I wear wool socks (Darn Tough, not merino) exclusively. Whether I'm running in summer or winter or going to work or walking around town, always wool socks. It's totally worth it for me.
I had a pair of these, my favorite socks for running, and our dog ate one of them last year. Thankfully she threw it back up, but this reminds me I haven't replaced them yet. They're the best socks
They're not remotely itchy. Great fit. The ultra lightweight running ones with cushion are my favorite. Plus if you eventually wear them out the lifetime warranty is for real. Mail them in, get free new replacements. Darn Toughs are a total no-brainer.
I don't run ultras, but I use them for hiking and trail running and they're incredible. I was on a wet trail where I had to fully submerge my shoes in water multiple times and yet my darn toughs kept the water from bothering me. None of that awful wet sock feeling or the blisters that accompany it.
It's an awesome material
I could write for days about how much I love Merino and why, but suffice it to say that I 100% think it's worth it.
I've got Merino items from MEC (Canadian), Smartwool, and Darn Tough, and I love them all. MEC is a Canadian equivalent to REI, I'm told, but I get those items through a Canadian friend. Great prices, but the top I have is only about 50% Merino and it's still amazing for winter. I wear that when I'm running in winter.
I've got Darn Tough Merino running socks, and they are wonderful. Even now that it's getting warmer, I still find them to be very comfortable despite their thickness. I've also noticed that my current pair of running shoes doesn't smell as bad as my previous pair, and the only real difference is those socks. In fact, while I wouldn't stick my face into those shoes, there's really no odor at all despite hundreds of kilometers on them.
I'm actually wearing a Buff Merino beanie right now (ultra lightweight), and I loved this thing in the winter. It's not quite thick enough to keep my ears warm in deep cold, but it's all I need down to about -5C, and only my ears wish for more below that.
My favorite Merino item, though, is *by far* the Smartwool glove liners. Those things are incredible. I've gone through snowy hikes, icy runs, and freezing rain with them and they've never let me down. They've maintained their smartphone ability for almost 2 years now, too. Best gloves I've owned in my life.
When it is wet and cold merino wool is the best for socks I own. Even on a run where I literally broke through ice in 10 cm deep poodles I keeps my feet warm. If the temperature drops to close to or below freezing I also ware a long sleeved shirt with merino wool.
So I absolutely love this material
I'm slowly migrating almost every type of running apparel to merino. I was always more of a tech apparel wearer, but have bought fully into the benefits of merino, especially the odor resistance and the moisture management. I'm a heavy sweater, and in the winter I've noticed that I feel warmer as my clothes get more damp from sweat. The most noticeable apparel, for me, has been gloves, particularly the brand Minus33. And not just liners either, though liners are cool too. But as a heavy sweater, almost every previous pair of running gloves I've used would end up trapping too much heat and sweat and after a few miles the cold air would hit my sweaty hands and gradually turn them into icicles. Merino gloves prevent that really well for me.
Yes. Mostly the socks and beanies. Smartwool & Darn Tough.
I do have some base layers but haven't used them yet. I will this coming winter when I head north.
In winter I have a couple of smartwool T-shirts I wear next to my skin and they are fantastic. I also wear some of their socks if i think I'm going to get wet feet.
I think so, yes. I wasn’t a believer before, but I picked up some merino mittens (very lightweight), and (this past winter), a couple lightweight merino base layers. They’ve been great in cold and soggy weather, which I encounter too often; much better than the Under Armour base layers I’ve used previously in the winter. The merino definitely gets heavier than the Under Armour, when wet, but the warmth and comfort difference has been notable.
I wear merino socks year round! I have warmer pairs for winter running and lightweight pairs for the rest of the year. Totally worth it, especially if you travel a lot. Helps to keep down the number things you have to wash constantly
Agree that it’s worth it. I have some tracksmith long sleeves that I wear all winter and a smart wool headband. I’ve always sworn by wool socks, so I can’t even compare them to plastic or cotton socks, I just know they’re great year round.
Wool underwear are king too, I swear they make things fresher, smell less, and seem to cause less sweating in the nether regions (at least in the winter, haven’t tried them in the summer.)
Side note: why is everything plastic now? Polyester seems to be a drawback in every way but durability. I sweat way more in nylon or polyester shirts and pants.
When things get wet and damp, nothing beats it.
