Glossary
Merino wool
A fine, soft wool fiber that resists odour and regulates temperature, popular for travel clothing worn several days between washes.
Merino wool comes from merino sheep and has a finer fiber than regular wool, which is what makes it soft enough to wear directly against skin instead of feeling itchy. For travel, its main appeal is that it resists picking up odor far longer than cotton or most synthetics, which lets a one-bag traveler pack fewer shirts, socks, or base layers and still stay comfortable across a multi-day trip.
It also regulates temperature reasonably well, feeling warm in cool weather and breathing better than synthetics in mild heat, though it is not a substitute for proper technical layers in extreme conditions. Merino dries slower than synthetic fabrics after a sink wash, which matters for anyone planning to hand wash clothing on the road.
When buying merino travel clothing, check the weight in grams per square meter, since lighter merino suits warm climates and packs smaller, while heavier merino suits cold weather but takes longer to dry. Blends with nylon or polyester add durability against pilling and tearing, at some cost to the pure wool's odor resistance. A common mistake is buying 100 percent merino for a trip through hot, humid climates, where a lighter blend would be more comfortable and dry faster.