I am writing this during a three-month carry-on only trip through Europe in summer. I have a travel capsule wardrobe made of only merino wool. Why on earth would I bring nothing but merino wool clothes to Europe in summer? Read on. 

Stay tuned for the secrets to staying comfortable, stylish, and prepared for any travel adventure that comes your way.

Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. This means if you click through and make a purchase I’ll get a commission. This in no way affects your price, and it helps me to keep this site running and new content coming your way. Thank you in advance for your support! 

At a glance: My Top Picks for Merino Wool Travel Clothing

UNISEX: Unbound Merino – Super-fine (aka super soft) wool, sustainable brand, nice balance between fashion & function.

WOMEN: Wool& – Huge selection of fashionable clothes, creative fabric compositions such that you wouldn’t even know it’s merino!

MEN: Wool & Prince – Men’s counterpart to Wool& (above). Great selection for an entire merino wool travel wardrobe that behaves like canvas, denim, linen, and more.

The Basics of Merino Wool

Merino wool is a natural fiber that comes from the Merino sheep, a breed known for its exceptionally soft and fine wool. This is one of the key characteristics that sets it apart from other types of wool and makes it incredibly soft to the touch, resulting in a comfortable and itch-free fabric that is gentle on the skin.

In addition to its softness, merino wool is highly breathable, which helps regulate body temperature and prevent overheating. Merino wool benefits also include natural moisture-wicking capabilities, drawing sweat away from the skin to keep you feeling dry and fresh in hot weather. It also has impressive odor-resistant and anti-bacterial properties due to the presence of lanolin, which gives merino wool garments the ability to stay fresh for longer periods without needing frequent washing.

Merino wool can also be considerably more lightweight and less bulky than other types of wool, making it easier to pack and suitable for both hot and cold weather (depending on the weight of the piece of clothing, which we’ll get into later). Its natural elasticity also makes it more durable and resistant to wrinkling.

Why Merino Wool Clothing is Perfect for Travel

As you can probably tell from the merino wool basics listed above, it’s great for home use and outdoor adventures, and also for travel. Here’s why merino wool for travel is the way to go: 

• When cotton gets wet (from sweat or rain or whatever), it can’t keep you warm – in fact, it lowers your core temperature. Merino wool still keeps you warm, even when wet. 
• Merino wool is anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, and thus odor-resistant. Antimicrobial shirts are like magic. You can wear your merino tee for an entire week (or longer) without smelling. This means you don’t need to wash it as much, which makes it easier to care for on the road.  
• It’s soft and delightful to the touch. 
• It’s moisture-wicking and breathable. 
• It regulates your body temperature. A relatively light weight merino wool shirt can still keep you warm, and also cool. (Magic). 
• It’s easy to care for. Hand wash or machine wash on cold, hang to dry overnight. Done. 
• It lasts forever. 
• It’s better for the environment. Some synthetic materials that have similar warmth and moisture-wicking properties also contribute to micro-plastic pollution. 

Merino Wool Terminology Explained

When you start shopping for merino wool clothing, you’ll see a lot of lingo. It’s important to understand this lingo so you can ensure you’re getting the right clothing for your needs. 

Two key terms are GSM and microns, which provide insights into the fabric’s characteristics and performance.

GSM

GSM, or grams per square meter, is a measurement of fabric weight and thickness. 

It tells you how warm and breathable a merino wool garment will be. A higher GSM value indicates a denser, warmer fabric, while a lower GSM corresponds to a lighter, more breathable material. When choosing merino wool clothing, consider the climate and activities you’ll be engaged in to select the appropriate GSM for your needs.

Microns

Microns refer to the diameter of individual wool fibers, with a lower micron count indicating finer and softer wool. Lower micron counts often come with a higher price tag due to the superior quality of the wool used.

Other terms

In addition to GSM and microns, other relevant merino wool terminology includes anti-pilling treatments and UPF ratings. 

Anti-pilling treatments help prevent fabric balls from forming on the fabric’s surface, which can be an annoying byproduct of many wool garments that makes them look older and more worn than they actually are. 

UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) ratings indicate the level of sun protection provided by the fabric, which can be important for outdoor activities. 

It’s also worth noting the concept of “mulesing-free,” which indicates that the wool used comes from sheep that have not undergone the controversial practice of mulesing; a treatment of the sheep that involves a painful procedure to remove problematic skin around the buttocks. 

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How to Choose the Best Merino Wool Clothing for Your Needs

Here are some key factors to consider when selecting merino wool clothing for travel:

Purpose 

Determine the purpose of your merino wool clothing. Are you looking for base layers to provide insulation and moisture-wicking properties? Or do you need versatile garments that can be worn in different weather conditions and for various activities? Identifying your specific needs will help you narrow down your options.

Climate and Weather

Consider the climate and weather conditions of your travel destinations. Merino wool offers excellent temperature regulation, keeping you warm in cold environments and cool in warmer climates. Choose the appropriate weight and thickness (measured in GSM and microns) based on the anticipated weather conditions.

Style and Design

Once upon a time, merino wool clothes were utilitarian and mostly used as base layers and activewear. Now it comes in a wide range of styles and designs. Determine the type of clothing you require, such as shirts, pants, socks, or accessories, based on your travel activities and personal preferences. Additionally, consider the fit, cut, and features that enhance comfort and functionality. 

You will see a huge variety of merino wool clothing companies profiled below. Each has their own style. Not into athletic clothing? Then don’t buy a bunch of it just because you think it’s practical for travel! Find a brand that suits your style – and perhaps also the style requirements of your trip and also your destination; for example, Europe generally demands an elevated sense of style. Check out my video about Europe packing tips and mistakes for more on this.

Durability and Quality

Not all merino clothing brands are equal. Look for reputable brands known for their craftsmanship and use of high-quality materials. Consider factors like the fabric’s density, stitching, and overall construction to ensure that your clothing will withstand the rigors of travel.

Fabric Composition

Not all merino clothing is 100% merino wool, and that’s okay. Incorporating other materials can change how the fabric behaves, which might be important. For example, a pair of leggings may need some nylon and spandex to help them retain their form and resist stretching out and pilling. By strategically including other natural fibers, merino wool clothing can behave like jersey, linen, terry, and even tweed and denim. 

Beware, however, of “merino” clothing that has very little actual merino wool in it. I once saw a shirt marketed as being merino, but when I looked at the composition, it only had 10% merino wool. Wool& is a company that has one of the best selections of fabric composition that I’ve ever seen; you can even shop their clothes by fabric.

Sourcing and Sustainability

If sustainability is important to you, research the brand’s sourcing practices. Some brands prioritize responsibly-sourced merino wool, ensuring the welfare of the sheep and minimizing environmental impact. Look for certifications or indications of sustainable and ethical production.

See also: My roundup of Eco-Friendly Travel Products (including clothes, cosmetics, and more).

Now that you have a clear understanding of the factors to consider when choosing the best merino wool clothing for your needs, let’s dive into a comparison of the top merino brands. 

Are you as much of a nerd for Travel Gear as I am? Then check out my collection of articles about a variety of items to make your next trip a breeze! 

Travel Gear articles

Do you like to see these things in action? Then check out my YouTube series featuring Travel Gear & Remote Work Tools to level up your travel game.

Top Merino Wool Clothing Brands for Travel

Here are the best merino wool clothing brands for travel – each has their own style, clothing properties, etc. Use this list to find the perfect fit for you! 

MERINO WOOL BRANDS FOR MEN & WOMEN 

Unbound Merino

Unbound Merino offers a range of clothing made from merino wool, including T-shirts, long-sleeved shirts, pants, shorts, dresses, jackets, socks, underwear, and accessories such as beanies and scarves. Their clothing is designed with a minimalist and classic style that is versatile and suitable for a variety of occasions.

While men currently have a slightly wider variety of options, they are massively developing their women’s line with tons of new releases, many of which I own.  

They source their merino wool from independent, mulesing-free farms that are Woolmark certified, ensuring high-quality wool that is ethically and sustainably produced. Their clothing is also made in factories that meet high ethical and environmental standards.

Their commitment to environmentally friendly practices extends beyond the sourcing of their wool. They use only natural, biodegradable materials in their clothing, making their products not only stylish and functional but also eco-friendly.

Of all the merino wool clothing I’ve tried, I find Unbound Merino clothing to be among the softest and most comfy, in part because they use super fine wool with a low micron count (the lower the microns, the finer the wool strands and the softer the clothes are). If you’re new to merino wool you might worry that it’s going to be itchy; Unbound Merino will challenge that notion.

I started off with their leggings – which surprisingly hold their form really well, and they’re super soft and comfy. They also have a hidden zipper pocket at the waistband, which is handy for travel. I also originally got their travel dress, which is super versatile, comfortable, and packable. Both of these are staples in my travel wardrobe.

Since the early days, I’ve expanded to own almost everything they have, and at times with some degree of skepticism. I mean, the V-neck t-shirt is a no-brainer; it’s super soft, flattering, and comes in a ton of colours. But then I thought the T-shirt dress and the lightweight travel pants wouldn’t look stylish or fitted enough; on the contrary they both fit and function very well and are incredibly versatile in a variety of situations.

I’m also in the process of vicariously testing out the men’s line; I bought my partner a travel capsule wardrobe of best-selling items; although he’s a hard sell when it comes to spending money on clothing, he’s learning that a few well-made pieces of long-wear clothing like merino wool will go much further and travel way better than many poorly made “fast-fashion” pieces.

Click here to shop at Unbound Merino and use NORA10 for 10% off!

WoolX

WoolX has a wide repertoire of merino wool clothing and accessories for women and men, with a focus on outdoor apparel but including styles that can take you everywhere from mountain hikes to riverside cafes.

It’s a small family-run business in New York, with a few value-propositions that include specially-designed merino wool clothes that can be machine washed and dried for easy care (though I still air-dry my merino wool clothes; clothes driers contribute to unnecessary wear & tear and an accidentally high heat setting could ruin your merino).

They source their wool from Woolmark-certified merino sheep in Australia, additionally ensuring that all their wool is certified non-mulesed. They also have a no strings attached 100% satisfaction guarantee and 100% No-Itch Guarantee! Free shipping (in the US) on returns and exchanges seal the deal for a hassle-free customer-centric experience.

I was particularly drawn to WoolX for some of their unique styles like the Charlotte Puff Sleeve Top (which I adore), cold weather pants (which are on my list), and an entire line of ridiculously soft can’t-believe-it’s-merino pyjamas (merino wool’s temperature-regulating properties make for an extra comfy night of sleep, which can be especially problematic for menopausal women and others who get night sweats). I also really like some of the colours on offer, including the heather-coloured Piper Pocket leggings, which are unique, warm, and very flattering (and have pockets!!).

Click here to shop at WoolX!

Aviator

Aviator offers comfortable and lightweight merino wool tops, including hoodies, polos, and tee-shirts. Aside from merino wool, they also make award-winning travel-friendly jeans. Customers have given Aviator’s products high ratings for comfort and suitability for travel.

The wool is sourced from New Zealand, where the sheep are raised in humane and sustainable conditions. Their products are designed with travel in mind, as they are lightweight, packable, and versatile (yep, even the jeans!) 

Aviator, proudly made in the USA, is committed to sustainability and ethical production practices, using eco-friendly materials and ensuring fair treatment and living wages for their workers.

I have everything in Aviator’s merino collection (at least, everything they offer for women). 

The T-shirt is pretty thick, which means it resists wrinkling and holds its form nicely (some merino shirts are a bit flimsy and can show bra straps). 

The First Class Merino Hoodie is a great zip-up hoodie that has a few nifty travel-friendly features like a hood that doubles as an eye mask and some mitten cuffs. 

The Red-Eye Hoodie is the lightest weight of the three shirts, and is super comfy. It also has the same travel-friendly features of the First Class hoodie. 

Click here to see my video review of these and other Aviator duds I have. 

Click here to shop Aviator’s merino tops and travel-friendly jeans!

Icebreaker 

Icebreaker offers a variety of clothing for men, women, and kids. The style and purpose of their clothing is geared towards outdoor activities and adventures, with features like body-mapping ventilation to keep cool and a blend of merino wool and plant-based TENCEL Lyocell for unbeatable freshness in warm weather. Icebreaker also offers 100% pure merino tees that are breathable, odor-resistant, and made for wearing everywhere.

Icebreaker is an OG in the merino clothing space. These days they also use other materials in some of their products, such as TENCEL Lyocell. They source their wool from a variety of places, including New Zealand, Australia, and South America. They have a program called “Baacode” that allows customers to trace the origins of their garment and learn about the ethical and environmental practices involved in its production. They are committed to responsible and sustainable practices, including using natural and biodegradable materials, reducing waste, and supporting ethical and fair labor practices.

I have had a few Icebreaker tops over the years, but honestly, none of them have made the cut in the long run for my personal sense of style and multi-purpose needs on the road. When I lived in the Rocky mountains they were great for mountain treks, but not so great if I wanted an elevated look. 

