Check out Unbound Merino here: shrsl.com/40u23 And use my special discount code NORA10 for 10% off! Purchasing via my affiliate link above costs you nothing, and helps to support my channel, so thank you in advance!
Great suggestion, Kathy! Because I took merino wool from a few different companies (and because I filmed this whilst already on another trip with different wardrobe requirements) I didn't showcase everything I brought. That said, you can see a lot of it in action here: www.theprofessionalhobo.com/merino-wool-clothing-for-travel-a-guide-to-choosing-the-best-brands/
I wore a merino wool T-shirt while hiking in Patagonia last year. It was incredibly hot and we ended up having to turn back due to heat exhaustion. My cotton buff was encrusted with salt but my T-shirt didn’t smell at all. I am a total merino wool convert.
I bought two Wool& dresses for a trip to Europe last fall. I couldn't believe how versatile and comfortable they were. It's the only way to travel. You won't be disappointed.
Thanks for this, Nora. I've been an Unbound Merino fan for a few years, depending on their t- shirts for my job as a registered nurse, as well as for travel. For 6 weeks, in the autumn of 2023, my husband and I traveled from Toronto,Canada to Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland. We packed backpack only thanks to UM. I took 2 pairs of UM's women's travel pants, 4 UM t-shirts, 2 of their cardigans, and 5 UM pairs of ankle socks, along with a puffer vest and raincoat. Similarly, my husband's clothing was predominantly UM. I have a solo trip to Quebec City coming up in May. I'll be packing with UM again
I also wash my wool (and all of my clothing) inside-out so that the machine surfaces are touching only the inside of my clothing and that is where most of the ick is anyway! This helps prevent pilling, too.
I love merino wool. I swapped out my blankets from fleece to merino wool since last year. I sleep under a couple of them, put them in cars and on sofa. Merino is perfect for cool and cold weather. I also swapped out poly fabric bedding and quilt to be 100% cotton, too. As I age, my skin doesn’t like man made fabrics anymore.
@@NoraDunn Google Berkshire Blanket. I bought two merino wool throw blankets. They are sold out but cashmere throw blankets are still on sale for $40 each. 50x70 is a good size for slim female like you and easy to travel with.
If you aren't in Canada or even the US, you can find merino wool easily in Australia and New Zealand. Even better, you can find possum-merino or silk merino which is like 'merino +'. The elves in 'The Lord of the Rings' films wore Lothlorien brand merino wool. Icebreaker's merino wool clothing is famous. Wherever you buy it, merino wool is great. Be aware that it doesn't stretch a lot because it is closely woven. Gain even a little body mass and everything shows (stick to black!). I have not tried merino underwear, but that is a thing.
Great point about the stretch factor and weight gain! I think extra weight also shows because merino doesn't have the same "structure" that a cotton shirt might, which can hang a bit straighter over any "folds" underneath ;-)
Very timely for me. I’ve been building a merino wool wardrobe in time for a trip to Costa Rica this month. I’ll be doing a lot of active outings with hiking and zip lining and general outdoor activities. I decided to try out a lot of the pieces before my trip and so far so good with some t-shirts, a long sleeve Henley (Unbound Merino), and socks (Smartwool). Going to take my first one bag trip so thank you for this video.
Unfortunately moths like Merino as well. Finding a moth hole in your relatively new $88 T-shirt is not fun. This was even inside a closed drawer with cedar moth repellents. I now store my Merino garments in Ziploc bags for protection.
Merino, cashmere, in fact any expensive wool. My wife spent 6 months knitting me the most amazing Alpaca sweater, through experience it went straight into a ziplock.
We have several merino tees and sweaters with very small holes. Finally found out the enzymatic detergents (stain fighting) break down the fibers at each washing. Only use wool safe cleansers for your pricey merinos. That said, everyone in the family loves them. I’m looking for some attractive merino pants that aren’t leggings. Maybe unbound has some. I enjoy your tips and trip photos..
I use Eucalan to wash my Merino, it's not just wool wash, like woolite, it has lanolin in it to restore it to the fabric. There are other brands and many with more lanolin. I like Eucalan, it does the job and also has eucalyptus in it which smells great and discourages moths. 😊
@@barbarahallowell2613Agreed! I’m a knitter. I also really like Soak wash, because it’s no-rinse. Lavender buds in a small mesh bag work, too, but breathable ziplocks from a dry cleaner supply are even better!
Woolly Clothing Company is another option. We are going to Europe for almost 3 weeks in June and are doing carry-on only. I have been testing out some Woolly T-Shirts and leggings, as well as a long sleeve Unbound. By testing, I mean wearing them for 3 days in a row to determine the stink factor. So far, I am pretty impressed.
I’d say it’s about the same, but I would need to put on one, then the other, to say for sure. I will say that Woolly was having a sale on its tees that definitely made them more economical. I also liked the colors offered by Woolly a little better. Unbound’s colors were ‘warmer’ which don’t look great on me. @@NoraDunn
Good information. I've worn Merino for many years. (Bought a sweater in a sale bin on a street in China in 2009, thought I'd wear it on my Tiger Leaping Gorge hike I was going to start the next day. $12USD. Disposable. It was very comfortable, got muddy, full of sweat. When I got back from the hike I just threw it in with the rest of my laundry. Came out like brand new. (No clue if they'd actually handled it differently.) Wore it for years more. Finally translated the label. 90% Merino 10% spandex -- that's why it kept its shape. It might still be around somewhere. I usually just throw my Smart Wool (merino) socks in with the rest of my laundry, sometimes on hot. Tumble dry. They probably don't last as long, but 5 to 8 years for a pair of socks? Good enough. As I've written before I last wore polyester (Capoline) as a base layer on a trip to Japan in 2016. No matter how I washed that stuff it stank. I'm in the most fastidious country on the planet and I smelled like I went to the gym three days ago. That's when I started researching. The answer was there all the time: wool. I no longer stink, even on a recent ocean crossing in a sailboat. I wore the same merino layers for 33 days straight, 24 hours a day. It was very cold. I showered every five days or so, changed my skin layers: undies and t-shirt. But not my next merino layers. Didn't stink.
I love merino wool! Actually, I pretty much use it on a daily basis, and then also default to it when I travel. I have not tried Unbound Merino yet , I have used WoolX pretty much exclusively, and I’ve been very pleased with that brand, which allows tumble drying and holds up well.
I recently got some WoolX clothes, and I do like how they say they were designed to be dried. I still don't dry them though - my understanding is that heat reduces the lifespan / effectiveness of the lanolin, which is one of merino wool's most standout qualities.
I have tons of merino wool pieces from various brands. Woolx has been my go to for years. I have 2 shirts that are well over 5 years old. I wore each piece at least 2x a week for years. (I was a remote worker and could get away with just throwing on a cardigan over the tees for video calls.). One shirt is just now getting a couple of small holes. I love their leggings in the cooler months. I normally hang dry the items but when we’re traveling in our van, I sometimes have to machine dry since we have limited drying space. I also use a special wool wash which refreshes the loft and softness. It’s great stuff.
Me too! They have travel pants for women that I'm excited to try, but they're not quite as "classic" as the men's pants. They have been coming out with a lot of new styles for women lately though, so perhaps something is in the works.
Yes! I have a couple of Costco long-sleeved shirts. They're 100% merino (yay!) but I also found that they are quite thin and wore even thinner very quickly. But for $20 they make great base layers if nothing else.
Everything she says is true. I love my base layers and will sleep in them for PJ’s so double duty. It is awesome, comfortable, and dries overnight when hand washed. This is the best fabric always
@@NCJulaine Great question! WoolX makes some really nice PJs - so soft I didn't believe it was merino at first! Also the ones I have are nice and lightweight so they're easy to pack.
Don’t making competition just pointing direction: more then 10 years a. in Ecuador I purchased quite cheap($60) lama king size blanket(use winter as bed cover) very warm and after several washes stil beautiful Andean colors.
The Merino Wool Womens Capsule contained 1 long sleeve tee, 1 pair of leggings, 1 short sleeve tee, 1 tank top, 1 dress. It was worth the price at the time.
I have always been very sensitive to wool against my skin. I bought a gorgeous Aran Islands cardigan in Galway and a hand knit lopapeysa in Iceland but with both I have to make sure I have other fabric under them so the wool doesn’t touch my skin. So when my husband suggested I try merino wool base layers, I was very skeptical. I wore one of his shirts for 24 hours to test it, and was very pleasantly surprised. I am slowly replacing clothes with merino now. I have not tried Unbound, but I have some nice pieces from Meriwool and I like Smartwool for their cool patterns. I also bought a base layer alpaca shirt and an alpaca sweater jacket from Paka. My understanding is that alpaca is similarly soft and travel-friendly. We’ve got a carry-on only trip to Norway planned this summer, and I am mostly taking things made from merino and alpaca. But in the meantime, I am wearing them all the time now!
Merino and alpaca all the way! Yay! I also have a Paka hoodie, but my challenge with it is that it "fuzzes up" more than merino does. It's not a problem if you're expecting it though.
You want to try finding a company that uses NZ wool, then you can be sure muelsing isn't occurring (we're the 1st country to make the practice completely illegal, as of 1 October 2023). Nothing against Australian wool, but the quality just isn't as good due to the dryer environment - most of our merino is from alpine farms, so grows in thicker with a softer base layer on the sheep. You often see them covered in a layer of snow in winter!
spent three weeks in summer heat Singapore with only an 80% merino tee, no wash and mostly stayed on air conditioned room, no one smelled foul odor at all!
