Best Travel Shirt I’ve Found: Woolly Clothing Co. Merino Wool Henley Review
Finding the best travel shirt isn’t easy. Trust me. I’ve tried a few of them.
You still want to look good while on the road. You don’t want to look like some backpacking bum. So, you need a shirt designed for travel that still looks stylish.
Cotton needs to be washed. Cotton t-shirts stink after just one day of sweating in them. That’s just how it goes.
Plus, most merino wool t-shirts are too thin. Many of these traveler t-shirts are paper thin. If you have any muscle on your frame whatsoever, your nipples are about to be on full display when rocking a 140 GSM merino wool travel shirt.
Luckily, I found the best travel shirt. So let’s dive into this Woolly Merino Wool Henley review.
Who is Woolly Clothing Co.?
Woolly Clothing Co. certainly isn’t the first company you think of when looking for merino wool clothing. In fact, most travelers have never even heard of this brand. They aren’t exactly famous in the travel blog arena.
You won’t find Woolly Clothing Co. in many places. Unless you’ve searching “merino wool travel shirt” in Amazon, it’s highly unlikely you’ll ever run across this brand. They don’t have a REI contract. You won’t find them at Dick’s Sporting Goods.
That’s what makes their products so special. Woolly makes some of the best merino wool clothing you’ve never heard of. If you search for travel clothing, you’ve probably come across:
- Icebreaker
- Smart Wool
- Ibex
- Wool & Prince
- Outlier
All these companies produce solid merino wool clothing for travelers. A lot of this clothing is fantastic. For example, I’m a huge fan of pants from Outlier.
A lot of it sucks, too. Many a merino wool V-neck is made with material so thin you’d forget you’re even wearing a t-shirt. Oh, and then these companies have the nerve to charge you $69 USD for a paper thin product.
Straight up – if you’re looking for the best travel shirt on the market, the Woolly Merino Wool Henley cannot be topped.
What I Love About the Woolly Merino Wool Henley
When the best travel shirts on the market are on your mind, the Woolly Henley should be your first choice. Here’s why:
- Thick Merino Wool
As I’ve already suggested, many a merino wool travel shirt is paper thin. GSM is used to measure how thick fabric is. Most merino wool t-shirt offers a GSM from 120-160. That’s just too thin for me.
Now, for reference, a typically cotton shirt has a GSM between 160-190. The Woolly Merino Wool Henley offers a GSM of 190. That’s nice and thick.
For the first time, a merino wool shirt fits like a cotton one. You don’t feel like you’re wearing paper when you throw this travel t-shirt on. It feels like a real piece of clothing.
- Ideal in Warm & Cold
Now, some travelers may be thinking how they spend all their time in tropical places. Maybe you don’t want a thick travelers shirt. Well, I’ve got good news for you: this shirt is ideal in hot and cold. 
As this Henley is made out of merino wool, the shirt keeps you warm in the cold and cool in the heat. I’ve yet to feel too hot while wearing this shirt – even in 90-degree tropical weather.
- No Stink
Merino wool truly is a miracle fabric. Whether you’re a traveler or not, the fabric is ideal for everyday wear.
One of merino’s unique abilities ensures your shirt won’t stink. Merino wool kills bacteria, which ensures your Woolly Merino Wool Henley won’t hold odors after each wear.
You can wear this Henley shirt day after day, and it won’t stink. Many travelers have reported wearing a merino wool travel shirt for weeks on end without smell developing.
While this may be an exaggeration, you certainly can wear this shirt 4-5 days in a row without worry of stinking.
- No Need to Wash
As merino wool shirts don’t stink, you won’t need to wash this bad boy too often. I typically rotate my Woolly Merino Wool Henley shirts on and off.
I have three of them and typically wash all three at once every two weeks. That’s 4-5 days of wear per shirt. I’ve worn the same merino wool Henley for a week straight and didn’t notice any odors.
You don’t need to wash these travelers shirts often. You shouldn’t. I’d only recommend washing these t-shirts once every 4-10 full days of wear.
- Stylish Travel Shirts
Another qualm I have with some of the best travel shirts available – they look like travel t-shirts. These V-necks look like they were made to be worn while on a hike or riding a dirty chicken bus.
The Woolly Merino Wool Henley looks stylish. First off, a Henley is one of the most stylish kinds of t-shirts. A Henley naturally looks better than a crew neck or a V-neck. That’s just how it is.
Next, the thick material is cut just right. These shirts were designed with a slim fit cut that makes weightlifters look pretty damn good.
You can wear these travel t-shirts to a bar (not a club) or on a date and still look good. No one will ever suspect you’re wearing a merino wool travelers shirt that you’ve been wearing for a week straight.
- Fair Priced
Most merino travel shirts run between $60-90 USD for a damn t-shirt. That’s just a little much, especially when the material used to make the thing costs quarters.
Woolly’s Henley isn’t cheap, but it’s not ridiculously overpriced, either. You can pick up this merino wool shirt for around $40-50 depending on shipping. That’s pricey, but not bad considering you only need two of them for a month long trip.
Woolly Merino Wool Henley Review: Downsides
Honestly, I don’t have a lot of bad things to say about these Henley shirts. I love them, but I did notice a few things. Here are a few things I’d change about this merino travel shirt:
- Colors Available
There just aren’t many colors available with this product. While it may be the best travel shirt on the market, Woolly could certainly add a few extra colorways.
As of now, the Woolly Merino Wool Henley only comes in a smooth gray and bright red. While the smooth gray is ideal, the red is a little light and bright for my tastes.
Still, this is a minor complaint. The gray is perfect, and the red isn’t bad. I’d just like to see a light blue color sometime soon.
- Sleeve Cut
I prefer my t-shirts have a sleeve length that makes me look like a greaser from the 1950s. This type of sleeve cut looks alternative and kind of bad ass, especially if you’ve got some muscle.
The Woolly Merino Wool Henley still offers a longer t-shirt sleeve. It’s not a huge deal, but I often roll the sleeve up just a bit to show off the swole.
- Wash Inside Out
Lastly, you’ll have to remember to wash this shirt inside out. This will ensure the best travel shirt on the market looks brand new after each wash.
If you forget to do this one too many times (think 4-5 washes in a row), you’ll quickly find out the shirt doesn’t look new any longer.
P.S: The good news is you don’t have to worry about longevity if you just wash the product inside out. I’ve been wearing my Woolly Henley for four months now, and it looks as good as new. I always wash it inside out, too.
My Recommendation For Travelers
If you plan to hit the road soon, you can’t go wrong with this product. This truly is the best merino wool travel shirt on the market.
If you plan to buy a Woolly Merino Wool Henley or three, I’d recommend bringing two of these bad boys on trips of one week to one month.
If you’re a full-time traveler, I’d suggest keeping three of them in your bag. You won’t need to bring another t-shirt other than these merino wool travel tees.
Personally, I have one gray and two red Woolly Henley shirts. I live on the road full-time.
Woolly Merino Wool Henley Review: The Best Travel Shirt I’ve Found
Are you tired of doing laundry all the time? Want to simplify your wardrobe? About to hit the road for a long trip?
If so, I cannot recommend the Woolly Merino Wool Henley enough. This travel t-shirt is truly the best I’ve found. You won’t regret traveling around in this stylish, yet comfortable travel shirt.
