How to save energy with wool

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5 tips to reduce your energy bill and help the planet

Saving energy has always been important for our pockets, but also for the climate. Now, with the world being a bit in turmoil, our next energy bill will most likely be higher than usual. There are many ways how to save energy to reduce our energy bills. And guess what? There is a way of saving energy by wearing wool. Do you think this sounds crazy? Hear us out and read about the 5 ways how wool can help you reduce your energy bill. 

1 Wash less often

We have mentioned many times in some of our other blog posts that garments made from wool are odour resistant. This means your merino garments will not start to smell when you wear and sweat into them. You can easily get 3 wears out of your merino t-shirt before you might want to wash it. So, how does that save energy? If you wear a garment several times before washing, you don’t run the washing machine as much, which saves energy (and water and detergent by the way). 

2 Refresh without washing

Another energy-saving tip about merino wool is that a wool garment can be refreshed without actually throwing it into a washing machine. Wool can release smells into the air by just hanging in the fresh air. If fresh air is not an option, you can hang your wool garment in your bathroom after you have taken a hot shower. The moist air will do its magic of freshening your wool garment. If your wool garment has a stain, you can try removing it with a damp cloth as wool often doesn’t absorb stains, they just stay on the surface of the fabric. 

3 Wash cold 

Of course, once in a while, you do want to throw your wool garments into the washing machine. If you read the washing instructions carefully, you will notice that only a cold wool cycle is recommended. Wool cycles on a washing machine tend to either wash with cold or 30 °C warm water. Wool does not do well with higher washing temperatures, but rest assured, your garments will still get clean. The benefit of washing at lower temperatures is of course the saving of energy. In addition, wool cycles tend to run shorter than a regular cycle, which also saves energy. 

4 Air dry

Some drying machines have a special program for wool, however, wool dries best on a good old clothesline and this takes up no energy at all. Some wool garments like a heavy wool sweater will prefer to be lying on the clothesline, but most garments can handle the hanging on the clothesline.  

5 Reduce your heating temperature and stay cozy up in wool

Besides reducing the consumption of electricity, we can also reduce the energy used for heating. By reducing the room temperature in your home by one-degree Celsius, you can save up to 6% on heating costs. With winter just around the corner, however, freezing in your home may not sound so inviting. But, you can reduce your room temperature and stay cozy by putting on an extra layer of wool. This can be a wool sweater or a base layer, so you will stay comfortably warm, save some money on your energy bill and do something good for the planet.

 

Finally, you may argue, that saving energy is all nice and well, but if you need to spend more money on a wool garment compared to garments made from other fibres, the saving part is not really noticeable, is it? This may indeed sound counterintuitive, to spend more money on a garment to save money during the maintenance of the garment. However, research has shown that wool garments last longer compared to other fibre garments, this means you get more value out of the garment compared to having to buy something new again and again because the garment wears out easily. If you want to find out more about this aspect, you can read all about it in one of our other blog posts here and here. 

 

We hope you found these 5 energy-saving tips useful. Please let us know if you have another energy-saving tip to share when it comes to taking care of your laundry. 

 

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Why you should run in wool

Haven’t started running in wool yet? Here are 5 reasons why you should.

 

When people think of wool, many typically think of an itchy wool sweater — definitely not the type of material you want to be wearing when you’re going for a run. But hear us out because merino wool is soft, comfortable, and lightweight, making it the perfect go-to material for winter and summer running. Here are five reasons why you as a runner should consider wearing merino wool on your next run:

1.      Odour-resistant

Merino wool absorbs odours caused by bacteria, the structure of the fibre traps their smells and keeps them from building up. This makes merino gear great for multi-day trail runs and races. In fact, our brand manager rarely ever packs a second top when she heads out for multi-stage trail runs.  The other added bonus is just simply cutting back on laundry as you can air out and re-wear the same shirt to run in all week and save water and energy in the process!

2.       Body temperature regulating

Merino wool is great at helping keep your body temperature stable. In the heat, the fibres wick the sweat away from your skin to keep you cool. In the cold, the natural crimp of the wool fibre trap air which ultimately insulates you and keeps you warm.

3.      UPF protection

Merino wool fibres can block out harmful rays from the sun. As a natural fibre, evolved over millions of years to protect sheep against the elements, Merino wool absorbs UV radiation providing protection from the sun. This makes it an excellent choice for running in.

