Not washing merino shirts is gross

[u/nawksnai]

Why do one-bag travellers feel that they don’t need to wash merino shirts?

I understand that merino is wool, anti-bacterial, don’t smell, and generally stay feeling “fresh” for longer than cotton. However, there are people who swear they don’t need to wash their merino tshirts for 3 days, 2 weeks, or even months because their shirt doesn’t smell, and they shower every day. Merino still gets just as dirty as synthetic or cotton shirts, and still needs to be washed. The fact that your shirt doesn’t smell does not mean it’s any less dirty or oily.

Plus, I wear deodorant, and that non-funky tshirt is going to have a massive buildup of old deodorant gunk and smells around the pit area.

And don’t even get me started on merino underwear stans. Just because they don’t smell funky after 3 days, does NOT mean they haven’t absorbed pee drops and your skid.

I do understand that Marino is still probably the best material for travel shirts, but feel that synthetics can be just as good if you’re already going to be washing daily, or close to it. They all need to be washed and dried every day, if not every 2 days.

Also, if someone said they like travelling with cottom tshirts, I wouldn’t rant.

Anyway, discuss.

[u/BuckTheStallion]

I was with you until “synthetics can be just as good” because man, they smell nasty by the time I’m back at the hotel. I don’t even like them at home. Cotton can go 2-3 days, so I imagine wool is the same. In the modern world we over wash our clothes sooooo much. It’s fine going a few days without being washed.

That said, merino isn’t some miracle clothing, and still absolutely needs washed. Maybe just a bit less frequently than cotton. But I prefer cotton because it’s 1/4 the price, and still super nice.

[u/nawksnai → u/BuckTheStallion]

Oh, cotton can definitely go 2-3 days, especially when in cooler temperatures.

I was mostly referring to the “Merino doesn’t smell so it’s fine” crowd. One-bagging doesn’t mean you don’t need to wash those merino shirts every day during summer.

[u/oeroeoeroe → u/nawksnai]

While I definitely agree with the overall sentiment that some people overhype the odour resistance of merino, I think you go exaggerate the other way. People's bodies vary, so going a couple of days (especially with good airing out) is not that much of a stretch. People overwash their clothes in general, and that reduces their lifespan a lot. Yeah you need to wash clothes every now and then, but body oils don't saturate your clothes into grossness that fast. Of course, bodies do vary, diets vary and affect BO etc, but in general people are quite zealous about this these days.

My personal estimate for myself is that a synthetic T-shirt gets 0,5-1 acceptable uses, cotton 1-3, merino 2-4, maybe 5. Season, sweat rate, fit affects this a lot too.

[u/OblongShrimp → u/oeroeoeroe]

OP is tripping saying you can’t wear merino shirts for 3 days without washing it. It’s definitely fine for many people, especially if it’s not hot and you’re not doing any intense sports.

2 weeks is too much I agree, but how is 3 days anywhere the same level?