Everything You Need to Know About Merino Wool | Ask Huckberry | Huckberry Gear Lab

Ben's Picks, including 72 Hour Collection from PROOF: bit.ly/3RwFpCH
Ben answers some FAQs about Merino Wool, including some history and tips for cleaning & care.
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Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:28 What is Merino Wool?
01:55 What makes Merino a good fabric for clothing?
03:52 Cleaning and Care
05:15 Product Recommendations
07:11 Favorite 72-Hour Adventure (with Merino)?
#merinowool #wool #adventure #gear #mensstyle

[@Huckberryco]

Want to see some Merino Wool in action? Check out our last 72-Hour adventure: bit.ly/3wQbVX8

[@diannefitzmaurice9813]

All wool and natural fibers are odor resistant and can regulate temperature, but regulating temperature is different from the moisture wicking ability of wool. Moisture wicking ability means it can absorb moisture and not feel wet. Merino is wonderful but higher micron count Merino can itch so it is important to know if it meets the "itch factor" . Several years ago a study was done in Australia that found 99 % of the population had no reaction to wool under 21 microns. This became the newstandard for the fineness of wool to be worn next to the skin without a reaction. Previously it was called a prickle factor and set at 30 microns but mainly applied to medium sheep wool between 22 -30 microns for outerwear. . Anything over 30 microns is not wearable (with the exception of some long breed wools) . Very few breeds can meet this fine wool Standard and these are Merino and its derivatives and the undercoat of some double coat breeds like Shetland . But even Merino that is over 21 microns will itch ! Also be careful to identify if it is superwash . The resin coating mitigates the benefits of wool and will not perform the same as without the coating . Get real non superwash wool and learn to care for it to get the real benefits .

[@sergioramirez1693]

Shit😂 i be swearing thru them so idk if that’s me or or they material ain’t good

[@nategraf428]

Merino wool and talking with your hands are the best! Love Huckberry don’t ever change.

[@ScottCallahanSr]

Recent New Customer. Love the Huckbery site, video and Gear. Started with all weather storm boots in black. Then got Greys wool slipper boots. The fit, style and comfort on both are out of this world.loved them so much bought Flint &Tinder Flannel Lined Guide Pants. Let’s say waiting for the budget to catch up to my saved items list. Haha. I will be buying one or three of these shirts next. Keep up the good work guys. Thanks to you I plan on starting reviews of your items on a channel I’m creating. Thanks again .

[@Huckberryco]

Love to hear it! Glad you are enjoying your experience so far -- we've got a ton of great content and gear for ya in 2024.

[@rhetoricaldream]

I might consider it magical that just a day ago I was looking into which basics are on their way out and need replacing, and then you just happen to produce a video on the very fabric I’m targeting for my replacements. 😮

[@dieselphiend]

If you don't know about 400g Sheep Run merino tops, and bottoms, now you do. They are my favorite pieces.

[@KenshoQuest]

Great explanation! We love wearing Merino wool clothing while traveling long-term. My clothes do tend to smell a bit, but probably not as much as synthetic clothing would. 🌺✈️ Heidi

[@markp2194]

I’ve got a few Proof Merino, but it seems to be super wrinkly if stored folded. And on hangars it gets little bumps on the shoulders where the hanger touches it.

[@MichaelLeopold1]

Great overview

[@U1TR4F0RCE]

Are there particular recommendations for the gsm levels for merino wool shirts that one should keep in mind?

[@danakolpin1289]

I started wearing the Women's Unbound Merino Wool Capsule Wardrobe . Their products are great. They have more of men's clothing than the women's right now. However, they are expanding the women's clothing line. Their clothes also run true to size. I have bought from Wooley Clothing also and Their women's clothes don't run true to size

[@BeastMadeReviews]

Great video! I love merino wool, and your video had a lot of great info! BTW Proof has one of the BEST merino shirts!

