For my trip to Asia this past March, Icebreaker put a challenge on the table. Wear five pieces of our merino wool clothing for ten days without washing them, and tell us how they hold up (read: smell). I didn’t wear just these clothes for ten days straight, though they did get quite a lot of use. I wore them mixed in with my other traveling pants, shirts, underwear and socks. I just didn’t wash them for the ten days. For the five pieces, I brought the Bliss Wrap, Villa Dress, Athena V sweater, Tech T Lite shirt, Breeze skirt and a pair of underwear and socks.
Known to like challenges, I accepted.
Just to set things straight, I didn’t know about the benefits of merino wool until well, until I began wearing merino wool. I didn’t know that merino wool has natural anti-odor properties that help you stay smelling fresh longer than other clothing materials. I didn’t know how light, breathable, and itch-free it was. I thought of it more as something you wear as a cardigan, dressed up for a night on the town (which, incidentally, you can do). I had NO idea how useful these clothes could be in terms of adventure travel (read: sweaty, smelly, uncomfortable travel).
So what do I have to say in terms of the results of this Icebreaker challenge?
Well played, Icebreaker. Well played.
Here were some of my favorite pieces that were irreplaceable on my trip.
1. Tech Lite T-Shirt
This shirt held up incredibly well against numerous sweaty and stretch filled days. It’s now my favorite travel t-shirt. Here I’m pictured with a Dzao woman in Northern Vietnam. As you can see, I’m sweaty. That night I hung it up in my bathroom to let it air out. Surprisingly enough, the next morning it was dry and there was NO smell on it at all. Amazing. Also, I was worried that the t-shirt was going to stretch out after the ten days, but it had the same fit on the tenth day as it did on the second. The black color was helpful in matching with different skirts and pants, as well as hiding dirt marks. 🙂
2.Breeze Skirt
The skirt was fantastic to wear while touring the cities in Vietnam. Just like the Tech T Lite shirt, merino wool naturally has a certain amount of elasticity that manages to retain its’ shape. It didn’t matter that I hadn’t washed the skirt for ten days-it still fit the same way it did on day one of the challenge. The skirt stayed in my suitcase during trips to the temples and pagodas, as it was just a bit too short to wear in religious sites. The two pockets sewn into the front of the skirt were handy to put business cards in that I received while walking around. I love the fold over waistband style, it was mighty comfy I must say.
The BEST piece of clothing to pack in my opinion. Hands down. I brought this sweater specifically for two reasons. For one, merino wool is remarkably warm yet breathable. I didn’t want to bring a bulky layer that would take up lots of room in my suitcase. Secondly, the sweater is easy to dress up for an evening at a nice restaurant. Matched with a pair of earrings that I had bought from a handicraft store earlier that day and a pair of pants, I was ready for dinner. The thumb holes sewn into the cuffs are a nice touch. The sweater felt soft against my skin and looked (deceivingly) clean every evening I wore it. The one downside with this sweater was that it is dry clean only. This wasn’t a problem and I just brought it home dirty. Better than taking my risks with a dry cleaner in Saigon.
Well played Icebreaker. Score? Joslin- 0, Icebreaker- 1. Until the next challenge…
Photo of Breeze Skirt courtesy of Icebreaker. Other photos taken by Joslin Fritz.