However a guy friend of mine who travels full-time with carry-on luggage only, wears almost exclusively Icebreaker t-shirts and boxers and socks. He likes that there is a good selection of different GSM weight options for your needs. He has the lightest GSM t-shirt for running, and heavier weights for other times of day and ambient temperatures. He says the “base layer” shirts are perfectly fine to wear as “normal” tee-shirts. 

Click here to shop Icebreaker’s products on Amazon!

 

Smartwool 

Smartwool offers a huge variety of clothing, including socks, base layers, mid layers, and accessories such as hats and gloves. Most of their clothing is designed to be used for outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, and running, as well as for everyday wear.

They use ZQ-certified Merino wool, which ensures the wool is ethically sourced and sustainable. They also use other sustainable materials such as recycled polyester and TENCEL Lyocell. Their clothing is not 100% merino wool, as they also use other materials such as nylon and elastane for stretch and durability. So, while merino wool is a significant part of their overall offering and branding, it’s important to check the fabric composites closely.

Smartwool has several environmentally friendly and responsible practices, including using sustainable materials, reducing waste, and supporting conservation efforts. They partner with organizations such as The Nature Conservancy and The Conservation Alliance to give back to the environment.

I bought their Sport Fleece Wind Tights, and was all excited to have a warm pair of merino leggings that I planned to travel with and use for cool/cold-weather hikes. They are indeed lightweight and very warm and comfy and super sturdy, but despite the Amazon listing saying they’re 100% wool, they are in fact, less than 50% merino. 

A male friend of mine has their everyday socks that he wears as dress socks and he LOVES them. Similarly, the listing says “100% wool”, but further down you learn it’s only 55% merino wool; granted for socks, that’s still pretty good. 

Shop the Smartwool store on Amazon here! 

Merino.tech 

Merino.tech offers a variety of clothing made from 100% organic New Zealand Merino wool. Their collection includes shirts, socks, underwear, base layers, and accessories like neck gaiters.

Founded in 2018 in Canada, Merino.tech is a collaboration between the company and some of the finest mills and factories worldwide. They use only environmentally friendly paints in their manufacturing process. 

I have their V-Neck Short Sleeve T-Shirt, which is super soft and incredibly comfortable. It’s also very lightweight and thin, which makes it great for travel packing, but if you order a light colour it will likely be a bit see-through. I have the purple (nice shade) and I use it for sleeping. 

I also own a pair of their merino socks, and I really like them; they’re comfy, hold their form, resist pilling, and are 85% merino wool. 

Shop the Merino.tech store on Amazon here!

Woolly 

Woolly offers a wide range of clothing items, including shirts, pants, leggings, socks, and underwear for both men and women. Their clothing is designed to be comfortable, durable, and stylish while providing the natural benefits of merino wool.

Woolly sources their wool from Australia, ensuring it is ethically and sustainably produced. They use merino wool as a foundation fabric and develop innovative products like NatureDry.

As a small independent business in Seattle, they support local causes and ensure responsible production as members of the Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI). They donate to organizations like Recovery Café and reinvest profits into organizations that inspire them, including Black Lives Matter Seattle, the NAACP, and the Northwest Avalanche Center.

Shop the Woolly clothing store on Amazon here!

Ridge Merino 

Ridge Merino is a small, family-owned business based in Mammoth Lakes, California. They offer an extensive collection of clothing for men, women, and children, featuring items such as base layers, hoodies, shirts, pants, underwear, socks, and an array of accessories like neck gaiters, beanies, and hats.

Shop Ridge Merino Clothes here! 

MERINO WOOL BRANDS FOR WOMEN ONLY

Wool&

Wool& specializes in women’s clothing, with an incredibly diverse and stylish collection that includes dresses, tops, bottoms, and accessories. They prioritize environmental responsibility, aiming to minimize their carbon footprint throughout their operations.

When it comes to crafting their garments, Wool& takes a thoughtful and innovative approach. They not only have pieces that are made from 100% merino wool, but they have created a series smart blends that are still mainly merino wool, but have a combination of other materials to give each fabric their own unique properties. They have merino wool blends that are like jersey, tweed, linen, and even denim. 

I have a huge number of Wool& clothing items; in fact, they primarily made my merino wool travel capsule wardrobe for my 3-month carry-on trip through Europe possible. You can check out this video (including the links in the description) to see the full packing list in action. Here are some of my fav pieces: 

• Sofia midi dress (since discontinued but just peruse their dresses and you’ll find something to your taste)
• Poppy tank top (check out their full selection of tanks here)
• Florence tunic – since replaced with Venice Shirt Tunic (perfect for layering over anything for a bit of warmth and looking stylish)
• Frame ponte culotte (which I worried I might not like as much and isn’t quite as soft, but has ended up being very useful as it’s a heavier weight of fabric and a bit more durable; excellent for travel days. Only con is that they are cropped which isn’t as versatile as full-length pants)

Get your Wool& women’s wardrobe here! 

MERINO WOOL BRANDS FOR MEN ONLY

Wool & Prince

Wool & Prince is the men’s counterpart to Wool& (above). They have a diverse selection of clothing items for men, including shirts, pants, socks, jackets, vests, underwear, and accessories. 

Similar to Wool&, they have created unique mainly-merino blends that result in super practical clothes that you wouldn’t even know are merino, including stretch canvas pants/shorts and denim jeans. 

Wool & Prince offer a satisfaction guarantee, ensuring that if an item does not meet expectations, they will make it right. They also support thoughtful consumption and simple living through their sponsorship of the Only What Matters online community. They value customer feedback and actively seeks input to improve their products and services.

Shop for Wool & Prince duds here! 

Libertad 

Libertad does one thing and one thing only: 100% merino wool travel shirts. Nice ones. 

The founder was inspired to create Libertad while on his own travels, noticing that most leisure travel clothes are utilitarian and comfortable but not stylish. Wanting the best of both worlds, Libertad was born. 

They offer a variety of shirt styles, including single pocket, no pocket, double chest pockets, and short sleeve options.

Get your 100% merino dress shirt at Libertad here!

 

Proper Cloth

Proper Cloth offers a wide range of custom-fit, made-to-order clothing for men. Their clothing collection includes shirts, pants, jackets, suits, and accessories.

They have developed fit prediction algorithms and 3D visualization tools that allow customers to create custom sizes and modify designs.

While Proper Cloth offers a diverse range of fabrics, merino wool is one of the materials they use. They source their merino wool from New Zealand and ensure that it meets ZQ certification standards, guaranteeing high animal welfare and a sustainable supply chain. 

I have a guy friend who is tall and quite slim, and he has a very long torso in particular. Getting properly fit clothing within the standard “small / medium / large” clothing structure is difficult for him; he is the one who told me about Proper Cloth, and while he doesn’t have any clothes from Proper Cloth yet, but he plans to order some. 

Get your custom merino clothes at Proper Cloth here! 

Tips for Caring for Your Merino Wool Clothing

Merino wool care is important to maintain its performance and extend its lifespan. Merino clothes aren’t typically cheap, so you want to make sure they’ll last. By following these tips, you can ensure they’ll stay in excellent condition:

Washing: Hand-wash or machine-wash using a gentle cycle with cold water. Use a mild, wool-specific detergent. Avoid using bleach or fabric softeners, as they can damage the natural fibers of the wool.

Drying: After washing, gently squeeze out excess water from your merino wool garments. Avoid wringing or twisting the fabric, as this can lead to stretching or distortion. Lay the clothing flat on a clean towel or a drying rack to air dry. Avoid direct sunlight or heat sources, as they can cause shrinkage or damage.

Stain Removal: Treat stains as soon as possible. Blot the stained area with a clean cloth using cold water and a mild detergent. Avoid rubbing vigorously, as it can push the stain deeper into the fibers. 

Here are common mistakes to avoid:

Avoid using hot water: Hot water can cause merino wool to shrink or lose its shape. Stick to cold water for washing and rinsing.

Don’t over-wash: Merino wool has natural antibacterial properties that help resist odor. Avoid washing your garments frequently, instead air them out between uses to refresh them. Yes – it actually works! There are people who have done 100-day merino wool challenges; wearing the same shirt for 100 days without washing! While I wouldn’t go that far, I’ve worn my merino clothes for way longer than other clothes and they almost never smell. 

Skip the dryer: High heat from a dryer can shrink or damage merino wool. Always air dry your clothing to maintain its shape and integrity. Don’t worry – it dries very quickly. 

Avoid abrasive materials: When washing or drying your merino wool clothing, avoid using rough surfaces or materials that can cause friction or pilling. 

Choose the Best Merino Wool Clothing for Your Next Adventure

Merino clothes are adaptable, comfortable, low maintenance, long lasting, multi-purpose, durable, breathable, and even biodegradable. 

In order to choose the best clothing items for your next trip, remember to factor in the purpose, climate, and weather conditions of your destination, as well as your personal style preferences.

With the right merino wool pieces in your wardrobe, you can confidently face any adventure, knowing that you’re well-equipped with the exceptional benefits of this remarkable natural fiber.

See also: 

My Travel Capsule Wardrobe: Best Travel Clothes for Women

Best Travel Clothes for Men (+ 5 Items you NEED From Western Rise)

Eco-Friendly Travel Products and Clothes 

This post Merino Wool Clothing for Travel: A Guide to Choosing the Best Brands appeared first on The Professional Hobo. Please click through to read it in full!

In my personal and professional life, I’ve taken environmental responsibility to heart, and it was inspired by my world travels. I’ll never forget that river cruise I did in Hoi An where, once outside of the harbour it looked like the entire place was built on plastic waste. Or the road in Panama lined with garbage – bags of it – simply thrown out the window as people drove along. Or the mall in Chiang Mai where the garbage cans were literally overflowing with plastic bubble tea cups by lunchtime. Seeing these things, I promised myself I would not further contribute to the problem.

In this article, I will introduce you to some unconventional eco-friendly travel products that go beyond the norm; things you can use at home and abroad to reduce your footprint, while supporting companies that go the extra mile in terms of the good they’re doing the planet. I’ll also show you the filter through which I process all my buying decisions – including for everyday items. 

See also:
18 Eco Travel Companies and Booking Tools to Use in 2023
Merino Wool Clothing for Travel: A Guide to Choosing the Best Brands
My Zero Waste Kit for Travel (and Home) 
Is the Digital Nomad Lifestyle Environmentally Sustainable?

Disclosure: I have included affiliate links to some of the products in this post. This means if you click through and end up making a purchase I will get a small commission. Thank you in advance for supporting The Professional Hobo. 

Eco-Friendly Products You Must Pack with You

Traveling can be a time when you generate a lot of trash and where your eco-friendly best of intentions take a hit. Think long flights, ready-to-eat meals, plastic bottles, travel-size shampoos, and the like. 

But traveling doesn’t have to be waste and plastic-intensive. Below we’ll explore some everyday travel essentials that are a better choice for the planet and its creatures, and that you may not have necessarily considered.

When education and infrastructure are lacking, people don’t know better, until it’s an evident problem, as it now is. And as travelers, it’s our responsibility to minimize our impact and not contribute further to existing problems. 

Switching from plastic cutlery to bamboo cutlery and reusable straws is making an impact already. It may seem small but purchasing a reusable water bottle for when you travel and avoiding buying bottled water can make a big difference. As well as getting a reusable razor and bringing reusable bags when you go shopping.

These things may seem minor in the grander scheme of things, , but given the state of the environment right now, these positive habits  can save waste and maintain the beauty of the place we’re visiting.

Eco-Friendly Products for Travelers

Beyond the ecological dilemma of whether or not to travel (which is beyond the scope of this article), there are concrete choices you can make that will significantly enhance your eco-score. The first one is to look inside your home.

When thinking about going abroad, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with all the options, products, and in-case-of items. And for many people, the knee-jerk reaction is often to buy new (specially tailored) products to prepare for their trip. 

Buying new products isn’t the problem as such, especially if you are certain that you don’t own an acceptable alternative. But buying mindlessly something you don’t necessarily need is not the best eco-friendly practice. 

The smarter option to make your travel habits more earth-friendly is to use what you already have and use it for as long as you can. In the same logic, borrowing and buying second-hand are great habits too.

The bottom line is to become more conscious about your consumption needs and how you can help the environment by lessening your generation of (unnecessary) waste. 

Remember: one of the fundamental principles of going green is your approach regarding waste: 

• Refuse what you don’t need (and thus, avoid buying new if possible), 
• Reduce your consumption/quantities (pack light, with versatile items),  
• Reuse as much as possible (for example, by borrowing from friends).
  
  

Earth Loving Eco-Friendly Products For You

One of the easiest ways to help make the environment better is to start living a more environmentally friendly way of life by switching  from unsustainable items to sustainable ones. If you travel  often, it’s time to start using  some reusable products.