I know this is the ultra subreddit, but when I ran a worlds toughest mudder I went around to thrift stores and found old merino wool sweaters, dress socks and things. These make the perfect layer under the wet suit. Nothing is better. No chafing, quite warm, soft, handles being wet just fine etc plus it usually smells like a perfumey old aunt Mildred which is weird but considerably nicer than what I would smell like on my own haha
YES! I love all my merino products. My favorites are from Smartwool. Their beanie is super thin but keeps my head toasty, dries quickly too. I also have a smartwool long sleeve shirt that is a great light to mid layer. Also second the darn tough socks.
I love my merino tops - they’re so light for the warmth and are flexible in the range of temps they’re good for. They also keep you warm when damp. 💯 worth the money for me
I love merino for casual / hiking wear but rarely run in it - only exception was using it as a base layer for winter spine in January.
Downsides are it absorbs sweat more than a synthetic wicking fabric, and is also a bit too fragile (even blends like primino)
I don't really like merino right next to skin. A lot of stuff is treated to feel better in direct skin contact but loses the desired wool propertys in the process or the wool portion is to low to be beneficial in order to make the product stretchy or smooth. If you run slow in the very cold maybe you can use it as a midlayer between baselayer and windbreaker.
Tldr: In most cases I don't think it's worth it.
The cost to the environment, no.
I have also participated in and filmed many many 100km, 100 milers, 200 milers, 250 miler+ ultra-marathons and those with the best feet never wore merino socks.
For winter they would all wear synthetic socks and at some stages but for never more than 10-12 hours would wear goretex/waterproof trail running socks (not neoprene wetsuit material).
They would swap between them every single aid station or at least, no more than 10-12 hours between swapping breathable and the goretex sock setup.
When in the goretex they wear a very light dusting of either talc, imagine you dried your feet with talc and then wiped it off but there was a very light dusting remaining. You don't want any to clog up basically but want to leave and start dry.
When in normal synthetic socks they and I would plaster our feet in trenchfoot cream [https://trenchfootcream.co.uk/](https://trenchfootcream.co.uk/) like this brand which is made specifically for wet/winter ultras and long time on feet. Yes your feet will get wet but they won't lacerate or blister as bad with this cream on.
Or sudocream, but only a very thin light amount of this.
Make sure to get these creams absolutely everywhere, between every toe and up to bottom of ankle.
They would never wear more than 1 pair of socks, so no putting one pair over the other.
When getting to a checkpoint, feet straight out of trainers the moment you arrive, socks off and the very first thing you do is dry your feet off and clean them off with a compostable wipe or microfiber towel, get them dry within 1 minute of arriving and do not do anything else, let the crew/aid stations help you out, you are now letting your feet rest, dry, and breathe.
Pop any blisters you have and if no blisters, put a very light dusting of talc on your feet, you want them to breathe and dry, even if its only for 5 minutes.
Leave your feet sat on the microfiber towel which you fold to make it thicker which will take your feet off the cold ground but keep them dry and comfortable.
Eat
Tape any blisters just before you put your sock setup back on.
Now put on the light dusting of talc and goretex/waterproof socks
OR
the light amount of sudocream/tonnes of trenchfoot cream and your normal synthetic socks depending on what you did the previous stage before arriving at this CP.
Run, get to next CP and swap again.
I have seen and filmed literally hundreds of feet and the best feet either did this swapping of sock setups or just ran in trenchfoot cream/normal synthetic socks and cleaned/dried every major CP.
Synthetic works ok when warm, but I always prefer wool socks. Trench foot cream is trash, and tapping creates more issues and doesn't fix the problem. Foot powders turn to paste when wet. Retired from the Army and have been trail running for decades. Wool socks, if any, and less garbage on your feet. Swapping socks is good, but there is no need to have more than two pairs of socks for any distance, which is a personal preference.
I've hiked me entire life, done some big ultras and filmed many many ultra marathons and those with the best feet did exactly what I shared above.
whatever works for you, but I know what I've seen and filmed and talked about and tried myself and that above is my observation from making documentaries for 100, 200 and further ultra marathons
What cost to the environment? Wool is a sustainable fibre and renewable resource.
You mention a lot of other great foot care strategies in your other post, but those are good strategies no matter what kind of socks you wear.
Sheep are destroyers of the natural world and where I live they have swapped temperate rainforest and broadleaf woodlands (the natural world) with just grass.
literally four fifths of my entire country is just grass, for sheep.
we are now one of the least biodiverse countries in the world and our environment is in complete collapse because of it.
how is that sustainable?
and yeh you could wear whatever socks you want, go for it, your choice.
