Highly valued in the outdoor world, merino wool has many advantages. While it is renowned for its quality fibres, its price often puts off athletes, who prefer to turn to synthetic materials. To help guide your choice, we have outlined the advantages and disadvantages of merino wool.
The advantages of merino wool
Exceptional thermoregulation
If you want to know everything about merino wool, you need to understand its thermoregulating properties. In cold weather, the fibres trap air and create an insulating layer. In warm weather, they release excess heat to maintain a cool sensation. This characteristic is greatly appreciated for mountain sports, where temperature variations are frequent.
Moisture and odour management
merino wool has excellent moisture management. It can absorb up to 30% of its weight in water, allowing you to stay dry even during exercise. This is an undeniable advantage during physical activities such as trail, hiking or skiing, where sweat management is crucial.
Thanks to their keratin structure, Merino fibres naturally limit bacterial proliferation, responsible for unpleasant odours. You can wear your garments for several days in a row and space out washing. A considerable advantage on a trek or during travel.
Comfort and lightweight
Unlike classic wool, merino wool is made up of very fine fibres (between 15 and 18 microns for most garments). As well as being lightweight, it is soft and pleasant to wear. It does not itch and is very suitable for sensitive skin.
Its fabric is wrinkle-resistant and stretchy. It offers excellent freedom of movement. Finally, merino wool t-shirts can be worn both on their own and as a first layer, making them a versatile choice.
Strength and durability
Despite its fineness, merino wool is surprisingly elastic and resistant. The fibres can stretch without breaking, making garments durable over time and resistant to deformation.
Merino is a natural flame retardant and also offers UV protection. Both of these properties are particularly valuable in the mountains.
natural fibre and durable
Merino wool is 100% natural and renewable. Depending on the farming practices, its environmental impact is generally limited. Unlike synthetic fibres, it is also biodegradable and can even act as a fertiliser, releasing nutrients into the soil.
The disadvantages of merino wool
High price
While merino wool has many advantages, it also has a few drawbacks. First, it is often more expensive than other types of wool due to its superior quality. It results from a costly production process, with specific farming, rigorous fibre sorting and delicate processing. It is therefore not uncommon to find merino wool garments costing two to three times more than their synthetic equivalents.
Lower abrasion resistance
The Merino fibre is strong and elastic, but its fabric remains sensitive to abrasion. Certain areas such as those under the backpack straps, at the belt or thigh level can pill or thin out due to repeated friction. Compared to a synthetic fabric, holes can appear easily. To limit this problem, some manufacturers blend merino wool with nylon or polyester.
Delicate care
Caring for merino wool is not something to take lightly. Nowadays, most garments are treated "superwash" and are machine washable. More delicate items such as merino wool thermal base layers must nevertheless be hand washed. In all cases, washing should be done at a low temperature (30°C maximum) with a specialist wool detergent.
Tumble drying should be avoided. Instead, we recommend flat drying, in the open air and in the shade. As merino wool absorbs moisture, its drying time is often longer than for other garments.
Origin and animal welfare
Even though merino wool is natural, not all production is exemplary. Some farms still use mulesing, a painful practice aimed at preventing parasitic infestations in sheep. Depending on the country of origin, the carbon footprint of exportation can also be significant.
To avoid any issues, it is best to opt for certified garments (RWS, ZQ Merino…), which guarantee animal welfare, offer full traceability and promise environmental sustainability.
merino wool has many advantages and disadvantages. With the right care and considered use, the downsides can be minimised in favour of the positives. All that remains is to invest in the garments that will best accompany your outings.
