I Tossed Out A Closet Full of Clothes, Keeping Only Unbound Merino: A Minimalist Traveler’s True Favorite Over The Past Six Years.

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I’m an independent blogger who has lived in the US for 12 years, and I’ve written countless articles about travel, minimalist living, quality menswear, and sustainable fashion. Over the past few years, I’ve thrown away almost all my fast-fashion T-shirts, sweaters, and hoodies, leaving only a small selection of truly “good” clothes in my wardrobe, and among them, Unbound Merino reigns supreme.

In this long post, I’m not going to use empty marketing rhetoric, but rather talk to you like an old friend about why I’m willing to haile Unbound Merino as my most unreservedly recommended clothing brand over the past five years, and why I’m willing to write such a long article about it. Yes, I didn’t take a single penny from them; this is purely something I wanted to write from the bottom of my heart.

I. My First Encounter with Unbound Merino (2019, Iceland)
In November 2019, I went on a solo road trip around Iceland. Back then, I still believed in the “fast fashion + windbreaker” hype, so I packed a 30L Osprey jacket, stuffed with seven Uniqlo Heattech shirts, five regular cotton T-shirts, three fleece jackets, and two down jackets… Then, on my first day in Reykjavik, I was battered by the fierce wind and cold rain, questioning my existence.

While drying my clothes in a café, I sat next to three young Australians. All three carried similarly sized bags, but only one of them was carrying a small plastic bag to dry—containing only three black T-shirts. Seeing my disheveled state, they laughed, handed me a coffee, and casually tossed me one of the T-shirts: “Try merino wool; it won’t smell even after seven days without washing.”

I was 100% skeptical, but I took it and put it on anyway. That Unbound Merino Simple Crew Neck (now they call it Classic Crew) became my only inner layer for the next ten days of my Iceland road trip. By the third day, I was too lazy to change. On the seventh day, I deliberately sniffed it—and it really, there was no smell at all. On the 10th day back in Reykjavik, I immediately threw all seven Heattech sweaters and cotton T-shirts into the trash at the hostel.

Back home, the first thing I did was order five Classic Crew sweaters, two long-sleeved shirts, and one Compact Travel Hoodie from the Unbound Merino website. That was at the end of 2019, and for the first time in my life, I spent $89 on a single garment—eight items in total!

Six years later, I’m still wearing those eight pieces.

II. Why is Merino Wool So “Exceptional”?

Many people who hear about Merino for the first time ask: Isn’t it just wool? What’s the difference between it and a regular sweater?

Here are a few of the most direct comparisons:

Antibacterial and Odor-Inhibiting Abilities: Regular cotton T-shirts: After wearing them for a day, you sweat a lot, and your armpits start to smell. Regular synthetic fiber (polyester quick-drying T-shirts): After wearing them for a day and a half, the smell is even stronger than cotton. 1. Unbound Merino Merino T-shirt: I tested it by wearing it continuously for 7 days (sweating, hiking, and flying every day), and there was still no noticeable body odor. The principle is that the surface of merino fibers has natural lanolin, which can break down odor molecules produced by bacteria.
Temperature and Humidity Regulation: In Iceland at -5 degrees Celsius, I wore only a merino T-shirt and a thin down jacket and wasn’t cold at all. In Thailand at 40 degrees Celsius, I wore only a merino short-sleeved shirt, and it felt dry against my skin. It keeps you warm when you’re cold and breathable when you’re hot. The principle is that wool fibers can absorb 35% of their own weight in moisture (while the surface remains dry), while simultaneously wicking moisture away through their microporous structure.
Anti-pilling and Anti-deformation: My clothes from 2019 have been washed almost 200 times and still haven’t pilled, the collar hasn’t deformed, and the cuffs haven’t loosened. This surpasses Lululemon, Icebreaker, and Smartwool in this aspect.
Weight and Volume: A 190g/m² thick long-sleeved Merino T-shirt, rolled up, is only the size of a fist and weighs less than 200 grams. When I travel for 10 days, I only need to bring two Unbound Merino T-shirts and one of their Compact Travel Hoodie as an inner layer, saving half the space in my suitcase.

III. What makes Unbound Merino different from other Merino brands?

There are actually quite a few Merino brands on the market: Icebreaker, Smartwool, Arc’teryx, Patagonia, Outlier, Wool & Prince… I’ve bought, worn, and compared almost all of them. Why did I ultimately choose Unbound Merino?

