Last Updated on February 21, 2025
Have you ever struggled with overpacking? Does your carry-on smell like the inside of a gym bag? Merino wool clothing may be your answer if you’re always on the go and looking to step up your travel wardrobe. Its natural odor resistance, wrinkle resistance, and all-around comfort make it essential for any smart and savvy globetrotter looking to pack less and explore more.
Although there are so many tips, tricks, and hacks in the travel world to sort through. Where do you even start? Well, that’s where I come in. As a fellow kindred spirit and Merino wool enthusiast, I’m here to give you some simple, applicable travel hacks so you can pack lighter and more efficiently with Merino wool on your next adventure. These are simple, actionable tips from years of experience, 25+ countries, and an excessive love for Merino wool. Enjoy!
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Why Merino Wool is Best for Travelers
Before getting into my tried-and-tested travel hacks, I wanted to showcase Merino’s travel-friendly benefits. You can check out a more detailed list of benefits here, but here’s a brief overview of why Merino wool is such a unique travel fabric.
Lightweight & Compressible
Odor-Resistant for Multiple Wears
Temperature-Regulating (Hot & Cold)
Quick-drying & Wrinkle-Free (sometimes)
While these beneficial properties are excellent for any situation, they especially shine in travel. Now that you know why Merino wool is a travel essential, let’s figure out how to hack it to enhance your travel wardrobe.
The 10 Best Merino Wool Travel Tips
1. Pack Less Without Sacrificing Comfort or Style
The best ‘hack’ to pack lighter is simple: pack less.
Investing in more versatile travel pieces is the only way to achieve this while maintaining comfort and style. Luckily, versatility is where Merino wool truly shines. Some Merino wool shoes double as both formal and casual wear. You can wear Merino wool base layers with khakis, jeans, or joggers. Other versatile Merino wool pieces include hoodies, tees, cardigans, leggings, and, my favorite, a lightweight Buff.
12 Ways to Wear a Buff
2. Wear the Bulk (Or Leave It At Home)
Packing light and smart with Merino wool allows you to downsize your luggage. Soon enough, you’ll move from a heavy checked bag to a lightweight travel-ready backpack.
Unfortunately, as you downsize, your luggage has less room – especially for bulkier Merino wool pieces like knit sweaters or thick outerwear. If you are in this situation, consider leaving the more cumbersome items at home. However, if you must bring bulky items, wear them on the flight! Merino wool is temperature-regulating and odor-resistant so you won’t overheat or smell during your journey.
3. Roll Your Merino
Merino wool fibers possess a crimp with spring-like recovery. This natural property translates to resilient, flexible clothing and, most importantly, wrinkle resistance (to a point). Still, use the military or burrito roll while packing to ensure your clothes stay fresh in your carry-on.
How to ‘Burrito Roll’ Your Merino
Start with a cuff at the bottom of your shirt, fold in the sleeves, roll from the top, and then tuck into the cuff at the bottom. If you use the burrito roll while packing all your clothes – not just Merino – you’ll keep your wardrobe fresher for longer.
4. Create Your Capsule Wardrobe
Traveling with a capsule wardrobe is always beneficial – a core set of a dozen or so clothing items that create an exponential amount of outfits. It’s the classic mix-n-match, except every piece in your luggage goes with every other piece in your luggage.
So, where does Merino wool fit into this capsule wardrobe? Well, that’s up to you. It’s best to start small, replacing 1-2 regular items in your bag with Merino wool. For example, a simple Merino wool tee and sneakers match nearly any pants and overlayer. Once you have a few successful trips with your initial Merino wool gear, look to incorporate more wool pieces into your bag. My travel bag is currently a 60/40 split between Merino wool and other fabrics. But, to get yours started, check out these four Merino wool travel favorites that become the perfect on-the-go capsule wardrobe.
A Simple Merino Wool Capsule Wardrobe For Travel
- Wool & Prince Ponte Travel Hoodie: Designed specifically to fulfill all your travel needs
- Unbound Merino Crew Neck Tee: The industry-standard for travel tee (Merino or not)
- Proof 72-Hour Merino Pant: Versatile comfort with decent style
- Allbirds Wool Runner Mizzles: You can’t go wrong with these popular, water-repellent Merino Wool sneakers
5. Hand Wash, Rinse Well, Air Dry
The great thing about Merino wool gear is that you can handwash it on long trips (which is one of the reasons I always carry Dr. Bronner’s Soap and a sink stopper on the road). While Merino wool clothing is not as quick-drying as its synthetic counterparts, it typically dries within a few hours, given proper ventilation.