11:43 I use Eucalan to wash wool items. Pro Tip 1: turn your garments inside out to reduce pilling/friction damage. Pro Tip 2: avoid stretching knit fabrics by laundering the garments in a lau.dry bag. Admittedly, this might not be travel friendly, but you can put it into practice when you are not doimg 1-bag travel.
Thank you for introducing Unbound Merino. Their styles look interesting. My only problem is, I would like to try before I buy as not all styles suit me and they don't seem to sell them direct here in Australia. I still love my Icebreaker clothing and it seems to be easier to wash. I put it in my front loading washing machine in delicate bags and wash with OMO at 20 degrees Celsius. Then, just put them over my indoor clothes line to dry. Never had any problems with drying or stretching.
From Australia i have used merino wool all my life and its the only yarn i have ever knitted with. I can yell you every thing you said is true I used to wear a fine woollen school jumper over my dress in summer in our hot Australian summer weather and had no problem and u am talking about 40 years ago. I have half my travel items merino wool and the other half silk items as i find silk just as good. The key for silk and merino wool is 100% NO BLENDS as they smell. I have had pieces of merino lasting well over 10 years a very important fact is the care. Very important is i store my merino items in hacking cubes so the moth’s don’t create small holes. Mum uses zip lock bags as she used to use mothballs and approaching 90 i don’t think the smell bothered her so i educated her the zip lock bags will protect her merino items with out the moth ball smell. Not sure in the cate label it never mentions moth care as from my experience no matter how clean you are i have had a few items Wrecked by moths. So store them when not in use.
Very informative video, Nora, thank you. The only experience I have had with wool was as a 10 yr. old with a cashmere sweater, so scratchy, and and old army blanket of my dads that was not as scratchy as the sweater. Having watched your video I am much more inclined to purchase wool products in the future because you taught me what to look for, thank you!
I just bought three Unbound Merino t-shirts and love them! They are so soft and I found the cut of the V-necks very flattering. I haven’t had them long enough to comment on durability or their anti-odour properties but I plan to try it out by walking my dog and doing my indoor runs in one shirt for a week and seeing what happens. I bought a laundry bag and wool safe detergent this weekend so I am ready to wash them when it’s time. Seriously considering the long sleeves and leggings for winter running and cross country skiing and the travel dress for an upcoming trip to the Caribbean.
Good job with the laundry bag and wool-safe detergent. These will help you preserve the life and quality immensely! I can attest to the travel dress and leggings being awesome!
Hey Nora! I have some Unbound Merino products also. Great, but not cheap, then again, it's quality. I also have picked up some Merino wool from other companies for a lot less from Costco . Not always consistently there, but the quality is good. Today I got 2 100% Merino sweaters by Benetton and 3 half zip long sleeve zip top shirts from Banana Republic. Made in Cambodia, but all 4 items for under $120 Cdn.
Wow - that's great value! I also have a couple of long-sleeved merino tops from Costco. I believe Uniqlo sells cost-effective merino too. The thing to consider, is where is the wool sourced from? Shearing sheep at the best of times is not a kind practice; farms that practice muelsing is next-level stuff in the cruelty department. When we purchase cheaper merino from these places, we have no assurance that we aren't supporting those kinds of farms.
Great video. I have lots of merino stuff, which I bought for travel a couple years ago -- sweaters, t-shirts, socks, and more. Just amazing. I lucked out because I've really liked all of it and I didn't know anything about the important things you mentioned. All the details you included will help next time around, and sure, I'll probably get everything from Unbound. So... I love the stuff, with one issue that came up. I loaned a merino sweater to a woman I met traveling, and she seemed to have an allergic reaction. I thought that wasn't supposed to happen with merino wool! So if friends or lovers have allergic reactions to good merino wool products, I should ditch them. ...right? (the friends). 🤣
My second NDunn video ever. I can feel the binge coming. Just finished 100 days challenge with Wool & Prince. Note to self about care instructions: don’t use a Tide stick! 😭 Going to look for video #3 now!
Ha ha! So glad you're here. 100 day challenge - kudos! Also, what happened when you used the Tide stick? Did it discolour the fabric? I feel like I've used one on my merino stuff before, but perhaps not.
@@NoraDunn Yes, discoloration since it was a medium dark color. Sad, but it is what it is. Now I have a $158 credit to spend! 100 days wearing the same thing was not easy but not nearly as hard as going in a train from Lisbon to Hanoi. That’s real endurance!
I would like to thank Unbound Merino for the preparation of the script of this video and to contract this nice lady for the commercial presentation on RUclips. Furthermore I would be most happy if you open a subsidiary (with a warehouse or stock) in the European Union so you can sell in Europe without hassles. I love your products. I just have a T-shirt I that I bought in Canada while travelling, and when comparing with Massimo Dutti or with Decathlon I really noticed the difference as your products are superior in quality and skin feeling, but the price is double or triple! 😅 Anyway, look forward to seeing you here in Europe selling to the old continent fellows. Thanks for the video! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🙏😊🇨🇦
Love this and the info on new to me brands (thanks Nora and various commenters!). I have had Icebreaker and Ibex pieces (outer and under) for over 10 years…some I have patched at the elbows or have sewn closed worn spots. Merino is a great investment and wonderful for travel! I look forward to seeing if some of these other companies have more stylish everyday pieces. Thanks!
Thank you for this informative video! Just purchased my first unbound merino wool long sleeve crew with your discount code. Excited to try this out for my Germany trip this November.
Btw, totally unrelated, but lanolin is widely used to protect the underbody of cars and truck from rust and corrosion, especially the kind that's pervasive in wet and slushy northern regions that salt their roads in winter. I imagine that it's because, being a kind of oil or grease, it naturally resists water, and being fairly viscous, like a soft wax (which perhaps it is), it tends to stay on and not get easily dislodged when repeatedly splashed and rubbed. Which makes sense because this is how it also protects wool. I wouldn't suggest smearing any car grade lanolin on your favorite sweaters though! 😂
@@NoraDunn I don't use it myself, as it just seems so messy and liable to attract road dirt and grime and I use other methods to rust-proof my car, but lots of people in the rust belt swear by it. I think it's also a key ingredient in some body lotions. Perhaps lanolin is snake oil in sheep's clothing that actually lives up to its claims! 🤣
Oddly enough, lanolin is also used in some products for breastfeeding moms. It’s very good for healing dry, cracked nipples. LOL! I grew up on a farm with sheep and a couple of the older ladies in the area would come over when we sheared them. They would always try to extract the lanolin from the wool and off the skin. They’d keep it in little tins for their hands and open cuts. When I had my babies 30 years ago, I was gifted a commercial product containing lanolin made for breastfeeding. Who knew? Here I thought those older ladies were a little off their rockers.
I have merino ski clothing layers from Ice Breaker some pieces going on 20 years old now...still as good as new despite constant washing by laundry services which may or not adhere to delicate care instructions...often a problem I have on a ski trip os telling the stuff I have been wearing for a week from the clean freshly washed stuff ... it's easy to mix them up as even after wearing a merino base layer for several days it does not smell...great advice in this video...thanks for posting
I absolutely love my Unbound shirts and socks. 3 short sleeve, 3 long sleeve, and 3 socks- I'm all set! It's really soft. How many years should I expect out of these pieces if rarely washed? They honestly never stink and I'm in Texas.
@@NoraDunn I have been travelling for DECADES: work, study, pleasure. 49 US states, 3 Cdn povinces, 30+ countries, 4 continents. YOU are the "go to" source for travel. Just ordered a couple of gotoobs upon your instigation. (Did a bit of research of my own after checking your three recommendations. I think gotoobs will be best for me.) Thank you for all the help that you provide. I hope that you are WELL monetised by the folks at YT.
I would love to pack Marino wool into my luggage. I like to look good as well as be comfortable. My facial skin tones DO NOT do well with the earth tones all of these companies (that I have researched) seem to think are the only necessary colors. I would like to see some pastel pink, pastel blue, periwinkle, true red (not earth tone red) or maybe a bright pink or green. I do not want to wear drab color. If one gets lost in the woods hiking, these browns and greys will sure be hard to find by the search party.
Check out some of the options in this article - I can't imagine that NONE of them have any bright colours ;-) www.theprofessionalhobo.com/merino-wool-clothing-for-travel-a-guide-to-choosing-the-best-brands/
Informative video thank you, one thing you didn’t mention was issues with moths, I have purchased some merino wool items from different companies and found holes in my items after short use.
Same here, and have never seen a moth in my house! I use fabric paint to mend the holes--and think of the Japanese style of Kintsugi to make the repairs, using sparkly paint.
@@NoraDunn ::: The typical moth balls, but, they’re pretty toxic, and smell is hard to remove. I’m trying cedar now. It’s the larvae that eat up the wool once they’re hatched, so, laundering, and storing in an air tight container is the only option, sure hope it helps. I love Merino!
BEST place to find merino wool sweaters? Thrift stores! I've found lots of merino wool sweaters at the Salvation Army store, ESPECIALLY in the men's department. Pullover sweaters are basically genderless . I've bought them for $5.99 - $7.99 ---a real bargain! Easy care, too.
Your videos are always so informative. One suggestion: place the camera at a higher angle so that you are not always looking down at the camera. Placing the camera slightly above eye level is more pleasing to watch.
I have ask them if they would please do a trouser that has a longer than 31 inch inseam but so far no good. That would look like a pair of pedal pushers! Add all the colours are soft and pastel and dewey when those colours don't suit everyone.... How about about a cheery canadian red? Or sunshine yellow?
