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We have said it repeatedly, packing light is the very best travel tip we can offer you. And, as we've also learned in our nearly 15 years of full time travel, the best way to accomplish that is to travel with the right clothes. For us, the basis of the right clothes for packing light is merino wool garments from Unbound Merino.
For all seasons, the travel pants, T-shirts, sweaters, and hoodies are good looking on their own and fantastic for layering. New options like the button-up shirt for men and dresses and skirts for women mean we can dress in style from the beach to the dinner table. Here are some of the reasons we're stuck on Unbound Merino wool clothing.
Benefits of Merino Wool
Merino wool is the magic natural fiber for flexibility in your travel packing. It's a far cry form the bulky, itchy wool of your childhood. Over centuries, Merino sheep have been selectively bred for silky fine wool fibers that are naturally breathable and naturally insulating. Kind of a miracle. Here are the features we love:
- Warmth and breathability. Layers of merino balance warmth and breathability, so you retain body warmth when it's cool, and shed it when it's warm. In warm weather, the perfect T-shirt is moisture-wicking. In the cold of winter, best Merino wool t-shirts offer insulation without sacrificing the breathable performance.
- Packable. The first thing to note is that is that Unbound Merino garments roll up well and pack down small without wrinkling, so you can wear it right out of your bag.
- Odor Resistant. Second is that merino wool does not pick up or retain odors. In other words, you can wear an Unbound Merino shirt for days without washing it. Again, this is a natural feature.
- Washable. If you do feel like you need to wash your wool when you're on the road, you can do that in the hotel sink, hang it up in the shower and, more than likely, it will be dry by morning.
- Comfort. Not all Merino wool is created equal. Just ask Kris about her itchy experience with some brands. She had just about given up on wearing wool against her skin. But somehow, the soft touch and the natural lanolin coating to the Merino wool fibers has proven to be cozy, even for particular Kris. The silky soft Unbound products are both lighter weight and softer than the average Merino wool product.
That means that two or three merino garments will do the work of an entire huge suitcase's worth of travel clothes, for a fraction of the cost in space and weight.
Unbound Merino Wool Styles We Wear
Short Sleeve Tee. We both have several Unbound Merino t-shirts which are nicely styled for both men and women. Men's and women's merino wool t-shirts form a good base layer for a lot of our travel.
Long Sleeve Tee. In addition, we both have a couple long-sleeved underlayers, for when the weather is a little cooler. (Here's the women's version of the long-sleeved shirt.) Because of the fine, lightweight fibers – not bulky – these make a great base layer. As you can see from the models' photos, the long-sleeved shirts also look neat by themselves.
Sweaters and Hoodies. The final addition to our Unbound Merino wardrobe that we always travel with – and usually wear on the plane – is the lightweight merino wool hoodie for Tom and the Quarter Zip Sweater for Kris. (A favorite cardigan sweater seems to have been removed from Unbound's inventory, probably because it is a bit bulkier than hoodie, now available for women, too.) We wear the hoodies as outer layers, or they fit nicely under a jacket for an added layer of protection.
Travel Pants. Finally, Unbound has introduced travel pants for women. The Lightweight Travel Pants barely feel like wool. Think of a fine, summer, menswear wool, add some Spandex, go with an unstructured style, and you have decent-looking comfortable travel pants. Kris was skeptical about the wide-leg style, not always great on a shorter frame. Even the shorter inseam needed to be hemmed up in her case. But the fabric hand is wonderful and the finished look excellent for travel. These are comfortable, not sloppy. Extra credit for discrete deep pockets front and back. You can count on quick-drying and easy packing and care.
Kris is hoping to test the Women’s Slim Merino Travel Pants, too. The trim fit is more her style; stay tuned.
Let's not forget the Unbound Merino leggings, which Kris is fond of wearing around the house or as an underlayer in extreme cold. These are the rare leggings that forego a flashy logo, are temp regulating and quick to dry, and feature a subtle zipper pocket.
More Unbound Merino Wool Products
Throw in Unbound Merino socks and a few pairs of underwear and your packing is done. And when you travel light as we do, the whole trip goes much smoother.
Don't forget the cute little ribbed Merino beanie, sure to be tossed in Kris's bag for any trip flirting with chilly weather or Arctic conditions.
Next up? Kris is keeping an eye on the Slim Travel Pants, the Merino Travel Dress, and the Merino T-Shirt dress. The classic style button-up shirts for men and women are really attractive, but not always available for women. Sometimes the availability of sizes in Unbound's women's apparel is spotty, but we'll be patient in order to round out our Merino wool wardrobe.
Women's Slim Merino Travel Pants
Women's Merino Travel Dress
Women's Merino T-Shirt Dress
Men's Button-Ups
Tom's next Unbound Merino addition is going to be the new Spring lightweight hoodie. Perfect adaptability for cool spring evenings at the outdoor cafe.
One final word on Unbound products. We want and expect our Merino wool to last a long time, so we follow the care instructions. Wash cold and avoid the dryer. You'll have dry and like-new clothing by morning.