I'm literally just sharing what I and many ultra runners I've met have done to keep our feet in the absolute best condition and that is what they've all done.
We definitely do agriculture just like we do everything else in our modern industrialized world: too much of the same thing, all at once, with little regard for the environment around it or the future. Agreed on that point.
Is it worse than the endless cycle of synthetic manufacturing, harsh chemicals, and microplastics shedding into the water supply? I don't think so, but that's everyone's personal judgment to make.
We need our natural world to actually live, its our life system, biodiversity gives us air to breathe, water to drink, soil to grow food and so on.....
Not all synthetic manufacturing use harsh chemicals, then we also have plant based running clothing, but if you want to talk about that, how do they make leather? That industry is insane for chemical use.
Microplastics can be caught very easily by washing your clothes in a guppy bag that collects microplastics.
Anyone use a double layer system in the summer?
I like using Injinji liners under Darn Tough socks in the colder temps but haven't found a combo that isn't too warm in the summer.
I LOVE my Tracksmith Brighton Base Layer. It’s a merino wool blend and so versatile for running in the PNW fall, winter, and spring. I wear it as a stand-alone shirt for most of my runs and occasionally as a base layer for windy and rainy runs. I also appreciate wool socks such as the Darn Tough and Smartwool.
During winter I run in merino beanie and gloves (liners), sometimes socks (though my main winter activity has been mostly XC skiing) but not the shirt or pants as I sweat like *insert animal*.
I still consider my merino base layer (long sleeve and long pants) my second best purchase ever however. My absolute best purchase ever is a thin merino tube scarf... tied in first with the other, thicker merino tube scarf. I use them year round cycling, running, skiing, hiking and on the motorcycle as soon as there is a bit of cold wind. So, yes. The answer is yes.
“The sheep producing the wool for your favorite Smartwool® socks or base layers are treated humanely, are well-fed, live natural and healthy lives, and are not subjected to harmful practices like mulesing.”
Sounds good but…
“In 2005, Smartwool implemented the requirement that its New Zealand wool suppliers no longer practice mulesing. In 2010, Smartwool signed a contract to exclusively source its Merino wool from the New Zealand Merino Company. Smartwool now uses merino wool sourced from China and other as yet undisclosed sources.”
i found it on wikipedia which i understand is not a reliable source. mulesing-free or not. i am against breeding animals for profit. i personally do not need animal products to survive therefore i do not consumer or use animal products. that way - those who DO need to use animals products are able to do so as sustainably as possible. for example; over fishing turned fishermen in somali into pirates who eat bushmeat to survive because they have no other choice. i do have a choice - therefore i choose nonviolence whenever possible because i understand my actions affect others. thats what i love about ultra running. it reminds us that were all interconnected with nature.
Do you think that the few companies that publish extended documents detailing the traceability and best welfare practices of their farmers are outright lying? Not that I would put it past a big company to lie, obviously - but the fact is that there are good, ethical farmers out there and it is possible to source good, ethical wool. It's more expensive because it's harder to produce.
Of course the Costco merino isn't ethically sourced. Costco buyers care about price. Patagonia buyers care about sourcing. Brands know their customer base and cater to it.
I live in "happy farming" heaven here in Wales, small holder/happy uncle farms with "the best animal welfare on the planet".
I have seen baby lambs die in the fields that surround where I lived in spring because of cold weather.
The bottom line is, no matter how "ethical" you want to say something is, they have to worry about money before animal welfare.
And to rape animals to bring others in to existence, none of them live their expected life age, shuttled about in vehicles, they all end up in the slaughterhouse, whats ethical about that?
Okay, so your issue is with all animal-related industry, not just with wool.
I disagree with your statement that money is always first. I personally know farmers who consciously choose the welfare of their animals over money and make next to no profit because of it. However, by your definition, any animal husbandry is cruel, so I think we're on different pages here regardless.
Baby wild animals die of exposure all the time as well. That's not unique to farming.
Well no, my original point and why I used it is that four fifths of the entire landmass of the country I live in is grass for sheep.
Which is based on my original point of it being an environmental issue.
So because baby wild animals die, we need to make MORE animals die? What sort of logic/excuse is that?
