The Rundown
What is dynamic breathability?
What makes merino wool better?
What do athletes prefer?
In conclusion: wool is right for the job
According to a four-year research program at North Carolina State University, 100% merino wool base-layer garments provided superior thermal comfort and performance benefits during intense dynamic sports. In a world that consistently pushes synthetic and cotton fibers for performance sports, this marks a clear shift towards wool garments. Read on to learn more.
What is dynamic breathability?
The key to merino wool’s success is a concept called dynamic breathability. Put simply, this is how well your clothing adapts as your body heats up and cools down during activity. When you’re working hard, you’ll want something to offload that heat and moisture, but when you stop you’ll need to stay warm and dry.
Ever worked out in a cotton shirt, gotten soaked, and then felt freezing cold when you stop moving? Yeah. It’s not a great feeling. Most fabrics are either great at keeping you cool or keeping you warm — merino wool excels at both.
What makes merino wool better?
The study from North Carolina State University found that merino wool is 96% better at buffering moisture than synthetic fibers.
For the study, participants wore different performance fibers in a climate-controlled environment during both an activity phase and a rest phase. While most fibers performed similarly in the activity phase, merino wool shined in the rest phase, keeping participants warmer and dryer.
What do athletes prefer?
Athletes have touted the benefits of merino wool for years, but now there’s hard science to back up their claims. Merino wool keeps athletes closer to their ideal comfort level. Due to unique moisture-wicking components, merino wool adapts to the athlete’s environment, keeping them warmer in winter and cooler in summer than alternatives.
In conclusion: wool is right for the job
Look, we’re not telling you to immediately get rid of all your synthetic or cotton workout clothes. You can keep exercising in your favorite tattered Goku workout shirt, but maybe think about adding some merino wool socks to your rotation? Aside from having superior breathability and moisture-wicking properties, merino wool is also naturally anti-microbial so you won’t need to wash your clothes as often. If you’re ready for something new, explore what Wϋl socks would be right for you.