Agreed - you get what you pay for! I started off with Icebreaker almost 20 years ago, and I also have a pair of Smartwool leggings (they were my unfortunate purchase that is only partially merino). Unfortunately for everyday wear, both brands are a bit utilitarian for my taste. Great for active wear though!
@@NoraDunn Yes both brands sell some things that are not 100% merino but for some items the reason is for longevity. I tend to buy 100% stuff myself. I’ve tried other brands but the quality of the materials just doesn’t compare or last as well. You are definitely right as far as styles .
@@4Runner123 I'm all for a good merino blend, because like you say it increases longevity or provides certain characteristics that straight merino might not be able to do. I just try to ensure it's at least 50% merino if it bills itself as being "merino" clothing.
How do you find "merino friendly" detergent on the road? Anything with enzymes is a "no-no." Same for whiteners. What brand of detergent do you use and do you bring it along on your travels. Thanks for this video and TIA for your wisdom on washing.
In a pinch, use your shampoo! Wool is hair. I like Soak wash for my wool and silk… it doesn’t need rinsing, and it comes in packets as well as bottles.
Funny how all these videos seem to push Unbound Merino. There are other good brands of merino wool clothing. But maybe they don’t sponsor RUclips videos lol. Anyway, I have several of them. They are nice. But for hot weather, not so much. A technical fabric, like used in shirts you can get from Patagonia, are much better in hot weather. They are typically treated with antimicrobial chemicals so they don’t stink. Very lightweight and airy. Easy to wash and just hang dry in your room. Very easy to pack due to being lightweight and compressible. Doesn’t wrinkle. I also like to use button up technical fabric shirts in hot weather. They are well ventilated and very easy to care for, unlike merino wool. I use the wool shirts in cooler weather.
Thanks for weighing in! Not gonna lie - Unbound Merino has indeed gone all-in on advertising with RUclipsrs like myself and many of my colleagues! But as a paying customer I also feel good about promoting their clothes. For a number of other merino brands - many of which I've also bought - you can check this out: www.theprofessionalhobo.com/merino-wool-clothing-for-travel-a-guide-to-choosing-the-best-brands/ As for lightweight technical gear for hot weather, I haven't found anything that doesn't hold smell. They have much shorter shelf-lives in that regard. Though when it comes to tops for running (especially ones with bra support), I do tend to use synthetics. But on the whole I prefer a super light weight merino.
Hey Nora. Every one bag packing video on RUclips just concentrates on getting as much into the carry on bag as possible - fine if you are travelling to countries that don’t weigh your bags. Here in Australia we have 7kg and 10 kg limits - sometimes thats carry on and personal item (Jetstar). Could you do a video that shows what you’d take to keep in those limits?
Hi Cheryl, To be honest, I probably wouldn't travel carry-on only with a 7kg limit. I'd just check a bag. But that's just me. It's possible, if you don't travel with many tech items, and are traveling to a tropical climate for a short time.
Merino wool is not actually significantly more durable than cotton while being worn. It's just the fact that cotton stinks after one day whereas wool can go a week between washes. This is the main difference in long-term durability for these fabrics: degradation from washing. Cotton needs 5x the washes, so wool lasts 3x longer. You could actually make the argument that wool is not as durable as cotton given the fact that it's only 3x
Unbound Merino how has it! Their redesigned lightweight travel pants come in two lengths. I have a pair and I adore them. Just took them as my only pants on a 2.5 week trip and they were amazing. shrsl.com/4ig40
Loved this idea so much that I ordered 2 expensive items from unbound. They are both lightweight, but unfortunately, not only is the dress not 💯 merino wool, but it’s so incredibly thin, you can see through it.. I’ll need a slip - bummer! Kinda defeats the purpose. The material is so flimsy that it seems like it won’t hold up, but I’ll test this. Also, the dress collects so much lint - ugh! The 💯 merino V neck T feels nice on the skin. I probably won’t be ordering from unbound again. I did order 2 leggings from Wool&, and I just gotta say, WOW! Material, although not 💯 merino, feels great on the skin and seems like they’ll hold up for many, many seasons. I did use your discount code for unbound, so thank you for that :)
Hi Selah, I'm sorry you don't like the dress! I can tell you it will withstand a lot of wear and tear, which is why the merino blend is important - for usability. I personally don't need to wear a slip underneath (and mine isn't seethrough) but I do understand your feelings about it being thin. It took some getting used to. Glad you love the leggings from Wool& though! I don't have any leggings from them; only Unbound Merino and WoolX.
@@NoraDunn Hi again ~ I love the idea of the dress being thin, which is why I wanted it. How long ago did you purchase yours? I received my a few days ago. I’m just wondering why mine would be see through? Perhaps they’ve done something different.. ? I’ll reach out to unbound. Thanks again 🫶🏼
The best quality Merino Sheep come from New Zealand, the "Pioneers" of Merino clothing. Merino in New Zealand New Zealand breeders began importing small numbers from Germany, France, America and the UK. With this branching of genetics, the New Zealand Merino quickly became its own distinct type of wool, which is now arguably the best in the world.18 Apr 2018 I note your lovely necklace of the world does not include New Zealand! Oh dear, you need to look for a necklace that includes ALL the nations of the world. I hope you've been to New Zealand for great skiing experiences? and it's gorgeous landscapes. Canadians and New Zealanders know each other well for swapping countries to enjoy the Skiing. Other than that it was a really good video : D Yes, I am from New Zealand....
What a wonderful video. Thank you. I’m a traveler located in Australia where merino wool is one of our biggest exports so I immediately started searching for products made here. Only found one retailer selling 100% merino wool v-neck t-shirts (I want to test them in our summer right now). Many retailers seem to mix it with cotton. What are your thoughts on that? 100% merino or cotton mix for summer.
Great question, Cheryl! Blending cotton in would help with the structure of the fabric to a point, so I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing. But I am pretty particular about selecting a blend/mix that is predominantly merino wool, otherwise it defeats the purpose.
Sorry for the late reply I couldn’t find the company but I have now found a business in Tasmania called @smittenmerino that has a lovely fashion line of merino clothing rather than hiking performance clothing. Still expensive of course but I plan to give them a try.
Do you happen to know what the micron count of that REI shirt was? It's possible thato other brands/blends could work for you. Otherwise I second @cs4849 's suggestion for Paka - though you might have similar issues.
This is a VERY late reply, but throwing it in, in case it helps you or someone else in the future. HOW the wool is processed makes a HUGE difference in its “scratchy” factor. Manufacturers who want to save money bake the wool fibers in very high heat industrial ovens to bake/burn out the grassy fiber that might be present, especially in less cared for sheep. Wool fibers have tiny barbs” along their length, which normally lie flat and behave. But the baking process causes those little barbs to raise and they don’t go back down. That’s why merino, one of the finer ones, has finer little barbs that are less bothersome. But sheep raised for the higher end markets can be coated (literally) while the wool grows before shearing, and is processed more gently, and is thus much less likely to be scratchy, but also more costly! Well cared for wool lasts a lifetime!
Interesting. I'll look into that. Have you seen this resource yet? www.theprofessionalhobo.com/merino-wool-clothing-for-travel-a-guide-to-choosing-the-best-brands/
Do you just go with the sniff / visual test to determine if it needs washing? I’m in the middle of a 3.5 month trip and my merino items are working out well (2 tops from We Norwegians, and excellent leggings and long hoodie from Wool&)… I worry I am washing too frequently, and the waistband takes a long time to dry).
I probably wash my merino too often; it rarely smells by the time I put it into the wash, but I tend to figure after 5 or 6 solid wears it MUST be dirty! Ha ha! In truth, people do 100-day experiments so I know I could go way longer.
I like to use laundry strips. They're very lightweight, dry and solid, you can rip off whatever you need for the amount of laundry you're washing, and they're usually made of natural ingredients that (presumably) won't harm the merino.
Thanks! You can get it here: www.amazon.com/shop/theprofessionalhobo/list/2H88L1AJASF08?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsflist_aipsftheprofessionalhobo_YB311KYBCCCGXC74NQ24
Unbound products are very expensive. I purchased merino wool t-shirts from Wool Rockers, in EU. The price is significantly lower, about 53 Eur for t-shirt.
Did you find your merino wool pieces were translucent? I’m preparing my capsule wardrobe and was aghast that I could see everything through my new cream merino singlet
I tend to get dark colours for my travel clothes partly because dark colours look better on me, and partly because they mask dirt better, and ALSO partly because I find most light-coloured clothes are translucent to some degree.
The collars of cotton t-shirts quickly stretch, so instead of being around the base of your neck, end up halfway out to your shoulders and halfway down your chest, no matter what I do, and I then throw them out, even though they're not worn out at all, and no, I am not rough with my cotton t-shirts. But hey, they only cost a pittance so who cares? A merino t-shirt is around 30 times the price of a cotton t-shirt* and naturally I'd prefer to know if their collars also triple in size too, without going to the expense of buying one and seeing that happens. Any suggestions? (*Cotton t-shirts are about US$3 ea at Kmart in Australia)
I've never had that challenge with merino shirts, but then I don't think I've ever had that challenge with cotton shirts either. Generally speaking, I like to think you get what you pay for....a cheap shirt will wear out in various ways. But I also understand your reticence to spend a bunch of money on a more expensive shirt if it will do the same thing.