4.      Soft and comfortable

It’s hard to run well when your clothes are uncomfortable. Merino wool fibres are extremely fine, enabling them to bend far more than traditional, coarser wool fibres. This makes Merino wool feel soft and luxuriously gentle next to your skin.

5.      Great for layering

Not sure what the weather is going to throw at you on your run? Not a problem, our base- and mid-layer styles will have your back! Wearing multiple layers of merino allows for more efficient wicking of sweat moisture to keep your body drier and more comfortable on your run. Whether it is allowing excess heat a quicker escape route or getting rid of sweat vapour to keep you warmer in cold weather an extra merino layer will have your back in volatile weather conditions.

 

 

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Why Wool Matters – To the Planet and our Futures

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Why Wool Matters: A short documentary produced with His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales for the Campaign for Wool

Against a background of misleading anti wool lobbying currently orchestrated by global giants of fast fashion, the Campaign for Wool decided to engage with leading academic experts in the field of land management and carbon sequestration to demonstrate the positive pastoral contribution the grazing of ruminants, particularly sheep, makes to the continued wellbeing of the planet.

 

These peer reviewed findings add to already well documented research revealing wool’s unique renewable and biodegradable end of life attributes and the contribution the fibre makes to the circular economy.

  • Wool is the most responsible fibre to choose for the well-being of the planet, with its eco and environmental biodegradable properties and longevity. 
  • Choosing Wool is healthy for the planet, for the home and for everyone 

 

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The Campaign for Wool enters its 12th year of projects, events and activities to continue the education and promotion of wool and its benefits to consumers and education platforms. 

 

Wool is an overlooked planet-friendly fibre, and the release of a new informative film by the Campaign for Wool aims to highlight wool’s natural eco properties, including its biodegradability, along with circular economy, regenerative farming and feed management in relation to reducing carbon and methane gas emissions. 

 

Everyone is made aware, and reminded daily, of the unbalance we are facing of the planet with the infusion and infiltration of plastics and micro-fibres since the introduction of plastic and Nylon in 1907 and 1935 respectively. 

 

Since this time it has become self-evident that material introduced with the intention to help the planet and its natural resources has, in fact, upset the balance of nature. The result is a mass of plastic and micro-fibre non-biodegradable pollution sat in the oceans and landfill for hundreds, if not thousands, of years to come. Wool biodegrades naturally back into the land adding valuable nutrients and devoid of micro-fibre evidence in oceans and waterways. 

 

Choosing wool clothing and interior products over man-made fibres assists the biodiversity of the land on which life exists, and as an investment wool lasts longer and is healthier for the skin and the home/office environment. Even small and minor gestures can collectively make a significant difference in assisting the planet in the rebalancing of nature, if everyone were to choose wool. 

 

“It is abundantly clear to me that we need to make changes to the way we think about the production, use and the disposal of clothing and textiles if we are going to get anywhere near to meeting the United Nations climate change goals set for the industry. A major part of that change has to be moving from a linear system to a circular one, where textiles and clothing are produced sustainably, enjoy long use, and are made using natural materials, specifically wool, which will biodegrade naturally and quickly at the end of their useful life”. His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, Patron Campaign for Wool 

 

Ten Reasons Why Wool Matters and to Choose Wool 

 

  • Pure wool is 100% natural, 100% renewable, 100% sustainable, 100% biodegradable, if you love the planet – use more wool! 
  • It is warm but it is cool too because it adapts to the wearer – that’s why sheep are so snug and content! 
  • Wool is flame retardant and will often self-extinguish. Fire-fighters like it because it produces less smoke and toxic fumes – making it a safer choice for the home. 
  • Strong and long lasting – wool carpets and rugs can take lots of heavy wear and are known to look better for longer – quality always lasts! 
  • Sleep well wearing wool as well as with a wool bed, pillow, duvet and blanket – scientific tests show that wool will create a sleep climate perfect for you… deeper sleep, lasting comfort and sweet dreams. 
  • Wool has hypoallergenic and anti-bacterial properties – it makes the air that we breathe cleaner and better. 
  • Wrap your babies in wool so they breathe easy… wool will keep them cosy and warm but not too hot as it cleverly changes to their temperature needs and is good for their skin. 
  • Insulate with it, soundproof with it, wear it, walk on it, wrap things with it. The world’s oldest renewable fibre is also the most versatile and modern. 
  • Sheep are amazing – they graze peacefully, grow wonderful wool, we use it to make beautiful textiles and the whole process begins again… no depletion, just sustainable and sensible. 
  • Wool is smarter than any other fibre – it travels a long way on its journey from the sheep to finished product but it never loses any of its remarkable qualities and it looks and feels fabulous too. 

