In this article we’ll give you 7 reasons why Merino Wool is the best thermal base layer on the market, why its so popular in winter and why skiers and snowboarders can’t live without it.
1. Natural fibre:
Being a natural fibre it offers many advantages including being renewable, as the sheep will keep producing more wool for the following year, making it a far more sustainable product.
Unlike many synthetic products merino wool will biodegrade when disposed over. Keeping the cycle of life going. However, unlike duck down and other similar synthetic products dust mites do not like merino wool and merino therefore also has hypoallergenic properties.
2. Antibacterial:
Merino wool has anti-bacterial properties due to the presence of lanolin and keratin. Lanolin and keratin are a wax produced by the sheep and have powerful antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. This helps protect from water and bad odours forming. Unlike other thermal products merino wool base layers can be worn for days, and if needed weeks, at a time without the need to wash. All the while remaining odourless.
3. Lightweight and warm:
Merino wool has an incredibly high warmth to weight ratio making it one of the most lightweight base layers on the market. Merino wool, like cotton, can absorb up to 30% of its own weight in moisture. However, merino wool will retain its own, and your, warmth even whilst wet.
4. Natural temperature regulator:
We all know merino wool can keep us warm, but the Bedouin tribes of the Sinai desert also wear wool as it can be worn in temperatures of +80°C. This is because wool is an active fibre so enables it to react to our body temperature. Merino wool is breathable due to the moisture vapour ability. This ability disperses moisture into the air allowing the body to breath.
5. Softer on the skin
Yes wool can itch. But not merino wool. A human head hair is 5 times the diameter of a merino wool fabric. This ultrafine fabric is able to bend far more than other fabrics and allows a softer feel against the skin. Scientific research is also being done on merino wool. Various reports conducted in Australia show that Merino wool can assist certain chronic skin conditions.
6. Resistance:
It is the ability of merino wool to absorb moisture vapour that also allows makes the garment static resistant and reduce the likeliness of the garment clinging to your skin. Merino wool is also far more fire resistant than comparable products with 570-600°C before it ignites compared to 255°C for cotton and 252-292°C for polyester. Due to the years of evolution of protecting the sheep from the sun merino wool can absorb UV radiation giving better protection against the sun.
7. Maintenance:
The last vital point to make about merino wool. Merino has unbelieve ease of maintenance. It is machine washable and anti-wrinkle thanks to the smaller fibres that are extra flexible. This flexibility gives merino wool a natural elasticity, which allows the base layers to fall back into their own shape. In addition it allows more freedom of movement whilst excising. Merino wool is also stain resistant due to the natural protective outer of the fabric. The anti-static properties also helps to repel dust and lint.
Just remember that your merino base layer is not just a product just for the winter, but all year round!
