There was a time when I wouldn’t have spent $85 on a plain black T-shirt, but I’ve since learned the perfect black T-shirt is worth it. Now I don’t leave home without packing my black Unbound Merino T-shirt.
This simple v-neck T-shirt is made of 100% Merino wool. It dries quickly, holds up in the wash and is one of the most versatile pieces of clothing in my closet—and my suitcase. I love that you can dress it up or down and take it from a scenic hike to an evening out in about five minutes if you have to.
Unbound Merino is made for travelers by travelers. The company’s founders are a group of friends who used to follow their favorite bands across the U.S., and products are made in Toronto using merino wool imported from Australia.
Merino wool fibers are naturally coated with lanolin, which wicks moisture away from your body and offers a shield against odors. It dries quickly, so you can wash it in your hotel sink in the evening and wake up to a clean dry shirt in the morning.
The company says you could wear its products for weeks without having to wash them. I chose not to test that claim, but I can confirm this T-shirt can hold up against even the steamiest, stickiest days in Southeast Asia without picking up a stink.
It also doesn’t wrinkle, never needs ironing and has maintained its shape better than any other T-shirt in my closet.
Wearing my Unbound Merino T-shirt at the pyramids in Giza 
Wearing my Unbound Merino T-shirt at the pyramids in Giza 
Wearing my Unbound Merino T-shirt at the Senso-Ji temple in Tokyo 
Wearing my Unbound Merino at the Genesis Scottish Open in Scotland 
Wearing my Unbound Merino underneath a thermal suit in the North Cape of Norway
Unlike those itchy Christmas sweaters, the superfine wool Unbound Merino uses is silky soft. It can be an insulating base layer in colder temperatures or keep you cool land comfortable in the Egyptian desert.
I got my first Unbound Merino T-shirt as conference swag a couple of years ago, and now I wonder how I lived without it for so long. This is a wardrobe basic that’s worth the investment, and I think I’m going to buy myself a new travel dress next.
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