About The Campaign for Wool: 

 

The Campaign for Wool was launched in 2010 to educate consumers about the benefits of wool and help to support and grow the wool industry. Run by a coalition of industry groups convened by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, the Campaign works to engage consumers through exciting fashion, interiors, artisan and design lead activities centering around Wool Week each year. 

 

The Campaign for Wool is a global endeavour initiated by its Patron, in order to raise awareness amongst consumers about the unique, inherent natural, renewable and biodegradable benefits offered by the fibre in fashion, furnishings and everyday life. And importantly, that wool not only biodegrades in soil, adding nutrients back to the earth, but it also biodegrades in the ocean and water and therefore wool does not impact the planet with microfibre and plastic pollution. Choosing wool will help to safeguard the planet for future generations. 

 

The Campaign for Wool is jointly funded by some of the world’s largest woolgrower organisations. Key nation partners include the British Wool, Australian Wool Innovation/The Woolmark Company, Cape Wools South Africa and Campaign for Wool New Zealand. All have shown incredible support and contributed to the global success of His Royal Highness’s Campaign for Wool since its inception. www.campaignforwool.org

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Field Tester Zane Schmahl

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Insights from the Vasbyt Expedition Race

 

Zane Schmahl is another one of our Core Merino field testers. Zane, who calls himself an Adventure Bunny, recently took part in the Vasbyt Expedition Race. We had a short talk to him to learn more about his latest Vasbyt experience. 

 

Core Merino: Tell us about the Vasbyt Expedition Race. 

 

Zane Schmahl: The Vasbyt Expedition Race strives to bring international quality races to the South African adventure racing community, by doing so they create “hardcore” events to set the bar. This has been my second failed attempt of completing a Vasbyt. 

 

Core Merino:  Not having finished for the second time, does that stop you from trying again?

 

Zane Schmahl: Certainly not, we all strive to be better, and sometimes we have to ask ourselves where that line of “better” starts or ends. I don’t know the answer to that yet and while I still search for those parameters I will continue to push my limits into the unknown. The Drakensberg are relentless mountains when you push your limits, from extreme heat to extreme cold and harsh terrain to traverse. 

 

Core Merino: You wore Core Merino during all of these extreme temperatures. Tell us a little more about that, please. 

 

Zane Schmahl: I started the race with a Core Merino garment, hiked for 17 hours up to 3400 m above sea level to find our first Checkpoint of the race, got onto our bikes to do a 25 km ride in the heat of the day to put in our Kayaks into the Umzukulu River for a 50 km paddle down white water rapids, getting drenched every time we hit a rapid. All of this in the same T-Shirt, helping to regulating my body temperature. 

 

Core Merino: Vasbyt is difficult for any athlete to finish. Where did you leave off? 

 

Zane Schmahl: I completed my journey of the Vasbyt course with a 110 km Mountain Bike ride. There were 2 more legs off this expedition race left, leaving me wanting.

 

Zane is a remarkable and motivational athlete, and we love him for taking Core Merino to all different extremes. Our field testers like Zane help us develop our product line with the goal of keeping you comfortable during whatever activity as well as allowing you to travel lightly, as one set of garments can take you a long way.  Find out more about Core Merino’s benefits for outdoor activities and light travel in our other blog posts: 

 

3 Tips for Traveling Light

3 Tips for Traveling Light

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Our frequent traveler and Core Merino Brand Developer Monica Ebert shares her insights for traveling light   As the world slowly but surely starts opening up again, we are very much looking forward to getting back to exploring and experiencing…
Why Wool in Sports - Wool BenefitsCore Merino

Why Wool in Sports

Get to know why wool is the all-natural performance fabric For us at Core Merino, it is so obvious why we enjoy wearing wool in sports and why we create our outdoor and sports garments out of wool. However, whenever we get to meet our fellow…

 

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The Guide to Wearing Wool in Summer

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How wool helps you stay cool and comfortable during high summer temperatures

 

It may sound strange to some, but merino wool is one of the best fibres to wear in the summer months. Now hear us out on this, the highly sought-after properties of this incredible fibre are regularly praised throughout the colder months, but you can benefit from those same features year-round. Because merino’s incredibly fine, lightweight fibers draw moisture away from your skin and evaporate it into the air, it keeps you comfortable even in the heat. The superfine wool fibres feel soft against your skin and naturally resist odors, so you stay feeling fresh throughout the day.