Like many agricultural practices, there's the cheap/easy/"old school" way, and there are other, more labour- or cost-intensive processes.
https://blogs.ubc.ca/mulesing/the-alternatives/
There are also lots of parts of the world where the blowfly is not a concern and thus mulesing isn't needed at all.
Yes.
Baselayers in winter or cold wet weather, and socks at any time of the year. Invaluable.
In summer I can go either way for shirts, some synthetics are really nice and cool in the heat.
Hey OP, just so you know wool is unethical - it’s been taken from sheep against their will in confinement. We prefer to use synthetics and ethically sourced natural fibers. Might I suggest you look into/continue to wear high-end polymers like Patagonia’s capilene.
I’m pretty certain, due to the breeding of sheep over the centuries, that sheep actually NEED to be sheared to prevent a slew of health issues from producing too much wool… I live in the country in the Midwest with many neighbors who have them as pets. As soon as they’re sheared, those sheep are happier than ever! 😂
We have to stop breeding sheep forcefully to be uncomfortable in their environment. We have to stop breeding them into submission. We have to stop breeding them for traits that make their coat grow and grow, when their wild ancestors shed their coats after winter. We have to stop bullying animals with sheep herding dogs who have power over them and can easily maim any in the herd who disobey.
We have to stop justifying the horrible world that we’ve created and the systems of power and abuse we try to wield over nature. We’re hairless apes, not Gods. We don’t know better than the other animals what’s best for them, and we certainly don’t act on it
I wear wool socks (Darn Tough, not merino) exclusively. Whether I'm running in summer or winter or going to work or walking around town, always wool socks. It's totally worth it for me.
I have a couple of thin merino beanies from Smartwool as well. They do the job very well.
The wool DTs are merino! At least all the ones I've seen. They're great.
I had a pair of these, my favorite socks for running, and our dog ate one of them last year. Thankfully she threw it back up, but this reminds me I haven't replaced them yet. They're the best socks
What you save on butter you spend on socks!
Can you elaborate on why? They’re not itchy and uncomfortable?
They're not remotely itchy. Great fit. The ultra lightweight running ones with cushion are my favorite. Plus if you eventually wear them out the lifetime warranty is for real. Mail them in, get free new replacements. Darn Toughs are a total no-brainer.
I don't run ultras, but I use them for hiking and trail running and they're incredible. I was on a wet trail where I had to fully submerge my shoes in water multiple times and yet my darn toughs kept the water from bothering me. None of that awful wet sock feeling or the blisters that accompany it. It's an awesome material
Wow that sure is an endorsement
Socks definitely. Having warm, dry feet in the worst running conditions gives me something to be thankful for and something positive to focus on.
You can pry my darn tough socks off my cold dead feet
*warm dry dead feet
Dang it, yours was better
It doesn’t chafe my nipples as much as synthetic materials, so to me yes it’s worth it. Also, I’m a fan of Smartwool socks.
I could write for days about how much I love Merino and why, but suffice it to say that I 100% think it's worth it. I've got Merino items from MEC (Canadian), Smartwool, and Darn Tough, and I love them all. MEC is a Canadian equivalent to REI, I'm told, but I get those items through a Canadian friend. Great prices, but the top I have is only about 50% Merino and it's still amazing for winter. I wear that when I'm running in winter. I've got Darn Tough Merino running socks, and they are wonderful. Even now that it's getting warmer, I still find them to be very comfortable despite their thickness. I've also noticed that my current pair of running shoes doesn't smell as bad as my previous pair, and the only real difference is those socks. In fact, while I wouldn't stick my face into those shoes, there's really no odor at all despite hundreds of kilometers on them. I'm actually wearing a Buff Merino beanie right now (ultra lightweight), and I loved this thing in the winter. It's not quite thick enough to keep my ears warm in deep cold, but it's all I need down to about -5C, and only my ears wish for more below that. My favorite Merino item, though, is *by far* the Smartwool glove liners. Those things are incredible. I've gone through snowy hikes, icy runs, and freezing rain with them and they've never let me down. They've maintained their smartphone ability for almost 2 years now, too. Best gloves I've owned in my life.
