Everyone looks forward to seeing the new tights and leggings and oohing and aahing over the outerwear when the winter clothing arrives every year. However, as those of us who work outside throughout the winter know, your baselayer is the true star.
We’re not talking about childhood waffle long Johns or red union jackets that loosen in the back; those may be harmful, but we’ll get to that. Instead, this blog will cover super-technical, cutting-edge wear that looks amazing and performs even better. And so the debate rages on: Is it better to go with synthetic or wool?
If you’re asking yourself this question, you aren’t alone. Fortunately, this blog will help you make a sound decision. One you won’t regret because winter is coming!
But first, let’s find out what makes base layers so essential.
Why is the Base Layer so Important?
Layering your apparel is essential for comfort when skiing or practicing anything sporty outside, particularly in colder temperatures. You can add and remove clothes thanks to thin layers as the temperature and surrounding conditions vary.
Being the layer nearest to your skin, the base layer should be cozy, designed to wick away moisture, and long-lasting.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the base layer must come into contact with your skin to function correctly. The cloth can effectively remove moisture from your skin if it fits snugly without restricting movement.
Let’s take a moment to compare the Merino wool base layer with its synthetic counterparts.
Merino Wool vs. Synthetic Base Layers
Merino wool is the silky, non-itching relative of ordinary wool from Australia. Although synthetic clothing is generally lighter, Merino wool feels more comfortable on the skin. Merino wool reigns supreme when it comes to apparent warmth to weight.
Nowadays, a lot of clothing uses a combination of merino wool to reap the benefits of merino while maintaining a low price point. In addition, many businesses now combine wool layers with other materials, such as spandex or nylon, to provide stretch and mobility.
Key Features of Merino Wool
- Odor Resistant
Many people opt for merino layers throughout the winter because of their odor-resistant properties. Merino wool soaks up and releases moisture. Thus, it prevents odors from building up.
It usually takes about seven sweaty runs to detect an unpleasant odor in my clothes and the need to wash them.
- Breathability
Merino theoretically holds more moisture than synthetics, but unlike polyester and nylon, it is hardly damp. Merino wool keeps you warm even when wet and keeps moisture inside the fibers rather than on your skin.
- Warmth
Compared to other synthetic materials, merino wool’s structure is superior at retaining heat, even when damp. This explains why layers made of wool or a combination of wool will be warmer than those of the same weight.
- Cooling Factor
Merino wool is also suitable for summer wear. Despite the high cost, a long sleeve or t-shirt made of ultralight merino wool feels almost weightless during the warmer months.
Apart from these outstanding features, it’s safe to say Merino wool’s high quality means it doesn’t come cheap. That’s because wool blend base layers are usually on the pricier side of choices due to their highly sought warmth-to-weight ratio. But when you analyze it, this is undeniably a worthy investment.
In addition, Merino is fairly good at absorbing moisture, yet you need to exercise patience since it requires more time to dry. Remember that Merino performs better at maintaining body heat while wet, which many consider a fair trade-off in the quick-dry category.
Finally, you need to keep these precious base layers from moths. These creatures will devour your wool clothing, resulting in numerous holes and misery. Remember, anecdotal evidence shows moths prefer lightweight wool to thicker weaves (250 g/square meter or such). Hope that helps you choose the right Merino wool products.
Synthetics
Synthetic base layers come in various forms (such as nylon and polyester). Synthetics are made for everyone; they range from affordable summertime layers to premium winter layers. Synthetic materials, nonetheless, eliminate moisture, just as does merino wool. However, they aren’t so good at odor resistance.
Features
- Durable
Synthetic layers are less prone to tearing, snagging, pilling, and aging. You can, therefore, anticipate that these will wash well and come out like new (assuming the odor also goes, you should be fine).
- Moisture-wicking
It’ll take some time before you truly understand the meaning of “moisture wicking.” In short, moisture penetrates the fibers quickly, enabling moisture to enter the garment.
- Quite Affordable
Synthetic base layers are typically less expensive than wool or wool blend layers when they are of equivalent quality.
- Stretchy
Synthetic layers frequently comprise spandex or similar material that stretches to your skin since they can combine different textiles.
Generally, synthetic base layers don’t provide as much warmth per unit of weight as merino. Also, you should know that next-to-skin layers won’t hold up as well against odors on a rigorous camping trip since they lack merino wool’s odor protection.
Final Words
Base merino wool layers are most appropriate for moderately chilly weather or intermittent outdoor activities such as hiking and climbing. Even at a slower pace, merino wool’s inherent breathable qualities and temperature regulation keep you feeling good.
So those are the facts, and the choice is up to you!