Here are some eco-friendly travel products you may  not have considered:

PAKA: Sustainable Traceable Alpaca Clothing from Peru

There is A LOT to love about PAKA and their use of traceable alpaca. So much, that I need to use bullet points: 

• PAKA’s clothing is sourced from free-roaming alpacas in Peru. And because they’re native to the land and only eat top grasses, they are fully sustainable. 
• One alpaca shearing makes four sweaters (by contrast, four cashmere goat shearings make one sweater).
• They use a special technique for shearing alpacas that minimizes time and stress to the animals. 
• They work through a Peruvian NGO to train and employ single mothers coming from domestic violence situations. Each sweater is signed by the woman who made it. 
• Similar to merino wool, alpaca wool is thermo-regulating, odour-resistant, moisture-wicking, durable. It’s also 3x lighter than sheep’s wool and as soft as cashmere. 
• PAKA is a Certified B-Corp.

Believe it or not, that’s not all. I dare you to visit their site and NOT be inspired by their Story and Impact pages. 

I started with their classic Hoodie, which is the piece that kicked off the whole company and the PAKA initiative. It’s incredibly soft and comfy, surprisingly lightweight, flattering, and very warm. If you use a compression packing cube, you’ll get the best of all worlds; a comfy cozy sweater that doesn’t take up too much space or weight in your luggage. 

I also have their ankle socks which are surprisingly technically sound, with triple-sole cushioning, a heel tab to protect against blisters, and a tightened compression arch. 

Since getting these initial pieces in 2023, I got a few more – specifically the lightweight puffer (with a better warmth-to-weight ratio than down, though it does pack down a bit larger than a nano-puff….apparently in winter 2025 they’ll release an even more packable version so stay tuned!), the Sol Hoodie, and the Ultralight COOLPLUS Crew – both of which are made for summer/warm weather (which one wouldn’t think alpaca wool could handle, but here we are). These three pieces are some of the most comfortable and flattering things I own.

It gets even better: because alpaca is naturally odour-resistant, it needn’t be washed as much, which means it will last longer.

Get your alpaca clothes at PAKA today, and feel good about your contribution to the environment, the people of Peru, and of course, your travel wardrobe. 

Low Waste Makeup

Conventional makeup products usually have plastic packaging and casings that are either tough to recycle or not recyclable at all. Not to mention the number of ingredients that have questionable origins and are not necessarily healthy for your body and skin. 

Eco-friendly makeup is slowly becoming more accessible, as a growing number of brands are taking responsibility for their products; making packaging more sustainable, their products cleaner, and more. 

When looking for eco-friendly makeup products, consider three things:

• What it’s made of, 
• How it’s made,
• How it gets to you. 

The most eco-friendly makeup products are those with clean ingredients, are sustainably sourced, and are ethically made. Look for brands using reusable containers such as glass jars, and/or come in easily recyclable or compostable cartons and containers. 

Shipping-wise, opt for brands that have a sustainable and earth-friendly policy in place; for example, by compensating and offsetting their carbon footprint, or by sourcing/distributing as locally as possible.

Look for products that are naturally derived or plant-based. Avoid buying items that use nonrenewable energy sources such as petroleum. Another ingredient to avoid is palm oil, the production of which is causing massive environmental issues from deforestation and dwindling animal habitats to the displacement of indigenous communities. 

Zero waste champion River Organics offers a wide range of clean, trustworthy makeup products. Use coupon code PROFESSIONALHOBO for 15% off! 

Shampoo and Conditioner Bars

Liquid shampoos and conditioners usually come packaged in plastic bottles that are not easily recycled and thus often end up polluting our soils and oceans. When you’re traveling, you’re likely to buy travel-sized versions of everything, especially considering the carry-on restrictions on liquids. 

A great workaround is opting for shampoo and conditioner bars. You can cut up a bar and take just what you need for your trip (a great tip for carry-on and one bag travel). There are no packaging or liquid restrictions to worry about. 

And if you’re balking at the price, don’t: they last way longer! I’ve been a fan of LUSH’s shampoo bars for years (they’ve been a consistent staple in my packing list), and one bar lasts me (and my long hair) a minimum of six months. 

Whatever bar-looking product you buy in bulk or online, make sure it lists ALL the ingredients. For example, vegans should avoid beeswax and other animal-derived components. Similarly, soap and shampoo (whether liquid or bar) mentioning ‘fragrance’ in the list is a typical way to ‘hide’ questionable ingredients.

Reusable Cotton Swabs and Rounds

Cotton rounds and swabs are useful for hygienic purposes and for removing makeup. Keeping a couple of cotton rounds handy when traveling always has its benefits. However, these products are wasteful given their single-use nature. The plastic part of conventional cotton swabs in particular is difficult to work around and recycle properly. 

A great eco-alternative to move away from these single-use items are Last Object’s washable products. They designed reusable cotton swabs made of silicone that you can reuse up to 1000 times! I have one, and it works great and also saves space! The Danish brand also created reusable cotton rounds and tissues. 

All in all, Last Object’s brilliant ideas are an easy swap for you to make if you want to decrease waste (and its harmful consequences) at home, and also when traveling.

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Pacsafe Recycled Backpacks, Luggage, Purses, and More

I’ve been a Pacsafe girl for years now (I bought my first Pacsafe daypack in 2010), because of their thoughtfully designed bags with anti-theft features and more. If I didn’t already have enough reasons to love their stuff, they’re now leading the way making eco-friendly bags. 

Browse through their collections, and you’ll see coloured recycling symbols next to increasing numbers of their products. This means those bags are being made with ECONYL material, which is made from recycled fishing nets and other plastic waste. 

Pacsafe is on a mission to reduce ocean plastic, and in addition to all their new bags being made from recycled plastic, they are converting their existing collection too. In 2020, 35% of all their bags were made from recycled material, and in 2021 they increased that to 75% of the entire Pacsafe collection. 

They’ve also switched out their packaging and tags to recycled cards and they’ve changed up their shipping materials. They’re close to achieving their goal to eliminate all virgin plastic from their entire supply chain. 

I have had the pleasure of testing out a variety of their new releases over the years. Everything is incredibly well-built to last, has thoughtful features for usability, and is stylish enough for everyday use without standing out so much that you become a target for theft.

(2026 UPDATE): For over 12 years I wouldn’t travel without the Pacsafe GO Anti-Theft Tech Crossbody – which is my passport/valuables carry case on travel days and my hands-free out-on-the-town-with-bare-essentials bag at my destination).

Pacsafe now carries a massive number of slings and crossbody bags of various sizes, and I’m currently testing one that I think will replace the above bag as my go-to because it is just a bit larger and more versatile while remaining slim and low-profile: the Pacsafe W Anti-Theft Micro Sling.

Vivaia Sustainable Washable Shoes

I have a new obsession. It’s with a company that makes stylish, sustainable shoes for women. We’re talking made-from-plastic-bottles, machine washable, lightweight, anti-odour, comfortable, flexible, suitable for wide feet….not to mention they look AMAZING. 

I bought my first pair of Vivaia shoes – the Vienna pointed toe V-cut flats. I traveled for seven solid months with them, through varying climates and scenarios. Every single time (every single time!) I wore them I got at least one compliment. 
(2026 update: 5 years, a dozen or so countries, and hundreds of kms later, they’re still holding up.)

I can wear them absolutely all day in total comfort. The break-in period was painless and took one day (which for me is unheard of), and I’m really not exaggerating when I say they’re among the most comfortable shoes I own. 

Bonus: they look incredible. They level up every outfit I have. And as long as comfort isn’t being compromised, then I say why not look a little more well-dressed? 

Vivaia took notice when I sang their praises in a Facebook post and after that we started working together. They asked me if I’d like to try another pair of their shoes, and I said “yes please – I’ll take three pairs”. 

It was a gutsy move, to be sure. But I wanted to try a few different styles of shoes to see if it’s possible to wear exclusively Vivaia shoes (with just one exception – and that’s for my Xero barefoot shoes that I use for hiking and working out). 

So, I got a pair of loafers for cooler weather, these cute-as-a-button mules for an easy slip-on upscale alternative to sandals, and I got a pair of their new Aria 5 style (pointed toe shoes designed to accommodate wider feet). Now that I have four pairs, I won’t travel with them all on every trip; depending on where I’m going and what I’m doing, two pairs should do. 

They also have sneakers (and viral sneakerinas!), boots, and more.

Learn more about Vivaia’s sustainable practices here.

Aviator 100% Merino Wool Shirts and Hoodies

After reading that certain kinds of polyester may be responsible for the majority of micro-plastic pollution in the Arctic (it comes out when you wash it), I learned the importance of choosing eco-friendly fabrics. 

Aviator is known for their jeans, and many claim they make the most travel-friendly jeans out there. But Aviator doesn’t just make jeans; they also make 100% merino wool tops.  They have t-shirts and travel hoodies for men and women, and a snappy-looking polo for men as well. 

Here are a few reasons why merino wool is  my #1 favorite material for travel clothing: 

• Antimicrobial (ie: anti-stink; you don’t have to wash it as often)
• Moisture-wicking
• Temperature-regulating 
• Wrinkle-resistant
• Lightweight and packable
• Breathable
• Comfortable
• Fast-drying 
• Naturally degrades when disposed of

Aviator’s Travel Hoodie goes the extra mile (travel pun intended) with the following features: 

• Two exterior zipper-secure pockets
• Multifunctional cuff can be worn standard, as a fingerless glove, or as a mitten
• Multifunctional hood can be worn standard or as a sleep mask

Encircled: Women’s Sustainable Clothing Champion

First off, what makes Encircled travel-friendly? Many of their products can be worn multiple ways, which means one piece of clothing can be dressed up, down, and all around. Their first ever product was the Chrysalis Cardi, which can be worn more than 8 ways! 

I’ve been a friend of Encircled since their early days almost 10 years ago. I started off with their signature Chrysalis Cardi, then got their Evolve Top, then their Flipside Leggings, and finally the Revolve Dress. Since then, they’ve changed and expanded their lineup a lot, but one thing remains unchanged: their commitment to sustainability. Here are some highlights: 

• They’re a Certified B Corp, which means they’re legally required to consider the impact of every decision on their workers, suppliers, community, environment, and customers. 
• They’re Oeko-Tex Standard 100® Certified, which means the majority of all threads, buttons, and accessories have been tested for harmful substances. 
• Their sewing studios save all scrap fabric and upcycle it into accessories. 
• Their web hosting provider is wind-powered. 
• Their studio/warehouse uses eco-friendly paper and cleaning products, and single-use plastic water bottles are banned. 
• Packaging is 100% recyclable. 

Here’s what Encircled makes their clothes from: 

• Modal® – One of the softest fabrics in the world, made from sustainable beech wood pulp
• Tencel^TM Lyocell – Made from sustainably-sourced wood pulp, and the yarn is created through a closed-loop process (ie: no water/chemicals/byproducts are released back into the environment)
• Rayon from Bamboo – Grown without pesticides, naturally regenerates, and is naturally biodegradable
• Organic Cotton – Grown without pesticides or GMOs
• Linen – Made from the resilient flax plant, and is biodegradable

So, feel good about your buying decisions, and check out the extensive sustainable clothing collection at Encircled. 

Peak Design: Recycled Durable Travel Bags and Camera Bags

Peak Design made a name for itself by designing ingenious bags and gear for photographers. A number of years ago they crossed over into travel bags and luggage, and between their clever design features, durability, use of recycled materials and sustainable/responsible practices, they’re leaders in the space. 

A few years ago I tested out their 45L Carry-On Travel Backpack; you can read my review of it here. Ultimately my boyfriend at the time loved it so much, he took off with it when we broke up!

Now, I have their Everyday Totepack, which I use as my personal item / daypack on longer trips to go along with my (Pacsafe) rolling carry-on.

In addition to making their bags with 100% recycled materials, here’s why Peak Design is a company I can get behind:

• They’re a Certified B Corp,
• A member of 1% for the planet,
• Bluesign Certified,
• A member of multiple carbon offset and climate action organizations, 
• They Cofounded a Climate Neutral non-profit,
• They have Factory codes of conduct for fair wages, with official standards for worker treatment, pay, safety, and conditions,
• They’re Fair trade certified, 
• They use recycled materials,
• And they specifically develop durable products with longer life-cycles

Check out what Peak Design has on offer here.

WAMA Hemp Underwear

Hemp is another one of those miracle fabrics. It’s like cotton, except way better. Here’s why: 

• Naturally anti-bacterial with anti-odor properties
• Comfy, breathable, and gets softer with every wash
• Organic, sustainably farmed
• Uses 3% of the water conventional cotton uses
• Farming hemp uses 18% less energy than conventional cotton

So why not trade in your tattered tighty-whities for WAMA’s hemp underwear? They have a variety of styles for both men and women. WAMA sent me a selection of undies and a bra, and they’re great. They absolutely do get softer with each wash, and even after working out in them, they remain totally stink-free. 

