Merino Wool Travel Backpacking Shirt Gear Comparison Review. Is It Worth It? Icebreaker, Smartwool

Is it worth the price tag to invest in Merino wool gear for backpacking or traveling? Does it hold up to what you hear about it?

[@Querenciatv]

Nice Video! Thank you for uploading. Can't wait to see more content 😍

[@ModelInAVan]

Thanks for appreciating my content

[@orreng]

Love wool. Even here on the Texas coast...BUT....have veered away for just the reasons you stated. On the good side.....it does make you feel holy! Hehehe.....Good to see you young one!

[@ModelInAVan]

Yeah I have been going at wool a few years and now I'm realizing the hype wasn't worth it. Trying more nylon blends now and they seem to not smell much. Happy travels

[@kaustubhthapa5743]

I had a the same experience with Patagonia Capilene (65% wool and the rest polyester). After two months of use, I noticed a lot of pilling and beginning of hole formation. Despite their excellent properties, they are delicate. I purchased a Wool & Prince shirt - the durable herringbone version, the seams fell apart after a week - but they told it's a rare case and replaced the product. As you said, a good cotton shirt seems to last a lot longer than woollen ones.

[@ModelInAVan]

Yeah I have been seeing more and more holes in my other expensive clothes since I made this video. Hope I can find better gear to replace it. Good luck to u as well

[@oromiyaabiiyyakoo7431]

Nice thanks

[@Xman80888]

Don't those brands have lifetime warranties

[@Solo_H-l5t]

How many wears did you get before the holes? Also what was the climate. I have a trip to Peru. So I wanted to try buying merino wool shirts

[@ModelInAVan]

Honestly its not from overwearing. I have only worn a couple of these 30 times or something. Just from tiny bugs eating them i think has been the main problem. And its not as strong at all compared to other fabrics and gets damaged easily. Thanks for your comments

[@chrismason5179]

So, you really should describe how you are getting the holes. Are they from wear or from moth larvae, as some of them appear to be. If you are getting any holes from wool moth larvae then I have found that the best, and sometimes only, secure protection is to store your wool in ziplock bags during home storage

[@ModelInAVan]

It's from both to be honest. They are easy to just get holes all the time in my experience. I know a plastic bag would help, but it's really not realistic to traveling to carry that extra weight. Thanks for the comment

[@silaswild6233]

@@ModelInAVan Extra weight from a 'plastic bag?' That's taking it to the extreme

[@Solo_H-l5t]

How many times did you wear it to get the holes

[@ModelInAVan]

Not enough. It just gets eaten by bugs a lot I suppose as well as not being a durable fabric

[@oliverdaniel7648]

have you ever considered that your lifestyle might have to do something with the holes?

[@diytravel9512]

Get a blend of nylon. the con of 100% merino is not durable. get 80-90% instead!

[@ModelInAVan]

I picked up a couple nylon shirts this week. Time to test them out. Thanks for the tip

[@diytravel9512]

@@ModelInAVan which brands did you pick up?

[@ChaosRules57]

Naphthalene will put a stop to that.

[@Solo_H-l5t]

Whole whole.

[@ryeinn6971]

I wouldn’t want my wool hole exposed

[@ModelInAVan]

The exposure is real. These shirts have gotten even worse in the last year. Haha

[@Solo_H-l5t]

Holes. Holes.

[@ModelInAVan]

Soooo many. It's nuts

[@dummkompf]

moths