Over the last couple of years, I have become increasingly picky in the material of the clothes that I wear. Given that my partner and I travel full-time with 1 suitcase each, choosing the right types of fabric has been a game changer. In this article, I’m going to talk about Ibex Merino Wool and why I think it is one of the best brands for travelers.
After doing a ton of research, Merino Wool is like the holy grail of fabrics when it comes to travel, adventure, and sports. It is quick-dry, antimicrobial, and can help you regulate your temperature quite easily.
We have a lot of exciting hiking and adventure trips planned this year so I wanted to do a big gear update. There was no doubt that I wanted a few Merino Wool products but to my surprise, had a tough time finding high-quality Merino Wool women’s wear.
Enter, Ibex Merino Wool.
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Ibex Merino Wool Review
When I first stumbled upon IBEX, I was pleasantly surprised that they actually had a lot of stylish Merino Wool clothes for women. Other brands solely focused on menswear or had limited options for women.
I decided to order a few products to test them out. While I’ve been using Merino Wool thermals and socks for a few years now, I’ve never really bought any t-shirts or other products using this fabric.
I have always associated Merino Wool with Winter wear but I have to say I am now a convert!
Women’s Merino Tencel Pocket Tee
I have to say, after only a few wears, this Ibex Tencel Pocket Tee is now one of my favorites and is going to be a staple in my wardrobe from now on. It is light, soft, and extremely comfortable. I am always a bit nervous about ordering clothes online as I don’t know how it will fit but I was pleasantly surprised at how flattering this shirt was. It is something that you can easily dress up or down.
Made from 45% Merino Wool, 45% Tencel, 10% Nylon, this shirt is a great addition to your wardrobe if you’re looking for high-quality everyday shirts. If you’re not familiar with fabrics, Tencel is a natural material from wood pulps that is making the rounds in activewear nowadays!
I ordered the silver melange but would happily get it in every color as well! I put this shirt to the test by wearing it on an almost 22 hour travel day and the shirt still smelled fresh and clean when I arrived at our final destination.
The only thing I would say is that it wrinkles quite a bit. Coming from someone who NEVER irons anything this was a bit of a disappointment. However, I’ve only washed it once so I will test out cold ironing it which the label specifies.
Having said this, I would still buy this shirt again as I love how soft and flattering it is.
Women’s 24 Hour Short Sleeved
The next item that I ordered from Ibex was the 24 hour short sleeved scooped neck tee. Unlike the previous shirt which has a blend of other fibers, this tee is 100% Merino wool.
This t-shirt makes use of Ibex’ MECool fabric that is 100% merino with a performance finish. They use a proprietary steaming process that makes the material feel cooler to the touch, increasing its versatility in various climates.
This means that the shirt is extremely thermoregulating which is extremely important when it comes to hiking! I am a sucker for comfort and wanted something that was comfortable while still being stylish.
Having sworn off wearing regular cotton t-shirts a long time ago, I haven’t really found any dri-fit t-shirts which don’t look like athletic wear.
I was pleasantly surprised by how this t-shirt felt and how it fared when I took it hiking. Got a lot of compliments on the color (French Navy) and was overall really happy with its performance.
I wore the 24 hour shirt hiking in the Slovakian Tatras and found that it helped me regulate my temperature from cold to hot, even when walking steep uphills.
Because it’s 100% Merino, it requires less washing. I’ve now worn this 3x hiking and the shirt still smells clean and fresh. Honestly very impressed!
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Women’s Essential Racerback
As I wanted a sleeveless top to bring with me to the Camino de Santiago hike we’re doing in the tailend of the year, I also ordered the Women’s Essential Racerback in black.
Ibex has made changes to the fit making it a bit looser so they recommend that you size down if you want it snug. Personally, I ordered a medium and found the fit to be just right. It is lightweight, comfortable, and flattering as well.
Made from 83% Merino, 12% Nylon and 5% Elastane, this racerback is soft to the touch and is very comfortable to wear.
Similar to Ibex’ other t-shirts, this tank is anti-microbial as well as thermoregulating. Due to its flattering fit, it can easily be dressed up or down.
Women’s Indie Hoodie
The last item I ordered was the women’s Indie Hoodie which they advertise to be a lightweight hoodie for active days.
For this particular trip, I decided to ditch my regular hoodie as I wanted to carry lightweight items which I could layer on if I was feeling cold. I have to admit that this hoodie was lighter than I expected-but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Made from 100% Merino Wool, this hoodie makes a great layer for down jackets and a rain jacket. It fits like a glove and hugs your body in all the right places.
I love the thumb holes as this makes it easy to slip other layers on and off. Although the material doesn’t feel as soft as the Tencel pocket tee, for a Merino Wool layer, it is soft to the touch and very comfortable.
Ibex Review: Things We Love
Overall, I am extremely impressed with the quality of their clothes. Although I just ordered items from their Women’s line, my husband is now keen to order a few items from the Ibex Menswear for himself after seeing the quality of my pieces.
Founded in 1997, this company has stood the test of time and has grown into a recognizable brand within the industry. Its items are loved by activewear users from all over the world but for me, what I love the most about this company is its commitment to sustainability.
They are a climate neutral company which offsets its carbon footprint, knowing that the apparel industry is the 2nd largest industrial polluter after oil. This fact alone made me realize how much everyone needs to avoid fast fashion and switch to supporting reputable brands.
All of their wool comes directly from New Zealand or Australia and is sourced ethically from reputable farms.
Their motto is simple. Buy less, buy better. If you read the reviews of their items, I do say that everyone tends to rave about the quality of their apparel.
Now that I have a lot of tops, my next investment would definitely be trying out their bottoms as they seem to have a wide range of leggings, tights,and joggers.
Now comes the clincher- the price. It is no secret that Merino Wool items are pricey. However, coming from someone who only owns a few items of clothing, the price to ratio quality makes it worth it.
I would look at buying these items as an investment as I have no doubt they will last me for years.
Bottomline, if you’re looking to upgrade your gear and are looking for high quality, performance based items that look great, I highly recommend Ibex items.
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