I spend a ton of time outdoors.
I love it. Camping, hiking, canoeing, you name it. In nature, I feel a sense of place and belonging I don’t feel when I’m in the city.
I’ve lived in a van in the Yukon and Alaska for months. I’ve traveled down the Alsek River Valley. I’ve scoured Algonquin Provincial Park for many years (cumulatively). I’ve been lost in British Columbia’s back-country for days.
And the most important thing I can tell you after all these experiences?
Wear wool.
Specifically, wool socks and underwear. Without a doubt, they’ve saved my life on at least two occasions.
You see, wool has a few properties that are terrifically helpful to humans in harsh climates. And I don’t just mean the Arctic. I’m talking about anywhere the temperature can vary by 20 degrees in a single day. Even the Bedouins used it in the desert.
This is because wool has a hollow-but-rigid cell structure. Meaning that it naturally wicks moisture away from your skin, and it also insulates when wet.
Insulation is basically the process of trapping layers of air in small pockets. If you’ve ever seen the fluffy pink crap that’s in your walls you know what I mean. Because of wool's structure, it doesn’t collapse when it’s wet, this means it keeps its insulating properties.
On the other hand, cotton loses all of insulating properties if you glance at it provocatively. The bare mention of moisture destroys it ability to keep you regulated.
Now there are many other synthetic fabrics that have the same properties as wool. If you’ve ever been into a sports store you’ve probably seen Under Armor shirts with the “Wick away!” tags on them. There’s nothing wrong with these. They use polyester, which some people appreciate because it is/was generally lighter and easier to pack than wool.
But wool does more than wick away. Because it is a natural fibre, it has anti-microbial properties. To make a long story short, this means that wool doesn’t smell. I’ve rotated two pairs of wool socks for days. As long as you take them off and give them some airing-out time at the end of the day, they stay fresh.
It also ignites at higher temperatures, and doesn’t burn quickly. Something that definitely can’t be said for synthetic fibres like polyester.
So what should you look for when buying wool?
One word: Merino. The first time you slip into Merino Wool underwear, you’re never going to want to take them off again. If you can shell out for some of the ultrafine stuff, you’ll be blown away by how comfortable it is. The unders provide a level of comfort that is unrivaled. They’ll feel cool if you’re hot, and hot if you’re cool. They’ll wick the sweat away from your body. And your significant other will appreciate the marked improvement in body odour.
A note on price
Fine wool products don’t come cheap. The last two pairs of underwear I bought were each around $50 CAD. However, there is a trade-off: you can wear the hell out of these products without them falling apart. Really, it’s a simple choice of spending $50 on a pair of underwear that will last decades, or $15 on three pairs that will last a year or two. For me the choice is obvious. Wool is way more frugal in the long run.
Who to buy?
My personal favourite right now is Saxx's Blacksheep line, followed closely by Icebreakers. If you're looking for something a bit friendlier to your wallet, go with Woolpower. They make a fantastic pair of fine-medium Merino undys.
The first shot you see is of me, down the Alsek River, by Lowell Glacier. The remaining shots in this article are courtesy of pixabay.