So, exactly how does merino tick all the boxes for optimal comfort in the heat?

 

Built-in air-conditioning

We usually refer to Merino wool as being a fibre that is alive but more simply put, it is a technically active fiber that responds to both the external temperature and your body temperature, gaining and releasing heat to balance your skin’s microclimate. It’s like wearing your personal air-conditioning system.

Moisture wicking

A merino fiber can absorb up to 35% of its weight in moisture, before it feels wet. Of all natural fibres, this makes it one of the most hydrophilic. It actively absorbs sweat from your skin and then releases it into the air through evaporation. Generally, that’s a good thing because it absorbs your sweat or the rain to keep the fabric clinging to your skin. It gives your skin the room to do its job of regulating your body temperature.

While cotton is breathable and lightweight, it’s actually not ideal for warm weather because when it absorbs moisture it holds it next to your skin. For any situation in which sweat is a possibility, you’ll be more comfortable in a lightweight wool garment, which wicks moisture away from the skin, helping you stay cooler and drier. A few versatile, quick-drying pieces of summer weight wool clothing will take you far. 

Odour management

Merino fibers absorb odour molecules and trap them in their core where you can’t smell them. Merino has such incredible odor-resistance that you can wear it over and over again between washes.

Maintains lower body temperature

If that wasn’t enough to convince you, maybe this will – studies have shown merino wool is more efficient in helping your body maintain a constant and lower core body temperature when compared to synthetic materials. Ultimately, this reduces the rate at which lactic acid will increase in your muscles, allowing you to maintain a lower heart rate when you’re exercising. 

Merino wool – all year round fibre

Overall, wearing merino wool has a multitude of benefits that are sure to keep you feeling fresh all summer long. So instead of packing up all your wool items as we move into warmer temperatures, you can rather subtly change over your wardrobe, keeping your lightweight items in rotation all year round. 

 

Here are a few of our favourite summer-ready styles:

 

Core Merino T-shirt

 

Core Merino Polo Shirt

 

 

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Why wool garments are good value for your money

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Debunking the high-price myth of merino wool garments

A typical sentence we tend to hear at Core Merino is that wool garments (not just our products) are expensive. Indeed, when you directly compare the price tags of a synthetic, viscose, or cotton t-shirt with a wool t-shirt, a wool version will most likely be on the higher end of the price spectrum. 

With this blog post, we want to explore why merino wool garments appear to have a higher price than garments made of other fibres and discuss if at the end of the day, wool garments are actually a good bargain. 

Why wool garments sell at higher prices

Let’s first look at what merino wool garments tend to sell at higher prices. 

Wool is a fibre grown by nature

As well known, wool is grown on the back of a sheep, a living animal. The quality and quantity of the wool grown by each individual sheep are highly dependent on natural conditions such as sunshine, rain, temperatures as well as the animal health condition, breed, and age of the sheep. For example, when a farm is hit by severe drought as was the case for many wool growers in South Africa over the past few years, additional feed had to be given to the sheep, and/or sheep had to be sold off. These kinds of circumstances mean additional costs for the wool grower, as he is doing the best possible to keep his sheep healthy and well-fed. But this also often means less volume in wool and a different quality of wool. 

In other words, in nature, the circumstances vary every year, and therefore wool production and the costs associated with growing wool varies for each farmer and each year as well. A constant variation in the quality and quantity of available wool in the market influences the price of wool sold at auction.

Synthetic fibres, on the other hand, are made from raw oil and chemicals derived from oil. Of course, oil prices also fluctuate over time, but the quantity and quality can be fully controlled as synthetic fibres are produced by machines in factories. Therefore, production is quite predictable and stable. 

Wool has a long supply chain

Another circumstance that is unique to wool, is its long supply chain. In order for raw wool shorn from the back of a sheep to be manufactured into a garment, it takes many steps. We have described the Core Merino supply chain here, if you want to learn more. 