😂 - it's a lesson we only need to learn once! I learned it with a possum shawl that I got in New Zealand - a prized possession, that turned into a baby's toy after a washing machine in Spain confused me and double-washed it on hot 😆
BTW microns are not a count, but the thickness of the fibers. Human hair is about 20 microns, so the merino in question is just a bit thinner than a human hair!
@@kalgaramerinos7085 I don’t want to get into a tit for tat. It is actually anywhere from 17 µm to 181 µm. The number I used was based on measurements I made during my tenure at a company that manufactured particle sizing equipment. And we measured 20 µm on our sample. so this is not information from the Internet, this is actual scientific measurement. Regardless of the number, it’s still not a count.
My merino does still smell. I don’t know how other people’s don’t. I bring merino t shirts and long sleeve shirts traveling. I still need to hand wash them every night.
@@MelissaC269 Oh dear. Okay, one more question: if you hang it overnight to air out after wearing, does it still smell? I'm told any smells dissipate with time and air circulation. I'm wondering (you know, for science!) if that's true.
@@NoraDunn I have not tried this. Also, it’s not horrible smells. They are still wearable. It’s just that they aren’t any more scent less than my cotton items. I’ll try hanging them for a day or so.
I tried the merino wool. It just ITCHES!!! I like it, but it itches and I don't want to invest any more money in something that I hesitate to wear. I guess some people are just more sensitive than others.
You're just really not buying good enough quality or pure enough, then - you can't buy merino budget! Look for ones that are mixed with silk - seriously, my sister was convinced she could never wear merino, and I bought her a dress without telling her what it was made out of until she'd put it on and raved about it! 😂
I would agree w the other responder- some brands (typically higher quality although not always) are less itchy. I would also recommend alpaca wool (Paka has some nice items that haven’t been itchy for me) Some people can’t handle the lanolin though in wool. Unbound has a great return policy. (Paka does too).
I have some Merino wool t shirts. So you think they would be comfortable to wear in the Amazon? It’s so hot there and the thought of wearing wool seems counterintuitive. lol I would love to get the leggings if you think they would work!
Hello, Do you know how strict Lufthansa is with carry-on & personal item bags? More specifically, it looks like the personal item is 4 inches? Is that correct? Most others are 6 or more. Trying to do carry-on only trip, but that might be a problem. Just trying to clarify. We have Air Canada from Toronto to Ireland but Lufthansa back.
I got a Merino Tech t-shirt (and it came with a free pair of socks which are really nice) - and it was reasonably priced and very comfy! Fair warning: the shirt I got was thinner than I had anticipated. Keep an eye out for the GSM to ensure it's the thickness you need.
I use Eucalan wool wash on my merino, it's got lanolin in it so it restores the balance in the fabric and keeps it looking new, moisture wicking and soft and subtle. Also has eucalyptus oil which helps keep moths away. Storage in completely sealed Ziploc bags isn't recommended, merino needs so air, like sure ziplock but wrap in tissue paper and leave a wee air hole unzipped. I don't store mine as I wear it all year long everywhere. Hope that helps. 😊
That's a great question, but also a very difficult one to answer, since it depends on a LOT of factors. Here is a breakdown I created to get you started: www.theprofessionalhobo.com/how-to-create-a-long-term-travel-budget-financially-sustainable-travel/
Nice video, thanks to share it. Is it possible to wear it in the middle of summer with over 30 °C (in Africa)? If possible, how thin should the fabric be? Is 165 g/m² OK? Thanks
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Purchasing via my affiliate link above costs you nothing, and helps to support my channel, so thank you in advance!
I would have loved for you to show us your capsule wardrobe of merino wool items you packed.
Great suggestion, Kathy! Because I took merino wool from a few different companies (and because I filmed this whilst already on another trip with different wardrobe requirements) I didn't showcase everything I brought.
That said, you can see a lot of it in action here: www.theprofessionalhobo.com/merino-wool-clothing-for-travel-a-guide-to-choosing-the-best-brands/
I would like to see this, too 🤗
@@VanCrane Great news! I actually list (and explain) my whole packing list in this earlier video: ruclips.net/video/4IBptqO5hGU/видео.html
Great news! I actually list (and explain) my whole packing list in this earlier video: ruclips.net/video/4IBptqO5hGU/видео.html
hi Nora
I just love the cardigan, do you have the link for it? thank you for all your videos, I learn a lot from them.
I wore a merino wool T-shirt while hiking in Patagonia last year. It was incredibly hot and we ended up having to turn back due to heat exhaustion. My cotton buff was encrusted with salt but my T-shirt didn’t smell at all. I am a total merino wool convert.
Wow! Now THERE'S a testament to merino's anti-stink properties!
I travel for months at a time in my van. Wool clothing, particularly underwear, is a game changer when you don’t have easy access to washing machines.
This was confusing at first, but to clarify....it was hot *outside*....the merino wool t-shirt was not hot. : )
I bought two Wool& dresses for a trip to Europe last fall. I couldn't believe how versatile and comfortable they were. It's the only way to travel. You won't be disappointed.
Right?? Agreed!
That sounds great but the washing sounds high maintenance.
Thanks for this, Nora. I've been an Unbound Merino fan for a few years, depending on their t- shirts for my job as a registered nurse, as well as for travel. For 6 weeks, in the autumn of 2023, my husband and I traveled from Toronto,Canada to Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland. We packed backpack only thanks to UM. I took 2 pairs of UM's women's travel pants, 4 UM t-shirts, 2 of their cardigans, and 5 UM pairs of ankle socks, along with a puffer vest and raincoat. Similarly, my husband's clothing was predominantly UM. I have a solo trip to Quebec City coming up in May. I'll be packing with UM again
That's fantastic, Terri! You've got the merino wool capsule wardrobe thing down pat!
I also wash my wool (and all of my clothing) inside-out so that the machine surfaces are touching only the inside of my clothing and that is where most of the ick is anyway! This helps prevent pilling, too.
Fantastic tip! And very important too.
I love merino wool. I swapped out my blankets from fleece to merino wool since last year. I sleep under a couple of them, put them in cars and on sofa. Merino is perfect for cool and cold weather. I also swapped out poly fabric bedding and quilt to be 100% cotton, too. As I age, my skin doesn’t like man made fabrics anymore.
Ooh - merino blankets! Where did you get them?
@@NoraDunn Google Berkshire Blanket. I bought two merino wool throw blankets. They are sold out but cashmere throw blankets are still on sale for $40 each. 50x70 is a good size for slim female like you and easy to travel with.
@@NoraDunn what i like about these Berkshire wool blankets is that there no fringe. Fringe tickles your chin and neck.
If you aren't in Canada or even the US, you can find merino wool easily in Australia and New Zealand. Even better, you can find possum-merino or silk merino which is like 'merino +'. The elves in 'The Lord of the Rings' films wore Lothlorien brand merino wool. Icebreaker's merino wool clothing is famous.
Wherever you buy it, merino wool is great. Be aware that it doesn't stretch a lot because it is closely woven. Gain even a little body mass and everything shows (stick to black!). I have not tried merino underwear, but that is a thing.
Great point about the stretch factor and weight gain! I think extra weight also shows because merino doesn't have the same "structure" that a cotton shirt might, which can hang a bit straighter over any "folds" underneath ;-)
The merino wool underwear are game changers 😊
Very timely for me. I’ve been building a merino wool wardrobe in time for a trip to Costa Rica this month. I’ll be doing a lot of active outings with hiking and zip lining and general outdoor activities. I decided to try out a lot of the pieces before my trip and so far so good with some t-shirts, a long sleeve Henley (Unbound Merino), and socks (Smartwool). Going to take my first one bag trip so thank you for this video.
Ooh - one bag travel coming up! Unbound Merino will definitely help with this mission. :-)
Unfortunately moths like Merino as well. Finding a moth hole in your relatively new $88 T-shirt is not fun. This was even inside a closed drawer with cedar moth repellents. I now store my Merino garments in Ziploc bags for protection.
Oh no! Good call on the Ziploc bags.
I have had this experience too
@@linmorell1813 Oh dear.
Same here. In Hawaii, I have to store in large ziplocks with old fashioned moth balls otherwise wool garments (including suits) will be shredded.
Merino, cashmere, in fact any expensive wool. My wife spent 6 months knitting me the most amazing Alpaca sweater, through experience it went straight into a ziplock.
We have several merino tees and sweaters with very small holes. Finally found out the enzymatic detergents (stain fighting) break down the fibers at each washing. Only use wool safe cleansers for your pricey merinos. That said, everyone in the family loves them. I’m looking for some attractive merino pants that aren’t leggings. Maybe unbound has some. I enjoy your tips and trip photos..
Wow - that's really good to know about the enzymatic detergents! Yikes.
Yes, UB does have some non-legging pants for both men and women.
I use Eucalan to wash my Merino, it's not just wool wash, like woolite, it has lanolin in it to restore it to the fabric. There are other brands and many with more lanolin. I like Eucalan, it does the job and also has eucalyptus in it which smells great and discourages moths. 😊
@@barbarahallowell2613Agreed! I’m a knitter. I also really like Soak wash, because it’s no-rinse. Lavender buds in a small mesh bag work, too, but breathable ziplocks from a dry cleaner supply are even better!
You have done an OUTSTANDING job explaining just how important merino wool is. I always have a go-to piece I purchase at my favorite Canadian store.
Awesome - thanks Maxine!
