What’s the fuss about Merino Wool?

January 15, 2016

Merino Wool Explained

In the world of outdoor gear and clothing, Merino Wool is the buzz word on everybody’s lips. But are you fully aware of why brands like Mons Royale, Kari Traa and Vallerret (had to put it in there;-) and many other big brands are raving about merino wool as material? If not, this blog post will fill in the blanks.

It’s a fiber thing

The main key secret to Merino wool’s success lies in its exceptionally fine fibers, which make it the softest wool available.

For many years we’ve worn traditional wool clothing. Most of us will agree that wool beats synthetics out of the ring on performance. But remember that sweater grandma knitted you? Warm, yes sure. But itchy as hell and a heavy beast to carry around. It all comes down to differences in fibres. Let’s break it down in bullets:

Traditional wool: Thick fibres make it warm. But it’s heavy, itchy and takes forever to dry
Synthetics: Plastic fibres make it lightweight and fast drying. But it’s clammy, very stinky and highly flammable.
Merino Wool: Thin fibres make it warm in cold weather, cooler in warm weather. It’s soft, light, breathable and doesn’t stink when you break a sweat.

Regulates to body temperature

If you’ve ever worn a merino thermal/shirt/long johns you will know how even a thin layer of wool will keep you toasty warm but completely dry and comfortable. This super advanced technology is naturally developed by Merino Sheep – we’re in awe.

Merino wool regulates to body temperature when you wear it close to your skin – like on your hands – and has a natural ability to transports moisture (sweat, let’s be honest) away from your skin, unlike many synthetics. That’s called “wicking” and is why many athletic/sports brands are fanatics about merino wool.

Is it itchy? Seriously?

No. Unlike many other types of wool, Merino wool is super soft on your skin – and your hands – due to the fine fibres as stated above. It’s not as soft as the softest of fleece, but it’s pretty close.

We made this infographic a while back that outlines the overall benefits of Merino wool:

Why Merino wool is perfect for Photography Gloves

We’ve chosen 100 % Merino Wool as inner in our Photography Gloves solely for performance:

Even a thin layer of wool will keep your hands warm. This means that we can design a fitted glove ensuring a great feel with your camera without compromising on warmth.
Wicking will keep your hands dry on warmer days out. Wave sweaty fleece glove hands goodbye.

Get your own pair of photography gloves with merino wool

Watch out for different qualities in wool

Not all Merino sheep are created equal. In fact, as a consumer keep in mind that the qualities of 100 % Merino Wool can vary quite drastically especially in regards to softness. In the process of selecting Merino Wool suppliers, we experienced first hand the differences in the qualities of the material samples we received – all with the label “100 % Merino Wool”.

Some merino wool suppliers practice mulesing, which is a practice of mulesing which is the removal of strips of wool-bearing skin from around the breech (buttocks) of a sheep to prevent the parasitic infection flystrike. We do not work with suppliers who practice mulesing making our wool cruelty-free.

So that was a yarn about Merino Wool. During Winter, I practically wear merino wool from top to toe. Nothing beats it in my mind when you’re out and active, but it’s also really great for those colder days sitting still working with your laptop. Office wear. Well, at least when you’re an entrepreneur where every day is casual Friday – merino is warmly welcomed in my office.

Capture later,

/Stine

Covid has dominated the news cycle this year again, while the Climate Change has been quietly sitting in the background, ticking away and getting worse every day. Vallerret Photography Gloves was built around a love of winter. We thrive in the cold crisp air and we rejoice after a fresh dump of snow. We have dedicated our entire livelihood to helping others love winter as much as we do and we want to do everything we can to keep winter around for as long as possible. For these exact reasons, third year in a row we are donating 1% of our annual revenue to 1% for the Planet, a non-profit organization that bridges the gap between companies looking to make a difference and environmental nonprofits needing funding.

The Best Glove for Your Winter Holiday

December 29, 2021

It’s a question we get all the time: What is the best glove for my winter holiday? Whether you’re headed to the Arctic or Japan, we know how crucial it is to have the right gear dialed in before you hop on that plane. There’s nothing worse than investing in gear that doesn’t work for you. Finding a glove that works best for everyone can be tricky but we’ve learned some tips over the years to help you get the right glove for your winter holiday.

Milford Glove – Keep Dry and Capture the Magic

December 01, 2021

As winter lovers, we believe all winter weather is awesome, even wet and damp conditions and for years, we have been working to make a glove that will be a great companion for those who know that the secret beauty of winter often lies in a rainstorm.

The New Milford Photography Glove is a 2-in-1 windproof fleece glove with a rain cover that will keep you warm and dry in mild winter conditions.

What’s the fuss about Merino Wool?

Merino Wool Explained

It’s a fiber thing

Regulates to body temperature

Is it itchy? Seriously?

Why Merino wool is perfect for Photography Gloves

Watch out for different qualities in wool

Related Articles:

Leave a comment

Also in Vallerret Articles

Let's Keep Winter Cold: Our Annual Donations are Ready!

The Best Glove for Your Winter Holiday

Milford Glove – Keep Dry and Capture the Magic

Vallerret Insider

Bestselling Gloves