WIRED Favorite Clothes The Unbound Merino company has kicked off its Black Friday sale with deals on our favorite merino wool clothing. This is Unbound Merino’s only sale of the year (although you can sign up for the mailing list, which has coupons and deals), and a great opportunity to round out your travel wardrobe with some great merino wool.
From casual everyday t-shirts to underwear, socks and great merino travel pants, Unbound has something for everyone. We’ve browsed the site and found a few of our favorite deals. Don’t forget to check out our guide to the Best Merino Wool T-Shirts, Best Merino Wool Clothing, and Best Base Layers for other merino wool options.
What’s so great about merino wool?
Merino wool is great because you are stealing a sheep’s ability to stay warm or cool depending on the temperatures they are in. This is a process often called thermoregulation. Merino sheep have finer, softer wool than most people think of when they think of wool. Sheep developed this soft coat to ensure comfort over a wide range of temperatures. The result is a fabric that is pleasant to wear on the skin. For the softest t-shirts, look for superfine or superfine fabrics (17µm or more) like Unbound’s t-shirts.
Wool is also durable. One sheep can produce 4 to 5 pounds of wool per year. While cotton has its place, as does casual synthetic clothing, merino wool is a remarkable fabric that forms the cornerstone of my wardrobe. I don’t think you can have too many merino pieces in your wardrobe, but it’s not cheap, which is why we’re offering these deals.
What’s so great about unbound merino?
I love Unbound’s T-shirts because they are 100% merino wool, with no synthetics. That means all the antibacterial, odor-resistant, moisture-wicking, and temperature-regulating benefits of merino wool…just work. I found that Unbound’s T-shirts in particular dry very quickly and are wrinkle resistant, two of the reasons I think they are the best merino T-shirts for traveling. The company’s pants also contain a very high percentage of wool (95%) and roll up well, making them very compact. Do you need special travel clothing? No, but Unbound’s merino wool is naturally odor resistant, which means you need fewer pieces in your bag. The company also offers a 30-day warranty. If you don’t like it, you can return it.
How to Care for Merino Wool
Most merino products come with care instructions. Unbound Merino T-shirts should be washed cold with like colors and then dried flat. Whatever you do, don’t bleach or tumble dry them. The latter is particularly destructive. I do this on every wool t-shirt I test and it makes me sad, but I know some of you won’t listen and will do it anyway, so I need to know what’s happening so I can warn you. Do not tumble dry. Just put it on a drying rack. It doesn’t take more than a day. Seriously, you just spent $80 (on sale!) on a t-shirt, take care of it. Properly cared for, high-quality merino clothing like Unbound’s is incredibly durable and will last for years. Throw it in the dryer and the pilling starts almost immediately.
Do I always dry them flat? No. When I travel, I usually hand wash them in the sink and then drape them over the shower curtain rod to dry, which doesn’t seem to have much of a negative impact. The problem with hanging wool to dry is that it stretches under the weight of the water. This is especially true with 100% merino products, like Unbound’s T-shirts.
I’ve never had a problem storing merino in my closet between clothes, but for long-term storage I recommend taking precautions against moths, which are known to eat holes in wool. I’ve lost merino clothing to moths. I make sure to wash and dry everything I store thoroughly, then seal it in a squeeze bag. Another option is to put your merino garment in a cotton bag or alternatively wrap it in cotton and then put it in a plastic bin. It is very important to ensure the garment is completely dry before using any of these storage methods, otherwise your wool will smell musty and mildewed. Other options include storing your garment in a cedar chest, which is a good natural moth deterrent, or using moth traps or lavender sachets, which will repel moths.
