An often-overlooked piece of backpacking gear is your undergarments. Do you prefer synthetic or natural materials? How much support do you need from your bra? And how many pairs of underwear are enough?
I spent waaaaay too much time going back and forth between brands and styles before embarking on my Appalachian Trail thru-hike. After several thousand miles of backpacking, I’m much more confident in knowing what to look for in my unmentionables.
Branwyn’s merino wool performance innerwear is designed to let you “focus on your goals instead of your underwear.” Whether you’re tackling high-alpine adventures, heading out for a long weekend of backpacking, or jumping in a lake, Branwyn offers bras and underwear for women who prioritize comfort and sustainability.
I’ve previously reviewed Branwyn’s Essential Busty Bra, Essential Bikini, and Essential Racerback Sports Bra for The Trek. This time, I put the Essential Supreme Bra and Essential Hipster to the test. Both promise the comfort and odor resistance of merino wool, but how do they hold up through sweaty trail miles, long days at work, and everything in between?
Branwyn Essential Supreme Bra At a Glance
- MSRP: $76
- Available sizes: XS–XXL
- Available colors: Black, Luna Gray, Light Nude, Warm Nude, Dark Nude, Transformative Tea
- Materials: 81% Merino wool, 14% nylon, and 5% elastane
- Weight: 4.1oz with pad inserts; 3.7oz without pads (size large, according to my kitchen scale)
Branwyn Essential Hipster At a Glance
- MSRP: $40
- Available sizes: XS–XXL
- Available colors: Black, Luna Gray, Light Nude, Warm Nude, Dark Nude, Transformative Teal, Future Dusk
- Materials: 81% Merino wool, 14% nylon, and 5% elastane
- Weight: 1.8oz (size large, according to my kitchen scale)
Circumstances of Review
I spent the summer running, hiking, and backpacking throughout East Tennessee, with my Branwyn performance innerwear set as a constant companion. When I wasn’t exploring the outdoors, I was working full-time in healthcare and teaching yoga on the weekends.
I wore both pieces on and off the trail, putting them through a variety of activities, including swimming, long trail runs, multi-day backpacking trips, yoga classes, and 12-hour shifts at work. Between the heat, sweat, and repeated wear, I had plenty of opportunities to see how these garments performed in real-world conditions.
Branwyn Essential Supreme Bra Features
Branwyn’s Performance Innerwear is designed to hug your body, creating a snug fit that moves with you throughout the day. Both the Essential Supreme Bra and Essential Hipster feature seamless, tag-free designs intended to minimize irritation.
The Supreme Bra takes that comfort-focused approach a step further with a design intended to minimize pressure points. It eliminates underwire and incorporates what Branwyn calls a “first-of-its-kind seamless scrunch for gentle separation.”
Other features include a 2.5-inch-wide band for gentle support and 0.75-inch-wide convertible shoulder straps. The straps are adjustable and can be arranged in either a traditional configuration or a crisscross design. The bra also includes built-in pockets for removable bra pads, allowing you to customize the coverage to your preference.
Branwyn Essential Hipster Underwear Features
Like the bra, the Essential Hipster is designed to hug your body without restricting movement. Branwyn offers several styles of merino wool underwear, and the Hipster provides more coverage than the traditional bikini cut. It features a higher waistband and a longer cut around the backside. Branwyn describes the style as sitting below the belly button while providing full coverage on the booty.
Why Merino?
Merino wool is a popular material in outdoor clothing, and for good reason. The natural fiber comes from Merino sheep and is renewable and biodegradable in its pure form. Branwyn uses 17.5-micron merino wool and lists certifications and standards including ZQ+, OEKO-TEX Standard 100, and REACH compliance. These address various aspects of responsible sourcing, animal welfare, and chemical safety.
Beyond its environmental appeal, merino wool has several properties that make it attractive for backcountry use. The natural structure of the fibers helps regulate temperature, making merino useful in a variety of conditions. It also wicks moisture away from the skin and is known for its odor resistance, a particularly welcome feature when you’re wearing the same clothes for several days in a row.