Here are a few more reasons to choose WAMA: 

• They are a Green America Certified Business, meaning they show leadership in the green business field and are committed to positive social and environmental change.
• All their packaging and shipping materials are made from sustainably-sourced recycled materials, and are reusable and recyclable, and in some cases naturally biodegradable too.  

Check out Wama Underwear here. 

Eco-Friendly Sunglasses

Sunglasses are a traveling must to protect your eyes, especially in tropical or high-altitude destinations. 

But did you know that you can take your sunglasses game up a notch by buying sustainable and eco-friendly ones? While traditional sunglasses are often made of plastic, many brands are now coming out with eco-friendly options such as plant-based acetate or bamboo. 

Thus, look for sunglasses that use bamboo, recycled, or plant-based materials. Those are usually the ones that will leave the least amount of environmental footprint. Be on the lookout for brands that openly share information on their supply chain and manufacturing practices.

Reef Safe and Eco-Friendly Sunscreen

Speaking of sun protection, conventional sunscreen has many issues. For one, lots of sunscreens like the one at your local drugstore are not reef-safe. Concretely, this means that they contain ingredients that harm precious coral reefs and marine life. 

In case of doubts when scrutinizing a label, have a look at the Haereticus Environmental Laboratory (HEL); their certification guarantees the absence of harmful environmental pollutants. Some HEL-certified sunscreens include Stream2Sea and Sunblocz. 

If you are located in Europe, Suntribe’s sunscreens are certified coral safe, free of synthetic chemicals, and contain a high proportion of organic ingredients.

Lastly, as mentioned earlier in the makeup section, the extra points are attributed to sunscreen products with reusable, recyclable, or even compostable packaging. Sunscreen brands that use recycled plastic for their packaging are also better alternatives.

Soap Saver Bags

Just like the liquid shampoo, liquid soap isn’t particularly eco-friendly, and it doesn’t pack gracefully especially if you’re traveling long-term and/or with carry-on luggage. 

But what happens when you need to shower and pack right away and your soap bar is still wet? Even if you put it into a (large and unwieldy) soap case or plastic bag, it still comes out slimy at your destination if not given a chance to air dry. 

Enter: The FlatPak Soap Bar Case. Put your wet soap into this case and it (magically??) dries on its own. 

Things to Keep in Mind Before You Purchase an Eco-Friendly Product:

• Quality: Is the product high quality? If it doesn’t last you a long time, then it defeats the purpose if it ends up in a landfill. .
• Origin: Is the product sourced and/or made locally? Will you be advocating for a small business within your country and steer clear from the negative ramifications of having to import goods?
• Ingredients: Check if they carry damaging ingredients like Sodium Laureth Sulfate or Parabens? If you want to purchase sunscreens – are they reef-friendly?
• Packaging: Are they using too much plastic to ship out these products? Will you be able to reuse or make use of the remaining packaging items after opening the product?

Other things to consider are eco-friendly phone cases, and lip balms with  paper packaging that can be reused as compost for plants. People are catching on and we still have a long way to go but every little bit helps create positive changes for the environment. 

Little changes in your travel (and daily) routine can add up to more conscious and earth-friendly adjustments on a larger scale. Bonus: you can save a lot of money if you’re creative, borrow, and reuse what you already have.

I like to vote with my dollars, so when I do need to buy something, I do my very best to buy from trustworthy brands that are putting ethical and sustainable standards first on their charts.

This post Eco-Friendly Products That Will Help the Environment appeared first on The Professional Hobo. Please click through to read it in full!

In this article I’ll describe exactly what he owns, and what he likes (and doesn’t like) about each, and in turn why I think Western Rise makes some of the best travel clothes for men.

2026 UPDATE: this article was written a few years ago. Western Rise has gone through various challenges and changes, and although I’ve stuck with them through these changes, I can no longer personally attest to the quality of what they’re producing. It might be better….it might not.

Some of the items I discuss in this article are no longer on the website. I can’t get answers from the company as to whether they’re restocking/redesigning or have discontinued them entirely. In short…it’s not going well.

My advice? Read the article to learn what qualities to look for in the best travel clothes for men. Then apply the criteria to your own search or fav clothing retailers.

I also fully endorse Unbound Merino for their full lineup of men’s clothing (and women’s clothing too). My partner and I both traveled the better part of a year with travel capsule wardrobes made up almost exclusively of Unbound Merino clothes. They passed every test we gave them. Check out Unbound Merino here, and use NORA10 for 10% off!

See also: Merino Wool Clothing for Travel: A Guide to Choosing the Best Brands 

Don't be me. 

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I wasted a fortune.

Instead, use this FREE travel gear and packing list cheat sheet.

Learn from my 2 decades of career travel, and kick off your trip with the best clothes, toiletries, luggage, remote work gear, and more. 

INCLUDED: Special discount codes up to 25% off! 

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About Western Rise Men’s Travel Clothes

Western Rise is a men’s outdoor/travel clothing company based in Colorado. Their designs are very intentional with a stylish edge that can seamlessly take men from the office to the mountains in one fell swoop. 

They make outdoor gear that masquerades as smart casual clothing; rugged enough for the trail, and snappy enough for the office. 

Or maybe, it’s the other way around. 

Either way, when it comes to men’s travel wear, the key factor here is the intersection of performance and design, which results in multi-functional clothing that can be worn in multiple scenarios. And if you’re traveling light, this isn’t a nice-to-have; it’s a downright necessity. 

Creating a Capsule Wardrobe for Men: What Makes the Best Men’s Traveling Clothes

Remember when I wrote about the best travel capsule wardrobe for women? Well, fellas: now it’s your turn. Here’s what makes the best men’s traveling clothes, and how you can design the most efficient capsule wardrobe for men. 

All of the clothes reviewed in this article fit the following criteria. 

• Quick Dry – The best travel clothes for men will air dry, overnight. Period. Quick dry shirts and pants are essential. 
• Antimicrobial / Antibacterial – The more wears you can get before washing, the less travel clothing you need to bring. Antimicrobial and antibacterial properties keep the stink away. 
• Wrinkle-Free – No matter how meticulously you fold, roll, or cram your clothes into your luggage, they’re going to come out creased if the material isn’t wrinkle-free. Even the best packing accessories won’t solve this problem. 
• Same Family of Colours – Ideally everything you pack matches. This creates more wardrobe possibilities within a smaller selection of clothes. Don’t forget about your shoes, which also need to match! 
• Lightweight – If you’re going to Siberia, a breezy lightweight shirt may not be appropriate. But extreme weather conditions aside, the right selection of lightweight clothes will be great on their own, and can layer for cooler temperature variations. And of course, lightweight clothes pack down easier. 
• Multifunctional – The more scenarios your clothes are suitable for, the more multifunctional they are. The Limitless merino wool button-down shirt as an example (reviewed below), can be worn in different ways to fit in with both super casual and business scenarios. 
  
  

Why Merino Wool is the Best Travel Clothing for Men (and Women)

Western Rise specializes in about half a dozen different performance fabrics, including merino wool, hemp, and various composites. But the star of this article when it comes to men’s travel shirts is merino wool. 

Here’s why merino wool clothing rocks for travel (for men and women). I wrote another article here going even deeper, including a breakdown of a variety of companies selling merino clothing.

• When cotton gets wet (from sweat or rain or whatever), it can’t keep you warm – in fact, it lowers your core temperature. Merino wool still keeps you warm, even when wet. 
• Merino wool is anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, and thus odor-resistant. Antimicrobial shirts are like magic. You can wear your merino tee for an entire week (or longer) without smelling. My fella tested this theory – he wore it for a week straight and it passed my deep-inhalation-of-the-armpit test. 
• It’s soft and delightful to the touch. 
• It’s moisture-wicking and breathable. 
• It regulates your body temperature. A relatively light weight merino wool shirt can still keep you warm, and also cool. (Magic). 
• It’s easy to care for. Hand wash or machine wash on cold, hang to dry overnight. Done. 
• It lasts forever. 
• It’s better for the environment. Some synthetic materials that have similar warmth and moisture-wicking properties also contribute to micro-plastic pollution. 

The challenge with merino wool, however, is that you’re going to have to pay for it; as a sustainable material, merino wool clothing is almost always more expensive than its synthetic counterparts. But in my experience if you treat your merino wool travel clothing well, it will treat you (and the environment) even better, by not only doing a better job than any other material, but also by lasting way longer. 

2025 UPDATE: Western rise used to offer a wide variety of merino wool clothes; they recently redesigned their store and as of late 2025, they now only offer two shirts and some socks. However merino is just one of many magical fabrics they use in their clothing; be sure to peruse the site to see it all!

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, my boyfriend received two Western Rise shirts on my behalf for free to review. The rest of the shirts and pants, he bought with his own money. If you use the links in this post to buy your own duds, I’ll earn a small commission. 

StrongCore Merino Tee – Best Casual Shirts for Men 

This is Western Rises’ best-selling tee, and with good reason. 

My fella was initially impressed with the shirt’s light weight and soft feel. He wore it on an especially hot summer day and went from outside-swelter to inside-over-air-conditioned-chill and was comfortable in both environments. He was also impressed with how quickly it air-dried after washing. 

Style-wise, my fella is a little persnickety, and is accustomed to cotton t-shirts. The StrongCore Merino T-Shirt fit him a bit differently; it was longer than he’s used to, and also a little bit looser (while still being the correct size for him). 

It’s also a bit thinner than a standard cotton tee, which slightly affects how it hangs on the body. This is a plus when it comes to being travel-friendly, because it is much lighter and packs down smaller than its cotton counterpart, without sacrificing on the warmth or protection a thicker cotton tee would offer. 

Lastly, my guy was perplexed by how the wool got a little bit fuzzy after a few washes. He thought it was lint! It’s not. It’s just the material; merino wool gets that way – unlike cotton. Honestly it’s barely noticeable; my boyfriend took his role as travel t-shirt reviewer very seriously. 

He has now worn this shirt (heavily) for well over a year. Nothing has changed; the shape remains in tact, the material hasn’t degraded at all, there’s no stink-factor even with many wears between washings, and it’s so comfortable he wears it all the time. 

For the Best Men’s Casual Shirts, check out Western Rise Travel Tees here. 

Limitless Merino Button-Down (Merino Wool Dress Shirt) – Best Men’s Dress Shirt for Travel 

A wrinkle-free dress shirt for travel? Say it ain’t so. 

In the name of comfort, my fella is a t-shirt-wearing kind of guy. When the Limitless Merino Wool Button-Down Shirt came out however, we both saw potential for this to be a comfortable way to look dressier while traveling (and at home). Because sometimes circumstance requires you to level up your look, and dressy collared shirts do not travel well. In his words: 

“I was immediately surprised at how stretchy it is. I’ve often felt restrained by the material of other button-downs which kept me from wearing them and opting for a tee instead. This is a button-down shirt that is so comfortable, I lounge in it. 

No matter the occasion, it can be dressed up for a day at the office or a date with my special lady, or dressed down for an evening spent with friends, at the beach, or even on a hike. This really is an everyday shirt.”

A classic button-down shirt is a men’s travel wardrobe essential. You can achieve different looks by rolling up the sleeves, wearing it unbuttoned over a tee, tucking and untucking it, etc. It is essentially many different shirts in one, and the merino wool makes it wrinkle-free, anti-bacterial, odour-resistant, and well-equipped for the rigours of travel. It’s one of the best men’s wrinkle-free travel shirts I’ve ever come across. It ticks ALL the boxes.

Western Rise has both long-sleeved and short-sleeved merino collared shirt designs. Learn more here.

Limitless Merino Polo Shirt – Best Collared Shirt for Travel 

With a merino tee and a long-sleeved button down, the last piece to complete the perfect trio of best travel shirts for men is the Limitless Merino Polo Shirt. In terms of both climate and dressiness, it falls right in the middle with short sleeves and a collar. 

By this point my guy was convinced that Western Rise makes the best men’s travel clothing and started buying other pieces; this was the first. 

While you might not think that wearing wool in hot humid weather is wise, here’s what my fella said: 

“The temperature regulation has been helpful during the hot and humid days of summer. There was little to no odor retention until the third or fourth day of consistent sweaty use. With light activity around the house I can go a week without washing.”

Speaking of washing merino wool, it’s much easier to care for than you might think. Simply machine wash it in cold water and air-dry (it dries incredibly quickly). The label even says you can dry it in the dryer on a delicate cycle (as my fella has done many times), but I believe drying merino wool decreases its lifespan, and let’s get it right: merino wool ain’t cheap. You’ll want it to last. 

Check out the Limitless Merino Polo Shirt here.

Western Rise Pants

While this article thus far has been about Western Rise shirts, it’s worth noting that Western Rise Pants are some of their staple, multi-award-winning, cornerstone products. 