The time and effort that goes into creating a wool garment, therefore, is a bit higher and therefore costs a bit more compared to creating synthetic clothes.

Wool is a niche fibre

Looking at the market share of all existing fibres, wool only has a market share of 1.2%. This means it is a small fibre compared to synthetics, cellulose, and cotton. In other words, wool is a niche fibre as there just is not that much available compared to other fibres. Lower availability of a product in the market is typically also reflected in higher prices – it’s a matter of supply and demand. 

Why wool garments are a good value for money

However, only comparing price tags is a short-sighted argument. So, let’s dive into the value and benefits of a wool garment, which then lets the price tag look like a bargain. 

More benefits from wool

We have already written several blog posts about the many benefits of wool such as breathability, moisture management, softness, durability, UV protection, biodegradability and more. You can read up on the different benefits of wool here and here. In summary, man-kind has tried many times to recreate a fibre such as wool from synthetic materials, but has never quite accomplished the whole set of benefits garments made of wool have to offer. This actually means that you get so many more benefits from a wool garment for a relatively higher price compared with garments made from other fibres. 

Wool garments last longer and are used longer 

One of wool’s benefits already mentioned above is durability. This means that garments made of wool last longer, and therefore you get more wears out of it. The longer you can use a product, the lower become its cost per use. A cheap t-shirt that you only wear twice as it then loses its shape has a higher cost than a slightly more expensive wool garment that you wear many times over. 

Lower social and environmental costs

Over the past decades, fashion consumption has been focusing a lot on quick and efficient mass production to drive costs down while increasing the number of garments we purchase, also known as fast fashion. This has also led to all of us being price sensitive and wanting constantly new and cheap clothes. What was, however, forgotten in this calculation, is the cost to society and our environment that comes with this high consumption of cheaply produced clothes. The more garments we buy, the more we use up scarce resources such as water and energy and pollute our environment through the high use of toxic chemicals and filling up landfills with garments no longer in use. In addition, the high number of synthetic clothes shed microplastics that end up in our waterways and have a negative impact on wildlife as well as our health. All of these negative side effects of cheap clothes cost us money as a society, which we pay for with taxes or charity, trying to reverse the negative impacts from our consumption.

In addition, sheep typically are reared in rural areas where there are large pastures for the sheep to roam freely. Sheep farming and wool growing, therefore, offers job opportunities in rural communities, allowing generations of families to stay connected to the land and continue making a living without having to move to large cities. 

In the near future, a price tag of a garment will also need to reflect the impact the garment has on the environment and society. Wool garments may then actually be an even better bargain for your benefit as well as planet earth and humankind.  

So, next time you look at the prices of our Core Merino products or any other wool products, change your perspective before making the judgment if the garment is too expensive by considering all the benefits and value it brings. 

 

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Wool and Water Sports

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Why wool performs in wet conditions

One of the most common misconceptions we hear and read about wool is to not let it get wet. Some say it because they think it will shrink, some say it because they think it will react like cotton and lose its thermal properties, and others are just afraid of smelling like a wet sheep. Fortunately, this isn’t the case, and one of the most ideal fibre types to wear during your favourite water-based sport is, in fact, Merino wool. So, before you head out on your next adventure, here are a two things to keep in mind:

1 Dress for the conditions – wind, water and air

The first thing to remember is to dress for the conditions in the area you will be in. This encompasses a number of factors including air and water temperature as well as the direction and strength of the wind as well as any tides or currents. The wind, tides, and strong currents will easily affect how rough the water is and how wet you are likely to get. Studies have shown that if it is windy or cold out, and you get wet, you’ll cool down up to 25 times faster than if you were dry.

2 Consider the water temperature

Whether you’re out paddling, SUPing or rowing, you’re dealing with two separate environments; the air and the water. It can be tempting to forget about the water temperature and just dress based on the temperature from your local weather forecast. The reality, though, is if you are surrounded by water, there is a good chance you are going to get at least a little wet. Tipping over and getting completely soaked is a possibility as well, even for those highly experienced.

