Your complete guide to Merino wool.

Naturally versatile, renewable, and totally comfortable. Learn more about Merino wool and all the benefits that come with wearing it for all your outdoor pursuits.

What is Merino wool used for?

No matter the adventure or season, Merino wool is the ideal performance material for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts of every level. Each fiber naturally helps regulate body temperature, resist odors, and manage moisture.

Why you’ll love wearing Merino wool

There are so many advantages to wearing Merino wool. And, well, we think it’s pretty darn perfect. All of our products are geared to help you get the most out of this super fiber so you can go farther and enjoy everything the outdoors has to offer.

Merino Wool Benefits

01 Natural

What is Merino wool made of? Proteins composed of amino acids and natural compounds. Merino wool is a natural, renewable fiber—meaning one sheep can grow four to five pounds of wool per year. Plus, this fiber has evolved over the years to keep sheep comfortable in harsh environments. ... These happy animals hang out in temperatures that range from 5 degrees to 95 degrees—no problem. It’s a pretty amazing fiber. more

02 Helps Regulate Body Temperature

What is Merino wool really good at? Helping keep your body at a stable temperature. When it’s cold outside, the natural crimps and bends in its fibers trap air, insulating you. When it’s warm outside, it transports sweat quickly away from the skin, helping to keep you cool and dry.

03 Helps Keep You Dry and Sweat-Free

This benefit of wool gets a bit technical—so bear with us. Merino wool transports sweat and moisture away from skin as a vapor. Merino fibers are inherently porous. They’re composed of little plates that moisture vapor can get in between—meaning you're not left feeling wet, cold, ... and clammy after a workout. Synthetic fabrics are not porous. They usually wick sweat when it’s already a liquid, and then your body has to heat it up to evaporate it—making you feel clammy in colder weather. Merino takes a step out of the process, which helps you stay warm and dry when you’re moving and playing outdoors. more

04 Good For Layering

Sometimes it’s really cold outside and you need to layer. By using all Merino wool when you layer, you create an escape route for sweat and excess heat. Each layer of Merino works to transport sweat away from the skin to the outside of your gear while it’s still a vapor (pre-sweat)—helping to keep you warm and dry. ... Throwing a synthetic layer in there mucks up the sweat-vapor escape route and creates a detour that might increase your chances of getting cold and clammy. more

05 Odor Resistant

Merino wool is unique in that it absorbs odor caused by bacteria—trapping their smell and keeping them from building up. This means you can wear Merino wool odor-resistant clothing for longer without having to worry about smelling. Merino wool is great for traveling or longer treks when you may not have as much room to pack.

06 Soft

What is Merino wool better at than traditional wool? It’s super-fine and soft. A single Merino wool fiber is ⅓ the diameter of a human hair. It’s so fine, actually, that when it brushes up against skin, it bends out of the way. It can’t be prickly like other wool fibers because it can’t stand up to the weight of itself. So it’s soft. Really soft.

07 Biodegradable

Merino wool disappears after about 12 months in the ground. That means that, when you’re done with your gear, the earth will take back this fibrous protein composed of amino acids—releasing carbon and nutrients back into the soil.

Group of people biking in Smartwool gear.
08 Fire-Resistant

Most outdoor gear spends at least some time around campfires. Merino typically won’t melt or burst into flame. Nylon starts to melt around 320 degrees and polyester starts to melt around 452 degrees.

What is Merino wool used for?

Anyone and everyone. Any age, any size. It’s for the excessive sweater, or the one who’s always cold. It’s for lounging in front of the TV, Wednesday yoga class, your next ski trip, or your next run, hike, hunt, climb, bike ride. You get the idea, right? Merino wool’s vast qualities and features make it the perfect fiber for warm weather, cold weather, or indoor comfort.

And Smartwool’s design and technology make this incredible fiber go even further with customized features for men, women, plus size, unisex, and children, We want to equip anyone looking to spend more time outside with the magic of Merino wool.

So yeah, Merino wool is pretty amazing.

All the benefits of wool in our products are designed to perform. From training to travel to trekking through the mountains, we’re here to help you feel comfortable and confident outdoors and beyond.

go far. feel good.™