Woolly Clothing Company is another option. We are going to Europe for almost 3 weeks in June and are doing carry-on only. I have been testing out some Woolly T-Shirts and leggings, as well as a long sleeve Unbound. By testing, I mean wearing them for 3 days in a row to determine the stink factor. So far, I am pretty impressed.
Nice! How does Woolly compare to Unbound Merino in terms of softness?
I’d say it’s about the same, but I would need to put on one, then the other, to say for sure. I will say that Woolly was having a sale on its tees that definitely made them more economical. I also liked the colors offered by Woolly a little better. Unbound’s colors were ‘warmer’ which don’t look great on me. @@NoraDunn
Hi! I checked the Woolly [95%merino5%elastane] against the Unbound [100%merino] and they felt equally soft to me. @@NoraDunn
Good information. I've worn Merino for many years. (Bought a sweater in a sale bin on a street in China in 2009, thought I'd wear it on my Tiger Leaping Gorge hike I was going to start the next day. $12USD. Disposable. It was very comfortable, got muddy, full of sweat. When I got back from the hike I just threw it in with the rest of my laundry. Came out like brand new. (No clue if they'd actually handled it differently.) Wore it for years more. Finally translated the label. 90% Merino 10% spandex -- that's why it kept its shape. It might still be around somewhere.
I usually just throw my Smart Wool (merino) socks in with the rest of my laundry, sometimes on hot. Tumble dry. They probably don't last as long, but 5 to 8 years for a pair of socks? Good enough.
As I've written before I last wore polyester (Capoline) as a base layer on a trip to Japan in 2016. No matter how I washed that stuff it stank. I'm in the most fastidious country on the planet and I smelled like I went to the gym three days ago. That's when I started researching. The answer was there all the time: wool. I no longer stink, even on a recent ocean crossing in a sailboat. I wore the same merino layers for 33 days straight, 24 hours a day. It was very cold. I showered every five days or so, changed my skin layers: undies and t-shirt. But not my next merino layers. Didn't stink.
33 days straight, 24 hours a day speaks for itself! Merino rocks. Thanks for sharing!
I invested in the Unbound Merino Wool Womens Capsule and I have purchased from them ever since. They are the best in Merino Wool.
Thanks for sharing, Dana! I hope they bring back the capsule - it's a great idea!
We like you! We REALLY like you! Thank you! You’ve helped our entire family to plan for travel.
Fantastic - thank you SO much!
I love merino wool! Actually, I pretty much use it on a daily basis, and then also default to it when I travel. I have not tried Unbound Merino yet , I have used WoolX pretty much exclusively, and I’ve been very pleased with that brand, which allows tumble drying and holds up well.
I recently got some WoolX clothes, and I do like how they say they were designed to be dried. I still don't dry them though - my understanding is that heat reduces the lifespan / effectiveness of the lanolin, which is one of merino wool's most standout qualities.
I have tons of merino wool pieces from various brands. Woolx has been my go to for years. I have 2 shirts that are well over 5 years old. I wore each piece at least 2x a week for years. (I was a remote worker and could get away with just throwing on a cardigan over the tees for video calls.). One shirt is just now getting a couple of small holes. I love their leggings in the cooler months. I normally hang dry the items but when we’re traveling in our van, I sometimes have to machine dry since we have limited drying space. I also use a special wool wash which refreshes the loft and softness. It’s great stuff.
@@lisaf-d8521 Awesome! I have the leggings and a long-sleeved shirt from WoolX. They both have a nice heavy weight but are still very soft feeling.
I wish Unbound had a classic women's trouser.
Me too! They have travel pants for women that I'm excited to try, but they're not quite as "classic" as the men's pants. They have been coming out with a lot of new styles for women lately though, so perhaps something is in the works.
@@NoraDunn And the inseam on the women's pants are too short for me.
@@petgranny194 I think they're meant to be a bit cropped.
Costco has merino wool items at a fraction of the cost. I’ve purchased a few pieces and they are very nice. $24.99
Yes! I have a couple of Costco long-sleeved shirts. They're 100% merino (yay!) but I also found that they are quite thin and wore even thinner very quickly. But for $20 they make great base layers if nothing else.
They are an ok base layer. But they bag easily and not nearly as nice as the better brands.
@@chicagocathrun7738 This stands to reason; for $20 I figure we get what we pay for!
@@NoraDunn Does Costco still sell the 100% Merino wool stuff. I cannot find them. Not online or in the store. HELP!
@@NCJulaine It's not a constant item that they stock, and I've never seen them online. Luck of the draw!
Everything she says is true. I love my base layers and will sleep in them for PJ’s so double duty. It is awesome, comfortable, and dries overnight when hand washed. This is the best fabric always
I love Merino wool PJs! I started sleeping in Merino wool about five years ago and it has revolutionized the quality of my sleep.
@@NoraDunn Hey, what do you and @dkwillrn use for PJs? Which brand? Unbound? Woolx or Woolly? Just curious. Thanks!
@@NCJulaine Great question! WoolX makes some really nice PJs - so soft I didn't believe it was merino at first! Also the ones I have are nice and lightweight so they're easy to pack.
@@NoraDunn Thank you!
Don’t making competition just pointing direction: more then 10 years a. in Ecuador I purchased quite cheap($60) lama king size blanket(use winter as bed cover) very warm and after several washes stil beautiful Andean colors.
That's great! A souvenir that keeps on giving. :-)
The Merino Wool Womens Capsule contained 1 long sleeve tee, 1 pair of leggings, 1 short sleeve tee, 1 tank top, 1 dress. It was worth the price at the time.
Awesome!
I have always been very sensitive to wool against my skin. I bought a gorgeous Aran Islands cardigan in Galway and a hand knit lopapeysa in Iceland but with both I have to make sure I have other fabric under them so the wool doesn’t touch my skin. So when my husband suggested I try merino wool base layers, I was very skeptical. I wore one of his shirts for 24 hours to test it, and was very pleasantly surprised. I am slowly replacing clothes with merino now. I have not tried Unbound, but I have some nice pieces from Meriwool and I like Smartwool for their cool patterns. I also bought a base layer alpaca shirt and an alpaca sweater jacket from Paka. My understanding is that alpaca is similarly soft and travel-friendly. We’ve got a carry-on only trip to Norway planned this summer, and I am mostly taking things made from merino and alpaca. But in the meantime, I am wearing them all the time now!
Merino and alpaca all the way! Yay!
I also have a Paka hoodie, but my challenge with it is that it "fuzzes up" more than merino does. It's not a problem if you're expecting it though.
I traveled for a month in South America with almost entirely merino wool(different brand)and it was excellent from mountains to deserts to jungles
Yay! Glad you did a similar travel experiment. I found it enlightening!
You want to try finding a company that uses NZ wool, then you can be sure muelsing isn't occurring (we're the 1st country to make the practice completely illegal, as of 1 October 2023). Nothing against Australian wool, but the quality just isn't as good due to the dryer environment - most of our merino is from alpine farms, so grows in thicker with a softer base layer on the sheep. You often see them covered in a layer of snow in winter!
Great advice, Trudi!
I have had TSA pre-check for 10 years. Love it. I do have to use the body scanner because of knee replacements.
10 years - you're an OG! :-)
spent three weeks in summer heat Singapore with only an 80% merino tee, no wash and mostly stayed on air conditioned room, no one smelled foul odor at all!
Awesome!
I have invested in a Womens Merino Wool. Capsule Wardrobe from Unbound Merino. I am an avid customer of Unbound Merino
Awesome Dana! Glad you also like their stuff!
11:43 I use Eucalan to wash wool items. Pro Tip 1: turn your garments inside out to reduce pilling/friction damage.
Pro Tip 2: avoid stretching knit fabrics by laundering the garments in a lau.dry bag. Admittedly, this might not be travel friendly, but you can put it into practice when you are not doimg 1-bag travel.
I'm all for using laundry bags! And they don't take up that much space comparatively. Great tip about turning inside out too!
I love how my tshirts from unbound feel, but their shirts are not long enough for someone with a longer torso
They now have a "Tall" style for longer torsos!
@@NoraDunn oh good! Maybe I'll give them another try then.
I purchase all of my Womens clothes from Unbound Merino. They are my go to store.
Awesome!
Thank you for introducing Unbound Merino. Their styles look interesting. My only problem is, I would like to try before I buy as not all styles suit me and they don't seem to sell them direct here in Australia. I still love my Icebreaker clothing and it seems to be easier to wash. I put it in my front loading washing machine in delicate bags and wash with OMO at 20 degrees Celsius. Then, just put them over my indoor clothes line to dry. Never had any problems with drying or stretching.
Ah, yes - in Australia, it would stand to reason that Icebreaker would be your go-to brand, given that they're made "just across the way".
From Australia i have used merino wool all my life and its the only yarn i have ever knitted with. I can yell you every thing you said is true I used to wear a fine woollen school jumper over my dress in summer in our hot Australian summer weather and had no problem and u am talking about 40 years ago. I have half my travel items merino wool and the other half silk items as i find silk just as good. The key for silk and merino wool is 100% NO BLENDS as they smell. I have had pieces of merino lasting well over 10 years a very important fact is the care. Very important is i store my merino items in hacking cubes so the moth’s don’t create small holes. Mum uses zip lock bags as she used to use mothballs and approaching 90 i don’t think the smell bothered her so i educated her the zip lock bags will protect her merino items with out the moth ball smell. Not sure in the cate label it never mentions moth care as from my experience no matter how clean you are i have had a few items
Wrecked by moths. So store them when not in use.
Great advice about moth-prevention! Thank you so much, Debbie!