Core Merino Neck Warmer - Why wool and water sports

Dress accordingly – with wool

So, keeping all this in mind, what should you wear for your next water-based adventure? Clothing for paddling and other water sports has similar requirements to other outdoor activities like hiking. You are looking for versatility, durability and comfort while you are on the move. You are also looking for protection for wet and sometimes cold conditions. In warmer conditions, your clothing choices become a little less important, but the key here is sun protection, which merino wool also excels in as it serves as an additional layer of protection against the harmful UV rays. Merino wool is ideal for active outdoor environments, including those on the water. It keeps you warm even when it gets wet. It is soft and comfortable next-to-skin and is naturally antibacterial, which actually helps to keep you from smelling like a sheep on your next paddle.

Here are our favourite items for water sports:

No products found which match your selection.

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Sleep better in wool

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Learn how wool improves your sleep

More and more research shows how important sleep is for our overall health and wellbeing.
We, humans, spend one-third of our lives sleeping because it is vital for our body to repair itself and be fit for yet another day. Different studies have proven that good sleeping habits help maintain healthy body weight, prevent heart disease and let us recover faster from an illness. Even more so, when we are well-rested, we can perform better at our job, achieve more during our exercise routine, and are overall more pleasant to deal with. 

However, getting a good night’s sleep is not as easy as it seems as our busy lives, stress at work and our technical gadgets get in the way of getting a good rest. While regular sleeping habits are important such as going to bed at the same time, it is also worth looking at what we sleep in, on, and under. Over the past years, there have been several studies conducted to look at the effect of wool on our sleep. In this blog post, we have put together an overview of how wool lets us sleep better. 

How does wool work in bed?

There are several properties of wool that come into play when we sleep in wool.

  • Insulation: The first wool property to mention is the most obvious. Wool is a good insulator. The wool fibre itself is wavy, which is also called ‘crimp’. This crimp creates lots of little air pockets that act as an insulator. In other words, wool keeps us warm at night.
  • Breathability: Many people feel too hot in bed, and this is where the second property comes into play. Wool is a very breathable fibre. This means that it can transport moisture vapour away from the body and release it into the air. So, once we start to get too hot, the moisture that our body creates gets absorbed by the wool and released so that we then don’t overheat.
  • Absorbs moisture: Another fabulous wool property is that wool can also absorb up to 30% of its weight before feeling wet. Once we start to sweat a bit more at night, wool will absorb the moisture but not feel clammy on our skin.
  • Fluffy texture: Another aspect of wool is its soft and fluffy texture that comes into play when we sleep on wool. This makes us feel more settled, and we have fewer pressure points on our bodies.
  • Antibacterial: Finally, bacteria and dust mites don’t like wool as an environment to thrive on. Therefore, wool bedding is also very suitable for anyone suffering from allergies.

 

Study results on sleep and wool

Over the years, several sleep studies have been conducted to prove how all the above-mentioned properties of wool actually impact our sleep. You can find a reference to the different sleep studies on this page. Here is a summary of the findings.

Fall faster asleep

Researchers found that wearing wool at night and sleeping in wool bedding helps us fall asleep faster. This was particularly significant in warm sleeping conditions of 29 °C.

Sleep longer

The same study that found out that we fall faster asleep also found that we tend to sleep longer in wool. On average, 7 minutes. This might not sound that much, but these minutes add up during a week, month and year. 

Wake up less often

Research participants who slept in wool also woke up less frequently during the night, especially during hot climate conditions of 29 °C. 

Sleep more settled

Research also found that adults, as well as children and babies, have a more settled sleep when sleeping on a wool mattress, mattress protector, or sheepskin. These products typically have soft and fluffy padding which reduces the pressure points on our body when we lie down. In other words, it makes it more comfortable to rest our body, and we have less of a need to flip, toss and turn our body during the night (postural activity) which lets us get more rest.

Higher sleep efficiency

All the above lead to better sleep efficiency. Falling faster asleep, sleeping longer, and waking up less often ensures a better sleep quality which lets us recover better during our sleep.

Feel like you have a better sleep quality

Sleep wool study participants also felt that they had a better sleep quality when sleeping in wool. So, while researchers could measure objectively the different aspects of high-quality sleep, the participants came to the same subjective conclusion of having slept better.

Help with skin health

Sleeping in wool can also help with skin health. Several studies have been conducted on adults and children suffering from atopic dermatitis. All participants who wore wool started to have better skin conditions over a short period of a couple of weeks. You can read more about this research here.

Wool is not an allergen

Researchers have also confirmed that wool is not an allergen and therefore wool is also a safe option for allergy sufferers. 

What to sleep in?