[@pg5094]

I assume your shirts are made from merino wool jersey? And that they are machine washable? If so, that means they went through a process that strips the lanolin and then flattens the scales on the wool fibres (known as superwash wool to some). My question is, if the lanolin is gone, doesn’t the wool lose the benefits of the lanolin being antimicrobial and moisture resistant & wicking, and odour resistance?

[@epiedra99]

Great informative video! Best way to store these merino wool garments? Maybe hang them in the closet to ventilate or fold them neatly in a drawer? Thanks!

[@Huckberryco]

highly recommend laying flat to dry and folding vs hanger dry/storing. The fabric will sag and form to the hanger over time.

[@dieselphiend]

It's impossible to convey to people how lovely this material is. Nothing comes close to its technical performance in challenging conditions.

[@Igweadda]

Cashmere?

[@dieselphiend]

@@Igweadda Cashmere is probably very comparable but no one tends to make any technical fabrics out of it.

[@beautyfultrini]

Io

[@dieselphiend]

A fabric shaver is a necessity for anyone that wears merino. Keeps it like new indefinitely.

[@stis9117]

Doesn’t that take off fabric making it actually less indefinite?

[@loveearthspirit829]

​@@stis9117same thought

[@waterboy2602]

Hey great video! I love merino very much. I don't often see the tees with designs and prints. Is it harder to print on than other wool and cotton?

[@Huckberryco]

That is correct. Wool often retains a layer of Lanolin, an oily substance produced by sheep, which makes it harder for inks to absorb correctly.

[@Drew-lu4vn]

Why can't anyone seem to make a merino wool t-shirt with a high-collared neck?

[@cruzn.8489]

When is the flint and tinder bighorn forest going to be back in stock?

[@Huckberryco]

yo - not sure if we are bringing it back as of right now, but highly recommend signing up for a restock notification in case we get one back via returns or if we restock it! bit.ly/3XaBzjT

[@SteveBIRK]

I am most likely going to dry mine on low heat but afterwards do you suggest storing the shirts folded or can I hang them up?

[@Huckberryco]

I checked with our brands team and we haven't heard many complaints about hangars misshaping these shirts, like they can with heavier knit sweaters. Our buyers do recommend using velvet or felt hangars, as they provide a softer landing for garments.

[@nablair2007]

Any tips on storing merino wool shirts? At my house moths seem to love merino wool and I’ve had a few moth eaten shirts in the past.

[@Huckberryco]

Hear ya on that one. Storing in a drawer with some cedar usually helps.

[@iceberg232323]

Some people also swear by lavender.

[@jfc0057]

Ziploc bag works for me

[@antoniogradilla7933]

Ziplock bags with some cedar o clove inside

[@eudaldjuvanteny826]

what if i use an interior merino shirt with cotton cardigan for go to the office?It will thermoregulate well?Merino interests me because in the office sometimes it's hot (for the heating system), sometimes it's cold if they stop the heating system etc.

[@Huckberryco]

Merino wool is naturally thermoregulating, keeping you cool when it's warm and warm when it's cool. We think our 72-Hour Merino tees would make a fantastic base layer.

[@eudaldjuvanteny826]

@@Huckberryco and could the cotton jumper mitigate this thermoregulate effect? In that case maybe it's better to do the opposite, cotton shirt and wool merino jumper?

[@johnwayne-kd1pn]

And for those who care about the environment and such, wool is the best fiber, sustainable, renewable (doesn't grow on trees but on sheep), is not toxic or chemical and doesn't contain plastics like alot of other clothing. And in case of disposal it's natural so it doesn't take any special disposal process (can probably even be composted). People don't normally think about this, but alot/most clothes these days are actually made of plastic. Unlike wool it burns easily, is toxic to the environment in many ways, and probably also unhealthy to wear. Plastics also can't be disposed of easily and they don't break down into compost. Many people ofcourse prefer cotton to plastic clothes, and it's not so bad as plastic, but the properties of cotton is not as good as wool, and the process of production is worse, cotton production often use toxic chemicals. I've been using wool for decades, including merino wool products, and my overall take is that wool might as well be called a magic fabric, it's that fantastic, it's so to say a miracle fabric, and nothing that we have come up with is even close to being so amazing a fabric.