Very informative video, Nora, thank you. The only experience I have had with wool was as a 10 yr. old with a cashmere sweater, so scratchy, and and old army blanket of my dads that was not as scratchy as the sweater. Having watched your video I am much more inclined to purchase wool products in the future because you taught me what to look for, thank you!
Awesome! I'm glad I inspired you to take another look at merino wool!
I just bought three Unbound Merino t-shirts and love them! They are so soft and I found the cut of the V-necks very flattering. I haven’t had them long enough to comment on durability or their anti-odour properties but I plan to try it out by walking my dog and doing my indoor runs in one shirt for a week and seeing what happens. I bought a laundry bag and wool safe detergent this weekend so I am ready to wash them when it’s time. Seriously considering the long sleeves and leggings for winter running and cross country skiing and the travel dress for an upcoming trip to the Caribbean.
Good job with the laundry bag and wool-safe detergent. These will help you preserve the life and quality immensely!
I can attest to the travel dress and leggings being awesome!
Hey Nora! I have some Unbound Merino products also. Great, but not cheap, then again, it's quality. I also have picked up some Merino wool from other companies for a lot less from Costco . Not always consistently there, but the quality is good. Today I got 2 100% Merino sweaters by Benetton and 3 half zip long sleeve zip top shirts from Banana Republic. Made in Cambodia, but all 4 items for under $120 Cdn.
Wow - that's great value! I also have a couple of long-sleeved merino tops from Costco. I believe Uniqlo sells cost-effective merino too.
The thing to consider, is where is the wool sourced from? Shearing sheep at the best of times is not a kind practice; farms that practice muelsing is next-level stuff in the cruelty department. When we purchase cheaper merino from these places, we have no assurance that we aren't supporting those kinds of farms.
True. I try to look for some background, but didn't see anything questionable. Unbound is well sourced and animal friendly from what I've read.
Great video. I have lots of merino stuff, which I bought for travel a couple years ago -- sweaters, t-shirts, socks, and more. Just amazing. I lucked out because I've really liked all of it and I didn't know anything about the important things you mentioned. All the details you included will help next time around, and sure, I'll probably get everything from Unbound. So... I love the stuff, with one issue that came up. I loaned a merino sweater to a woman I met traveling, and she seemed to have an allergic reaction. I thought that wasn't supposed to happen with merino wool! So if friends or lovers have allergic reactions to good merino wool products, I should ditch them. ...right? (the friends). 🤣
Ha ha! Merino over love, every time! 🤣
I do find merino wool to be too warm in humid tropical climates. I prefer linen or linen blends. In cooler weather merino is great
Glad you have a system that works for you!
My second NDunn video ever. I can feel the binge coming. Just finished 100 days challenge with Wool & Prince. Note to self about care instructions: don’t use a Tide stick! 😭 Going to look for video #3 now!
Ha ha! So glad you're here. 100 day challenge - kudos!
Also, what happened when you used the Tide stick? Did it discolour the fabric? I feel like I've used one on my merino stuff before, but perhaps not.
@@NoraDunn Yes, discoloration since it was a medium dark color. Sad, but it is what it is. Now I have a $158 credit to spend! 100 days wearing the same thing was not easy but not nearly as hard as going in a train from Lisbon to Hanoi. That’s real endurance!
@@marcusyoung5440 I would get bored wearing the same thing for 100 straight days, but I do love the idea of the challenge!
I would like to thank Unbound Merino for the preparation of the script of this video and to contract this nice lady for the commercial presentation on RUclips.
Furthermore I would be most happy if you open a subsidiary (with a warehouse or stock) in the European Union so you can sell in Europe without hassles. I love your products. I just have a T-shirt I that I bought in Canada while travelling, and when comparing with Massimo Dutti or with Decathlon I really noticed the difference as your products are superior in quality and skin feeling, but the price is double or triple! 😅
Anyway, look forward to seeing you here in Europe selling to the old continent fellows.
Thanks for the video! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🙏😊🇨🇦
Let's hope Unbound Merino is able to expand to Europe! What are the hassles in getting it at the moment? Are there extra charges?
@@NoraDunn Transportation, custom clearance agent, VAT.
@@alfonsohshk8998 Got it. Thanks!
Love this and the info on new to me brands (thanks Nora and various commenters!). I have had Icebreaker and Ibex pieces (outer and under) for over 10 years…some I have patched at the elbows or have sewn closed worn spots. Merino is a great investment and wonderful for travel! I look forward to seeing if some of these other companies have more stylish everyday pieces. Thanks!
Awesome! I started off with Icebreaker (almost 20 years ago!), but their styles were too utilitarian for my taste. So many more options now!
Thanks for the great insight on merino wool. I bought some ts from Unbound and Minus33 is definitely awesome material.
Awesome! I'm glad you enjoyed the insights- and are enjoying some merino wool duds too!
Thank you for this informative video! Just purchased my first unbound merino wool long sleeve crew with your discount code. Excited to try this out for my Germany trip this November.
Woohoo! I hope you love it!
Btw, totally unrelated, but lanolin is widely used to protect the underbody of cars and truck from rust and corrosion, especially the kind that's pervasive in wet and slushy northern regions that salt their roads in winter. I imagine that it's because, being a kind of oil or grease, it naturally resists water, and being fairly viscous, like a soft wax (which perhaps it is), it tends to stay on and not get easily dislodged when repeatedly splashed and rubbed. Which makes sense because this is how it also protects wool. I wouldn't suggest smearing any car grade lanolin on your favorite sweaters though! 😂
Wow - I had no idea about lanolin being used to treat cars!
I saw a lot of cleaning and buffing products on Amazon using genuine sheepskin.
@@NoraDunn I don't use it myself, as it just seems so messy and liable to attract road dirt and grime and I use other methods to rust-proof my car, but lots of people in the rust belt swear by it. I think it's also a key ingredient in some body lotions.
Perhaps lanolin is snake oil in sheep's clothing that actually lives up to its claims! 🤣
@@kovie9162 😂
Oddly enough, lanolin is also used in some products for breastfeeding moms. It’s very good for healing dry, cracked nipples. LOL! I grew up on a farm with sheep and a couple of the older ladies in the area would come over when we sheared them. They would always try to extract the lanolin from the wool and off the skin. They’d keep it in little tins for their hands and open cuts. When I had my babies 30 years ago, I was gifted a commercial product containing lanolin made for breastfeeding. Who knew? Here I thought those older ladies were a little off their rockers.
I have merino ski clothing layers from Ice Breaker some pieces going on 20 years old now...still as good as new despite constant washing by laundry services which may or not adhere to delicate care instructions...often a problem I have on a ski trip os telling the stuff I have been wearing for a week from the clean freshly washed stuff ... it's easy to mix them up as even after wearing a merino base layer for several days it does not smell...great advice in this video...thanks for posting
Ha ha - I have that problem too! I figure if it doesn't smell bad or look dirty, it's clean ;-)
I have worn merino wool products as jumpers cardigans etc but never thought of them as t shirt type tops must investigate
Unbound Merino makes terrific t-shirts!
Years ago in the ski club I was part of, the saying was “cotton is rotten.”
Ha ha!
I absolutely love my Unbound shirts and socks. 3 short sleeve, 3 long sleeve, and 3 socks- I'm all set! It's really soft. How many years should I expect out of these pieces if rarely washed? They honestly never stink and I'm in Texas.
Woohoo! It depends on how hard you generally are on your clothing, but most of my merino pieces have lasted many years of near-daily use.
Always wonderfully helpful videos, and I've been travelling for YEARS.
Thank you SO much, Billy! You made my day.
@@NoraDunn I have been travelling for DECADES: work, study, pleasure. 49 US states, 3 Cdn povinces, 30+ countries, 4 continents. YOU are the "go to" source for travel. Just ordered a couple of gotoobs upon your instigation. (Did a bit of research of my own after checking your three recommendations. I think gotoobs will be best for me.) Thank you for all the help that you provide. I hope that you are WELL monetised by the folks at YT.
@@billyungen Thank you Billy! (Made my day...again!)
I would love to pack Marino wool into my luggage. I like to look good as well as be comfortable. My facial skin tones DO NOT do well with the earth tones all of these companies (that I have researched) seem to think are the only necessary colors. I would like to see some pastel pink, pastel blue, periwinkle, true red (not earth tone red) or maybe a bright pink or green. I do not want to wear drab color. If one gets lost in the woods hiking, these browns and greys will sure be hard to find by the search party.
Check out some of the options in this article - I can't imagine that NONE of them have any bright colours ;-) www.theprofessionalhobo.com/merino-wool-clothing-for-travel-a-guide-to-choosing-the-best-brands/
Informative video thank you, one thing you didn’t mention was issues with moths, I have purchased some merino wool items from different companies and found holes in my items after short use.
Same here, and have never seen a moth in my house! I use fabric paint to mend the holes--and think of the Japanese style of Kintsugi to make the repairs, using sparkly paint.
Yikes! I've never had trouble with moths, so it didn't occur to me.
@@NoraDunn::: Makes me cry! Moth damage is relentless in Canada.
@@dallimamma Aw, that's awful. Does moth repellant of any kind work?
@@NoraDunn ::: The typical moth balls, but, they’re pretty toxic, and smell is hard to remove. I’m trying cedar now. It’s the larvae that eat up the wool once they’re hatched, so, laundering, and storing in an air tight container is the only option, sure hope it helps. I love Merino!
