During our search for great travel clothing, we ran across the Rohan brand.  We liked what we saw, and Rohan offered us some test items for our recent trip to Australia and New Zealand.  I have outlined my experience with each item and included a few of my favorite key features of the specific product.  I hope you find this article useful when deciding on some key pieces to add to your travel wardrobe!

Rohan Women’s Clothing

Let me start with Rohan sizing, because sizing is a key piece of the equation when considering a new brand.  Since Rohan uses UK sizing, I was a little nervous about whether I was going to choose the right size.  Needless to say, with some advice from the friendly Rohan representative, I went with a UK Size 10 for all the items listed in this review.  I am normally a size Small or US Size 4/6, depending on the brand, so I feel that Rohan’s size chart accurately equates a UK 10 to a US 6.  The sizing was also consistent among all the items I tested.

Merino Union 200 Top – $44 (on sale)

I have zero complaints about this shirt.  I wore this shirt during one of the most incredible days of our trip – when we biked the wineries and went bungy jumping!  The biking got a little sweaty at times, but the shirt aired out quickly and never got stinky.  The color seen here is Indian Sapphire, which is gorgeous.  I especially love it against the bright blue Kawaru River!  This shirt is definitely versatile because it can be worn alone or used as a base layer.

(60% Merino wool/40% polyester, odor resistant, 5 hour drying time)

Merino Union 150 Dress – $44 (on sale)

The first time I tried this dress on, I was unimpressed with the long length.  I am 5’7″ and the dress hits just barely above my knees.  (The length is accurately portrayed in the pictures on Rohan’s website).  Since I was going to be wearing the dress with flats for dinner nights out, I wanted something a little less frumpy.  Needless to say, I got creative!  I had a long, thick ribbon that I used as a waist belt.  Then, I pull the top of the dress up over the “belt” a bit, to get a shorter look that was more my style.  I wore the dress this way in Australia with the leggings and in Mexico without the leggings.  A long sleeve t-shirt could be layered underneath for added warmth.

(63% Merino Wool/37% Polyester, 3 hour drying time, no ironing)

Merino Union 150 Leggings – $63

The leggings were my least favorite item.  I have a slightly different variation of these leggings, which doesn’t contain the bottom cuff.  With leggings, I like the option of wearing them alone during day activities (hiking, biking, etc.) or layering under a dress or top for an evening look.  For me, these are ONLY layering leggings because they are very thin.  For several nice dinner nights, I did wear the leggings under the Merino Union 150 Dress mentioned above, as well as under a few light tunic tops.  Definitely a good option to feel a little dressier in the evening, without sacrificing any backpack space.  I would prefer a more versatile pair of travel leggings for future trips.

(63% Merino Wool/37% Polyester, lightweight/easy packing, super soft)

Merino Union 150 Hooded Top Long Sleeve – $53 (on sale)

This hooded top is one of my go-to’s for plane travel.  The lighter color I have, (“Natural Marl,”) makes it versatile with jeans, leggings, or trousers.  It has a tiny, concealed zip pocket in the front, which is where I place my earbuds for easy access while on the plane.  The material is soft and warm, without being too restrictive.  I would like if it were a bit longer, but overall this is a great hoodie.

(63% Merino wool/37% polyester, concealed zip pocket, 5 hour drying time)

Pinpoint T – $49

This t-shirt was my favorite item.  I made the mistake of getting this shirt in white (only available in the clearance section), which obviously isn’t the best color for travel.  I literally got soy sauce all over the front the first time I wore it.  Fortunately, this is great quality fabric that was easy to wash and dried very quickly.  The Rohan website claims a two-hour drying time, and I can confirm that is accurate.  Both the navy and grey color options available now are much better choices!

(Dryknit™ 95% polyester/5% elastane, 2 hour drying time, no ironing, relaxed fit)

Meridian Jacket – $83 (on sale)

This is a great travel jacket and probably the item that I have gotten the most use out of.  I love that it is lightweight and water/wind resistant, while still maintaining a warm lining.  The only downfall to this jacket was that the sleeves were a bit too short for my long arms.  That didn’t stop me from wearing it everywhere though!  The best things about this item is the packable feature.  The inner zip pocket, or “Packpocket”, basically turns this jacket into a pillow in just a few seconds.  I hooked my folded-up jacket to a caribeaner on my backpack, when I wasn’t wearing it or using it as a pillow!

(OUTER: 100% polyester with Durable Water Repellency™, LINING: 100% polyester, packable – “Packpocket” style, wind resistent)

Final Thoughts

Overall, I was very impressed with the quality of these Rohan products.  Merino wool gear is a must when trying to pack for a long trip in only a backpack, and we now have a great, versatile selection.  Although I liked some of the featured items more than others, I think this is a brand we will continue to purchase items from in the future.  It’s a bonus that there are A LOT of great items on clearance right now!