Opinion
Running shoes forever – I even wear trail runners on city trips
by Patrick Bardelli
Clad in merino wool from head to toe: how outdoor wear fares on a city trip
3.10.2023
Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson
Pictures: Oliver Fischer
It’s late September in Hamburg. The sun’s shining, temperatures are rising towards a comfortably warm 25 degrees and there’s a lot to see in the Hanseatic city – from the Elbphilharmonie to St. Pauli. This is all great news, but will my deodorant last these busy days? Who cares? I’m sporting outdoor clothing made of merino wool, so no sweat!
During the summer holidays this year, I was out and about in and around Stockholm. By the end of each day, I’d racked up several hours of exploring on foot and had sweaty clothes to prove it. Often accompanied by a fruity smell. This made me realise two things.
First, running shoes are great in a city environment.
Second, although synthetic outdoor clothing works in the mountains, it’s not ideal on a city trip, as it starts to reek. While my sweaty scent is unlikely to put anyone’s nose out of joint in an alpine restaurant, it can be a bit awkward in a trendy urban café amidst hordes of other tourists. I don’t like being a burden to the noses of people around me. Frankly, there are enough of those around already.
And in my opinion, cotton T-shirts aren’t particularly suitable for long days spent trudging through a hot city. Why? Because they don’t allow moisture to escape and start to smell at some stage. The solution for my dilemma is merino. This type of wool has many advantages: it insulates well, isn’t itchy, allows moisture to escape, is antistatic, doesn’t smell, is light, retains its fit and hardly creases.
Source: Oliver Fischer
Mulesing-free merino wool
I’m actually a fan of Ortovox products. Their merino wool stems from Tasmania and is 100 per cent mulesing-free, at least according to the manufacturer.
To prevent flies from laying eggs in the skin folds of the merino sheep, the wrinkled skin on the rumps of lambs is cut off with sharp scissors without anaesthesia. This technique is called mulesing and is only still practised in Australia. However, Ortovox wool isn’t obtained in this way. However, their products are quite expensive and their design perhaps a little too outdoorsy for the city.
That’s why I’ve gone for a T-shirt and hoodie by Icebreaker for my trip to Hamburg. This wool is also free from mulesing according to the manufacturer. The prices are more moderate, the design a little less loud and therefore suitable for the city.
T-shirt and hoodie by Icebreaker
For three days straight, I was wearing the Men Tech Lite II SS Tee Skiing Yeti from morning to evening. Once, I even kept it on for dinner at a restaurant. In between, I let it dry overnight on a hanger in the hotel room. The Quantum III Hoodie Jacket was with me at all times, too. Depending on the situation, I either wore it over my shirt or tied it around my waist. The former on an evening tour of the harbour, the latter on a day in the blazing sun.
Source: Oliver Fischer
Verdict: completely satisfied
Spending twelve hours a day in a big city is both exciting and exhausting. Getting around on the subway, suburban train, bus, ferry and, above all, on foot to see the sights, having coffee and lunch in between and, finally, going out for dinner. With all this going on, even the best deodorant is likely to fail. But thanks to a merino wool T-shirt and the hoodie, that doesn’t matter. At the end of my Hamburg trip, both smell as fresh as they did on day one.
The advantages of these products are impressive throughout. And I’m totally happy with them. I hope all the Hamburgers and tourists I ran into during my stay feel the same way.
Source: Photo: Oliver Fischer
Patrick Bardelli
Senior Editor
Patrick.Bardelli@digitecgalaxus.chFrom radio journalist to product tester and storyteller, jogger to gravel bike novice and fitness enthusiast with barbells and dumbbells. I'm excited to see where the journey'll take me next.
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