BEST place to find merino wool sweaters? Thrift stores! I've found lots of merino wool sweaters at the Salvation Army store, ESPECIALLY in the men's department. Pullover sweaters are basically genderless . I've bought them for $5.99 - $7.99 ---a real bargain! Easy care, too.
Thanks for the tip!
Color looks great on you
Thanks! I really like it.
Your videos are always so informative. One suggestion: place the camera at a higher angle so that you are not always looking down at the camera. Placing the camera slightly above eye level is more pleasing to watch.
Thanks!
Unbound Merino is where I get my Womens Merino Wool clothes from,
Awesome!
I love my Merino wool ❤
Me too!
I have ask them if they would please do a trouser that has a longer than 31 inch inseam but so far no good. That would look like a pair of pedal pushers! Add all the colours are soft and pastel and dewey when those colours don't suit everyone.... How about about a cheery canadian red? Or sunshine yellow?
Great suggestions, Linda!
Mostly all I wear brands for me are, Icebreaker and Smartwool. Both are absolutely great but also pricy. You get what you pay for though!
Agreed - you get what you pay for! I started off with Icebreaker almost 20 years ago, and I also have a pair of Smartwool leggings (they were my unfortunate purchase that is only partially merino). Unfortunately for everyday wear, both brands are a bit utilitarian for my taste. Great for active wear though!
@@NoraDunn Yes both brands sell some things that are not 100% merino but for some items the reason is for longevity. I tend to buy 100% stuff myself. I’ve tried other brands but the quality of the materials just doesn’t compare or last as well. You are definitely right as far as styles .
@@4Runner123 I'm all for a good merino blend, because like you say it increases longevity or provides certain characteristics that straight merino might not be able to do. I just try to ensure it's at least 50% merino if it bills itself as being "merino" clothing.
I like merino wool but I find the temperature regulation properties are overblown. It just seems to be warm, basically
Fair enough. Everybody is different!
How do you find "merino friendly" detergent on the road? Anything with enzymes is a "no-no." Same for whiteners. What brand of detergent do you use and do you bring it along on your travels. Thanks for this video and TIA for your wisdom on washing.
I usually go for Woolite, which I've managed to find in many places. I also have some handy Woolite travel pouches which is very handy.
In a pinch, use your shampoo! Wool is hair. I like Soak wash for my wool and silk… it doesn’t need rinsing, and it comes in packets as well as bottles.
Funny how all these videos seem to push Unbound Merino. There are other good brands of merino wool clothing. But maybe they don’t sponsor RUclips videos lol. Anyway, I have several of them. They are nice. But for hot weather, not so much. A technical fabric, like used in shirts you can get from Patagonia, are much better in hot weather. They are typically treated with antimicrobial chemicals so they don’t stink. Very lightweight and airy. Easy to wash and just hang dry in your room. Very easy to pack due to being lightweight and compressible. Doesn’t wrinkle. I also like to use button up technical fabric shirts in hot weather. They are well ventilated and very easy to care for, unlike merino wool. I use the wool shirts in cooler weather.
Thanks for weighing in! Not gonna lie - Unbound Merino has indeed gone all-in on advertising with RUclipsrs like myself and many of my colleagues! But as a paying customer I also feel good about promoting their clothes.
For a number of other merino brands - many of which I've also bought - you can check this out: www.theprofessionalhobo.com/merino-wool-clothing-for-travel-a-guide-to-choosing-the-best-brands/
As for lightweight technical gear for hot weather, I haven't found anything that doesn't hold smell. They have much shorter shelf-lives in that regard. Though when it comes to tops for running (especially ones with bra support), I do tend to use synthetics.
But on the whole I prefer a super light weight merino.
Hey Nora. Every one bag packing video on RUclips just concentrates on getting as much into the carry on bag as possible - fine if you are travelling to countries that don’t weigh your bags. Here in Australia we have 7kg and 10 kg limits - sometimes thats carry on and personal item (Jetstar). Could you do a video that shows what you’d take to keep in those limits?
Hi Cheryl,
To be honest, I probably wouldn't travel carry-on only with a 7kg limit. I'd just check a bag. But that's just me. It's possible, if you don't travel with many tech items, and are traveling to a tropical climate for a short time.
@@NoraDunn thanks for responding! I’ll stop trying to more clever than the scales now that I know that a pro wouldn’t bother😂.
@@CherylJ-vw8yo 😂
Merino wool is not actually significantly more durable than cotton while being worn. It's just the fact that cotton stinks after one day whereas wool can go a week between washes. This is the main difference in long-term durability for these fabrics: degradation from washing. Cotton needs 5x the washes, so wool lasts 3x longer. You could actually make the argument that wool is not as durable as cotton given the fact that it's only 3x
Thanks for the clarification!
I would love to try this Merino wool clothing, but Unbound does not have any plus size women's items.
Oh no! I'm providing the brand with feedback.
I wish they had a 2XL option. I have some XL on order, and I'm hoping for the best.
@@juliaabattle I hope it fits! Fingers crossed.
@@juliaabattle How did the XL leggings work out for you?
Hoping for length in pants.
I have looked for a video like this as I had questions before a summer trip in SDakota and winter in Oz trip. Thanks!
Unbound Merino how has it! Their redesigned lightweight travel pants come in two lengths. I have a pair and I adore them. Just took them as my only pants on a 2.5 week trip and they were amazing. shrsl.com/4ig40
Loved this idea so much that I ordered 2 expensive items from unbound. They are both lightweight, but unfortunately, not only is the dress not 💯 merino wool, but it’s so incredibly thin, you can see through it.. I’ll need a slip - bummer! Kinda defeats the purpose. The material is so flimsy that it seems like it won’t hold up, but I’ll test this. Also, the dress collects so much lint - ugh! The 💯 merino V neck T feels nice on the skin. I probably won’t be ordering from unbound again. I did order 2 leggings from Wool&, and I just gotta say, WOW! Material, although not 💯 merino, feels great on the skin and seems like they’ll hold up for many, many seasons. I did use your discount code for unbound, so thank you for that :)
Hi Selah,
I'm sorry you don't like the dress! I can tell you it will withstand a lot of wear and tear, which is why the merino blend is important - for usability. I personally don't need to wear a slip underneath (and mine isn't seethrough) but I do understand your feelings about it being thin. It took some getting used to.
Glad you love the leggings from Wool& though! I don't have any leggings from them; only Unbound Merino and WoolX.
@@NoraDunn Hi again ~ I love the idea of the dress being thin, which is why I wanted it. How long ago did you purchase yours? I received my a few days ago. I’m just wondering why mine would be see through? Perhaps they’ve done something different.. ?
I’ll reach out to unbound.
Thanks again 🫶🏼
@@Selah70x7 I got mine last summer. I got it in black.
The best quality Merino Sheep come from New Zealand, the "Pioneers" of Merino clothing.
Merino in New Zealand
New Zealand breeders began importing small numbers from Germany, France, America and the UK. With this branching of genetics, the New Zealand Merino quickly became its own distinct type of wool, which is now arguably the best in the world.18 Apr 2018
I note your lovely necklace of the world does not include New Zealand! Oh dear, you need to look for a necklace that includes ALL the nations of the world.
I hope you've been to New Zealand for great skiing experiences? and it's gorgeous landscapes. Canadians and New Zealanders know each other well for swapping countries to enjoy the Skiing. Other than that it was a really good video : D Yes, I am from New Zealand....
I love New Zealand! Aotearoa. One of my fav countries!
Have wanted to try Unbound Merino, but they do not have any plus/tall sizes for women. I prefer Woolx because of the sizing options.
Fair enough. WoolX has a great selection.
Agree with above. Woolx, Wool&, and even SmartWool are much more size inclusive.
Love my merino!
@@Jgfwebyes! Agree too.
I have some merino wool clothes that just smell wooly, so not all merino wool is created equally.
True! I also find that most merino smells funky when it's wet after being washed, but it dries odor-free.
Thanks!
Thank you so much for your support, Boda! I really appreciate it! 🤩
What a wonderful video. Thank you. I’m a traveler located in Australia where merino wool is one of our biggest exports so I immediately started searching for products made here. Only found one retailer selling 100% merino wool v-neck t-shirts (I want to test them in our summer right now). Many retailers seem to mix it with cotton. What are your thoughts on that? 100% merino or cotton mix for summer.
Great question, Cheryl! Blending cotton in would help with the structure of the fabric to a point, so I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing. But I am pretty particular about selecting a blend/mix that is predominantly merino wool, otherwise it defeats the purpose.
Hi Cheryl, Fiona from Brisbane. Do you mind sharing which company you found with the cotton in their clothing. Thank you 😊
Sorry for the late reply I couldn’t find the company but I have now found a business in Tasmania called @smittenmerino that has a lovely fashion line of merino clothing rather than hiking performance clothing. Still expensive of course but I plan to give them a try.
@@CherylJ-vw8yo Awesome!
Merino wool is itchy on my skin. I tried a $100+ shirt from REI and had to return. Any possible suggestions on other natural fabrics.
I read that some people are sensitive to the lanolin, so alpaca might be an option. I’ve bought some clothing I like from Paka. Very soft!
Do you happen to know what the micron count of that REI shirt was? It's possible thato other brands/blends could work for you. Otherwise I second @cs4849 's suggestion for Paka - though you might have similar issues.