Unbound’s T-shirts were my introduction to the brand, and they’re still one of my favorite merino T-shirts. This t-shirt is incredibly soft, and because it’s made from 100% merino wool, it will stay odor-free for a very long time, as long as five or six days in my testing. It depends on the local temperature, what you’re doing, etc. I also like that the fit of Unbound’s merino crew neck t-shirt isn’t too technical, like many merino t-shirts. It’s just a classic, stylish tee that doesn’t make you look like an Alex Honnold wannabe. It’s also lightweight and folds up into a small roll, which is perfect if you’re looking to simplify with just one bag (really, is there any other way to travel?).
The last thing I love about them is how quickly they dry. In most climates you can wash it in the sink at night, wrap it in a towel, wring it out, lay it flat and it will be dry in the morning. Speaking of which, Unbound’s T-shirts need a little TLC. To help them last a long time, I recommend hand washing and line drying. Also note that while I love the merino crew neck, the v-neck is also on sale for $80 ($10 off).
Courtesy: Unbound Merino
Unbound
Relaxed Merino Travel Pants
The Unbound Merino Travel Pants are a lightweight and comfortable merino blend, with plenty of stretch and freedom of movement, thanks to the 5% elastane. These have a more formal feel, and you might even be able to go with them in the office, depending on your office and the scope of your boss’s definition of “business casual.” I’ve worn them to nice restaurants without thinking twice, and yet they don’t scream “I have money” when you get back to your hotel room at 2 a.m.
As you would expect from anything Unbound makes, these are incredibly small. You can carry two pairs for each pair of jeans. Again, for serious travelers looking to live with just one carry-on bag, this is huge. The only downside is that they are thin, not something you would want to wear alone in cold climates. If you’re like me and have to face winter, put a good base layer underneath and you’ll be fine. The slim fit pants are also on sale if that’s more your style.
Save more with a bundle
Courtesy: Unbound Merino
Unbound
Pack of travel t-shirts and pants
One of the best ways to save on Unbound Merino t-shirts and pants is to opt for t-shirt bundles and other combo packs. Right now, you can get the Travel Pants + T-Shirt Bundle for $270 ($48 off). This saves you an extra $10 compared to purchasing the t-shirt and pants on sale individually. There are plenty of other bundles, too, including the T-shirt 3-pack for $220 ($50 off), which is $20 less than buying three T-shirts on sale, and the Boxer Briefs Pack for $75 ($15 off).
Other good deals
Courtesy of Unbound
I know what you’re thinking: woolen underwear, isn’t that what 19th century lumberjacks wore? Probably. These loggers were intelligent. They may not have had cute, soft merino underwear like Unbound’s merino boxers, but at least they knew that wool underwear was warm without being warm, great at wicking away moisture, and capable of multiple uses without excessive odors. Women’s underwear is also on sale; editor Adrienne So I tried. The fabric is thick and even went through the dryer without buckling or twisting.
These Unbound boxers are made from 84% merino wool, 12% nylon and 4% elastane, for a soft, stretchy and comfortable fit. They measure 180 GSM (see our merino guide for exactly what GSM means), making them nice and light. The inseam here measures 5.5 inches and there is no tag, which is nice.
Courtesy: Unbound Merino
Unbound
Ultralight travel backpack
Unbound recently expanded beyond merino clothing to create this travel backpack. I haven’t had a chance to test it in depth yet, but I’ve been using it for a few weeks and so far I’m impressed. This is a very well thought out pack that strikes a good balance between the organization included and leaving enough space for you to do your own organization. I particularly like the pen holder and the tech pouch. I also love that when you don’t need it, it lies beautifully flat in another bag. It’s surprisingly comfortable for its size. At 15L it’s not a huge bag, it’s designed to complement your main luggage with just enough space for everything you need for the day.
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Photography: unrelated
Unbound
Long Sleeve Merino Wool Crewneck
I prefer short sleeve T-shirts, but if you want long sleeve T-shirts, this is the T-shirt for you. This is basically a short sleeve t-shirt from Unbound, just long sleeved. All the same descriptions apply here, and many of the same multipacks are available. You can grab a 2-pack of long-sleeve merino tees for $180 ($46 off).
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