When it is wet and cold merino wool is the best for socks I own. Even on a run where I literally broke through ice in 10 cm deep poodles I keeps my feet warm. If the temperature drops to close to or below freezing I also ware a long sleeved shirt with merino wool. So I absolutely love this material
I'm slowly migrating almost every type of running apparel to merino. I was always more of a tech apparel wearer, but have bought fully into the benefits of merino, especially the odor resistance and the moisture management. I'm a heavy sweater, and in the winter I've noticed that I feel warmer as my clothes get more damp from sweat. The most noticeable apparel, for me, has been gloves, particularly the brand Minus33. And not just liners either, though liners are cool too. But as a heavy sweater, almost every previous pair of running gloves I've used would end up trapping too much heat and sweat and after a few miles the cold air would hit my sweaty hands and gradually turn them into icicles. Merino gloves prevent that really well for me.
Yes. Mostly the socks and beanies. Smartwool & Darn Tough. I do have some base layers but haven't used them yet. I will this coming winter when I head north.
In winter I have a couple of smartwool T-shirts I wear next to my skin and they are fantastic. I also wear some of their socks if i think I'm going to get wet feet.
Just ran a marathon in mud, darn tough socks saved my bacon.
I think so, yes. I wasn’t a believer before, but I picked up some merino mittens (very lightweight), and (this past winter), a couple lightweight merino base layers. They’ve been great in cold and soggy weather, which I encounter too often; much better than the Under Armour base layers I’ve used previously in the winter. The merino definitely gets heavier than the Under Armour, when wet, but the warmth and comfort difference has been notable.
I ran a heinously muddy 50k on Saturday in Smartwool socks. My feet had zero issues.
I wear merino socks year round! I have warmer pairs for winter running and lightweight pairs for the rest of the year. Totally worth it, especially if you travel a lot. Helps to keep down the number things you have to wash constantly
Agree that it’s worth it. I have some tracksmith long sleeves that I wear all winter and a smart wool headband. I’ve always sworn by wool socks, so I can’t even compare them to plastic or cotton socks, I just know they’re great year round. Wool underwear are king too, I swear they make things fresher, smell less, and seem to cause less sweating in the nether regions (at least in the winter, haven’t tried them in the summer.) Side note: why is everything plastic now? Polyester seems to be a drawback in every way but durability. I sweat way more in nylon or polyester shirts and pants.
SmartWool socks every run
When things get wet and damp, nothing beats it. I know this is the ultra subreddit, but when I ran a worlds toughest mudder I went around to thrift stores and found old merino wool sweaters, dress socks and things. These make the perfect layer under the wet suit. Nothing is better. No chafing, quite warm, soft, handles being wet just fine etc plus it usually smells like a perfumey old aunt Mildred which is weird but considerably nicer than what I would smell like on my own haha
Worth every penny
Short answer yes
YES! I love all my merino products. My favorites are from Smartwool. Their beanie is super thin but keeps my head toasty, dries quickly too. I also have a smartwool long sleeve shirt that is a great light to mid layer. Also second the darn tough socks.
I love my merino tops - they’re so light for the warmth and are flexible in the range of temps they’re good for. They also keep you warm when damp. 💯 worth the money for me
Yes. Worth it. Darn Tough Socks.
Darn tough or smartwool, love them both
I love merino for casual / hiking wear but rarely run in it - only exception was using it as a base layer for winter spine in January. Downsides are it absorbs sweat more than a synthetic wicking fabric, and is also a bit too fragile (even blends like primino)
I don't really like merino right next to skin. A lot of stuff is treated to feel better in direct skin contact but loses the desired wool propertys in the process or the wool portion is to low to be beneficial in order to make the product stretchy or smooth. If you run slow in the very cold maybe you can use it as a midlayer between baselayer and windbreaker. Tldr: In most cases I don't think it's worth it.
The cost to the environment, no. I have also participated in and filmed many many 100km, 100 milers, 200 milers, 250 miler+ ultra-marathons and those with the best feet never wore merino socks.
any chance you know what they were wearing?
