What Is The Best Clothing For Travel?

My standard travel outfit used to be a fitted t-shirt, loose pants, and a pleather moto jacket.

I wore this on every trip, from Banff to Berkeley to Beijing.

Every piece was lightweight, durable, and wrinkle-free.

You guys…I was wearing all PLASTIC clothing and had no idea.

And frankly, at that point I wouldn’t have cared anyway.

But making the change to crunchy isn’t an overnight process.

There are tons of tiny gradual changes over many, many YEARS.

You want to spend as LITTLE money as possible to overhaul all the things.

And there are SO MANY things that you want to change.

After addressing the basic foundational inputs like water, air, food, environment, and personal care products, you eventually reach the other stuff.

The optional items, the supporting cast, the nice-to-haves.

Like clothing.

Swapping out one garment at a time, waiting for sales on the good stuff.

Tiptoeing into organic cotton, linen, and hemp.

Hoping to find VINTAGE wool and cashmere sweaters at the thrift store.

But what do you do when you reach those go-to travel pieces?

Wool sweaters are too bulky, cotton too flimsy and easily soiled.

None of it ideal for rapidly changing temperatures, humid locales, or outdoor activities.

We examined all the “travel clothing” options out there, but they’re basically polyester blends.

It took a lot of trial and error, but we found the IDEAL fabric for crunchy travel…

Merino Wool Is The Best

Merino is wool that comes from Merino sheep.

Compared to regular wool, it’s softer due to its finer fiber.

It’s nothing like the sturdy (and itchy) wool in a household rug.

It has a finer texture and smoothness which means you can comfortably wear it next to your skin.

Merino has become our favorite all-weather natural fabric…for both home life and travel life.

And what crunchy person doesn’t love sheep?

When you’re chilled by air conditioning and cold climates, merino keeps you warm.

In sweaty and steamy climates, it’s breathable and wicks away moisture.

Never gets cold and clammy.

It regulates your temperature, no matter the weather.

It’s lightweight and breathable, looks great, and can be worn and re-worn it without any odors.

Since switching to merino clothing, we have been able to pack fewer items in our bag.

After each wearing, hang it up to air out, then wear it over and over again for the duration of the trip.

Merino Is The Holy Grail Fabric For Travel

Crunchy types like us bring LOTS of gear with us when we travel.

Things like quality food, water purification, non-toxic personal care products

Simplifying your wardrobe options makes it actually possible to always fly carry-on.

If it’s warm, wear the pieces separately.

If it’s cold, layer them up.

Merino isn’t bulky like a traditional wool sweater, but thin layers worn together can provide the same amount of warmth.

To let you know how much we love our merino pieces, we even wear them at home ALL the time.

They are especially nice in winter, since the house is kept pretty cold.

On purpose…IYKYK.

Through the years we have tried lots of options from different brands, and found what works best for us.

Look for garments that are 100% merino or at least have a high percentage of merino.

Blends of merino with synthetic fibers are ideal for certain situations that call for more durability.

Merino Basics For Travel

The first layer to wear with everything, no matter the forecast (but especially when it’s cold), is a tank or cami.

A short sleeve shirt is great for warm weather travel, running, hiking, or any outdoor activity.

A long-sleeved base layer is a must-have if you tend to run cold.

Quarter-zip tops can be worn anywhere and let you manage your temperature, and crewnecks layer really well under other pieces.

Sometimes you have to go to a meeting or event right after your flight–a knit merino sweater is the one for that situation.

Merino socks are blended with synthetic fibers for stretch and good recovery, and keep moisture and odor away.

Merino pants look great with everything and can dress up nicely for dinner too, depending how they are styled.

They also work well for those long travel days and during workouts in cold environments.

Lastly, a merino hoodie–it’s the ideal layer for long-haul trips where you need to catch some rest and block out your seat neighbor.

For maximum travel comfort in a hoodie, go up 1 or 2 sizes.

Choose your first merino piece based on your lifestyle and travel habits, and wait for a good sale.

Remember to take good care of your merino clothing–gently wash in cold water (laundry bags for “delicates” are helpful) and always hang to dry.