Of course, merino isn’t without its drawbacks. Wool garments can be expensive, and their performance varies depending on the fabric construction and garment design.
Pros
Extremely Comfortable
Comfort is one area where Branwyn consistently delivers. The soft Merino fabric and thoughtful construction make both pieces comfortable, even after extended wear. They’re designed to fit close to the body, creating a second-skin feel that moves with you rather than fighting against you.
The seamless construction was another plus. I didn’t experience irritation from seams or tags rubbing against my skin, whether I was hiking with a loaded backpack, running on the trails, or spending hours at work.
After testing several Branwyn products, I can confidently say that comfort is one of the brand’s strongest selling points. These garments are easy to wear all day without constantly reminding you that they’re there.
Stays in Place
There’s nothing worse than constantly adjusting your bra straps or dealing with underwear that rides up while you’re hiking. Fortunately, I didn’t have those problems with this set. The bra stayed in place under my pack, and the underwear didn’t leave me constantly tugging at the fabric or dealing with wedgies. Even when I was folding, bending, and stretching during yoga class or at camp, neither piece felt restrictive or limiting.
Truly Odor Resistant
I wore both the Essential Supreme Bra and Essential Hipster for days between washes. Given the summer temperatures, my long miles on trail, and the amount I sweat, I expected at least some noticeable funk to develop, particularly in the underwear.
Instead, I was pleasantly surprised by how little either garment smelled. Even after strenuous activities in hot weather, both pieces remained remarkably odor resistant. When you’re backpacking and trying to minimize the number of garments you carry, being able to wear your undergarments for multiple days without developing a noticeable odor is a real advantage.
Easy To Care For
Odor resistance also means you may be able to go longer between washes, which is especially helpful on extended backpacking trips. When I needed to freshen up my garments on the trail, a quick rinse in a creek did the trick.
At home, caring for the bra and underwear was straightforward, although I had to remember not to put them in the dryer. Branwyn recommends handwashing or using a gentle washing machine cycle, followed by air drying.
I’ve accidentally run my Branwyn garments through regular washing machine cycles and even left them in the dryer a few times. They survived without noticeable shrinking or damage. Still, I recommend following the manufacturer’s care instructions and laying them flat to dry to help preserve their longevity.
Adjustable Straps and Removable Pads
One feature that sets the Essential Supreme Bra apart from some of Branwyn’s other bras is its adjustability. The metal sliders allow you to tighten or loosen the straps to achieve a more customized fit. You can also rearrange the straps into a halter-style configuration or cross them over your back. I like having the ability to adjust a bra’s fit rather than being stuck with a fixed strap length. It’s a small detail that can make a difference in everyday comfort.
The removable bra pads are another thoughtful feature. For everyday wear, I preferred the extra coverage they provided. When backpacking, however, I removed them to save a little weight. I barely noticed a difference in comfort without them, making it easy to customize the bra depending on the situation.
If you want additional coverage, Branwyn sells Sustainable Bra Pads separately for $9.50. They’re compatible with the Essential Supreme Bra and Essential Racerback Sports Bra, and they’re discounted to $4.50 when purchased with a bra.
Cons
Doesn’t Dry Quickly
Merino wool is often praised for its moisture-wicking and drying properties, but that wasn’t my experience when it came to this set’s drying time. Despite the relatively thin, breathable fabric, I found that both the Essential Supreme Bra and Essential Hipster retained moisture longer than I’d like.
During one backpacking trip, I went swimming midday while wearing my Branwyn set. I expected the garments to dry as I hiked toward camp, but both were still wet when I arrived. Even after laying them out overnight, they remained damp the following morning.
This happened multiple times during my testing period. In my experience, these garments need several hours in direct sunlight to dry thoroughly. That isn’t realistic if you have to get moving early out of camp, or when the weather isn’t cooperating.
If you like to swim in your underwear on backpacking trips, hike in humid conditions, or need to wash clothes to wear the next day again, drying time is worth considering. Odor resistance is great, but it doesn’t eliminate the need to dry your clothing properly.
Metal Hardware Can Be Uncomfortable
The metal clasps and sliders on the Essential Supreme Bra sit comfortably against my skin during normal wear. However, I noticed a downside when it was time to relax.