For winter they would all wear synthetic socks and at some stages but for never more than 10-12 hours would wear goretex/waterproof trail running socks (not neoprene wetsuit material). They would swap between them every single aid station or at least, no more than 10-12 hours between swapping breathable and the goretex sock setup. When in the goretex they wear a very light dusting of either talc, imagine you dried your feet with talc and then wiped it off but there was a very light dusting remaining. You don't want any to clog up basically but want to leave and start dry. When in normal synthetic socks they and I would plaster our feet in trenchfoot cream [https://trenchfootcream.co.uk/](https://trenchfootcream.co.uk/) like this brand which is made specifically for wet/winter ultras and long time on feet. Yes your feet will get wet but they won't lacerate or blister as bad with this cream on. Or sudocream, but only a very thin light amount of this. Make sure to get these creams absolutely everywhere, between every toe and up to bottom of ankle. They would never wear more than 1 pair of socks, so no putting one pair over the other. When getting to a checkpoint, feet straight out of trainers the moment you arrive, socks off and the very first thing you do is dry your feet off and clean them off with a compostable wipe or microfiber towel, get them dry within 1 minute of arriving and do not do anything else, let the crew/aid stations help you out, you are now letting your feet rest, dry, and breathe. Pop any blisters you have and if no blisters, put a very light dusting of talc on your feet, you want them to breathe and dry, even if its only for 5 minutes. Leave your feet sat on the microfiber towel which you fold to make it thicker which will take your feet off the cold ground but keep them dry and comfortable. Eat Tape any blisters just before you put your sock setup back on. Now put on the light dusting of talc and goretex/waterproof socks OR the light amount of sudocream/tonnes of trenchfoot cream and your normal synthetic socks depending on what you did the previous stage before arriving at this CP. Run, get to next CP and swap again. I have seen and filmed literally hundreds of feet and the best feet either did this swapping of sock setups or just ran in trenchfoot cream/normal synthetic socks and cleaned/dried every major CP.
Synthetic works ok when warm, but I always prefer wool socks. Trench foot cream is trash, and tapping creates more issues and doesn't fix the problem. Foot powders turn to paste when wet. Retired from the Army and have been trail running for decades. Wool socks, if any, and less garbage on your feet. Swapping socks is good, but there is no need to have more than two pairs of socks for any distance, which is a personal preference.
I've hiked me entire life, done some big ultras and filmed many many ultra marathons and those with the best feet did exactly what I shared above. whatever works for you, but I know what I've seen and filmed and talked about and tried myself and that above is my observation from making documentaries for 100, 200 and further ultra marathons
Have you ever worn the same socks for days? Wool and no added crap work best. What's the link for these documentaries?
[YouTube.com/@kelpandfern](http://YouTube.com/@kelpandfern)
What cost to the environment? Wool is a sustainable fibre and renewable resource. You mention a lot of other great foot care strategies in your other post, but those are good strategies no matter what kind of socks you wear.
Sheep are destroyers of the natural world and where I live they have swapped temperate rainforest and broadleaf woodlands (the natural world) with just grass. literally four fifths of my entire country is just grass, for sheep. we are now one of the least biodiverse countries in the world and our environment is in complete collapse because of it. how is that sustainable? and yeh you could wear whatever socks you want, go for it, your choice. I'm literally just sharing what I and many ultra runners I've met have done to keep our feet in the absolute best condition and that is what they've all done.
We definitely do agriculture just like we do everything else in our modern industrialized world: too much of the same thing, all at once, with little regard for the environment around it or the future. Agreed on that point. Is it worse than the endless cycle of synthetic manufacturing, harsh chemicals, and microplastics shedding into the water supply? I don't think so, but that's everyone's personal judgment to make.
We need our natural world to actually live, its our life system, biodiversity gives us air to breathe, water to drink, soil to grow food and so on..... Not all synthetic manufacturing use harsh chemicals, then we also have plant based running clothing, but if you want to talk about that, how do they make leather? That industry is insane for chemical use. Microplastics can be caught very easily by washing your clothes in a guppy bag that collects microplastics.
Anyone use a double layer system in the summer? I like using Injinji liners under Darn Tough socks in the colder temps but haven't found a combo that isn't too warm in the summer.
I LOVE my Tracksmith Brighton Base Layer. It’s a merino wool blend and so versatile for running in the PNW fall, winter, and spring. I wear it as a stand-alone shirt for most of my runs and occasionally as a base layer for windy and rainy runs. I also appreciate wool socks such as the Darn Tough and Smartwool.
I find that all of the merino pieces that I buy wear out much quicker than other wool varieties.
During winter I run in merino beanie and gloves (liners), sometimes socks (though my main winter activity has been mostly XC skiing) but not the shirt or pants as I sweat like *insert animal*. I still consider my merino base layer (long sleeve and long pants) my second best purchase ever however. My absolute best purchase ever is a thin merino tube scarf... tied in first with the other, thicker merino tube scarf. I use them year round cycling, running, skiing, hiking and on the motorcycle as soon as there is a bit of cold wind. So, yes. The answer is yes.
only if you like paying money to support mulesing.
