Hey, it's Ernest from Trip Astute. In this video, we're exploring merino wool
and why it might be the best clothing material when traveling.
(light chiming music)
I have to admit that when I think of wool, I think of cold weather and trying to stay warm
I've had a few merino wool sweaters in the past, and while they were comfortable,
they didn't get much wear especially since I live in Los Angeles.
Though I noticed recently that a bunch of companies and travelers were talking
about how much they love merino wool clothing both for winter and summer wear.
This got me interested in the topic so I decided to do some research and also
contact some manufacturers of wool clothing. Saying that, we're extremely
grateful to both Woolly Clothing Company and Olivers Apparel for sending us some
merino wool clothes to test out and review. As with every product we review,
we promise to only ever share our honest opinions. We're never influenced or
pressured to review something a certain way, even if it's given to us for free.
With that other way, I learned that my conception of wool was completely wrong.
Wool, and especially merino wool, is a very versatile material and can be used
for variety of purposes. For the sake of this video I'll run through the pros and
cons of merino wool clothing so you can determine whether it might be something
you want to explore before your next trip. First, let's start with the pros of
using merino wool clothing from a travelers perspective. Number 1:
Soft and comfortable. When people think of wool, they often think of a thick,
itchy, and uncomfortable fabric. But merino wool is different. Quality merino
wool is thin, lightweight, and softer than cotton due to his finer fabrics. This
makes it very breathable, keeping you cool even when doing outdoor or fitness
activities. A lot of people have called it "nature's magic fabric." The shirts
that I've tested have been extremely comfortable to wear, even in our recent heat waves
here in Southern California. Number 2: Draws moisture from the skin. Merino wool
is able to handle moisture much better than cotton. The surface has a waxy
coating called lanolin which resists water. Think of it as a natural sport
fabric that can keep you dry. This leads me to number 3: Resists odors. The
waxy coating that I mentioned earlier is also naturally antibacterial,
which helps with reducing the odor in the fabric. In the past, I've tried to
travel with sports clothing like Nike Dri-fit and Under Armour shirts. They're
really lightweight and they don't wrinkle, but they honestly stink after a
few hours of being around sweat. I may sweat a lot more than most people,
but I find that these wool shirts to be a lot better when it comes to managing
the odors. Number 4: Temperature regulating. This is one of the reasons
why people are in love with this fabric. The fabric can function in both hot
and cold environments, either keeping you cool or warm when you need it. This is
primarily due to its ability to manage moisture and provide insulation when
necessary. Number 5: Dries quickly. Because of its
natural ability to repel moisture, the fabric dries quickly. This also comes in
handy if you try to wash your clothes in your hotel room when traveling or get
stuck in a downpour. Number 6: Doesn't wrinkle easily. Merino wool is also
wrinkle resistant. It doesn't mean that it won't retain any wrinkles. In my
experience, it still has some but definitely less than cotton, and seem to
be easy to remove by just wearing the shirt or hanging them in the bathroom
while showering. So what this is mean for traveling? Wearing merino wool allows you
to pack lighter, be less wrinkly, and potentially get more wears between
washings. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately for this video, I sweat a lot
so I'm probably a good person to test out the merino wool. I can say that after
wearing this shirt on a hot summer day, this shirt did not smell funky the next
day. I do wish I could test it out in a humid place like Thailand, but even with
the recent heat waves here in Southern California, I was able to squeeze in two
days of wear between washings. Though you're probably wondering, "what are the
drawbacks to a merino wool?" To be honest, there are just a couple of cons to keep
in mind when dealing with merino wool clothing. Number 1: Expensive. Merino
wool clothing is more of an investment especially when compared to cotton. Both
of these shirts run around $50 to $70, depending on the style
and color. Number 2: Durability. This is probably the biggest drawback with
merino wool. While it should be able to handle the
daily demands of your life, the fabric is more prone to wear and tear. I personally
wouldn't wear it with a heavy backpack, but a normal day pack should be just
fine. In fact, both shirts that we received seemed durable enough to handle
most daily life and travel situations. At the end of the day, I think that merino
wool is an outstanding material to bring on your next trip or even for your
normal wear. I really like both of these shirts and they are super comfortable. I
love the fact that I can wear them in both hot and cold environments as well. I
don't think I'm going to replace all my clothing with merino wool just yet. I do
think that I'll be packing them first on future trips.
Have you tried merino wool clothing? If so, let us know what you think. I've
included links to both shirts in the video description.
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