Editor’s Note: Despite handwashing being a simple care solution while abroad, it is not the ideal care method for Merino wool clothing. The reason is that laundry soaps – even the natural ones – can leave residue on the wool fibers if not adequately rinsed. So, if you choose the handwashing route on the road, you’ll get a lot more miles out of your clothing if you always rinse more than you think you should. Check out our comprehensive laundry guide for more care info!
6. Layer Smarter For All Seasons
When you layer with Merino wool, you set yourself up for success against any potential travel mishap. Do you have to hustle through the terminal to catch a connection while not sweating through your clothes? Merino wool is breathable and odor-proof. Do you get a chilly mid-flight? A Merino wool hoodie could be your best friend. You could even opt for a packable Merino puffer instead of any bulky winter coat.
Pro Tip: Merino wool or not – traveling with a three-layer system (baselayer, midlayer, outer layer) is best for warmth and comfort. And if one of those layers is Merino, you will be warmer and more comfortable!
If you’re confused about how heavy or thick your travel layer should be, check out this handy guide below, adapted from Minus33.
7. Keep Your Feet Happy
From my travels, I’ve learned the importance of caring for your feet. One way to accomplish this is to pack exclusively Merino wool socks for all your adventures. Not only is Merino wool odor-resistant, meaning you can pack less (only 2-3 pairs are necessary for a week-long trip), but its natural thermoregulation properties perform in a wide variety of climates. Moreover, Merino wool socks are more versatile than the average travel sock.
My Favorite Merino Wool Travel Sock: Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew
In all my years of testing, I haven’t found a better travel sock than the Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew (pictured above). It’s my go-to sock, but you may want something heavier when traveling to cold climates. In the world of travel socks, you can’t go wrong with any pair from Darn Tough or Smartwool, yet there are plenty of other high-performing socks from different brands, too.
8. Merino Wool Base Layers Make the Best Pajamas
This travel hack is simple: Merino wool base layers double as high-quality pajamas. Leggings and joggers make excellent loungers. Long-sleeve tees and sun hoodies give you extra warmth on those chilly nights. A midweight baselayer set (200-300 gsm) makes for a comfortable, dry layer that doubles as sleepwear. It’s versatile and cozy, not matter the climate at your destination.
9. Lightweight Merino Wool Accessories Are Warm Enough
No travel wardrobe is complete without reliable cold-weather accessories to protect you in unforeseen weather conditions. I’ve traveled with the ‘Big 3’ of accessories – hat, scarf, & gloves – for nearly a decade. Throughout my adventures, my accessories have transformed from bulky, single-use pieces to more lightweight, versatile Merino wool pieces. For example, my last ‘Big 3′ consisted of the following:
My ‘Big 3’ Merino Wool Travel Accessories
All these accessories together are not the warmest. However, they have performed well enough in 98% of my situations. I’m not saying to get yourself this same Merino lineup; I’m just saying to discover what works with your current travel setup.
10. There’s Always a Merino Wool Alternative (But It’s Not Always Better)
If you’re a one-bagger like myself, you should also be concerned about packability, weight, and performance. More extensive, bulkier items – however cozy they may feel – take up prime real estate in your carry-on. So, if you’re looking to free up some space in your travel bag, trade in your bulkier gear for light, packable Merino wool alternatives.
Still, just because a shiny new piece of gear is ‘packable’ doesn’t improve it. Don’t go crazy ‘down-sizing’ your travel wardrobe with unnecessary Merino wool clothing. Start small, actually go on a trip, then replace what you don’t use. Make it a science, and soon enough, you’ll have a travel bag filled with versatile, high-functioning clothing selected for your unique travel needs.
Final Note: Merino Wool Travel Tips
Packing light and smart allows you to travel the extra mile in comfort and style. Merino wool offers a unique solution to the age-old struggle of overpacking. From its odor-resistant and temperature-regulating properties to its versatility and packability, Merino wool clothing proves itself a worthy investment for any adventurer. By implementing these ten simple hacks – from strategic layering and capsule wardrobe creation to proper care and smart accessory choices – you can maximize the benefits of Merino wool and transform your travel experience.
Remember, the key is to start small, experiment, and gradually integrate Merino wool pieces into your travel wardrobe to discover what works best for your individual needs and adventures. Ultimately, embracing Merino wool empowers travelers to pack less, experience more, and enjoy the journey with comfort, style, and confidence.
Thank you again for reading, and I hope these tips helped you prepare for your next big adventure. If you want to learn more about the wonderful world of Merino wool, poke around our site a bit or reach out to us. We aim to help you find the best Merino wool gear. So, don’t be shy; join the flock!
