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Merino wool is common in high-end, performance athletic wear for a number of reasons: it regulates body temperature and wicks sweat from the skin like no other natural material; it’s moisture-repellent meaning you won’t feel damp … even when you are; it’s ultra-lightweight; unlike cotton, it maintains warmth even when wet; and it contains lanolin which has antibacterial properties. Plus, it’s one of the softest, finest materials known to man. If God has travel clothing, I assure you it’s crafted from Merino wool.
Enter Icebreaker. They’re a New Zealand company that’s been producing some of the world’s finest Merino wool clothing since 1995. So when they offered to send us a free sample of their Superfine 200 U Turn lightweight, long-sleeve, Merino wool travel shirt (say that five times fast), how could we say no?
In their own words, the U Turn is touted as a “sharp-looking, athletic t-shirt with a raglan sleeve for versatile style. Forward seams minimise pack rub, keeping you comfortable and unconstricted.” It’s sharp-looking for sure. And, though I’ve no idea what “pack rub” is, I’m fairly certain that I don’t want it.
Suffice it to say that, after a few weeks wearing this shirt on various cross-country plane rides, it’s become my go-to travel shirt. Frankly, it’s everything I need a travel shirt to be: lightweight, warm, wicks away sweat better than any synthetic I’ve ever owned. And, here’s the best part, it dries extremely quickly as well. A real plus for those times (read: every time) when you need to hand wash your dirty travel laundry in the sink and hang-dry overnight.
Icebreaker’s Superfine 200 collection is on sale now and believe me, it’s worth every penny.