While I didn’t notice the hardware beneath my pack, the clasps and sliders dug into my shoulders when I lay down on my sleeping pad. The discomfort was immediate and made it difficult to forget I was wearing the bra.
I’m not sure whether plastic hardware would be less noticeable, and I understand that the adjustable design requires some sort of mechanism. Still, this is worth considering if you plan to wear the bra while sleeping or lounging at camp. If you’re someone who prefers to remove your bra as soon as you reach camp, this may not be much of an issue.
The Hipster Sits High on the Waist
The Essential Hipster lives up to its name: it sits high on the waist. As someone who generally gravitates toward bikini-cut underwear, I found the waistband higher than I prefer. Depending on the shorts I wore, the top of the underwear was visible above the waistband.
Fortunately, I found an easy workaround. Rolling the waistband down a couple of times brought the fit closer to what I prefer. I expected to have to readjust the fold throughout the day, but it stayed in place and remained comfortable.
Ultimately, this comes down to personal preference rather than a flaw in the design. If you prefer more coverage and a higher rise, the Hipster may be just what you’re looking for. For me, though, I’d stick with the Essential Bikini.
Conclusion
The Branwyn Essential Supreme Bra and Essential Hipster are worthy contenders when deciding what undergarments to pack for a backpacking trip. Both are comfortable enough for long days on the trail, stay in place during movement, and resist odors remarkably well. The Supreme Bra’s adjustable straps and removable pads offer some welcome versatility, while the Hipster provides a higher-rise alternative to the traditional bikini cut.
However, neither garment dries particularly quickly, and the bra’s metal hardware can be uncomfortable when lying down. At $76 for the bra and $40 for the underwear, this set is an investment. Whether it’s worthwhile depends on your priorities.
If you value comfort, odor resistance, and the benefits of Merino wool, Branwyn’s innerwear is worth considering. If quick drying is high on your list, you may want to explore other options.
For me, Branwyn remains a strong contender for everyday wear and backpacking. These pieces have their shortcomings, but their comfort and odor resistance make them stand out in a category of gear that doesn’t always get the attention it deserves.
Comparable Bras and Underwear
Ridge Merino
Women’s Send-It Seamless Merino Wool Sports Bra
- MSRP: $60
- Available sizes: XS-XL
- Available colors: Black
- Materials: 38% Merino wool, 38% Q-NOVA recycled nylon, 17% nylon, 7% spandex
Women’s Ridge Merino Wool Hipster Brief Underwear
- MSRP: $30
- Available sizes: XS-XL
- Available colors: Ice Flow, Backpacker Print, Dusty Lilac, Black, Dune, Bone
- Materials: 84% Merino wool, 12% recycled nylon, 4% spandex
Icebreaker
- MSRP: $60
- Available sizes: XS-XL
- Available colors: Zinc Blue, Black, Umber, Lichen, Midnight Navy, Praline, Gritstone Heather, Pink Quartz
- Materials: 83% Merino Wool, 12% Nylon, 5% Elastane
Women’s Merino 150 Siren Hipkini
- MSRP: $40
- Available sizes: XS-XL
- Available colors: Zinc Blue, Black, Umber, Lichen, Midnight Navy, Praline, Gritstone Heather, Pink Quartz, Undyed
- Materials: 83% Merino wool, 12% Polyamide, 5% Elastane
Smartwool
Women’s Intraknit Racerback Bra
- MSRP: $80
- Available sizes: XS-XL
- Available colors: Nightfall Blue Heather, Pink Sugar Heather, Black Heather
- Materials: Outer:69% Nylon, 17% Elastane, 14% Polyester. Lining: 41% Merino Wool, 35% TENCEL™ Lyocell, 13% Nylon, 11% Elastane
- MSRP: $44
- Available sizes: XS-XL
- Available colors: Nightfall Blue, Pink Sugar, Black
- Materials: 42% Merino Wool, 38% TENCEL Lyocell, 12% Nylon, 8% Elastane
The Branwyn Essential Supreme Bra and Essential Hipster underwear were donated for purpose of review
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