4 Reasons you should layer with wool

In today's modern world of artificial, chemically produced fibers and textiles we often overlook the wondrous things that nature provides. Wool is one of those things. When I am out adventuring in the Canadian wilderness I rely on wool and have for many years just as our ancestors did.

Mankind has been wearing wool since we first hunted sheep for food. Their skins with the fluffy wool kept us warm and dry in the cold and rain, and kept us cool during the heat of the day as well. Wool has been used for over 10,000 years for keeping us comfortable in wild lands of our world. The noble sheep has fed us and kept us safe from the elements and I think they will continue to do so for eons to come.

So why layer with wool? Here are just 4 great reasons:

Nature's Perfect Insulator

First and foremost, wool is a great insulator. Wool helps to keep us warm in the cold by trapping air inside its fibers separating our skin from the cooler air on the other side. It also repels water naturally so the fibers resist getting wet. This is especially beneficial should you fall into water while out in the elements or get soaked in a downpour. Even when wool does get wet it is still a great insulator. Wool can absorb up to 30% of its weight in water, yet still retains 80% of its insulative value.

Durability

Wool is also a naturally tough fiber. Because of the armor like scales on the fibers themselves wool resists abrasion, staining and tearing. Wool fibers can bend over 20,000 times before breaking, whereas cotton fiber breaks after only 3000 bends. The interlocking scales on the wool fibers also resist fraying so if you do manage to put a hole in your garment it won't start to disintegrate.

Fire Resistance

Have you ever tried to start a fire with wool tinder? Good luck with that, wool will char, scorch and stink but as soon as you remove the flame it stops burning. Try that with your Gortex or Thinsulate fabric. This is one of the main reasons I love wool in the field. On cold nights when you are huddled very close to a fire, it throws sparks and embers from time to time and I have had holes melted in jackets, sleeves that have caught fire because their flash points are such that it really doesn't take much to get the material to flame. Burns from melted clothing are much akin to napalm burns and are a very serious matter in the field when you are hours away from medical assistance.

Renewable/Biodegradable

Finally, wool is never ending. It is made continually from grass, processed by the noble sheep of the world. Compared to the petrochemicals that are involved in creating the modern wonder fabrics that repel water and fire and wick moisture away from your skin, all the things that wool does already, one wonders why we don't just stick with what the cavemen discovered thousands of years ago. Modern materials do have their place. Nylon, plastics and Gore Tex all have uses and are found all around us, but as we move toward a greener more environmentally conscious society we need to keep in mind what impact our man made materials will have in the long term.

Where can you get a great wool garment to keep you warm and cozy?

Right here (shameless product plug)