Extreme Value for Money: An Unbound Merino Classic Crew (short-sleeved) costs $89, a long-sleeved one costs $99, and a Hoodie costs $148. At the same time, Icebreaker’s short-sleeved shirts of the same weight cost $110-$130, Smartwool $100-$120, and Wool & Prince starting at $128. Unbound’s fabric is 17.5-micron ultrafine merino (as fine as Icebreaker’s flagship model), and the stitching details are just as good.
Minimalist Logo-Free Design: I hate clothes with big logos, like mobile billboards. Unbound Merino has no external logos, only a very thin red stitch on the cuff as its identifier, so understated it’s almost invisible, yet instantly recognizable as an “insider.”
Direct-to-Consumer Brand Philosophy: Unbound Merino was founded in 2016 by three young Canadians. From the beginning, they operated on a DTC (Direct-to-Consumer) model, cutting out all middlemen and investing in the best fabrics and the most solid workmanship. This is why they dare to write on their website, “We hope you only buy one piece and can wear it for a lifetime.” 4. Lifetime Warranty + 60-Day No-Questions-Asked Return Policy. I had a black long-sleeved shirt from 2020 that I accidentally tore a small hole in last year while washing it in a front-loading washing machine. I casually took a picture and sent it to customer service, and they immediately sent me a new one without hesitation—I didn’t even have to send the old one back. This isn’t marketing; it’s genuine.

IV. In-depth Review of Unbound Merino Items I’m Currently Wearing in My Wardrobe

Classic Crew Neck T-Shirt (Short Sleeve, 190g/m²) Rating: 10/10 This is the item I own the most (3 black, 2 white, 2 gray, 2 navy blue, 1 navy blue). It’s perfect for summer as outerwear, spring and autumn as a base layer, and winter as a close-fitting inner layer—it works in all seasons. The fit is slightly fitted but not tight, and the neckline never deforms.
Long Sleeve Crew (190g/m²) Rating: 10/10 The most versatile item for fall and winter. It can be worn as an inner layer under a dress shirt (more comfortable than any cotton shirt) or worn alone. I’ve worn the black one to a wedding, meeting investors, and taking a red-eye flight without any problems.
Compact Travel Hoodie (210g/m²) Rating: 10/10 This is my “outerwear alternative” when traveling. Weighing only 380 grams, it can withstand temperatures around 10 degrees Celsius. I use it as a blanket on the plane and as an outer layer after landing. The pockets can hold my passport, phone, and boarding pass. The downside is that it’s so popular that it often sells out.
Merino Wool Button-Up Shirt (150g/m²) Rating: 9.5/10 Suitable for occasions requiring a slightly more formal look (business casual, dates, meeting parents). 10 times more wrinkle-resistant than ordinary cotton and linen shirts; after a 10-hour flight, a simple shake is all it takes to smooth it out.
Merino Boxer Briefs (Underwear) Rating: 10/10 I threw away all my ExOfficio, Saxx, and other underwear the first day I wore them. After wearing them for three consecutive days, there was absolutely no smell. Crucially, they don’t feel constricting, roll up, or sag.

V. Real-world Usage Scenarios

Scenario 1: September 2024, 30 days in Europe, carrying only a 12L backpack. I brought:

 2 Unbound short-sleeved shirts

 1 Unbound long-sleeved shirt

 1 Compact Travel Hoodie

 1 pair of their Merino casual pants

 2 pairs of underwear, 2 pairs of socks. The total weight of my clothes was less than 1.5 kg. During those 30 days, I only hand-washed my clothes 3 times at Airbnb, and I wasn’t embarrassed by dirty or smelly clothes even once.

Scene 2: February 2025, Iceland Aurora Photography (7 days, -15℃) Inner layer: Unbound long-sleeved shirt; Mid-layer: Unbound Compact Travel Hoodie; Outer layer: Arc’teryx Beta AR jacket. I didn’t wear any fleece throughout the trip and was still incredibly warm. Even at -15℃ at night, I could stay warm for half an hour in just the hoodie after taking off the jacket.

VI. Purchase Recommendations for Different Groups

Minimalists/One-Bag Travelers: Buy without hesitation: 2 short-sleeved shirts + 1 long-sleeved shirt + 1 hoodie + 1 pair of pants. This combination can handle 80% of the world’s climates.
Urban Commuters: Black/dark gray/navy blue Classic Crew + their Oxford Shirt + Merino trousers. This allows for seamless transitions between the office, bar, and red-eye flights.
For fitness/outdoor enthusiasts: Their Performance Polo and the new Active T-Shirt series (slightly thicker at 230g/m², more durable) are suitable for running, hiking, and skiing.
For students on a budget: Start with a black short-sleeved Classic Crew shirt ($89), and you’ll immediately understand why it’s worth it.

VII. In Conclusion: Over the past five years, I’ve recommended countless products: Peak Design bags, Aer suitcases, Allbirds shoes, Evergoods backpacks… but none have truly changed my lifestyle like the Unbound Merino.

It transformed my life from “carrying a ton of clothes” to “just two T-shirts.” It changed my lifestyle from “changing clothes every day” to “washing clothes once a week.” It transformed my life from “always having overweight suitcases” to “traveling the world in just a carry-on bag.”

If you’re still hesitating, I just want to say one thing: Buy one, and you’ll never regret it. If you don’t believe me, they offer a 60-day no-questions-asked return policy; you can try it for seven days first, just like I did back then.

Official website link: Unbound Merino

If you’ve already placed an order, feel free to come back and tell me about your experience. I guarantee you’ll be just as addicted as I am.

May you wear less and live longer. — An American blogger completely brainwashed by merino wool.