Many people who love the outdoor activities must be familiar with merino wool. When it comes to brands in this area, the most famous ones are Icebreaker and Smartwool.
Merino wool spokesperson: Icebreaker
Icebreaker, from New Zealand, is a brand in the outdoor products market. Combining the local merino wool of New Zealand, Icebreaker has successfully used the advantages of merino wool for warmth, breathability, no residual odor, softness, and non-itchiness and developed a series of high-quality wool clothing that has set off a wave of natural wool in the outdoor products market.
Icebreaker, the brand started in 1995, originated from a trip of the brand founder, Jeremy Moon. Icebreaker is the first brand in the world to think of using merino wool to make clothes and socks. On the isolated island of Marlborough, New Zealand, Jeremy Moon wore warm clothes handmade by local residents with pure merino wool for the first time. His first idea is to sell clothes made of this wool to Americans and the rest of the world. Soon after that, the Icebreaker brand was born.
Due to the excellent quality assurance of the Icebreaker brand, it has an excellent reputation in European and American countries, and its sales have soared. It is more suitable for outdoor use due to its non-itchy, breathable, quick-drying, deodorizing, and warm-keeping properties. Sportswear, with the explosion of outdoor sports, has spread around the world.
Icebreaker merino wool fibers are comfortable and soft enough to be worn next to the skin. Curves naturally when pressed against the skin for a soft and comfortable fit. At the same time, icebreaker merino wool fiber is a natural fiber that can control temperature, keep dry, and effectively reduce odor.
Icebreaker merino wool fiber can adjust body surface temperature by absorbing and releasing heat according to body needs and changes in the external environment. Icebreaker merino wool fiber can actively and quickly absorb sweat from the skin, even if it absorbs up to 35% of its own weight in water. It will not make the skin feel wet and can quickly evaporate and release into the air, so as to achieve humidity regulation and keep the body dry. Icebreaker merino wool fiber can absorb and lock the odor molecules and can effectively maintain the odor reduction even after continuous wearing for several days.
At the same time, because the merino wool fiber has good ductility, you can wash it by machine and reduce the times of washing, which can reduce pollution in the earth's environment.
Icebreaker actively innovates using merino wool and natural fibers to create a range of fabric technologies and products. The ZoneKnitTM series, which won the ISPO award in 2021, adopts a zone design that compares with human body functions to achieve more professional functionality and effectively regulate body temperature. It is an excellent choice for outdoor and high-intensity sports.
Cool-Lite is blended with merino wool and TENCELTM Lyocell plant fiber, which is soft, breathable, and light, keeping you comfortable and dry all summer. The TechLite II short-sleeved T-shirt is made of 100% merino wool, which is breathable and odor-resistant, and you can wear it for any occasion and sports.
Smartwool started with socks
SmartWool was born in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, USA, in 1994. One of the core values of its products is that it insists on using merino wool. Merino wool has functions such as moisture management and temperature regulation, making it an ideal choice for outdoor sports. In the past few years, it has occupied 57% of the US outdoor socks market. So far, SmartWool has become the undisputed choice in the field of wool socks.
SmartWool is a top outdoor brand in the United States, founded in 1994 by American Peter Duck. SmartWool takes functional socks as its leading product. The socks it produces are made of merino wool, which is much higher quality than the market standard. The wool content is as high as 83%. The undisputed king of socks Merino wool is the best choice for outdoor sports because of its natural moisture management, odor control, and temperature regulation. In the past few years, SmartWool has occupied 57% of the US outdoor socks market and has become the undisputed king in the field of professional wool socks.
SmartWool Liner socks are designed to prevent and improve the blisters and skin inflammation that often occur during long-distance travel and heavy loads, so they are loved by many outdoor adventurers and have become their standard equipment. In recent years, SmartWool has also launched products such as high-quality outdoor clothing. The American outdoor brand started with wool socks. In addition to applying wool technology to the bottom layer, it has also launched many warm mid-layers with insulation capabilities, including vests, jackets, and hooded coats. The variety is quite rich.
Like bottom-layer clothing, it is first of all very soft. It is made of 100% merino wool, but it has a cotton-like skin touch without the prickly feeling of ordinary wool, which is quite amazing. The properties of all-wool make it still have a certain warmth retention effect in a wet state. Even if it is raining, the outer layer is mixed with sweat and rain, but it does not feel cold. This is probably the biggest advantage of wool compared with the chemical fiber bottom layer.
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