With the above, you now have an overview of how sleeping in wool lets you sleep better. The next question is, what to actually choose for your bed and for yourself. 

There is a wide range of wool duvets, mattress protections, and pillows to choose from with a quick online search. To start with, you can even just try your wool throw for a few nights to see how it makes a difference. 

While you can sleep on and under wool, you can also sleep completely in wool by wearing nightwear made from wool. When you choose nightwear, make sure it is made of super soft merino wool that feels soft on your skin. Our recommendation is also to choose a lightweight merino wool fabric over a heavy and thick fabric. This will prevent you to get too hot at night.

If you already own a wool t-shirt or leggings that you usually wear during your workout, you can try wearing them at night. At Core Merino, we have put together a few items that work particularly well to sleep in. You can check out our sleepwear bundle to get a good deal. 

Invest in your sleep just like you invest in your workout

Just like every workout and outdoor activity is good for your health and wellbeing, so is the time you spend in bed. While we often put a lot of emphasis on outdoor gear and equipment, we tend not to think that much about what we sleep in. With this blog post, we wanted to encourage you to put some effort into getting a better night’s sleep and try wool as one of the ways to get there.

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Odour Resistant – The no-stink effect of merino wool

Wear your merino wool garments for longer and still smell good

Body odour is a personal as well as social topic, as we want to feel fresh and clean and not be perceived by others as smelling bad. When we work out or travel in our clothes for a longer time, we may start to worry about sweating and developing body odour. With merino wool garments this worry can be easily eliminated because merino wool is naturally odour resistant. In this blog post we explain why merino wool is odour resistant and the benefits this brings along with it. 

How does body odour develop?

Everybody sweats differently depending on temperatures, activity level, situations, or even hormones. In the majority of cases, our body produces sweat with the goal to cool down our body. When moisture on our skin comes in contact with air, it has a cooling effect. Although we generally don’t like sweating, it does have a good purpose to keep us from overheating.  Interestingly, our sweat usually does not smell as such. Only when sweat gets broken down into acids by the bacteria on our skin or in our garments odour develops, and we start to smell. Taking a shower and washing our clothes then gets rid of the broken down sweat and the odour is removed. However, with merino wool it is a little different. 

Why is merino wool odour resistant?

Wool prevents the development of smell in two ways. First, wool helps the body manage body heat well, by absorbing moisture, moving it away from the skin, and releasing it into the air. This keeps the body dry and less sweat remains on the skin to develop odour. Second, any moisture that remains on the fabric itself gets absorbed and locked in by the fibre and only released during washing or airing. Therefore, there is no sweat for bacteria to break down that may cause odour. 

This is the theoretical explanation, but let’s have a look at what this means in everyday life.

No smell when you work out

Did you ever work out and afterward you had the feeling you could be smelled from a mile away? At least you desperately wanted to take off your clothes and hit the showers to freshen up. With merino wool, you will have a different experience. You will notice that even though you did sweat during your workout, you and your merino wool garments still don’t smell which will leave you feeling comfortable. 

Besides feeling more comfortable, what else can you do with this no smell effect? We have a few ideas.

Wear more times before washing

When our merino wool garments don’t smell after one workout, it means that we can wear them again during our next workout without washing. Why should we do that? Well, non-smell garments that need less washing will save you time spent on doing laundry in addition to saving water, energy, and washing detergent with every wash cycle saved. Instead of washing after every wear, we recommend airing the merino wool garment either in fresh air or in your bathroom, especially after taking a hot shower. This will freshen up your garment, and you can wear it again and again. Of course, eventually, also a merino wool garment will want to see the inside of a washing machine (wool cycle and wool detergent only).

Take fewer garments with you when you travel

Another benefit of no-smell merino wool garments is that we can travel more lightly. How does this work? Well, it is simple mathematics. If we can wear each garment several times during a trip or holiday, then we don’t need to bring along as many garments in the first place. This saves on luggage volume and weight to carry around with you. This can be particularly beneficial when you go on a longer hiking trip where you need to carry everything with you on your back and also don’t have many opportunities to wash and freshen up. 

Own fewer garments

Another benefit is that eventually, you can also own fewer garments overall. As you get more wears out of your merino wool items, you can downsize your wardrobe. Fewer items in your closet mean fewer resources used which is better for the environment. In addition, having to care for and maintain fewer clothes is also a time and space saver in your home. If you ever thought about becoming a minimalist, merino wool garments will help you become one more easily. 

