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In all of our research in trying to find clothes that are good for warm and cold weather, that don’t smell, and can compact well, we have found the best option for our travels are clothes made out of Merino Wool.
Merino Wool doesn’t hold body odor (or really any odors) in. We have tried and tested this with purchasing work out shirts for my husband. He has taken them on trips where he has no access to a washer. He will run and get those shirts so stinky and sweaty no one would touch them. He will rinse them under water, lay them out to dry and the smell is gone, seriously, gone. It’s amazing stuff!
Merino Wool insulates really well. Somehow it regulates your body temperature, so in the heat, you don’t get hot, and in the cold, you don’t get cold. It wicks the moisture away from your body and dries super quick. Knowing how to layer is they key, so in the cold days, we’ll have a base layer, mid layer, maybe a top layer, and a down jacket and this should give us plenty of insulation. Merino Wool is super light so it compacts really well. We have 6 suitcases, and I’ve been able to fit most of all of our clothes for the winter in 1. This will be perfect and give us plenty of room in each bag to bring a few more items we think we’ll need. So, now that it seems we’ve found just the right material, I’ve been spending hours scouring websites and clothing companies for clothes that are made out of Merino Wool. Amazon has been amazing, as I have found companies on there that don’t pop up on a google search. The first company we have tried is called Icebreaker. This company is great because they have clothes for men, women, and children. Most of their clothes from last season are all on sale, which helps, as I’ve found that clothes made out of Merino Wool are not cheap. The quality of clothes Icebreaker makes is outstanding, (which makes the priciness of their clothes a little easier to swallow) and the variety of clothes they provide for adults is excellent. That being said, I wish they provided more clothes for children (they have a great selection in base layer clothes and shirts, but that’s about it) and I also wish they sold clothes for bigger kids. Their sizes only go up to a kid’s size 14, so I’ve been having to play with putting my two older kiddos into adult sizes. I have found them to be cheapest on Amazon and Sierra Trading Post websites, but sometimes (especially now with their sales going on) you can order right off their website. And, if you sign up on their website you do get a 10% coupon, which is helpful. The second company I found was Smatwool. I will say that I love their socks. They have a huge sock selection for men, women, and children and many stores cary their brand, so they’re easily found. We bought a couple of shirts for my husband and it doesn’t seem like their quality is as high of standards as others. One shirt got a hole in it after one wear and my husband just isn’t very happy with how itchy the shirts are and he doesn’t like how the shirts fit compared to what other companies have come out with. As for other items they sell, I haven’t wanted to venture much further since the shirts were so disappointing. There is definitely room to improve on their shirts, and hopefully they will, and we will be happy to try them again. The third company we tried was Ibex. My only complaint for this company is that they do not carry any children’s clothing. Other than that, their quality is impeccable! We have bought workout shirts, shorts, pants, t-shirts, sweaters, and underwear from them and each time we put them on we are amazed at how soft and comfortable they are. Their prices are high, but if you sign up for their e-mails, you get a 10% off coupon and one every now and again as well. I have found them to be a little cheaper on Amazon, but they have a bigger selection on their website. The fourth company we found is called Woolly Clothing Company. This company is based out of Seattle, Washington and is very small, thus their selection is…small. At this point, they only carry men’s clothes…if they’re in stock. I was able to get underwear for my son (men’s size small) and he loves them! My husband was disappointed because he wanted to try those same Woolly underwear, but they didn’t have his size in stock. We also have a men’s small hoodie coming, so I’m looking forward to seeing how that feels and fits on my son. Anyways, my only complaint for this company is the lack of clothing they offer being in stock. Their prices are by far the best I’ve seen and I would love to try one of their T-shirts to see how they compare with the other brands I’ve reviewed. Another company we’ve ordered from is called Minus33. Now, I have only ordered men’s long underwear bottoms from them. They are more of a mid-weight long underwear, they are soft, seem comfortable, and perfect for what my son will need this winter. They do have a smaller selection compared to some of the other companies, but they do carry long underwear for kids (although it looks like it’s just one pink for girls and black for boys). Their prices seem reasonable compared to the other companies and they do sell some of their products on Amazon. I’m sure there are other companies that specialize in Merino Wool clothing, but I have yet to try them. So, now I’m going to move on to the very few companies I’ve found and bought children’s Merino Wool clothing. The first company I actually found on Amazon, and then I went to their website to find out more about them. They are a children’s clothing company based out of Canada named luvmother. They only go up to a size 8 in children, of which I was so bummed especially since I know my 10-year-old would have LOVED the feel of their clothes. This company sells basic t-shirts and sweat pants, long sleeved hoodie shirts, and skirts for young kiddos. By basic, I mean they’re not fancy. I pretty much got all the clothes we needed for my 5 and 7-year-olds from this company and am so happy we did. The clothes came quickly, wrapped in a cute brown paper with a bow and a nice hand-written note thanking me for my purchase. As I took out the clothes I was taken aback by how soft they were. My kids immediately put them on and wear them all the time now (and it’s summer!). I love these clothes and would definitely recommend them! Luvmother, I would only ask that you please expand your sizes up to a children’s size 16! My daughter and son would be all over your clothes! The second company I found was called Kid Winter. I found them on Amazon but I can’t seem to find a website that has just their storefront, so I just linked their Amazon storefront. I bought some jammies/long underwear for my 5-year-old. I’m very happy with the quality of these clothes as well. They are soft, wearable, multi-useable as jammies or base-layer clothes, and just feel good. Their prices are great too! Hopefully they’ll hold up like the more expensive brands. The third company I found is called Janus. This company is based out of Norway and has been making clothes out of Merino Wool since 1895–so they must know what they’re doing! They are the only company I found that sells clothes for teenage kiddos, so I was happy. I got a long-sleeved shirt for my son and a long-sleeved shirt for my daughter (this one is 85% Merino Wool and 15% silk). Both my kiddos love these. Their selection is not huge either, and (as far as I can tell) you can only order though Amazon, not directly through their website. The last company I found is called Urban Merino. This company is based out of the UK and has a fairly small selection of clothes, but they have a variety of colors in each style, which makes it a larger selection than other websites. They are a bit pricey, but again, that seems to be how it goes when you’re purchasing clothes made out of Merino Wool. With this company, you can sign up on their website and get a 15% off coupon, which I love :). –Update–We received the super cute dress from Urban Merino. My daughter thought it was a little itchy at first, but with a base layer underneath it and after a few wears, it should soften up and will be perfect to dress up or down in. Anyways, I hope this page is helpful in spreading the Merino Wool love. For clothes that last, don’t fade or pill or smell, try Merino Wool sold at the above companies. Ha! That’s my pitch :). |
