The fastest way to lighten your luggage is to pack fewer clothes, and the easiest way to pack fewer clothes is to take ones you can wear more than once. That's where merino earns its place in a travel bag.
Here's how we'd pack for a week or more with nothing but carry-on, whether it's a hiking trip, a city break, or both.
Why merino works for travel
- It doesn't smell after a day's wear. Cotton and synthetic tees usually need washing after every wear. A merino tee can go several days, which is how you get away with packing two instead of seven.
- It handles a range of temperatures. Merino feels comfortable over a wider range than cotton: fine on a warm afternoon, still warm in an over-air-conditioned plane or a cold evening.
- It looks fine anywhere. A plain merino tee looks just as good at dinner as on a track, so one shirt covers both.
- It's easy to wash on the road. A quick hand wash in a sink and a night hanging up is usually all it needs.
A one-week carry-on packing list
This is a starting point for a trip that mixes walking and towns. Wear the bulkiest items on the plane.
- 2 short sleeve merino tees: wear one, wash one.
- 1 long sleeve merino tee: for sun, cool evenings, and the plane.
- 1 merino thermal top and leggings: for cold nights, sleeping, and an extra layer under a jacket. Leggings also work under travel pants.
- 1 pair of walking or travel pants, and 1 pair of shorts.
- 1 light warm layer: a fleece or a light down jacket.
- 1 rain shell.
- 3 pairs of merino socks: they go longer between washes than cotton.
- Underwear: as few as you're comfortable with, given you can wash in a sink.
- 1 merino neck gaiter: a scarf on the plane, a headband in the heat, an eye mask on a night flight.
How to wash merino on the road
- Use cool or lukewarm water and a gentle wool wash or a mild soap. Avoid hot water.
- Squeeze, don't wring. Roll it in a towel to press the water out.
- Hang it or lay it flat out of direct sun. Overnight in a hotel room usually does it.
- Skip the hotel dryer. Heat is how merino shrinks.
Our guide to caring for merino goes into more detail.
Layering for planes and changing climates
Planes are cold, airports are warm, and the place you land might be either. Rather than a big jumper, wear thin layers you can take off: a merino tee, with a long sleeve or thermal top over it, then your jacket. If you're flying from an Australian summer into a northern winter, those same thermals become the base under everything you wear for the trip.
What not to pack
- Cotton tees: they smell fast, dry slowly, and are cold when wet.
- "Just in case" outfits: if you haven't planned to wear it, leave it behind.
- More than two of anything you can wash.
Our travel picks
Our 100% superfine merino hiking shirts are made in Melbourne from 18.4 micron Australian merino, in a relaxed fit that looks as good in town as on a track. Add our merino thermals for cold nights and long flights. Buying for a traveller this Christmas? A gift voucher lets them pick their own size and colour.
Not sure merino is for you? Read is merino wool itchy?
