Everything You Need to Know About Merino Wool

Many clothing items and thermal base layers are made from merino wool. This natural material, with its exceptional properties, regulates perspiration and offers optimal comfort. Whether for ski touring, alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, mountaineering, trail running, or simply walking or snowshoeing, it is highly valued by many enthusiasts for its softness and durability. We invite you to explore the world of merino wool to discover its benefits and learn how to care for it.

Does Merino Wool Keep You Warm?

Praised for its exceptional ability to insulate from the cold, merino wool is often considered one of the warmest types of wool. It effectively retains body heat, making it essential for protection against low temperatures. This is why many ski base layers are made with it, as well as hats and headbands.

Does Merino Wool Itch?

Unlike other types of wool, merino wool does not itch. This is due to the fineness of its fibres and their flexibility. It is highly valued for its softness, making it very pleasant to the touch without causing itching.

Merino wool fibres are extremely fine in diameter. This fineness far surpasses that of traditional wool, whose slightly thicker fibres are more likely to irritate the skin.

Additionally, merino wool fibres are particularly flexible. This allows them to bend gently against the skin without causing pricking, unlike stiffer wool fibres that can make you feel itchy.

What Are the Other Benefits of Merino Wool?

Merino wool is naturally hypoallergenic, making it ideal for sensitive skins. It is thermoregulating, meaning it adapts to both body and environmental temperatures. It retains heat when it’s cold and allows the body to breathe when it’s warm.

Additionally, merino wool is hydrophilic. It can absorb up to 35% of its weight in moisture without feeling damp, helping to maintain a stable body temperature.

It's worth noting that the warmth of merino wool also depends on its thickness and the type of weave used. This is why some merino wool garments are designed for summer, while others are made for winter.

Synthetic Materials or Merino Wool: Which is Warmer?

When choosing a t-shirt or base layers for hiking, trekking, climbing, or trail running, you might face the dilemma of choosing between synthetic materials and merino wool. Each has its pros and cons.

Synthetic materials, more affordable, are widely available on the market. They are used to make stretch garments with a long lifespan. However, they are more prone to fostering bacteria that cause bad odours. As for warmth, it depends on the thickness and type of weave.

On the other hand, merino wool is a comfortable natural fibre that provides excellent thermoregulation. It is known for its insulating properties, though, like synthetic materials, warmth depends on the thickness and type of weave. Merino wool inhibits bacterial growth, reducing sweat odours. It’s a soft, breathable, and durable material, appreciated for its silky feel.

Here are the advantages and disadvantages of each material, key aspects to consider when choosing your garments:

Which Animal Does Merino Wool Come From?

The Merino sheep is a breed renowned for producing high-quality wool. Originally from Spain, it is now primarily raised in Australia and New Zealand, but can also be found in South America, South Africa, and France.

Among the many sheep breeds, the Merino is one of the largest wool producers, with an annual yield of up to 9 kg of wool per animal. This wool is prized for its softness and excellent felting properties.

Merino wool also stands out for its whiteness, the result of centuries of selective breeding. This characteristic, along with its fineness, makes Merino wool a highly sought-after material in the textile industry.

Merino sheep are also known for their high fertility, contributing to the profitability of their farming. The fertility rate of this breed can reach up to 140%, a significant advantage for farmers.

Origin of Merino Wool: Australia, New Zealand, and... France

Australia and New Zealand are the two leading producers of Merino wool, with some of the largest sheep farms in the world. However, France also boasts a dynamic and high-quality wool industry.

French Merino Wool Production

Several sheep breeds specialising in fine wool production are raised in the northeast of France. They produce exceptional wool, highly valued for its fineness.

Many outdoor industry brands diversify their textile production using this Merino wool, combining traditional expertise with modern techniques. In France, brands like Rossignol and Picture offer garments made partially or entirely from Merino wool.

Ethical commitment is at the heart of French production, with a strong focus on animal welfare, traceability, and fibre quality. Despite declining volumes, the French wool industry, supported by brands, is actively working to revitalise its flocks and products.

Jumpers, Socks, Base Layers: How to Wash Merino Wool?

Merino wool requires special care when washing your jumpers, socks, and base layers to preserve its unique properties. Here are some essential tips to follow:

Machine Washing

Choose a delicate or wool-specific cycle with cold or lukewarm water. A gentle spin cycle is recommended to maintain the quality of the fibres.

Detergent

Use mild detergent specially formulated for wool. Avoid products containing proteolytic enzymes or fabric softeners.

Hand Washing

If you opt for hand washing, use lukewarm water and avoid wringing the garment to remove excess water.

Drying

Lay your merino wool items flat to dry in the shade. Avoid using a tumble dryer.

Care

To prevent pilling, wash your merino wool items with garments of similar weight and avoid stiff items like jeans.

Following these care tips will help you extend the lifespan of your merino wool items while preserving their thermoregulating properties and exceptional softness.

What Are the Alternatives to Merino Wool?

There are alternatives to Merino wool to meet your specific needs (warmth, durability, ethics, budget, etc.). Here are some options:

Alpaca Wool

Many garments and accessories, such as jumpers and scarves, are made from alpaca wool. It is warmer and lighter than Merino wool and is also hypoallergenic. However, it is more expensive and not as stretch as Merino wool.

Organic Cotton

This plant-based material is grown in a more environmentally friendly manner than conventional cotton, requiring less water. It creates soft, breathable garments that are non-irritating to the skin. However, it is less insulating than animal fibres, absorbs more moisture, and dries much more slowly than Merino wool, which can result in a cold, uncomfortable feeling, especially in light breezes.

Recycled Polyester and Nylon

These synthetic materials are used to make technical apparel, especially for sports, that is lightweight, stretch, and breathable. Depending on their thickness and weave, these fabrics—like fleece—can also provide insulation. While they have thermal properties similar to Merino wool and are quite breathable, they tend to retain sweat odours.

Cashmere

Exceptionally soft, lightweight, and warm, this material is often considered a luxury product. It is very expensive and quite delicate to care for. It is commonly used to make high-end jumpers and scarves.

Bamboo (Bamboo Viscose)

This natural fibre is soft and antibacterial. However, it is less warm and less durable than Merino wool.

Comparative chart:

The Benefits of Merino Wool and Synthetic Fibre Clothing

Few garments are entirely made from Merino wool. Most often, they feature a blend of Merino wool and synthetic fibres. This composition offers numerous advantages, combining the natural properties of wool—such as its softness, breathability, and odour resistance—with the benefits of synthetic fibres, including durability, stretch, and resistance to wear. This mix makes the garments more robust and easy to care for, often more affordable, while maintaining the comfort and thermal performance that users seek.

The Best Merino Wool Clothing is at Glisshop

At Glisshop, you’ll find a wide selection of Merino wool clothing, ranging from jumpers to technical base layers from leading brands like Ortovox, Kari Traa, Patagonia, Odlo, and Helly Hansen. Our aim is to support you in activities like hiking, trail running, climbing, mountaineering, and skiing by offering gear perfectly suited to outdoor sports and leisure.

We stock Merino wool clothing for men, women, and children in a variety of fits and styles to meet everyone’s specific needs. Highly versatile, these garments can be worn for many different activities.

To keep you warm from head to toe, we also offer socks, hats, and gloves, made partially or entirely from Merino wool.