Whether you’re taking a short daytrip or an extended vacation, merino wool is quickly becoming a prized fabric for travelers. If you’re not a fan of wool clothing, you should know merino comes from a different breed of sheep, originating from Spain and domesticated in Australia. The material is nothing like the itchy sweaters you’re used to. Rather, it’s much smoother and closer to the feel of cotton, depending on the weight of the fabric.
Merino wool was first championed by the outdoor community that appreciated its climate-control properties, immunity to body odor and ability to stay warm while wet, making it perfect for multiday excursions in a variety of conditions. Unlike wool, merino wool is much more breathable, so it keeps you warm in the cold, yet doesn’t overheat in warmer conditions. This temperature-regulating quality makes it ideal for travelers who want to cut down the number of layers they need to pack, especially if you wear the material as a base layer.
Backpackers who don’t get to wash their clothes often will appreciate how the material is impervious to body odor. Cotton and polyester dry out quickly, but they are also notorious for trapping bacteria from your sweat. Merino wool, on the other hand, does not, allowing you to wear it at least a few times before washing.
This is also where you get some drawbacks. Merino wool has thin fibers, so it’s not durable. In a washing machine, it needs to run on the delicate cycle and be dried on flat ground. Dryers are too abrasive and even a clothesline will warp the fabric. Some companies are experimenting with more durable blends, so check with the manufacturer about a recommended wash cycle.
The biggest drawback though might be its price tag; a typical merino wool t-shirt will run you $50–100. This wouldn’t be so costly if the available designs weren’t so bad. Most of the cuts are for adventure travelers, so it will be tough to find something made for clubbing in the wintertime. It’s also not flattering, as the material doesn’t conform to the body like cotton blends.
The fabric is perhaps best suited for outdoor and base layer clothing. If you’re interested in wearing merino wool on your travels, check out some of the popular brands like Icebreaker, Ibex and Smartwool.
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