"Many cyclists immediately think of thick Norwegian sweaters and heat death on the bike when they hear the word merino wool. However, merino wool is ideally suited for cycling clothing."
When we started mountain biking intensively in the early 90s, it was already a big deal to own a stinky synthetic fiber jersey. Most of our guys just hopped on their bikes wearing cotton t-shirts and cut-off jeans. It may have looked casual, but it wasn't functional. It would have been smarter to orient ourselves to what professional road cyclists had been wearing many years before: wool jerseys. The heroes of that time knew what was good: Because cycling jerseys and many other products made from merino wool have unbeatable advantages over those made from other fibers. What exactly those advantages are and what you should know about merino wool can be found here.
All questions about merino wool
Where does merino wool come from?
What are the properties of merino wool?
Why doesn't merino wool itch?
Why does merino wool cool when it's warm?
Why does merino wool keep you warm when it's cold?
Why does merino wool keep you warm even when wet?
Why does merino wool not smell even after multiple wears?
Why is merino wool water- and dirt-repellent?
Merino wool as cycling clothing – Are there only advantages or also disadvantages?
What blended fabrics made of merino wool and other fibers are there?
How sustainable is merino wool?
How do I wash merino wool?
How do I dry merino wool?
Can you iron merino wool?
How do I store merino wool and prevent moth holes?
Tips and tricks for caring for merino wool:
How do I avoid pilling and holes in merino wool?
How do I get stains out of merino wool?
Is merino wool suitable as insulation?
TRIPLE2
Where does Merino wool actually come from?
Merino wool comes from the Merino sheep. This is a very old fine wool sheep breed that originally comes from North Africa. In a foothill of the Atlas Mountains, the descendants of this breed still reside. Even back then, the sheep adapted to the high temperature differences between the lowlands and the peaks of the Atlas Mountains, which reach up to 4400m in height, developing a durable fleece. This allows them to spend the whole year outdoors without any problems and cope with temperature fluctuations from -20° to +35° Celsius.
In 1307, the word Merino wool was mentioned for the first time when Spanish wool merchants and breeders brought wool and sheep to Spain. In the then Kingdom of Castile, the sheep were successfully bred. Spain thus became the largest supplier of high-quality wool. Here too, the sheep 'learned' the hard life in the open air. The huge herds covered distances of up to 800 km between their winter and summer pastures. At that time, Merino wool was so valuable that it was forbidden to export sheep upon death.
It was not until the 18th century that the first sheep arrived in Germany and from there were taken by European settlers to Australia and New Zealand. In Germany, the original Merino sheep were crossed with local breeds. The resulting Merinolandschaf is still the most widely distributed breed in Central Europe today. In Australia and New Zealand, about 40% of the annual Merino wool is produced today.
The merino wool used in the Triple2 products also comes from New Zealand.
By the way: The complete merino wool dress of a freshly sheared merino sheep weighs between 3 and 5 kilograms. Once the wool is cleaned and washed, meaning it is free from dirt, lanolin, sweat, and plant residues, the pure wool weighs about 2 to 3 kilograms.
TRIPLE2
Merino wool doesn't itch.
Merino wool cools when it is warm.
Merino wool keeps you warm when it's cold.
Merino wool keeps you warm even when it is wet.
Merino wool dries quickly and is easy to care for.
Merino wool is dirt-repellent.
Merino wool offers natural UV protection.
Merino wool is particularly lightweight with high thermal performance.
Merino wool is antistatic: no more static cling.
Merino wool is odor-neutral even with frequent wear.
Merino wool is flame resistant.
Merino wool is a renewable, biodegradable raw material.
Does Merino wool scratch?
Merino wool consists of extremely fine fibers, known as fine wool. The thickness of a fiber is measured in microns, with one micron equaling one thousandth of a millimeter. Imagine a hair from your own head: what grows on your head has a diameter of 50 to 100 microns. The Merino wool we use has a thickness of 17 to 21 microns – which is five times thinner. When wearing a Merino jersey directly on the skin, the fine fibers are pressed against the skin. Merino fibers are so fine that they act like a crumple zone and crinkle when compressed. Our skin perceives this as pleasant. Thicker fibers, like those of conventional wool (30 microns), are so thick that they do not crinkle under pressure and the ends poke into the skin. This is why our skin reports to the gray matter under your helmet: Normal wool = Yuck, it itches! Merino wool = Ahh, so soft!
