Practicing outdoor activities requires perfect management of body temperature.
When physical activity slows down, the body produces less heat and cools down more quickly.
Outdoors and in cold weather, clothing must limit heat loss while wicking away moisture from exertion. This is especially true for exposed areas like the head and ears. Merino wool meets these expectations with its ability to naturally regulate temperature, absorb some perspiration, limit bacterial growth, and remain comfortable against the skin.
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Summary
- Choosing your clothing like your gear
- A fiber with a long pastoral history
- Thermoregulation and moisture management
- Natural odor resistance
- Skin comfort and fiber fineness
- Consistent use in bivouac and around the fire
- Certifications and production choices
- FAQ
Choose your clothing like you choose your gear
A knife, a firesteel, a tarp, or a cast iron cauldron are chosen for their actual use in the field. Clothes are also subject to the constraints of outdoor life. They must allow for temperature regulation in cold and humid weather without becoming uncomfortable.
The world of technical clothing has particularly developed to meet these expectations. But amidst this diversity of synthetic materials, a very old natural fiber is once again making its mark due to its many qualities.
Nature always finds a way...
A fiber with a long pastoral history
The Merino sheep is associated with the Iberian Peninsula, where the breed developed in the Middle Ages. Historical accounts link its rise to medieval Spain, with a progressive selection of fine and regular wool. For several centuries, this wool held an important place in the Spanish wool economy, before flocks were more widely distributed in Europe and then in the Southern Hemisphere.
The expansion to Southern Africa and Australia marked a decisive step. Cape Wools South Africa places the arrival of the first Merino sheep in the Cape in 1789. In Australia, the National Museum of Australia indicates that the first Merinos arrived in 1797, from the Cape of Good Hope to Port Jackson. The Australian wool industry then developed strongly in the 19th century.
This long history partly explains the current position of Merino wool: it is the result of a long selection focused on the fineness and quality of the fiber.
Discover the Merino wool hat
Thermoregulation and moisture management
During a walk, and then a prolonged stop at the bivouac, the body quickly transitions from a phase of heat production and sweating to a cooling phase.
Unlike synthetic fibers, Merino wool is remarkable for regulating temperature and humidity in this situation where activities and static periods alternate. Nature does things well...
Merino wool is capable of absorbing up to about one third of its weight in water vapor without immediately giving a wet sensation. Subsequently, it gradually wicks away this moisture, which significantly limits cooling by evaporation.
In bivouacking, hiking, camp cooking, or any outdoor activity, this natural moisture management is particularly appreciated.
Also read
→ How to make fire in the rain: the effective bushcraft method
→ Van life: why a cast iron cauldron has its place on your road trips
Natural odor resistance
Merino wool is also appreciated when you have to wear the same garment for several days.
This is often the case if you are far from civilization, self-sufficient, or in the wilderness.
Wool fiber is hygroscopic: it absorbs moisture and limits the development of bacteria responsible for bad body odors.
This property does not replace maintenance or ventilation of clothes, but it is well suited to outdoor uses where one seeks to carry little, wash less often, without having to tolerate the bad odors very frequent with synthetic materials. In a logic of autonomy, this is a clear advantage: less textile rotation, less dependence on washing, more hygiene.
View the Merino wool hat
Skin comfort and fiber fineness
The comfort of wool depends on the diameter of the fiber. Coarse wools can cause a very unpleasant sensation when worn directly on the skin. The perceived softness depends on the diameter measured in microns: the finer the fiber, the more easily it bends on contact with the skin, which gives it a soft and warm feel.
With an average diameter of 18.5 microns for Australian and South African merino wools, merino remains significantly finer than classic sheep wool, whose diameter is around 25 to 30 microns, or even more depending on the breed.
| Breed / origin | Country | Average diameter |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Merino | Australia | ≈ 18 µm |
| South African Merino | South Africa | ≈ 19 µm |
| Arles Merino | France | ≈ 20–21 µm |
| Shetland | Scotland | ≈ 23 µm |
| Île-de-France | France | ≈ 23–28 µm |
| Scottish Blackface | Scotland | ≈ 28–38 µm |
It's this fineness that gives Merino wool its soft feel.
For a wool hat, softness is a real benefit: the forehead and ears are sensitive areas, especially when the garment is worn for several hours, day or night.
Consistent use in bivouac and around the fire
Outdoors, in cold weather, you lose the most calories through your head. When you stop at the end of the day to bivouac, the falling humidity exacerbates the feeling of cold. It takes time to set up the tarp, to cut wood to prepare the fire. And this is not the time to get cold!
Around a campfire, or when cooking in a cauldron, the body is close to the fire, but the head is much less exposed to infrared radiation.
For all these reasons, we have selected our own 100% merino wool hats of certified quality. They provide great thermal comfort, remain breathable and are very pleasant to wear during outdoor adventures or around a campfire.
Discover the Merino wool hat
Certifications and production choices
The choice of a wool is not limited to its technical properties. The non-mulesing mention indicates that the wool comes from sheep that have not undergone this controversial practice, mainly associated with certain merino productions. This is an important point of vigilance when choosing an animal fiber, because the origin and breeding conditions are part of the product's coherence.
OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification concerns textile safety. According to OEKO-TEX, this label applies to textiles tested for harmful substances, from the yarn to the finished product. It does not summarize the entire environmental or animal issue, but it provides useful information on textile control in contact with the skin.
The wool for Approche Libre hats comes from certified farms in South Africa and Australia. It is certified non-mulesing and complies with OEKO-TEX Standard 100.
FAQ
Where does merino wool come from?
Merino sheep developed in Spain in the Middle Ages, before being introduced to South Africa (1789) and then Australia (1797), where breeding developed on a large scale in the 19th century. The wool for the Approche Libre hat comes from certified farms in South Africa and Australia.
Does the hat scratch?
The merino fiber used is very fine, around 18.5 microns. This fineness helps to limit the rough sensation that can be associated with some coarser wools. This fiber diameter results in a very soft weave, suitable for prolonged wear in contact with the skin.
Does one size fit all?
The hat is designed in a one-size-fits-all adult size, with an indicative range of 52 to 62 cm. The knitting provides elasticity, which allows it to cover most adult head circumferences within this range.
What are the wool certifications?
The wool is certified non-mulesing and OEKO-TEX Standard 100. The first mention concerns the absence of mulesing in the relevant farms; the second indicates that the textile has been tested according to the OEKO-TEX standard for harmful substances.
View the Merino wool hat
Also read
→ How to light a fire with a ferro rod
→ How to make fire in the rain: the effective bushcraft method
→ Cauldron cooking: 7 misconceptions that unnecessarily hinder beginners
→ What to cook in a cauldron? 30 historical recipes for wood fire cooking
→ Our guide to choosing your cauldron
Sources
– Cape Wools South Africa, The Story of Wool
– National Museum of Australia, Merino sheep introduced (Defining Moments)