Is Unbound Merino Worth It?

Unbound Merino has become popular with travelers, digital nomads, and minimalists for its promise of high-quality merino wool clothing that resists odor, requires less frequent washing, and packs well for versatile use.

The Good

Comfort & Quality “Love my Unbound Merino (more than I love my Wool and Prince). I have Unbound Merino Men’s boxer briefs, T and long-sleeve and a hoodie, love ’em all…” (19 upvotes) “The quality from Unbound is great… It’s definitely the most comfortable hoodie I’ve ever worn though, and the crew neck is definitely in my rotation for the same reasons.” (11 upvotes)
Odor Resistance “I purchased Unbound when I went to Wales back in March. It’s been the best decision I’ve ever made. Since then I’ve probably worn it 90% of days?” (11 upvotes)
Great for Travel “I’ve been one bagging for almost 4 weeks with 3 Tom Fyfe short sleeves + a Uniqlo long sleeved pullover and I washed them all exactly once… There was almost no smell on any of them.” (29 upvotes)
Fit Preference “Unbound seems to be more of an athletic tapered cut which I prefer. The W&P for me are a bit too boxy and loose…” (10 upvotes)

The Not So Good

Transparency Concerns “I have Unbound Merino… but the labels I’ve just checked (just the underwear) all say ‘Made in China’” (19 upvotes)
Sheerness “Great quality, comfortable fit, but goddamn, my pointed nips shine bright as a beacon in the night through them.” (14 upvotes)
Quality Control “I had a very similar seam experience with this dress and another Unbound T shirt (I sent both back but the dress was sold out by then so I wasn’t able to do an exchange).” (30 upvotes)

Comparison to Alternatives

Wool & Prince “You can’t really go wrong with either. I own T’s from both and I personally prefer Unbound but mostly for the better fit on my frame.” (24 upvotes)
Outlier “Outlier t-shirts are a stretch too far in price IMHO, especially after the recent price increase. There’s simply no way to justify that price…” (13 upvotes)
Icebreaker & Smartwool “Not either but I tried out an icebreaker short sleeve button up that fit a lot better than any of the other brands.” (14 upvotes)
Uniqlo (budget option) “I have two of the merino tops from Uniqlo and they’re my favorite things. On sale, maybe 20$ each and 100% merino.” (17 upvotes)

Tips & Tricks

Washing & Care “I machine wash everything on ‘handwash’ in Woolite and hang to dry. My hunch is that in hand washing you aren’t actually getting all the funk out so it ‘reactivates’ when it hits your body heat.” (72 upvotes) “Towel method is correct method for all wool. Can’t convince me otherwise.” (23 upvotes)
Deodorizing Between Washes “I spray the pits with alcohol and let it dry in between washes if they stink.” (11 upvotes) “I give them a spritz with vodka and hang them up to refresh them and wash them when I get home.” (76 upvotes)

The Verdict

Reddit users generally view Unbound Merino positively, particularly for comfort, odor resistance, and minimalist travel utility. The products perform well for extended wear without washing, making them popular among one-bag travelers and those who value simplicity.

That said, concerns about manufacturing transparency and quality control do surface, and the higher price point makes expectations even stricter. But Overall, Unbound delivers on its promise for most buyers, provided they’re willing to invest in proper care and accept the premium cost.