[@user-fv1jn1gw5w]

No 72 in white?

[@Born2Brave]

Hi merino lovers, I like merino wool too. But, the problem is very hard to care of it. I have got couple of icebreaker merino T shirts and these are all under 2 years old but there are already tiny holes on it. I wonder why it happened ? how it happenned ? I am bit confused. I am not abusing it, just normal wear as a baselayer. And I am washing it as its care lable. Can you give some more caring instructions or top tips to prevent those holes on my merino wools, please ! Thanks.

[@johnwayne-kd1pn]

Well, from all my years of wearing merino wool (and other wool) I disagree with the video saying it's very strong and durable. It's strong and durable enough, but the thinner the fabric, the more fragile it is. So thicker merino products generally seems longer lasting than thinner ones. I'm not particularly careful though, but thinner merino products often do get holes, small or large, over time.

[@havadd]

merino vs silk is what brought me here

[@i8nm3gp]

After 3 washes holes started appearing all over my jersey.

[@Huckberryco]

Hey there, sorry to hear that. Shoot our support line an email and we'll be happy to help. [e-mail]

[@johneroyale]

Will this pill underneath the straps of a rucksack?

[@Huckberryco]

Depends on the material of the straps on your rucksack. More abrasive Cordura fabrics for example will definitely cause some pilling on a merino tee

[@johneroyale]

@@Huckberryco thank y'all! I'm gonna save these babies for lighter use. They're too nice for rucking.

[@arturflor]

Proof merino wool shirts are the only ones I wear.

[@eyeofsauron2812]

Does regular wool get stinky?

[@Huckberryco]

Good question! All wool is naturally anti-microbial which prevents it from getting an odor. We prefer Merino Wool because it is a thinner/lighter fabric compared to coarse wool yet maintains wool's natural durability

[@blahblahh7249]

what kid of T-shirt is he wearing

[@Huckberryco]

that is Proof's 72 Hour Merino T-Shirt: huckberry.com/store/proof/category/p/71813-72-hour-merino-tee

[@matthias7569]

Please restock the shirt !

[@Chris.Davies]

I have a good friend who markets fine New Zealand Merino wool internationally. This is what he has to say about it: Fine Merino wool is 5% of the NZ Merino wool market. Merino wool is 5% of the NZ wool market. New Zealand wool is 5% of the world wool market. And, wool is 5% of the world fabric market. You will never regret a purchase of Merino wool. Period.

[@TYMGhosT]

I got this because of the marketing. Machine was safe and can tumble dry. Bought the size based on my measurements and the provided sizing information. Wore it once loved it and washed it. The size medium is now extra small. I haven’t even seen cotton shrink like that. Wool is way too expensive to play the find out game. Really hoping I can exchange it but I’m going to guarantee myself they won’t take a washed garment. So back to the tried and true merino wool products. I give it two thumbs down right now.

[@Huckberryco]

Hey there, so sorry to hear these have shrunk on you! Feel free to reach out to our support team at [e-mail] and we would be happy to see how we can help!

[@TYMGhosT]

Last update: merino wool is NOT I repeat is NOT a fabric for every day wear. Huckberry wants to sell you a 100 dollar t shirt. If you do outdoor activity and can justify the properties then go for it. For every day wear you will get about 5-6 uses and you will have holes, that’s if it doesn’t shrink too much. Go heavy with wool or go synthetic. Someone has to tell you this so you don’t waste money on a t shirt that equates to a use and toss product aka consumable. If tucking a shirt in is too much for the material it’s not meant for everyday use. I’ll leave this same review on the website someone has to be honest.

[@dogbreath6974]

What's with all the arm waving?. Turned of have way.

[@conbrio]

you need to wave your arms around MUCH less and also, look at the camera. Other than that, interesting video, thanks.