Evolution Pant: Best Travel Pants (The Only Men’s Travel Pants You’ll Ever Need)

Western Rise calls the Evolution “the ultimate travel pant”, for the following reasons: 

• The material is water-repellant, stain-resistant, super durable, and Blue Sign approved for sustainability
• It’s soft, stretchy, abrasion-resistant, and anti-pilling
• They pack down smaller than a t-shirt!
• Dressy enough for the office, while rugged and comfortable enough for the outdoors
• Hidden back right zipper security/wallet/passport pocket
• Front pocket is large enough for a smartphone
• Voted Best Travel Clothing in Carryology’s 2019 Carry Awards

My guy loved his first pair of Evolution Pants so much, two months later he bought another pair (in another colour; they offer it in six colours after all). He says:

“The Evolution Pant touts itself as being “the only pair of pants you need” and so far it’s hard to argue with that statement. They’re the best travel pants I’ve ever had. The fit is just right straight out of the packaging and I’ve worn them for multiple days at a time. These pants are ideal for summertime, but I am confident they will be great in all climates. They’ve already taken the place of a couple pairs of pants.”

Evolution Pant 2.0 – Taking Men’s Travel Pants to the Next Level (2022 UPDATE)

Since originally writing this post, I parted ways with my boyfriend, and Western Rise levelled up the Evolution Pant 1.0 to create the Evolution Pant 2.0. So I found a new test subject for the Evolution 2.0 pant (now called the Evolution Classic), and he was just as enthralled with Western Rise as my first fella was.

The Evolution Pant has been Western Rise’s flagship product since 2018, but they wanted to improve on it anyway, and that they most certainly did. While the biggest changes are the stretchier waistband, 4-way stretch fabric, and a new durable water repellant formula, as you can see from the image above, these are just the tip of the iceberg. They went to town with the improvements.

In their words:

The Evolution Collection can be worn for multiple days in a row without washing. The pants pack smaller than a t-shirt, move with the body, and replace at least three pants in your closet. The new design ensures they can dress up for any meeting or wedding, yet are rugged enough for any outdoor activity. Sustainably built from the yarn up with the comfort of your joggers with the performance of high-grade nylon. The most versatile pants for travel, outdoor, and everyday. The Everyday Pant, Elevated.

When I asked Fella 2.0 for his feedback on the Evolution 2.0 Pant, the things that really stuck out for him included:

• Stain Resistant – I would go so far as to say stain proof. He spilled a large amount of red wine on the pants (unintentionally of course, but I wasn’t entirely displeased with the event as it was a chance to test out their stain resistant claims). What happened next shocked us both. The wine beaded up and rolled off the pants, leaving no mark or stain whatsoever. It was like magic.
• Wrinkle-Free – These pants hang perfectly without a wrinkle in sight, despite being crammed into luggage.
• Secret Zippered Back Pocket – Within the back pocket is another zippered pocket that is perfect for extra travel security, to keep valuables (like cash, credit cards, or a passport) out of the hands of pickpockets.
• “Media Pocket” at Front is Big – You know that tiny pocket at the font that has been a feature in 5-pocket jeans and pants since forever? The one that is so small it’s useless? It’s called a media pocket. And on the Evolution 2.0 pant, it’s actually big enough to hold something – even a smartphone (depending on the side of the phone).
• They’re dressy, AND casual – My fella’s immediate reaction on seeing the pants is that they are dress pants. I didn’t see them that way; I don’t tend to think of 5-pocket pants as being dressy. But this just goes to show that the Evolution Pant straddles the line between casual and dress. Depending on what you wear them with, you can dress them up or down – an incredibly useful trait for travel.

Shop for the Evolution Travel Pant (they also have slim and chino styles) – check out the Evolution Classic here. 

AT Pant: The Travel-Friendly Alternative to Jeans

My guy is from a relatively warm place, and we are contemplating spending the winter in Canada. Being his first real winter, I warned him that the Evolution Pant might not have what it takes to get him through. So, he bought a pair of the AT Pants, which are Western Rise’s alternative to jeans.

It’s a classic 5-pocket pant, but it’s lighter, more durable, and more comfortable than cotton denim. They also keep you from getting wet if it rains, and in keeping with all travel-friendly clothes for men in this article, they dry quickly.

He hasn’t thoroughly tested the AT pants yet, but here is his initial reaction:

“The fabric breakdown is 97% Nylon and 3% Spandex versus the Evolution’s 96% Supplex Nylon and 4% Elastane, which makes it not as flexible as the Evolution (probably couldn’t do yoga in the AT Slim whereas I could in the Evolution), but they’re a tad thicker and feel more hardy and durable.
Definitely a cooler weather pant.
Idk what else to say besides…I really like them! ?”

2025 update: looks like they temporarily discontinued the AT Pant, but they have a few others on offer.

These are only a few Western Rise Men’s Clothing options! Check out their Best Sellers here.  

One Last Reason to Check Out Western Rise Clothing

When I went on an expedition cruise around Newfoundland, I attended a number of workshops about various environmental ideas and practices. I learned about “buy-cotting”; it’s like the positive cousin to boycotting. It involves using your buying power to vote for the things you care about. I think about this every time I am at the grocery store and compare an organic/sustainable product to it’s cheaper counterpart. Which product reflects and supports my values and concerns? Every dollar I spend counts. 

This applies to more than groceries. Which is why my heart sang when I read about Western Rise’s commitment to sustainable and ethical manufacturing (which you can read about on their About page). 

See also: My Zero Waste Kit for Travel (and Home)

You Might Also Be Interested In: 

Pro Packing Hacks: These are the Best Packing Accessories 

The Ultimate Packing List for Long-Term Travel 

Checked vs. Carry on Luggage, and Best Options for Both

The Best Travel Capsule Wardrobe for Women

This post Best Travel Clothes for Men No Matter Where You’re Traveling (+ 5 items you need from Western Rise) appeared first on The Professional Hobo. Please click through to read it in full!

I saw Loretta LaRoche speak at a conference. She grew up being told by her mother that she could only wear her nice underwear on special occasions. Thing is, there was never an occasion special enough to put on these “party pants”. She also poked fun at people who have sitting rooms they never sit in, with nice furniture covered in protective plastic. Her theory was that we could all love life a lot more if we enjoyed the things we have rather than perpetually saving them for another day….a day that may never come.

I’m here to say it’s time to wear our party pants.

I have traveled with two tiny packing cubes of easy care travel clothes from Anatomie Travel Clothing for three weeks, in true capsule wardrobe fashion. It changed the way I will travel (and live!) forever.

See also: Pro Packing Hacks – Here are the Best Travel Accessories for Saving Space and Organization

And for the fellas: Here’s your own Travel Capsule Wardrobe for Men!

NOTE: This article was originally published in 2016, and gets updated regularly – at least once a year. Some of the styles pictured here have been discontinued; I’ve replaced some with newer shots, but I also wanted to show that I’ve been wearing Anatomie clothes since 2012! Even though some styles come and go, the signature materials, design ethics, elevated style, and travel-friendly properties remain constant.

Also,

Clicking the links in this article will give you 20% off site wide at Anatomie! Discount automatically applies at checkout.

Don't be me. 

I started traveling with all the worst stuff. 

I wasted a fortune.

Instead, use this FREE travel gear and packing list cheat sheet.

Learn from my 2 decades of career travel, and kick off your trip with the best clothes, toiletries, luggage, remote work gear, and more. 

INCLUDED: Special discount codes up to 25% off! 

This will be emailed to you to download, for FREE. 

Get Instant Access

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My Journey With Anatomie Travel Clothing

The birth of the Anatomie capsule wardrobe idea

I visited Anatomie Travel Clothing’s headquarters in Miami. I’d been a fan of Anatomie for years already; they sent me my first outfit in 2012 – an outfit that is still going strong, all these years (and abuse) later. (See also: Anatomie – My New Favourite Travel Clothing)

Shawn and Kate (Anatomie’s co-founders) talked about cost-per-wear. While doing some math, I realized that their prices (a stumbling block for me) weren’t as high as I’d initially thought if I worked out how many miles I could get out of them – literally and figuratively. So, I threw out my jeans.

I returned to Anatomie’s headquarters a second time with a furrowed brow. My favourite travel pants – the Kate Skinny Cargo pants, which I got just a couple of years prior – had worn in the strangest of ways. It led to concerns about the quality of their travel clothes on the whole. My original capris were doing great! Why had the Kate pants deteriorated like this in a fraction of the time?

Anatomie was churning out a huge number of new styles at the time, becoming a highly-recognized brand name in the luxury market as the ultimate travel clothes for women. Had they grown too big for their own good?

Luckily, my concerns were assuaged when I received a brand new pair of Kate pants and was assured that any customer with a similar problem would be afforded the same treatment. They said that occasionally material from the end of a roll could do funny things like this, and while they hadn’t seen this particular problem before, they would look out for it in the future.

While Anatomie may be growing exponentially, they still pride themselves on superior service and developing long-term relationships with their customers, as evidenced by the expedient replacement of my defective pants, their personal style concierge service, and more.

Not only did they replace my Kate pants, but they loaded me up with a whole bunch of new styles and Anatomie “Travel Essential” pieces. (Travel Essentials are styles they carry year after year because they’re so popular, and customers get angry if Anatomie stops making them.)

With this gift of new clothes, they issued me a challenge: pack and wear only Anatomie clothes for my next trip. So, I did; the next opportunity I had to leave my big suitcase I armed myself for three weeks with two wee packing cubes of Anatomie clothes.

Here’s what I learned about what makes for the best wrinkle free travel clothes for women. (See the end of this post for an exact list of what I traveled with, so you can design your own ideal travel capsule wardrobe).

Before we go any further, I must tell you that I have received a ton of Anatomie clothing for free since the beginning of my partnership. I’ll also add that I’ve bought many styles for myself at retail prices. I put my money where my mouth is, and I endorse Anatomie for having terrific travel clothes for women.

As such, if you click on any of the links in this post and buy Anatomie clothes, I will receive a small commission. It doesn’t affect your price, and it helps me keep running The Professional Hobo. I appreciate your support in advance!

Clicking the links in this article will give you 20% off site wide at Anatomie! Discount automatically applies at checkout.

Longevity

Quality travel clothing will go the distance – literally and figuratively.

My Cargo Capris (since discontinued, though keep an eye on the Anatomie website – they occasionally revive them for a season) are still going strong since getting them in 2012. This is one style that I haven’t saved for special occasions; over the years, I’ve worn these pants more than any other pair of pants I’ve owned. Like, ever. After all these years of abuse, the material is softer and even comfier.

I’ve washed them in dodgy washing machines around the world, and they’ve even seen a few dryers (which you’re not supposed to do, FYI). The only thing I can say is that the material has thinned out a little (but not so much as to be a problem), and has also stretched out a little (due to my own weight gain/loss/gain/loss/etc. over the years).

Regarding fit in general, Anatomie advises that you can expect that the signature stretch wrinkle-free material used for their pants will stretch over time (it’s what makes Anatomie pants a custom fit, as it stretches to hug your curves perfectly). More on this later.

Washing and Drying

If you’re traveling with a limited (capsule) wardrobe, washing and drying must be easy.

Need to dry your pants in a hurry? A simple hairdryer will do the trick in just a few mins! (Almost) everything Anatomie offers is machine washable in cold water.

Machine dryers, in general, are horrible on your clothes (they exponentially accelerate deterioration), nor are they particularly environmentally friendly. Luckily most Anatomie styles dry quickly, usually overnight.

Wrinkle Free Packing

Packing light means not having a lot of space. Irons are not an option.

Are you worried about cramming those expensive duds into a packing cube? Don’t. Anatomie makes easy care travel clothes, and although some pieces may come out of your luggage looking wrinkled, the wrinkles easily fall out as soon as you put them on. You will love their wrinkle resistant fabrics, life-changing!

Other styles made of crazy comfy jersey and mesh (here are their current lightweight jackets and wide variety of shirts) are truly wrinkle free in all respects. Scrunch it up in a ball in your bag. I dare ya.

Comfort Vs. Style

There’s nothing worse than being uncomfortable. Except perhaps, being underdressed.

Luckily there’s no compromise! I’m just as comfy in my Luisa skinny jeans on a plane as I am in a pair of leggings. Except, I’m wearing something considerably more stylish than leggings. 

Even the Andrea Contrast Panel leggings are more-than-leggings.

For me, the perfect travel wardrobe has stylish travel clothes, without being pretentious. Regardless of whether you’re dressed up or down, you’re comfortable. Travel throws you enough curveballs; you’d better be comfy in your second skin.

On the topic of comfort, their Pima Cotton Tank Tops are made from Pima cotton, from Peru. I was ambivalent when they suggested I try it out (it’s a plain tank top….kinda boring right?), but it quickly became my absolute favourite top to wear. It’s suuuuuuuper soft, breathable, won’t shrink, goes with everything, and just like most of Anatomie’s styles, can be machine washed (on cold), and will dry fast.

