What are the benefits of merino wool?

As knitting enthusiasts well know: the weight stated on your wool product represents the total material weight of a fabric square metre.
This gives an indication of the way in which it has been woven and therefore of its thermal performance: the heavier the weight, the warmer the fabric will stay!
The weight also helps trekkers to make the best choice if they want to reduce the weight of their backpack as much as possible.

If wool traps heat naturally, isn’t there the chance of getting too hot by wearing it in sunny weather?
The answer is no! This is down to two great properties of wool: its great ability to absorb moisture and its interaction with external conditions.

Firstly, let’s talk about its absorption capacity as wool is the champion of this!
Wool is an extremely hydrophilic fibre which means that it absorbs water easily and quickly. It is estimated that it can absorb between 20% and 35% of its own weight before feeling an uncomfortable damp effect. Perfect for those who want to stay warm and dry.
It still releases a little heat when damp, however the reverse effect takes place when it comes into contact with warm and dry air!
This is explained by an easily observable physical process: evaporation. In effect, the transition from liquid to gaseous state requires a certain amount of heat which escapes from the fabric into the air.
This process is well known by inhabitants of the desert who use it to cool the water in their fabric flask, and it's also how some of our modern air conditioners work.

In summary: water or perspiration-soaked wool loses heat if you wear it outside in dry and sunny weather due to the evaporation process.
And to make it even simpler: wool can both insulate you in winter and keep you cool in summer!

A small precaution all the same: even though wool is the best at absorption, its drying ability is still slower than other materials such as polyester for example.
Avoid soaking your woollen socks to cool down your feet! Also be aware that some brands offer garments made from wool polyester blend for a quicker drying time.

Athletes will attest to it, a Merino wool t-shirt feels better than a synthetic t-shirt.

Although some claim that it’s because it’s antibacterial or that it reduces the spread of bacteria, in reality we haven't found any meaningful research on this subject.
We may not be certain that Merino wool is antibacterial, however we do know that it reduces bad odours thanks to its absorption capacity (yes, that again)!
Merino wool doesn’t just absorb the water contained in perspiration, it also absorbs its bad odours and keeps them captive within the fibres.
This means that the wool reduces bad odours over several days but doesn’t eliminate them completely or permanently.
And why is wool more effective than other materials? Quite simply because its absorption capacity and structure are more suitable!
In an environment at 20°C and 65% moisture, it is estimated that wool absorbs up to 18.25% of its weight in water while cotton only absorbs 8.5% and polyester (hydrophobic) 1.5%. With 100% moisture (=water poured on the fabric), the wool reaches over 30% absorption capacity.

To avoid any misunderstanding, it's important to properly define what we understand by "renewable".
A renewable material is one that has the ability to regenerate itself naturally: wood, cotton, rubber, wool, etc.
This is in contrast to non-renewable materials whose quantities are limited because they can’t regenerate on a human timescale: iron, charcoal, oil, sand, etc.
As well as being renewable, we are guaranteed that the Merino wool used in our products is ethical. Our supply comes exclusively from a livestock farm in South Africa where we are assured that:
- living and shearing conditions are decent
- the painful practice of mulesing is prohibited

It is however important to highlight that although wool is renewable, breeding animals can generate a significant amount of CO2. If you want to reduce your carbon impact as much as possible, you can switch to recycled materials.
It should also be noted that pure wool (untreated and without synthetic backing), such as hair, is biodegradable but it decomposes over very long periods of time, especially in the absence of air (eg: buried). It is therefore not recommended to add wool to your compost.

Not sure about choosing wool in case it shrinks in the wash, it pills or attracts mites?
Forget these prejudices! With very little care, your wool will stay like new and support you on your sporting adventures for a long time.

To finally convince you, read our article about caring for Merino wool: washing, drying, storage and repair.