We’re pretty keen at HI Travel Tales on filling our rather small suitcase with multifunctional items. The more you can multi-task something, the more options you have, and the less you have to pack.

Therese tried a couple of Icebreaker Oasis long-sleeve tops, the Long Sleeve Crewe Top and the Long Sleeve Half Zip Top. Although there may be more technical running and workout tops from Icebreaker (mesh inserts, contrast striping and thumb loop stuff), she chose these because they could go along on a run or ski, but also work day-to-day in casual situations. The tone-on-tone stripe added a bit of interest for daywear too. And the pretty, bright colors were a hit!

Therese, heading out on the town with “the girls” while visiting in Germany … fitting in nicely with her Icebreaker Oasis Long Sleeve Zip top.

Therese found she could wear these a few days as casual wear, then transfer them to workout wear, wearing them again a few times and just letting them dry in between with the beauty of no-stink merino. In the cold European winter, she preferred the Icebreaker Oasis half-zip since she could pull it up around her neck yet still open it up for some venting on over-heated trains or more intensive runs.

Lighter-weight 200-gram merino wool had plenty of warmth for temperatures into the teens or 20s Fahrenheit (about -3 to -7 or so Celsius, give or take), with a fleece or wind-resistant jacket over the top. Anti-chafe seams did just that.