Staying Warm

Cool/cold weather is the biggest challenge to packing light. The secret is in layering.

Most of Anatomie’s travel clothing styles are very lightweight – which is both a selling point and a challenge. The signature stretch fabric used to make most of their pants is light as a feather, which means it won’t weigh you down as you take off, but if you’re taking off to chilly places, you might be cold.

Over the years, I’ve found ways to circumvent these challenges:

Layer Under. While most of Anatomie’s travel pants are slim-fitting, there’s still room for a pair of leggings underneath for added warmth.

Layer Over. This is where Anatomie’s travel jackets shine. While one of their mesh jackets is ridiculously comfortable over a tank top and takes the edge off a summer night, it’s also warmer than it looks and can be worn over a long-sleeved top (which also shows through the mesh, and looks very nice).

The same goes for the Kenya Safari Jacket, which is hands-down their most popular travel jacket, and for good reason. It’s roomy enough to go over thicker under-layers, yet form-fitting enough to be super stylish and flattering.

If you find yourself in even chillier climes, they have a selection of quilted, cashmere, and even leather styles. I still have a style of an Anatomie travel jacket (which they don’t carry anymore) that is ideal for shoulder season climates.

2025 UPDATE: I spent two whole winters in a snowy mountain town, with the help of Anatomie’s Cozy Essentials lineup! Their fleece-lined signature styles (like the Kenya Jacket and Skyler Pants) are literally the comfiest clothes I own – super stretchy and soft. And lucky for me, they’re also the most stylish clothes I own. Best of all worlds!

Free Returns and Clothing Guarantees

Spending a lot of money on the perfect travel capsule wardrobe? Free returns are critical.

I’m still leery of ordering clothes online. Even with sizing charts, you just never know how something will fit.

Anatomie understands this, and orders placed in the U.S. include free returns. And rumour has it they’re going to offer free returns to Canadian customers very soon too!

So if you’re curious about how that shirt or pair of pants will fit, there’s no risk in ordering it and finding out first-hand.

The same goes for clothing defects. While normal wear and tear are on your own dime, if there’s a problem with an Anatomie style, they’ll send you a new pair, as I experienced myself. Anatomie wants you to be 100% happy with your clothes, as they’ve demonstrated to me repeatedly.

Travel Clothing for Women with Curves

Most people aren’t models. So how do we know if those pants will actually fit AND look good?

Over the years, I’ve grown, and not just emotionally! While I’m not disproportionate or overweight, my measurements baffle many sizing charts.

While trying to order pants and a shirt from (another) online clothing company, I couldn’t figure out which sizes to get. According to their sizing charts, I was somewhere between a Small and Medium for the shirt (but my bust measurement said I should be Large – and believe me, my boobs aren’t that spectacular). 

When it came to my lower half, my self-esteem “bottomed” out. While I was accustomed to being a size 6-8, my recent weight gain put me in the (8-10) category. This particular clothing company’s size 12 looked like it would still be too small. And….size 12 was their largest size. Who does that?!?! I have no idea what other curvy women would do if they tried to order anything from that company. (To their credit, my complaints inspired them to change their sizing charts, which is why they shall remain nameless in this post.) I simply share this story here as an example of how screwed up sizing is across the board, especially when it comes to women’s pants.

Shawn (Anatomie’s co-founder and chief designer) stood by while I tried on a huge variety of clothes, and he told me how they’re supposed to fit and made specific sizing recommendations.

Even though I wanted to err on the side of caution with larger sizes, Shawn warned me that most of Anatomie’s pants stretch up to a whole size over time; and my older Anatomie pants are testament to this. So, if your own Anatomie travel pants are a bit tight to begin with, never fear: their signature stretch fabric is a bit of a miracle-worker and will mold to your curves perfectly with time.

Here are some observations about how Anatomie’s stylish travel clothes are made for curvy women:

• The Suzette Skort has built-in jersey bicycle shorts. While this does add a bit to the packing weight and bulk, my thighs thanked me; can you say “no thigh rub??”
  (Not a fan of the short skirt? I get it. Here are their current dresses, which include some super classy styles. I own their Marine Travel Dress, which is super flattering for all figures and made of a material that can literally be balled up and stuffed into a corner of my luggage and come out ready for the runway).
• I asked Shawn which styles of Anatomie’s travel pants are best for the curvy woman; he said the Kate Pant (which I can attest to). More recently, Anatomie has come out with a whole line of pants for curvy women!
• Not all women appreciate tight shirts. While I do recommend having at least one somewhat form-fitting tank top and long-sleeved top for layering underneath jackets and such, I also like having a “let it all hang out” sort of top. Anatomie has a selection of looser-fitting tops that will turn heads; just have a browse through their tops to see their latest designs, as their styles are always changing.

Not sure yourself? Here is one of the many bangs you get for your buck with Anatomie, in addition to free returns and quality guarantees: their personal Style Concierge will assist you with personalized fit and styling tips. You’ll find their personal email on the Contact page of the website, and their assistance is very valuable (and of course, free).

Clicking the links in this article will give you 20% off site wide at Anatomie! Discount automatically applies at checkout.

Anatomie Wrinkle Resistant Clothing Recommendations

Here is what I packed when I took the challenge to travel with only Anatomie clothing. Note: many of the exact items I took with me have been discontinued. I’ve switched them out here with new items (that I own) which are comparable replacements.

Depending on the climate at your destination, you might want to adjust this selection. For example when visiting a hot climate you’ll want to switch out a jacket or long-sleeved shirt for another tank/tee. This travel capsule wardrobe is ideal for warm temperate weather.

Jackets:

Bailey Mesh Jacket (it won’t wrinkle, no matter how hard you try!)

Kenya Safari Jacket (stylish, can be worn with sleeves rolled up or down, zipped up to the neck, etc)

Tops:

Calista Rollup Henley Top (pima cotton, long-sleeved), AND/OR

Alida button-down Poplin Shirt (I love this dressy shirt because the front panel is a structured material, and the arms and back are soft stretchy jersey)

Jackson Pima Cotton Tank (a staple for any travel wardrobe, perfect on its own and for layering)

Flo Tee (note: here’s their current collection of tops to choose from)

Bottoms:

Suzette Skort (with built-in jersey bicycle shorts)

Luisa Skinny Jean OR Kate Skinny Cargo Pant (I own and adore both, but I choose just one per trip)

Darby Pant (new in 2024 to their lineup; a looser-fitting pant made with their signature stretch light material)

Clicking the links in this article will give you 20% off site wide at Anatomie! Discount automatically applies at checkout.

BONUS: My Top Packing Tips Video

I know, I know. I must sound like a psychotic cheerleader. I promise, I haven’t been drugged, nor unduly forced (or even paid) to write all these accolades. Anatomie approached to develop a long-term relationship, much like they do with all their customers. (The difference being, they started me off with a free outfit, which inspired my love affair with them. Lucky me!).

And as much as I love Anatomie, they love me too, and they’re fascinated at how I traveled with carry-on luggage only for two whole years! While I was visiting Anatomie’s headquarters this year, they turned on the cameras and got me to share my top packing tips for ultralight travel. Here’s what I had to say:

Click here to watch on YouTube

Model Pictures (Wearing Anatomie Wrinkle-Free Travel Clothes)

I’m not the best model, so if you’d like to get a closer look at some of Anatomie’s styles, keep scrolling.

Check out my Travel Lifestyle Guides for more ways to earn money remotely, spend it wisely, and balance the two so you can travel as long as you wish, in a financially sustainable way. 

Want to know more about packing for travel and the best travel clothing tips?

Check out these posts:

Anatomie Travel Clothing Made me Throw Out my Jeans

My Search for the Perfect Travel Sandal

The Ultimate Packing List for Full-Time Travel

Best Luggage for Full-Time Travel

Checked vs. Carry On Luggage (and Why Checked is Best)

Travel Packing: How and What to Pack for Full-Time Travel (VIDEO)

This post My Travel Capsule Wardrobe: Best Wrinkle Free Travel Clothes for Women appeared first on The Professional Hobo. Please click through to read it in full!

Please read and glean from my experience so that your next pair of travel sandals are the best, most practical, most fashionable, and most comfortable sandals that get you through thick and thin.

Although the first version of this article was published in 2013, I re-wrote and republished it in 2018, and at least once a year since then I update it for accuracy of links and content (and I add new sandals and travel-sandal-strategies I’ve tried along the way).
For example, make sure you read through to the “barefoot sandals” section to see how my own journey through various travel sandals has evolved.

Also, I received some sandals for free (and paid for others). If I don’t mention that I received the sandals for free, then it means I paid full price.
Lastly, you’ll find this post has affiliate links, which means if you click a link and make a purchase, I’ll get paid. This doesn’t affect your price, but it does help me keep running this site….so thank you in advance.

TL:DR – The Best Sandals for Travel

This post meanders a bit. If you’ve got 10 or so minutes to read the whole thing, you’ll learn how to evaluate any and all sandals on the market to choose the best ones for your personal travel style.

But if you’re like many/most people, you won’t read the whole thing, so here’s the summary:

BEST OVERALL SANDAL FOR TRAVEL: Feelgrounds Seaside sandals
(Lightweight, easy to pack, stays on foot, stylish. Men: Pathway style is for you)
Use THEPROFESSIONALHOBO5 for 5% off!

SECOND CHOICE: Taos
(Huge variety of styles; Trophy is the one I had)

2026 TESTING WITH HIGH HOPES: Vivaia Demi

Attempt #1: Crocs

Crocs were my go-to for many years – specifically the Cleo style, which is both fashionable and functional.

The Good

Because Crocs are waterproof, they survived dodgy hostel showers and muddy walks, and the arch support meant they made it through many a long walk without causing me pain.

The style I chose combined fashion and function, and as such I could dress them up or down with relative ease.

They pack up like a dream, since they’re lightweight and relatively thin.

If the Cleo (pictured above) isn’t your style, no problemo; Crocs makes a gazillion different styles to choose from.

Basically I lived in these shoes, for many years.

The Bad

Or rather, I lived in (many pairs of) these shoes, for many years. Unfortunately because I wore them daily (and I love to walk), I wore through a pair about every year.

Although Crocs aren’t horribly expensive, this did mean dishing out cash for a new pair each year – and finding a place to buy them or have them delivered to (which isn’t always an easy chore when traveling full-time or staying somewhere obscure).

Even more distressing, was how unbelievably slippery Crocs were on wet surfaces. Certain types of sidewalk, stone, and any inside flooring when wet, became major hazards. I took a few spills in these shoes, especially as the tread on the bottom started to wear. (It’s ironic, because Crocs were originally designed as boat shoes).

Lastly – and this is good and bad – the Cleo and other slip-on styles are uber-easy to use on a daily basis, but if you are doing any kind of trail walking or water sports, this style of Crocs will slip away entirely.

This can be solved with a different style of Croc however; I tried out two pairs: the Isabella Strappy Sandal, and the Tulum (both appear to be discontinued as of March 2024, however there are other new Crocs styles that may appeal). Both are stylish and easy to slip-on, and don’t easily come off the foot. (However I also had trouble breaking in the Isabella (it never stopped chafing my heels), and the Tulum didn’t quite fit my foot correctly; I kept slipping off the side while walking (but perhaps that more about my gait than the shoes). The Tulum stays on your foot better and could conceivably be used for light water sport activities, but it’s not ideal for hitting the trails. Keep reading this article for sport sandal suggestions).

Overall

I owned three pairs of the slip-on Cleo Crocs in the first few years of my full-time travels, and they have a ton of styles to suit your preferences. They definitely earned their place in my travel bag.

But keep reading for some alternatives and different viewpoints, since what I need may not be the same as what you need in the perfect travel sandal.

Don't be me. 

I started traveling with all the worst stuff. 

I wasted a fortune.

Instead, use this FREE travel gear and packing list cheat sheet.

Learn from my 2 decades of career travel, and kick off your trip with the best clothes, toiletries, luggage, remote work gear, and more. 

INCLUDED: Special discount codes up to 25% off! 

This will be emailed to you to download, for FREE. 

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Attempt #2: Naots

I love Naots. I had a pair of them when I was a teenager, and they survived almost 10 years of solid abuse. So when Naot contacted me and asked if I wanted to reunite with these lovely babies (I received a complementary pair to review), I could hardly wait to get my tootsies into a new pair.

The Good

Although Naots come in many different styles, they specialize in a footbed that is akin to Birkenstocks; they offer full support, customized feel, anti-microbial properties, and a fit that only gets better with time.

I chose a pair that suits my style, knowing I could dress them up or down as I wished.

They were great for walking miles and miles on the city streets without a hint of foot fatigue. I got many (many) compliments on them!