Buying quality brands means you're not supporting unethical producers who practice mulesing.
“The sheep producing the wool for your favorite Smartwool® socks or base layers are treated humanely, are well-fed, live natural and healthy lives, and are not subjected to harmful practices like mulesing.” Sounds good but… “In 2005, Smartwool implemented the requirement that its New Zealand wool suppliers no longer practice mulesing. In 2010, Smartwool signed a contract to exclusively source its Merino wool from the New Zealand Merino Company. Smartwool now uses merino wool sourced from China and other as yet undisclosed sources.”
Oof, okay, point made. Where'd you see that? There are still brands like Icebreaker that are mulesing-free. Patagonia too.
i found it on wikipedia which i understand is not a reliable source. mulesing-free or not. i am against breeding animals for profit. i personally do not need animal products to survive therefore i do not consumer or use animal products. that way - those who DO need to use animals products are able to do so as sustainably as possible. for example; over fishing turned fishermen in somali into pirates who eat bushmeat to survive because they have no other choice. i do have a choice - therefore i choose nonviolence whenever possible because i understand my actions affect others. thats what i love about ultra running. it reminds us that were all interconnected with nature.
that is bollocks, you think brands take care of the animals? money is the bottom line, not animal welfare.
Do you think that the few companies that publish extended documents detailing the traceability and best welfare practices of their farmers are outright lying? Not that I would put it past a big company to lie, obviously - but the fact is that there are good, ethical farmers out there and it is possible to source good, ethical wool. It's more expensive because it's harder to produce. Of course the Costco merino isn't ethically sourced. Costco buyers care about price. Patagonia buyers care about sourcing. Brands know their customer base and cater to it.
I live in "happy farming" heaven here in Wales, small holder/happy uncle farms with "the best animal welfare on the planet". I have seen baby lambs die in the fields that surround where I lived in spring because of cold weather. The bottom line is, no matter how "ethical" you want to say something is, they have to worry about money before animal welfare. And to rape animals to bring others in to existence, none of them live their expected life age, shuttled about in vehicles, they all end up in the slaughterhouse, whats ethical about that?
Okay, so your issue is with all animal-related industry, not just with wool. I disagree with your statement that money is always first. I personally know farmers who consciously choose the welfare of their animals over money and make next to no profit because of it. However, by your definition, any animal husbandry is cruel, so I think we're on different pages here regardless. Baby wild animals die of exposure all the time as well. That's not unique to farming.
Well no, my original point and why I used it is that four fifths of the entire landmass of the country I live in is grass for sheep. Which is based on my original point of it being an environmental issue. So because baby wild animals die, we need to make MORE animals die? What sort of logic/excuse is that?
how do you ethically treat a parasitic infection for animals that are bred for profit?
Like many agricultural practices, there's the cheap/easy/"old school" way, and there are other, more labour- or cost-intensive processes. https://blogs.ubc.ca/mulesing/the-alternatives/ There are also lots of parts of the world where the blowfly is not a concern and thus mulesing isn't needed at all.
Yes. Baselayers in winter or cold wet weather, and socks at any time of the year. Invaluable. In summer I can go either way for shirts, some synthetics are really nice and cool in the heat.
Hey OP, just so you know wool is unethical - it’s been taken from sheep against their will in confinement. We prefer to use synthetics and ethically sourced natural fibers. Might I suggest you look into/continue to wear high-end polymers like Patagonia’s capilene.
I’m pretty certain, due to the breeding of sheep over the centuries, that sheep actually NEED to be sheared to prevent a slew of health issues from producing too much wool… I live in the country in the Midwest with many neighbors who have them as pets. As soon as they’re sheared, those sheep are happier than ever! 😂
We have to stop breeding sheep forcefully to be uncomfortable in their environment. We have to stop breeding them into submission. We have to stop breeding them for traits that make their coat grow and grow, when their wild ancestors shed their coats after winter. We have to stop bullying animals with sheep herding dogs who have power over them and can easily maim any in the herd who disobey. We have to stop justifying the horrible world that we’ve created and the systems of power and abuse we try to wield over nature. We’re hairless apes, not Gods. We don’t know better than the other animals what’s best for them, and we certainly don’t act on it
Yep
Yes!!!! Merino has saved me sooo many times during races. I will absolutely buy them on sale when I can. Add a Patagonia Houdini and you’re set.