{"id":272900,"date":"2024-09-24T07:59:54","date_gmt":"2024-09-24T11:59:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/?p=272900"},"modified":"2025-06-26T22:51:11","modified_gmt":"2025-06-27T02:51:11","slug":"best-travel-clothes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nomadicmatt.com\/travel-blogs\/best-travel-clothes\/","title":{"rendered":"Are These The Best Travel Clothes? My Review of Unbound Merino"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Nomadic<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve never been one of those travelers who goes crazy for gear. I like to pack light and keep things simple. That means no fancy drones, hefty DSLR cameras, bulky headphones, GoPros, or chunky hiking boots. If it doesn\u2019t fit in my 40L backpack, it stays home.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s why you hardly ever see me write posts on gear or suitcases. I\u2019m a simple person: I got one backpack, I throw some clothes in it, and I\u2019m off.<\/p>\n

But the clothes…well, the clothes are important. I abuse my clothes a lot. I carry only a few outfits with me and they get sweated on, washed and dried a lot, and worn out. On most long-term trips, I come home with a few less clothes than I brought. <\/p>\n

One brand that stands up to my abuse? Unbound Merino<\/a>. I\u2019ve been wearing their clothing on the road (and at home) for years now. <\/p>\n

I met the founder at an event in Toronto about eight years ago and he said, \u201cCheck out these clothes!\u201d and I was like, \u201cSure,\u201d because I wanted to be nice. <\/p>\n

But I ended up loving them. They held up in the wash, were lightweight and breathable, and fit really well, <\/p>\n

So, in this post, I\u2019m going to talk about what makes them unique and why I think you should get them.<\/p>\n


\n <\/p>\n

What Is Unbound Merino?<\/h3>\n

Unbound is a small, independent clothing company that started in Canada. As avid travelers, the founders realized quickly that on-the-road clothing needed to be durable, versatile, and comfortable. <\/p>\n

At the time, merino wool (from merino sheep, who produce an ultrafine wool) was only really used in activewear. While those kinds of clothes are fine if you\u2019re out on a hike, it\u2019s not exactly the kind of clothing you might want to wear on a walking tour in Southeast Asia or visiting museums in Europe.<\/p>\n

But Unbound took the versatile fabric that is merino wool and used it to create a line of travel wear suitable for all kinds of trips, from backpacking excursions to weekend getaways.<\/p>\n

Their goal was to design shirts that would last. Sure, that means they are more expensive, but you\u2019re paying for quality and durability. In the long run, that\u2019s actually going to save you money (and it\u2019s better for the planet too).<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been wearing Unbound clothes for about eight years now and have never been disappointed. It\u2019s durable, comfortable, and stylish \u2014 everything I want when I\u2019m traveling!
\n <\/p>\n

What I Like About Unbound<\/h3>\n

These travel clothes are some of the most versatile on the market. Made from merino wool, Unbound Merino<\/a> clothing can be worn daily for weeks without getting smelly. Seriously! Since merino wool is antibacterial, it is really hard to stink up your clothing \u2014 even if you\u2019re in warmer climates. In fact, one of the cofounders wore the same shirt for 46 days before he washed it \u2014 and it still didn\u2019t smell. That\u2019s crazy!<\/p>\n

The clothing is wrinkle resistant too, which is a huge plus if you\u2019re traveling carry-on only, like me. Cramming your clothes into a backpack usually leads to everything getting wrinkled and bunched up. With Unbound, that problem is nipped in the bud.<\/p>\n

Additionally, the clothes are super lightweight (again, great for carry-on-only travelers). When you\u2019re on the road for weeks (or months) at a time, every pound matters. Lighter clothes mean you won\u2019t have to lug around a super heavy suitcase or backpack. To me, that\u2019s a win.<\/p>\n

And finally, the clothes look stylish. The monochrome colors of most of Unbound\u2019s gear makes it easy to wear out to dinner, to museums, on walking tours, and everything in between.
\n <\/p>\n

My Favorite Unbound Clothes<\/h3>\n

\"Nomadic
\nHere are a few of my favorite Unbound clothes. These are clothes I bring on pretty much every trip I take:<\/p>\n

Merino Crew Neck T-Shirt<\/strong> \u2013 These are my go-to travel shirts. They are comfy, breathable, and perfect for pretty much any destination. They are casual enough for days on the beach and nice enough to wear to museums or out to dinner. If I\u2019m traveling, chances are I have a couple in my backpack.<\/p>\n

Long Sleeve Merino Crew<\/strong> \u2013 This is the long-sleeve version of the above shirt, which are perfect for cooler temps. I wear these when I\u2019m strolling around Europe in the evenings or going somewhere where I need something a bit nicer than a t-shirt (while still being casual).<\/p>\n

Travel Pants<\/strong> \u2013 I\u2019ve worn these on hikes, all around Europe, traveling around Asia \u2014 you name it. They are the perfect balance of comfy and durable. I bring them on all my trips. I can\u2019t recommend them enough.
\n <\/p>\n

Pros of Unbound Merino Clothing<\/h3>\n