When it comes to packing the right clothes for minimalist travelling, it can be hard to pack only a few items and the right items, that will last you a few weeks while on your trip. I have tried a number of brands of clothing to see if they can hold up to the challenge. MEC, Smartwool, Fjallraven and Icebreaker have been my top two brands that I go to for finding the right clothes to travel with. These brands offer clothing with the right material that can take you from wandering the streets of London to hiking the trails of Cinque Terre or Iceland.
Type of Fabric to Look for in Travel Wear
Look for fabrics that dry quickly, will not hold odour, wrinkle free and will hold its shape when hung to dry. In my experience, merino wool is the top fabric of choice but it can be pricey but well worth the investment. I have number of items that are a few years old and they still look brand new. If you are looking for a more affordable option to merino wool, I would suggest light cotton with spandex or lycra mixed in. Avoid heavy materials that will absorb water, it will take longer for your clothes to dry. There is a fabric on the market made out of bamboo which dries quick, won’t hold odour and is softer than merino wool. I haven’t sampled this type of fabric yet, but hope too on a future trip.
A few stores I tend to shop at for travel wear is at Icebreaker, MEC, Fjallraven, and Outdoor Research. MEC offers a wide range of clothing options at a great price. Icebreaker is a brand that only uses merino wool in their clothing lines, however their clothes tend to be expensive. All the clothing I have purchased from these retailers have been excellent and have had a long life in my closet and in my backpack.
Key Elements to Look for in Fabric
Quick Drying:
When travelling with just a carry-on, you will need to do laundry at some point. To save time on both washing and drying fronts, bring clothing that dries quickly. Fabric such as merino wool, will dry within the hour or so depending on the climate. So when washing your clothes in the sink at the hotel, you don’t have to leave clothes hanging up long to dry. As well, many of the quick drying fabrics are not to go into the dryer, so if you opt to do your clothes at the local laundry mat, it will save you some time and money.
Odour resistant:
There are very few fabrics that do not absorb odour. The only two that I am aware of is merino wool and bamboo. When travelling with the bare minimum, you will want to wear your clothes more than once before washing. Bringing the proper clothes that do not absorb odour will allow you to extend the life of your clothes between washes while on vacation.
Wrinkle-free fabric:
When packing your bag, the best way to save room is by rolling your clothes. This technic will also help minimize the amount of wrinkles you get as well on the clothes that are packed. To truly minimize wrinkles, look for clothing where the fabric won’t wrinkle. This will save you time not having to iron your clothes during your vacation. It also helps your clothes dry perfectly. No dryer, no iron, and clothes look freshly cleaned.
Quality fabric:
When you are washing your clothes in a sink, you will no doubt be wringing out the water and hanging them up. On pure cotton clothes and similar fabrics, this can cause the fabric to stretch, damaging your clothing item. Look for clothing that won’t stretch such as lycra, merino wool and bamboo. This will keep you clothes looking new, longer.
If you have any suggestions or questions about clothing that have been great for minimalist travelling, please share at threeblacksheeptravel@gmail.com