How many times have you gone to pack for a holiday and ended up trying to squeeze your entire wardrobe into one suitcase? Or been caught reassuring yourself that although you haven’t worn this dress in more than 2 years, you will probably definitely wear it whilst on vacay.
Travel can often mean encountering multiple climates and seasons in several weeks, even days. Packing clothing that are versatile enough to accommodate such dramatic shifts can both lighten your luggage while making sure you’re prepared for anything your travels may throw at you. When will you do laundry? Will you go back to the hotel after sightseeing before heading for dinner? What if your plans change? Spontaneity is key when travelling, as is ensuring you pack the right clothes. Here are 8 reasons why Merino wool is your ultimate travel buddy and makes packing for a holiday a piece of cake.
8 reasons to travel with Merino wool
Wool is trans-seasonal
One of Australian Merino wool’s most remarkable properties is that it’s perfect for almost any kind of weather. No matter the weather conditions of your destination, you can wear your favourite wool garment and know you’ll remain comfortable and insulated against both the cold and the heat.
Wool is breathable
Merino wool is in fact one of the most breathable fibres. Wool fibres can absorb large quantities of moisture vapour then move it away to evaporate into the air. In contrast to synthetics, Merino wool is an active fibre that reacts to changes in body temperature. So, it helps you stay warm when the weather is cold, and cool when the weather is hot.
Unlike most synthetic fibres, wool is hygroscopic. It absorbs water vapour from its surrounding environment far more effectively than other common apparel fibres. Wool can absorb up to 35% of its weight before feeling wet and clinging to the skin.
Wool is resistant to odour
Time on the road means it’s hard to do laundry, especially at a convenient time. Lucky for you, Merino wool is naturally odour resistant, so you can wear your favourite merino wool T-shirt for days - even weeks - before it needs a wash.
In contrast to synthetics, Merino wool fibres can absorb large quantities of water vapour - twice as much as cotton and thirty times as much as polyester - helping to keep the skin drier and prevent the build-up of sweat, bacteria and unpleasant smells. Merino wool even absorbs the odour molecules from sweat, which are only released upon washing. And when it is time to wash, wool is quick-drying and doesn’t require a tumble dryer.
Wool is stain resistant
Accidents happen, and they're never convenient. You spilled red wine on your favourite wool sweater whilst travelling around Burgundy, or dropped chocolate on your trousers in Switzerland. Your greasy hands rubbed your coat after devouring the USA's best burger, and you spilled tomato sauce on your suit whilst enjoying one of Australia's iconic meat pies. Never fear: Merino wool fibres have a natural protective outer layer that helps prevent stains from being absorbed. Here's our guide to spot-cleaning your wool garments so you can carry on enjoying your food safari.
Wool is crease resistant
On a practical level, Merino wool is the ideal fabric for travel because it’s incredibly low maintenance and resilient. Seen through a microscope, Merino fibres look like fine, coiled springs. This gives it a high level of elasticity. In fact, a Merino wool fibre can be bent up to 20,000 times before breaking
While there are some very good tutorials with brilliant tips on the art of packing, some fabrics are more prone to creasing than others. Merino wool can be folded and rolled and still return back to its original shape with minimal signs of wear. Residual creases on Merino wool clothes will natural fade during wear, or you can even hang your wool suit in the bathroom whilst a hot shower is running; this will steam your garments and remove any fold marks from travel. These travel hacks cut back on time-consuming tasks such as ironing, meaning you can hit the ground running and get the most out of your travels.
Wool care
Caring for wool
You’ve bought it, bagged it, worn it, now it’s time to wash your favourite item of wool clothing. A luxury fibre, wool is easy to care for, and this simple guide will help prolong the life of your garment. Plus, with wool clothing not requiring as much washing as clothes made from other fibres, you can cut down on your energy bill and have more time to do the things you love. It’s win-win.
Wool is UV resistant
Merino wool clothing provides good protection from the sun, compared with the protection from other fibres. As a natural fibre, evolved over millions of years to protect sheep against the elements, Merino wool absorbs UV radiation providing protection from the sun. This makes it a good choice for a wide range of outdoor activities. So even if you’re travelling involves spending a lot of time in the great outdoors, Merino wool is the perfect fabric to protect you not only from shifts in temperature but the damaging effects of the sun.
Fibre
The history of Merino wool
Wool has been used in clothing for millennia: from primitive man first clothing himself in the woolly skins of wild sheep - through the civilisation of Babylonia where people first distinguished wool sheep from food sheep - through Roman times when there were definite signs of selective breeding for a superior fleece - and through to the ascendancy of wool during the Middle Ages in Europe. By the late eighteenth century, the Industrial Revolution began a movement which took the textile industry from the home into the workshop and factory.