This is a VERY late reply, but throwing it in, in case it helps you or someone else in the future. HOW the wool is processed makes a HUGE difference in its “scratchy” factor. Manufacturers who want to save money bake the wool fibers in very high heat industrial ovens to bake/burn out the grassy fiber that might be present, especially in less cared for sheep. Wool fibers have tiny barbs” along their length, which normally lie flat and behave. But the baking process causes those little barbs to raise and they don’t go back down. That’s why merino, one of the finer ones, has finer little barbs that are less bothersome. But sheep raised for the higher end markets can be coated (literally) while the wool grows before shearing, and is processed more gently, and is thus much less likely to be scratchy, but also more costly! Well cared for wool lasts a lifetime!
Unbound doesn’t seem to make tall sizes, neither does anyone else from what I’ve seen.
Interesting. I'll look into that. Have you seen this resource yet? www.theprofessionalhobo.com/merino-wool-clothing-for-travel-a-guide-to-choosing-the-best-brands/
Do you just go with the sniff / visual test to determine if it needs washing? I’m in the middle of a 3.5 month trip and my merino items are working out well (2 tops from We Norwegians, and excellent leggings and long hoodie from Wool&)… I worry I am washing too frequently, and the waistband takes a long time to dry).
I probably wash my merino too often; it rarely smells by the time I put it into the wash, but I tend to figure after 5 or 6 solid wears it MUST be dirty! Ha ha! In truth, people do 100-day experiments so I know I could go way longer.
What detergent do you pack to hand wash your merino items when traveling?
I like to use laundry strips. They're very lightweight, dry and solid, you can rip off whatever you need for the amount of laundry you're washing, and they're usually made of natural ingredients that (presumably) won't harm the merino.
I love your necklace!
Thanks! You can get it here: www.amazon.com/shop/theprofessionalhobo/list/2H88L1AJASF08?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsflist_aipsftheprofessionalhobo_YB311KYBCCCGXC74NQ24
@@NoraDunn thank you! I ordered a black one.
@@karenmoss8810 Sweet!
Unbound products are very expensive. I purchased merino wool t-shirts from Wool Rockers, in EU. The price is significantly lower, about 53 Eur for t-shirt.
Did you find your merino wool pieces were translucent? I’m preparing my capsule wardrobe and was aghast that I could see everything through my new cream merino singlet
I tend to get dark colours for my travel clothes partly because dark colours look better on me, and partly because they mask dirt better, and ALSO partly because I find most light-coloured clothes are translucent to some degree.
The collars of cotton t-shirts quickly stretch, so instead of being around the base of your neck, end up halfway out to your shoulders and halfway down your chest, no matter what I do, and I then throw them out, even though they're not worn out at all, and no, I am not rough with my cotton t-shirts. But hey, they only cost a pittance so who cares? A merino t-shirt is around 30 times the price of a cotton t-shirt* and naturally I'd prefer to know if their collars also triple in size too, without going to the expense of buying one and seeing that happens. Any suggestions?
(*Cotton t-shirts are about US$3 ea at Kmart in Australia)
I've never had that challenge with merino shirts, but then I don't think I've ever had that challenge with cotton shirts either. Generally speaking, I like to think you get what you pay for....a cheap shirt will wear out in various ways. But I also understand your reticence to spend a bunch of money on a more expensive shirt if it will do the same thing.
@@NoraDunn Thanks for the helpful response Nora.
I love my merino wool shirts but don't be a dummy and put it in the dryer like me 😂
😂 - it's a lesson we only need to learn once! I learned it with a possum shawl that I got in New Zealand - a prized possession, that turned into a baby's toy after a washing machine in Spain confused me and double-washed it on hot 😆
BTW microns are not a count, but the thickness of the fibers. Human hair is about 20 microns, so the merino in question is just a bit thinner than a human hair!
Thanks for the clarification!
Errr no, human hair is more like 70 to 120 microns.
@@kalgaramerinos7085 I don’t want to get into a tit for tat. It is actually anywhere from 17 µm to 181 µm. The number I used was based on measurements I made during my tenure at a company that manufactured particle sizing equipment. And we measured 20 µm on our sample. so this is not information from the Internet, this is actual scientific measurement. Regardless of the number, it’s still not a count.
My merino does still smell. I don’t know how other people’s don’t. I bring merino t shirts and long sleeve shirts traveling. I still need to hand wash them every night.
Wow! That's odd. It's 100% merino, not a blend?
@@NoraDunn yes. 😞
@@MelissaC269 Oh dear. Okay, one more question: if you hang it overnight to air out after wearing, does it still smell? I'm told any smells dissipate with time and air circulation. I'm wondering (you know, for science!) if that's true.
@@NoraDunn I have not tried this.
Also, it’s not horrible smells. They are still wearable. It’s just that they aren’t any more scent less than my cotton items. I’ll try hanging them for a day or so.
@@MelissaC269 Let me know if airing it out makes a difference!
I tried the merino wool. It just ITCHES!!! I like it, but it itches and I don't want to invest any more money in something that I hesitate to wear. I guess some people are just more sensitive than others.
You're just really not buying good enough quality or pure enough, then - you can't buy merino budget! Look for ones that are mixed with silk - seriously, my sister was convinced she could never wear merino, and I bought her a dress without telling her what it was made out of until she'd put it on and raved about it! 😂
I would agree w the other responder- some brands (typically higher quality although not always) are less itchy. I would also recommend alpaca wool (Paka has some nice items that haven’t been itchy for me) Some people can’t handle the lanolin though in wool. Unbound has a great return policy. (Paka does too).
I tried an Unbound merino shirt and to me it was very itchy. The experience turned me off and I haven’t tried any others.
@@ct6929The same happened to me.
I have some Merino wool t shirts. So you think they would be comfortable to wear in the Amazon? It’s so hot there and the thought of wearing wool seems counterintuitive. lol I would love to get the leggings if you think they would work!
I do, because it's great for temperature regulation in the heat, and its quick-dry properties mean even humid conditions won't be problematic.
Hello, Do you know how strict Lufthansa is with carry-on & personal item bags? More specifically, it looks like the personal item is 4 inches? Is that correct? Most others are 6 or more. Trying to do carry-on only trip, but that might be a problem. Just trying to clarify. We have Air Canada from Toronto to Ireland but Lufthansa back.
I'd go with whatever the airline says on the site; that said I don't think I've seen Lufthansa making people put their personal item bags in sizers.
Question. Do you have a specific skirt brand of Merino Wool. I have bought most of my Merino Wool from Unbound but they don't have a skirt!
True - they have dresses but not skirts. I don't own any merino skirts, but you could try Wool& - shrsl.com/42o4q
Is merino tech clothes a good choice?
I got a Merino Tech t-shirt (and it came with a free pair of socks which are really nice) - and it was reasonably priced and very comfy! Fair warning: the shirt I got was thinner than I had anticipated. Keep an eye out for the GSM to ensure it's the thickness you need.
Are they okay for those with eczema? I heard they cause some itchiness.
I don't personally have eczema, so I can't say for sure.
Best wool detergent?
To be honest I don't have a fav. I actually just use "regular" detergent - eek!
I use Eucalan wool wash on my merino, it's got lanolin in it so it restores the balance in the fabric and keeps it looking new, moisture wicking and soft and subtle. Also has eucalyptus oil which helps keep moths away. Storage in completely sealed Ziploc bags isn't recommended, merino needs so air, like sure ziplock but wrap in tissue paper and leave a wee air hole unzipped. I don't store mine as I wear it all year long everywhere. Hope that helps. 😊
@@barbarahallowell2613 Great recommendation - thanks!
How durable is the fabric? My other brand has hold after several washes.
I have thoroughly abused mine with no signs of wear so far.
NORAAAAAA whats a good amount of money to have saved up for 1 year of full-time travel for a person with a frugal living??!!!
That's a great question, but also a very difficult one to answer, since it depends on a LOT of factors. Here is a breakdown I created to get you started: www.theprofessionalhobo.com/how-to-create-a-long-term-travel-budget-financially-sustainable-travel/
What is the best company to shop XXL merino clothing?
Wool& has some great options: shrsl.com/42o4t
are you still doing extended nomad traveling without a home these days or are you settled down in Toronto and travel with a home base?
Kind of both. I have a place in Toronto that I return to a few times throughout the year, but I also spend most of my time traveling.
Just bought Merino Wool but was unable to use your code. Used a pop up code instead.
Odd. NORA10 didn't work? I'll have to look into that. I hope you enjoy your new merino wool clothes!
Nice video, thanks to share it. Is it possible to wear it in the middle of summer with over 30 °C (in Africa)? If possible, how thin should the fabric be? Is 165 g/m² OK?
Thanks
Absolutely! I have worn merino in 45 degrees celsius!
@@NoraDunn I thank you. But what weight of merino t-shirt did you wear? Thanks again.
@@ExploringWorldRUclips I had a whole capsule wardrobe with me on that trip, with different weights.
If you have any pull, ask them why they don’t have a beige/tan/khaki color. So many colors, and nothing in this range, except 1 dress.
Great feedback! I'll see what I can do ;-)
thank s
No problem!
Sadly unbound doesn’t make plus size clothes😢
Yes, that has come to my attention. I'm alerting Unbound to this feedback. Thank you!
Very few do, unfortunately, and even those that do ( looking at you Wool&), they don't release everything in larger sizes.
So sad they don't sell plus size for larger women-the mens sweaters are not large enough in the chest size
Thanks for your feedback. I've passed this along to Unbound Merino.
I have bought Unbound. my issue is they are always out of the color and size that i want. 😒😒
Oh boo. They do manufacture in small batches to reduce wastage.