There are of course many other benefits of wearing merino wool garments. Click here to learn more. 

Thinking about putting merino wool garments to the no-smell test? Take a look at our Core Merino collection here. 

 

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Why Merino Wool for Hiking?

Why Merino is essential for your next hiking trip?

Given the enormous amount of time, we have spent in our homes to help curb the spread of the coronavirus over the past year, it most certainly leaves us craving wide-open spaces and the fresh outdoors. For many South Africans, we are fortunate enough to have an abundance of mountains and trails to make the most of time spent outside. Hiking in the outdoors has been shown to boost both physical and mental health. But having the right gear for a day out is key to enjoying the very most the great outdoors have to offer. Here are a few reasons why your next hike should include Merino gear:

 

Temperature Regulation

In order to enjoy the outdoors most, our body must remain comfortable in all conditions. When it comes to temperature regulation, it is highly dependent on moisture between the skin and the clothing. The thermal conductivity of water is 25 times higher than the thermal conductivity of air which means that when you are wet, you lose body heat much quicker than when you are dry. Your body heat is actually transferred to wet and cold clothing. Merino wool clothing keeps thermal conductivity more or less the same as the thermal conductivity of air is, thus keeping you warm when wet and in cold conditions. Thus, merino wool gear helps you to stay comfortable in a range of hiking conditions.

 

Odour Resistance

Unfortunately, not all great hikes can be completed in one day. Many of the most bucket-list-worthy routes, such as the Camino de Santiago, are many days in length and take months if not years of planning. Packing smartly and minimally is an absolute must as you do not have many options to do laundry but at the same time, you do not want to be carrying too much luggage on your back. This makes merino clothing a must-have for the wool’s ability to remain bacteria-free and suppress body odours. Merino clothing is famous for being stink-free even after being worn in very sweaty conditions for days or even at a time.

 

Moisture Wicking

For those unfamiliar, moisture-wicking fabrics pull moisture away from your skin by absorbing it into the fibers. The moisture then moves through the fabric and evaporates through the exterior. Merino is touted as having high levels of moisture-wicking because of its ability to retain a lot of liquid relatives to its weight (much better than synthetics). Again, this is a natural property of the wool and another significant benefit to overall comfort.

If you are interested in trying out merino wool for hiking, then have a look at some of our suggested merino wool hiking items here.

Now, once you’ve stocked up on some amazing gear for your hike here are a few of our favourite hikes around South Africa to put your Core Merino to the test:

 

Go Baviaans Leopard Trail

The Leopard Trail is a 4-day and 3-night hike set in the magnificent Baviaanskloof World Heritage Site Wilderness Reserve.  This is a slack packing hike – each day the team at The Leopard Trail transports your bags and food from one overnight hut to the next, leaving you to walk with only a day pack. This is true wilderness hiking featuring a single-track path taking you through the inaccessible mountains of SA’s third-largest wilderness area.

 

With the Baviaanskloof hosting 7 of SA’s 8 biomes, the Leopard Trail offers an unparalleled diversity of landscapes. It is a moderately difficult hike with the longest day being 22 km. The route is designed for people of good hiking fitness. Click here to learn more or book your next adventure.

 

Rim of Africa

This demand is best suited for fit and experienced hikers, but it is certainly one for the bucket list. In its full, it is a traverse of the Cape Fold Mountains and is divided into 9 traverses, each varying between 7 and 10 days in duration and therefore can be done all at once or in segments. You will experience endless ridgelines, rock formations, crystal clear spring water, swimming in mountain pools, sleeping under the stars. The Rim of Africa happens once a year in springtime (Sept-Nov). Places on this experience are limited. To learn more click here.

 

Magoebaskloof Hiking Trail

Magoebaskloof Hiking Trail lies in the incredible Magoebaskloof forest near the small town of Hanaertsburg in Limpopo. The trails are laid out on the forestry estate, but most of the walking is through magnificent sub-tropical, indigenous forest, over craggy ravines, and alongside cascading waterfalls, pristine mountain streams, rivers, and dams. There are a number of huts available and thus one can hike anywhere from 1-5 days with a variety of routes. Although the trail can only be hiked in one direction, it can be made to be circular, so it is convenient to organise the same start & endpoint. Click here to learn more.

 

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