The Bad

The large deep footbed meant they weren’t compact or lightweight. However if you don’t want a deep footbed, Naot has a few different styles of footbed to choose from.

Incidentally, my Naots were destroyed a head-on collision I had in Grenada before I really had a chance to put them through their paces. I owned them for a few months.

Overall

I still love Naots. But I chose a bad style for my needs and foot shape, and I didn’t have a chance to try them on first. (If you order them online, best to ensure you can return them easily if they don’t fit). Choose the right style, and they could make for a great travel sandal.

Attempt #3: Taos (Best Sandals for Walking in Europe)

Taos makes high-quality shoes and sandals in an astonishing variety of styles.

I was contacted by Taos to test-drive a (free) pair after being bereaved of my Naots in the accident, so I tried to apply all the lessons I learned from the above pairs of shoes and choose what would be the perfect pair of travel sandals.

The Good

The footbed is high-quality with contouring, support, custom fit over time, and anti-microbial properties. (You can also choose different types of footbeds from the deep bed similar to the Naots above, to a more sleek version as shown here).

I chose the Trophy style (pictured above) because they can be dressed up or down, they’re relatively light and compact to pack away, and the ankle straps make them way more stable for walking, running (as in, to catch a bus), and even taking to (light) trails.

They’re super comfy to wear all day (and all night), with their special “Taos Soft Support premium footbed with Cool Recovery Foam”. 

I also like the velcro adjustments on the ankle straps as well as both toe straps; this makes the fit always comfortable (even if my feet swell), and getting them on and off is almost as easy as having slip-ons.

The Bad

If the microfiber footbed gets wet, it’s bad news. After living in them for a couple of years (years, mind you), I got them super wet. After that the footbed pilled (uncomfortably so), and started smelling bad. Other readers have had similar troubles. If you suffer from sweaty feet, you might not get a couple of years out of them (as I did) before they start pilling and smelling.

Having said this, the Trophy sandals that I tried have since been replaced by sandals that feature a special antimicrobial shield, for lasting protection against odour, staining, and deterioration. 

And, um….well, I don’t have anything else bad to say about these shoes.

Overall

In this comparison, Taos wins so far as the perfect travel sandal. It’s one of the best sandals for walking long distances, and they straddle fashion and function perfectly.

But I also encourage you to read between the lines here; it’s not necessarily (or entirely) the shoe itself; it’s the choice and style of shoe.

I learned from mistakes past, and ensured I had a fashionable, compact, stable, solid shoe that – like so many of the items in my full-time travel entourage – serves many purposes.

See also: The Ultimate Packing List for Full-Time Travel

2026 Contender for Best Travel Sandal of All Time: Vivaia

I’ve been a fan of Vivaia sustainable washable shoes for years, and I wear almost exclusively Vivaia shoes. But until recently, they didn’t have any sandals that fit my strict criteria for being a great travel sandal…until now.

These are the Demi style of sandal, by Vivaia. They do everything the Trophy sandal does above, and they’re a bit lighter and more compact for travel. The footbed is very comfy with good support, and the straps are adjustable with just enough stretch that once you have the buckle adjusted for your ankle you can slip them on and off without fussing.

They’re stylish and can be dressed up or down with ease.

I plan to travel-test my new AdaptAll Flat Sandals (Demi) by Vivaia this summer. Stay tuned.

Vivaia has tons of different sandals as well as sneakerinas (including a celeb-fav that was featured on Oprah), mary-janes, loafers, boots, and much more. I have a lot of Vivaia shoes in my closet, and many of their shoes are so light and packable I can actually break my ultralight packing rules and take a couple of pairs on each trip.

Check out Vivaia here and use 10NORA for $10 off!

Qualities of a Perfect Travel Sandal

Learning from my experiences above, here are some of the qualities that – for me, and likely for you – make for the perfect travel sandal:

• Water resistant
• Comfortable footbed for walking
• Good sole for walking on multiple surfaces
• Ankle straps to hold the foot in place and increase versatility
• Stylish for multiple occasions
• Easy to put on and take off
• Lightweight and compact for packing
  
  

Check out my Travel Lifestyle Guides for more ways to earn money remotely, spend it wisely, and balance the two so you can travel as long as you wish, in a financially sustainable way. 

Honourable Mentions (including Men’s Sandals)

Crocs, Naots, and Taos are far from the only travel sandals out there; they’re simply the brands I test drove when I initially wrote this article. Here are some other travel sandal recommendations; tried and true according to both readers and travel colleagues, as well as subsequent personal experience. If the shoes above don’t float your boat or suit your travel style, perhaps the ones below will.

And Men, rejoice! Many of the sandals below offer Unisex and Men’s styles as well.

Waterproof Travel Sandals (Sports Sandals)

While Crocs are waterproof, they’re not the sort of “technical” sandal you might be looking for if you’re into water sports and muddy hikes. Personally, I don’t like the classic original “Teva” style of sandal, but some people don’t mind it, and I must admit, these waterproof sport travel sandals have come a long way since their single-style beginnings.

For example, the Teva Tirra Athletic Sandal comes extremely highly reviewed, and has a compression-molded EVA midsole with some impressive looking arch support.

Chaco also carries an extensive popular waterproof line of sport sandals (along with some more stylish leather and rubber styles).

Do you like the Birkenstock style and wish they had a unisex lightweight waterproof version? Well, wish no more; it exists, and it’s called Birkenstock EVA (pictured here). They’re relatively cheap, and they come in a few different styles and a gazillion different colours. They’re not sport sandals per se, but they’re waterproof and are apparently great for walking.
2024 Update: Birkenstock seems to have discontinued their EVA style, but you can find the same thing here, and it’s a bestseller on Amazon.

Barefoot Sandals for Travel (for men and women) – 2026 Update

Barefoot shoes in general are all the rage, and they’re the ideal travel sandal in that they’re lightweight….ultra lightweight in fact.

And in the last 10 years I have developed a love affair with barefoot shoes for hiking, running, working out, casual excursions, and generally all things travel.

I’ve spent the last couple of years traveling with Xero’s best-selling Xero Prio shoe, which I think is the best all-round travel shoe for walking around town, exercising, and even light hikes. You can see them in action in this video review.

But I’m getting off-track. This article is about sandals.

Attempt #1: Xero Barefoot Sandals

As much as I mentioned earlier that I’m not a fan of sport sandals, given how much I loved Xero’s barefoot shoes (and I’m a devout fan of traveling long-term with carry-on luggage only), I figured I would put my fashion sensibilities aside and try Xero barefoot sandals – specifically the Z-Trail EV style. I wanted this style because it has the beefiest sole of them all, and I was worried the other styles might feel more like paper and not provide any protection.

Instead, when I got them in the mail, I was surprised at just how sturdy these things are! I mean, they’re still light as air at just 4.3oz each (yeah, you read that right), but the sole has some meat to it.

Unfortunately after a summer of trying to love them, I had to admit they didn’t do it for me.

The style was my biggest complaint; they’re okay for sport or super casual scenarios, but not multi-purpose enough to wear anywhere else. But even for sport, I couldn’t get the fit right with the straps for walking/hiking on anything that wasn’t completely flat. My foot wasn’t stable in them and slid around (similar to the Tulum style of Crocs, which also have a very thin flat sole), and because of that plus the super low profile of the sandal, my feet (and the footbeds) were always getting dirty such that I had to wash both my feet and shoes at the end of each outing.

I really wanted these to be my top pick of travel sandals. And perhaps they could be for you, if you like the style and have a different-shaped foot/different gait. For summer hikes and casual excursions, with the added benefit of being ridiculously packable, water-friendly, secure on the foot, and even with webbing made from recycled water bottles, they’re not bad, but they’re just not for me.

I may still take mine on trips where I’ll be doing serious outdoorsy stuff that require waterproof sandals (like white-water rafting), but they’re not all-around useful enough for me to pack every time.

Attempt #2: Feelgrounds Seaside Luxe Barefoot Sandals – My Current Pick for Best Travel Sandal

NEW IN 2024, Feelgrounds sent me a pair of their Seaside Luxe sandals. Feelgrounds is a barefoot shoe company based in Europe. I love the look of all their shoes, because they don’t look like barefoot shoes. They’re stylish, functional, and as a company they are committed to environmental responsibility and fair production practices.

The Feelgrounds Seaside Luxe sandal makes up for everything I didn’t like about the Xero Z-trail (and frankly, all of Xero’s sandals). They don’t look like a barefoot sandal!

Here’s what I love about them:

• The vegan leather straps provide an elevated sense of style. I get compliments every time I wear them.
• The adjustable cushioned velcro strap at the back provides a perfect fit, and along with the soft fabric toe thong, it holds your foot in place.
• The elastic bit on the instep provides the perfect amount of stretch for comfort.
• The natural cork insole looks nice and gives the foot a chance to breathe. (If you don’t like that look, they also offer an all-black version).
• The 7mm sole is ultralight and thin, while still being thick enough to provide some shock absorption and protection when walking on hard surfaces.
• They’re super flexible and ultralight at 153 grams / 5.4 oz for a Men’s size 10 / Women’s 11.5
• They pack up like a dream.
  

Here are the compromises:

• After a summer of use, the cork footbed started to discolour from foot moisture. It is very minimal so far, but will likely continue as the years go on; if this is something that would bother you, then I suggest getting the all-black style.
• They are not waterproof, nor are they appropriate for sports activities.
• Although there is some shock absorption, it’s not a lot; nowhere near the protection you would get from even a barefoot sneaker. I discovered this while speed-walking long distances on concrete surfaces; my shins started to ache. I tend to come down hard on my heels when I walk fast, so I’m sure that’s the culprit.
  

Even so, Feelgrounds Seaside Luxe sandals are top contenders for great travel sandals. They pack up like a dream, they stay on my foot, and they look great in all scenarios.

BONUS: Use THEPROFESSIOALHOBO5 for a 5% discount!

Shout Out to the Flip Flop

All over Asia, it’s common to take off your shoes everywhere; especially when entering temples, but even when entering some restaurants and stores. (And certainly when entering anybody’s home).

In these cases, flip-flops are invaluable. They’re comfortable, easy to slip on and off, and you won’t be upset if somebody else walks away in them (as commonly happens in public places).

While spending a month “suffering” in Koh Phangan Thailand, I watched my boyfriend struggle with his clunky Tevas every single time we entered or left a restaurant or store. We were both relieved when he finally caved and bought a cheapo pair of flip-flops.

Flip-flops are also great to have on hand for shared showers and other situations where you want some waterproof foot protection. And they’re so lightweight they can easily fit in your luggage. Regardless of the travel sandal I am using at any given time, I tend to have a pair of flip-flops stashed in my bag as well.

Interested in Travel Gear? Then You’ll LOVE the Following Posts:

The Ultimate Packing List for Full-Time Travel

Checked vs Carry-On Luggage (and Why Checked is Best)

My Travel Capsule Wardrobe: Best Wrinkle-Free Travel Clothes for Women

The Best Travel Clothes for Men

Maximize Your Luggage Space and Minimize Time Spent Packing! The Best Packing Tools and Accessories

The Best Anti-Theft Gear

…and dozens of Travel Gear Reviews! 

This post My Search for the Perfect Travel Sandal appeared first on The Professional Hobo. Please click through to read it in full!

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Anatomie makes travel clothes so great, I threw out my jeans.

I reviewed them in 2012, but in 2016 I finally got to visit their headquarters in Miami to see all their styles up close. That’s when my jeans ended up in the bin.

(Fast forward to 2020 and I’m still going strong with all my duds). 

This post was originally published in 2020, but gets updated regularly for accuracy of links and content.

When Anatomie approached me back in 2012 to try their designer travel clothing out, I was skeptical about a few things – not the least of which was the price.

I’m glad they soldiered beyond my skepticism and sent me three pieces (capri pants, a dress, and a lightweight cardigan) to try out, because they quickly became my favourite travel clothing.

Six years later I still wear these pieces proudly, and they’ve withstood a goodly amount of abuse being with me on the road full-time.

Clicking the links in this article will give you 20% off site wide at Anatomie! Discount automatically applies at checkout.

Since then I’ve added significantly to my personal Anatomie travel clothing collection.

In 2013 I bought two pairs of pants, a jacket, and two tops (one of which is pictured above).

In 2015 I bought another jacket, cardigan, pair of pants….you get the idea.

In some cases, I received a discount because of my affiliation with them. In some cases, I paid full price. And despite the hefty price tags, I was happy to do so.

Almost my entire wardrobe is made by Anatomie, and it suits my travel lifestyle so well.

It’s lightweight (unbelievably so), quick-dry (less than 30 mins to air dry!), wrinkle free (any wrinkles wear out as soon as you put it on), easy to care for (duh), incredibly comfortable (their material is the perfect kind of stretchy), and super stylish.

Anatomie is a big part of the reason why I have been able to travel full-time with carry-on luggage only.

Want proof? Look at this picture.

