide great support.
I have the boxer briefs from Woolx. Other great and affordable ones are made by Meriwool.
Men’s Merino Wool Socks
All my socks are now merino wool socks. They last longer, don’t smell, and help regulate temperature. They have been awesome for hiking, working long days in work boots, and just wearing them during the winter season.
I love my Smartwool socks and Darn Tough socks.
Merino Wool Accessories
There are also great hats, gloves, scarves that are made from merino wool. They are great additions to layering and taking along on your travels!
Are Merino Wool Clothes Worth Buying?
The answer is yes! It is totally worth the invest upfront to get all the wonderful benefits of merino wool. We haven’t ever regretted our decision to switch to merino wool.
We hope this has been helpful and has inspired you to get yourself some merino wool clothes.
If you have merino wool clothes, let us know by tagging us in your travels or adventures on Instagram #thatoneadventurecouple #idratherplayoutside!
Are you getting ready to go traveling? Check out this blog posts we wrote during our one year trip around the world!
BEST WATER FILTRATION SYSTEM FOR TRAVEL
12 LESSONS WE LEARNED FROM TRAVEL
WHAT TO PACK FOR A YEAR OF TRAVEL
If you need adventure and travel inspiration, follow us on our Instagram @thatoneadventurecouple! Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our Adventure Newsletter where we feature all our favorite travel spots, tips, and you’ll get a free e-book!
That One Adventure Couple
1 Comment
Joyce
July 17, 2020 at 8:55 pmI am also really fond of Smitten Merino – – their dresses come in a wide variety of styles and they also have a lot of coordinating tops, shirts, leggings, etc. I got two dresses and a pair of leggings that accommodated me through my pregnancy. Their customer service was really friendly and I loved that they do all steps of the process of getting the wool and manufacturing the dresses in Australia. Knowing my money wasn’t going to a factory that could be violating good labor principles was important to me.
Merino Country is similar – – they seem to concentrate on underwear and active layering clothes. I haven’t personally taken the plunge and invested in any of their garments yet though.
I’m looking forward to checking out some of the other companies you mention!