Outdoor Gear 101: The Wonders of Wool
Have you ever heard the phrase “Cotton Kills?” One thing that we can each do to be a responsible outdoors person is to dress appropriately for the activity and weather to minimize the risk of getting too wet and too cold which could lead to hypothermia. A few weeks ago, I spoke with Lawson Glidden, owner of Minus33, and he graciously provided this follow-up about the Wonders of Wool and why wool should be your outdoor go-to material.
Insulation When Wet
Unlike many synthetic materials, the structure of Merino wool fibers retains insulating properties even when wet. This reduces the risk of hypothermia and helps maintain body warmth in damp conditions, enhancing safety during unpredictable weather.
Insulating Air Pockets: The structure of wool fibers creates tiny air pockets within the fabric. These air pockets trap warm air close to the body, even when the wool is wet, providing an insulating layer that helps retain body heat.
Natural Wicking Ability: Wool can wick away moisture and sweat from the body, allowing it to absorb and release quickly. This characteristic helps regulate body temperature and prevents the chilling effect of wet fabric, thus maintaining warmth.
Moisture Management
As mentioned above, Merino wool wicks away moisture from the body, preventing sweat buildup to keep hikers dry. Moisture management properties also help to reduce the risk of hypothermia and discomfort during outdoor activities.
Structure and Surface Area: The unique structure of wool fibers, including their crimp and scales, creates a larger surface area than other fibers. A larger surface area helps to facilitate more efficient moisture absorption and evaporation, leading to quicker drying times.
Hygroscopic Nature: Wool has a high capacity for absorbing moisture vapor from the surrounding environment, including sweat from the body. This absorption allows the moisture to spread over a larger surface area, facilitating faster evaporation and drying.
Temperature Regulation
Merino wool naturally regulates body temperature, keeping hikers warm in cold conditions. Superior temperature regulation capabilities also mean hikers stay cool when warmer, reducing the risk of temperature-related health issues.
Adaptive Response to Environment: Wool fibers naturally respond to changes in the surrounding environment, adjusting their thermal properties to accommodate the body's needs. This adaptive response allows wool to provide warmth and promote cooling when hot, ensuring a balanced and comfortable body temperature in various weather conditions.
Odor Resistance
The natural antimicrobial properties of Merino wool inhibit the growth of odor-causing bacteria. These odor-resistant properties also ensure a fresh feel during extended hikes and promote hygiene and comfort.
Natural Protein: Wool contains several natural proteins which have inherent antimicrobial properties. These proteins create a hostile environment for microorganisms, making it more challenging for bacteria to thrive on wool fibers.
Moisture Absorption: Bacteria need moisture to grow. Because wool has a high moisture absorption ability, it naturally creates an unfavorable environment for microbial proliferation.
pH Balance: Wool typically has a slightly acidic pH, which is less favorable for the growth of many types of bacteria. This natural pH balance deters colonization and propagation of harmful microorganisms on the surface of the wool fibers.
Surface Structure: The surface of wool fibers has natural proteins resistant to trapping dirt and bacteria. This physical structure makes it more difficult for bacteria to adhere to the surface of the wool, reducing the likelihood of microbial colonization and growth.
Self-Cleansing Properties: Wool naturally tends to repel dirt and stains, which helps prevent the accumulation of organic matter that could support bacterial growth. This self-cleansing characteristic, combined with the other properties mentioned above, contributes to wool's ability to resist microbial colonization.
Breathability
The breathable nature of merino wool allows air circulation, prevents overheating, reduces the risk of heat-related illnesses during strenuous outdoor activities, and ensures overall comfort and safety.
Humidity Control: Wool can absorb and release moisture depending on the humidity levels in the surrounding environment. This humidity control feature helps maintain a dry and comfortable feel, promoting breathability and preventing sweat and moisture buildup.
Moisture Wicking: Wool can wick moisture away from the body, transferring it to the fabric's outer surface, where it can evaporate. This moisture-wicking property helps maintain a dry and comfortable microclimate next to the skin, enhancing breathability.
Fire Resistance
Merino wool is inherently flame-resistant, reducing the risk of accidental burns around campfires and enhancing safety during outdoor adventures.
High Nitrogen Content: Merino wool contains a high nitrogen percentage, contributing to its natural fire resistance.
Self-Extinguishing Properties: Merino wool tends to self-extinguish when exposed to fire, meaning that it will stop burning once the source of the flames is removed. This property helps minimize the risk of spreading fires and provides added safety in case of accidental flame exposure.
Limited Oxygen Availability: When merino wool is exposed to fire, it forms a protective char layer that limits oxygen availability to the underlying fibers. This char layer acts as a barrier, reducing the material's flammability and preventing the fire from spreading rapidly.
Low Heat Release: Merino wool has a low heat release rate, which means it generates less heat when exposed to flames than many other materials. This characteristic contributes to the material's ability to resist catching fire and helps prevent flame propagation.
Minus33, an American company founded in New Hampshire in 2001 by L. W. Packard & Co. Inc., has been making wool textiles for 100 years (L.W. Packard opened in 1916!). Their team is passionate about their community and producing high-quality products. They also believe that knowledge is power and being self-reliant (especially in the outdoors) is a must. The Minus33 team provides SAR kits and helps to spread the word about essential safety skills and practices to their customers. Lawson is extremely passionate about wool and I greatly enjoyed my conversation with him.