This ultralight packing cube above holds three pairs of pants, two tops, and two jackets (which are underneath the other clothes in this picture).

All that just weighs four pounds.

(Caveat: If you’re traveling to a winter climate you’ll obviously need some warmer/heavier layers, which Anatomie also carries to a lesser degree).

With a wardrobe that takes up so little space and weight, it’s easy to travel ultralight.

Travel Clothing Mistakes I’ve Made

It’s taken me a while to curate the perfect travel wardrobe. Quite a while, and more than a few mistakes.

All Function, No Fashion

When I started traveling full-time, I had an almost brand-new wardrobe, suited to the task of travel.

It was moisture-wicking, convertible, quick-dry, technical stuff. Not cheap stuff.

Stuff that had almost no style whatsoever (or at least, not my style).

I hated my clothing so much, I didn’t even want to get out of bed in the morning.

Poor Cost Per Wear

So over the years, I changed up my wardrobe, replacing items here and there with whatever I could find that was more stylish and still travel-friendly.

I learned as I went what kinds of clothes travel and wear well, and kept my eye out for them. But interestingly, many of those clothes – despite the price tag – didn’t withstand the rigours of travel nearly as gracefully as they should have.

A $90 pair of stylish and travel-friendly pants from REI was exiled from my suitcase within a year for wearing in so badly.

I was in a constant cycle of replacing clothes that gave my wardrobe constant variety, but ended up quite costly in the end.

Enter: Anatomie.

When I was chatting with Kate and Shawn (Anatomie’s founders) in Miami, they didn’t bother denying that their clothes are expensive.

(Let’s get it right: this is designer stuff, made of crazy-cool materials sourced in Italy and France, the likes of which I’ve never worn before).

“It’s all about cost per wear,” said Kate. And considering I was wearing four-year-old Anatomie pants at the time that I still counted among my favourite pants, I couldn’t disagree.

Disclaimer: There are some affiliate links in this post, but my almost-evangelical enthusiasm is 100% real; this stuff rocks! If you click through these links, I’ll receive a small commission from your purchase at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting this site!

Anatomie Travel Pants: The Fit

Which brings me to the fit of Anatomie’s pants, which on the whole are the best travel pants I’ve ever had. Period. They’re ultralight, stretchy, stylish, and can be dressed up or down.

They have different cuts, which are suitable for different body types.

For example, a travel fashionista colleague of mine cites the Skyler Travel pant as the best travel pant for women. For me, it’s the Kate Skinny Cargo pant. But that’s because I’m a bit more well endowed in the hips and thighs department, and the Skyler is made for women with narrower hips and longer legs.

Anatomie now has a functionality for you to search for clothing by body type, so check it out and play around with it!

Anatomie Travel Pants: The Fabric

Speaking of the Andrea pants (which Anatomie refers to as contrast-panel leggings), I’d seen them in the Anatomie lineup for quite some time online, and been perplexed by them.

But the minute I walked into the Anatomie headquarters and saw Kate wearing them, I had to have a pair.

You have to see/touch/feel this stuff.

The site labels them as leggings, but Kate herself said they’re a three-in-one pant: jeans, dress pants, and even yoga pants. Nothing better for travel than multi-purpose stuff.

And it’s not just the pants with amazing fabric. The same goes for the Merika Windbreaker, which is one of their best-selling jackets – yet I couldn’t understand why from the pictures.

I understood as soon as I tried it on.

It’s silky, light, water and wind resistant, the mesh lining is super-comfortable, and the inside drawstring waistline can be adjusted to achieve different looks. It’s classy – and classic.

And of course, it can be squished into your carry-on, and donned on arrival in perfect form.

I think it’s difficult for some people to make an initial leap of faith with Anatomie, because their styles really need to be seen and worn to be appreciated.

Heck – I was skeptical, until they sent me three items to review in 2012, but I haven’t looked back since.

Plus, they have a great return policy, so if you order something that doesn’t work, you’re not stuck with it.

Clicking the links in this article will give you 20% off site wide at Anatomie! Discount automatically applies at checkout.

I Threw Out my Jeans, Thanks to Anatomie’s Travel Pants

So, after visiting Anatomie travel clothing headquarters, trying on their styles, and taking away yet another pair of favourite travel pants, I threw out my jeans.

I own four pairs of Anatomie pants now, and collectively, they weigh a fraction of my one pair of jeans, and take up even less space. They’re more comfortable, stylish, and way better for travel. Thanks, Anatomie!

I really like these guys. I like their clothes. Like, really. And more than once, I’ve put my money where my mouth is and I’ve bought their stuff.

And it has paid off in spades. I look good, I feel good, and I’m confident that on a cost-per-wear basis, I’ve made some very good decisions.

This post Anatomie Travel Clothing Makes the BEST Travel Pants appeared first on The Professional Hobo. Please click through to read it in full!

Don't be me. 

I started traveling with all the worst stuff. 

I wasted a fortune.

Instead, use this FREE travel gear and packing list cheat sheet.

Learn from my 2 decades of career travel, and kick off your trip with the best clothes, toiletries, luggage, remote work gear, and more. 

INCLUDED: Special discount codes up to 25% off! 

This will be emailed to you to download, for FREE. 

Get Instant Access

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Since starting this whole long-term travel adventure several years ago, the best travel clothes eluded me; very few pieces of clothing withstood my travels for very long.

Either my location, culture and local style, climate, or pure wear and tear has meant that I’ve had to buy new pieces of cheap mediocre clothing along the way.

While I generally enjoy refreshing my limited wardrobe, there’s rarely been an item of clothing I’ve actually been excited to wear.

Until I discovered Anatomie’s travel clothes.

In this post, I’m going to tell you all about why I genuinely think they’re the best travel clothes brand out there (even though I started as a skeptic).

This article was originally published in 2012 and has been continually updated since for accuracy of links and content. Though some language may reflect its original publication date.
I received many of the pieces of clothing I’m reviewing here for free, and there are some affiliate links in this post. But my almost-evangelical enthusiasm is 100% real, and I have written subsequent articles about how my Anatomie clothes have stood the test of time (and I’ve since bought many pieces for myself).

My First Impression of Anatomie Travel Clothes

When Anatomie approached me to review a few pieces of their clothing in 2012, I was skeptical at best. How much are those pants? I can’t even try them on first? Yikes.

But I agreed anyway, after browsing their site and becoming intrigued by the designer styles and apparently-travel-friendly materials they use.

It didn’t look like “conventional” travel clothing, but who knows. I don’t tend to like “conventional” travel clothing anyway – it’s usually too utilitarian for my taste.

I asked for their Monika Short-Sleeve Ballerina Dress, but they also sent me their Cargo Capris and the Cosima Cozy Coverup.

Once I received the clothing, I had a chance to test it out in four countries; on mountain tops, in city jungles, lounging about, packing and unpacking, and in climates ranging from chilly alpine Europe to humid Caribbean summer.

Here’s the down and dirty about how Anatomie faired this trial-by-climate/country:

Anatomie’s Monika Short-Sleeve Ballerina Dress

I was most excited about receiving the Monika Short-Sleeve V-Neck Ballerina Dress, as I liked the look, and the description promised it would be flattering.

And every traveling girl needs a dress they can pull out of their bag in a jiffy and slip on to impress the masses.

It’s the proverbial “little black dress” – designed and evolved for travel.

And it passed the test.

It’s incredibly comfortable, flattering, and it feels indestructible. It washes well, and it dries much quicker than I thought it would.

Because of the extra material in the mid-section it’s not the lightest or most compact piece of clothing I own, but it’s certainly not the heaviest, and it doesn’t wrinkle – and did I mention it’s comfortable? It actually makes me feel like a ballerina….I want to dance in this dress!

The style is conservative enough to pull off in many scenarios and cultures, but (where appropriate) I also like to spice it up and wear the sleeves off the shoulders!

This dress has quickly become one of my absolute favourite pieces of clothing.

Unfortunately the Monika dress is no longer available, but it’s been replaced with lots of other cool dresses. Check them out here – I dare you NOT to fall in love.

Clicking the links in this article will give you 20% off site wide at Anatomie! Discount automatically applies at checkout.

Anatomie’s Cargo Capri Travel Pants

I hate shopping for pants.

Largely because pants fit me incredibly inconsistently. One style/make of pants might be a perfect fit at a size 6; and another pair can barely get past my knees at a size 12. And often pants that fit me properly in the hips and thighs have waists that are way too large and gap unflatteringly at the back.

So I specifically didn’t ask for pants from Anatomie. I wasn’t interested in receiving a pair of pants that I couldn’t try on first.

But they sent me a pair of their Cargo Capris anyway – and boy, am I ever happy they did.

After over five years of constant wear, these capris have held up terrifically.

The material caught my attention first; it’s incredibly lightweight, stretchy, yet durable. The fit surprised me next: like a glove! There are side straps at the waist to customize the perfect fit (which suits both skinny and bloaty days!), and the low-rise style is quite flattering.

Because of the light stretchy material (which most of Anatomie’s pants are made of), it’s very comfortable and dries almost instantly, but it’s not suitable for cooler weather.

My only beef with the Cargo Capris are the pockets. It looks like there are lots of useful pockets, but the main pockets are useless as they’re blocked by the lower pockets – which look nice but aren’t particularly secure (I’ve lost coins from sitting down and standing up again). And the back pockets are only flaps. Thus there’s not a lot of pocket space to justify the number of pocket flaps perpetually sticking out at weird angles.

Despite these criticisms I wear the Cargo Capris consistently, and they’re perfect for summer climates – staying covered up yet cool. (Oh yes, and nary a wrinkle in sight).

Though the Cargo Capris are no longer on offer, there are plenty of full length pairs of pants made with the same awesome material. The Kate pants are my fav pair of travel pants (and their pockets make more sense).

Clicking the links in this article will give you 20% off site wide at Anatomie! Discount automatically applies at checkout.

Anatomie’s Cosima Cozy Coverup

I also didn’t specifically pick this item (they just sent it to me). Although I’m a big fan of having a universal cover-up like the Cosima Cozy as an essential piece of travel gear (especially when packing space is limited), I already had one in my arsenal at the time, and the Cosima material looked way too flimsy and too lightweight to actually be warm.

How could this possibly be a practical piece of travel gear, and withstand the rigours of travel?

Indeed, when I opened the package, I was hit with a conflicting reaction to the Cosima Cosy Coverup: on one hand it seemed so thin that if I looked at it the wrong way it would fall apart, and on the other hand it was Just. So. Cosy.

I couldn’t stop touching it and purring.

For two months I wore it a lot; and I’m pretty tough on my clothes, so I put it through some paces. It stood up to the challenge, as if defiantly challenging me to push it even further. But I still wasn’t convinced it was as tough as it seemed.

And then, one day, it happened.

I brushed too close to a doorway and the Cosima got caught up on a nail. Glory be – it didn’t rip! I’m still not sure how this is possible (it was a full-on snag and I was moving quickly), but it seems this material is tougher than it looks and feels.

And as with all my Anatomie clothing, it washes easily, and dries almost instantly. It regularly gets crumpled up in the bottom of my laptop bag when I’m on the move, and I can always whip it out and put it on without a wrinkle in sight.

While the Cosima Cozy isn’t available any longer, they have lots of beautiful tops to choose from – check them out here.

Why Anatomie’s Travel Clothes Are Worth The Money

So you’ve seen the prices. This stuff ain’t cheap. And as somebody who has perfected the art of financially-sustainable full-time travel, I was hesitant to review any of their clothing.

But.

Here’s why Anatomie is actually worth the money:

• The material is largely sourced from Italy and France. It’s good stuff.
• Nothing wrinkles. (And I don’t carry an iron in my bag. Strangely.)
• Everything feels soft and lovely.
• The fit is surprisingly good.
• Despite some materials feeling dangerously thin, it’s very durable.
• It’s stylish, in a classic way that transcends many cultures and borders.
• It’s designer travel wear. And when you wear designer clothing, you usually pay a premium.
  
  

Worried About the Fit? Or Just Not Liking What You Order?

Don’t be. Anatomie offers free shipping and returns on all sales. They provide a pre-paid return label with your shipment, so it’s no hassle to do exchanges or returns.

So, in short, I’m a convert. Anatomie is now, in my opinion, the best travel clothing ever.

Although I wouldn’t have considered paying the asking price for this clothing when I first browsed the site, once I had a chance to try it, I was sold. I’ve since purchased a large number of Anatomie pieces (and received a few others to review), such that now the vast majority of my travel wardrobe is made by Anatomie.

Anatomie is designer travel wear for women, and in marrying the practical needs of travel with the style requirements of the designer industry, Anatomie has found their niche.

Clicking the links in this article will give you 20% off site wide at Anatomie! Discount automatically applies at checkout.

This post This is the Best Travel Clothes Brand for Long-Term Travel appeared first on The Professional Hobo. Please click through to read it in full!