TRIPLE2
Does merino wool cool?
Why does merino wool cool when it's warm?
If you really pedal hard on your bike, you will definitely start to sweat. Sweat serves your body as a natural air conditioning system. How does that work? Let's recall the physics lessons from 11th grade in our subconscious: The liquid sweat evaporates on our skin. It changes its state from liquid to gas. For this to happen, energy is needed. This energy is drawn from the liquid sweat in the form of heat. It cools down, and so does your body. The trick: Merino fibers are capable of enhancing this process because they function like a second skin. Merino fibers can do two things better than any synthetic fiber: 1. They can store air as an insulating layer against cold and heat. 2. They are largely hollow and can absorb 30% of their own weight in water. They behave hydroscopically and thus store a lot of water vapor in an extremely short time due to their sophisticated fiber structure. At the same time, the water-repellent surface remains dust dry.
If the merino fiber is heated, for example, by sunlight, the moisture evaporates from the outside. The same happens as with the sweat on our skin: energy is drawn from the liquid, resulting in evaporative cooling. The merino cycling jersey cools in addition to the skin.
For comparison: A synthetic fiber can only store a maximum of 10% of its own weight in moisture. The consequence: The material draws moisture away from the skin and dries too quickly. This reduces evaporative cooling and can lead to heat buildup. Studies have shown that especially in competitive sports like road cycling and mountain biking, Merino cycling jerseys can contribute to performance enhancement.
TRIPLE2
Why does merino wool keep you warm when it's cold?
85%. This is the value that only a merino fiber can achieve. Because only merino wool is capable of storing up to 85% of its volume in the form of air (referring to the total volume). What does that mean? Again, physics: Air is a very poor conductor of heat. It works somewhat like a double-glazed window: The air between the two glass panes prevents heat from escaping from the inside to the outside or cold from penetrating from the outside to the inside. Additionally, the strong crimping of the merino fibers results in very few contact points between skin and merino knitwear. So: Even more air can be stored. This means: The more air, the less heat is lost.
Why does merino wool keep you warm even when wet?
"Grade when stopping briefly on the bike, you quickly start to feel cold. This is especially true for cycling jerseys made from synthetic fibers. Merino wool, on the other hand, keeps you warm even when you are not physically exerting yourself. Why is that?"
The warming effect of wool in a wet state primarily depends on the fiber's ability to absorb moisture particularly quickly and in large amounts. During this process, heat is generated as long as the fiber is absorbing moisture. However, once the fiber is saturated, the process stops. Nevertheless, depending on the fiber type, merino wool can cause a temperature increase of up to 10° Celsius. Additionally, the fiber is water-repellent on the outside, so it does not feel damp for a long time, providing a warming sensation.
Why does merino wool not smell even after multiple wears?
"If you want to disappear into the woods with your bike for three days, then take a merino wool cycling jersey with you – it still smells like new even after days. Unlike a synthetic jersey, which you’d better leave directly in the woods. No! Joking aside. Merino wool has the great property of not smelling even after days of sweating. How does that work? The odor is prevented by four functions:"
Scaly surface of the fiber – bacteria cannot adhere here, no matter how much they would like to. No chance for odors.
Absorption of sweat into the fiber – Bacteria have no time to break down the sweat into its components and start to smell, as quickly as the sweat disappears into the fiber.
Self-cleaning of the fiber – The Merino fiber consists of different chambers that swell to varying degrees when absorbing sweat. This creates friction between the chambers, which washes out bacteria and other dirt.
Miracle substance creatine – Like all animal fibers, merino wool forms the fiber's own protein keratin. It is always hungry and simply breaks down odor-causing bacteria.
Why is merino wool water- and dirt-repellent?
"It doesn't sound convincing, but it works: While merino fibers can absorb moisture in large quantities, they are still dirt and water repellent on the surface. The reason for this is the natural wool fat lanolin found in the wool. Admittedly, a large part of the lanolin is washed out during the processing of the wool. However, remnants of the fat remain on the fibers. This wool fat acts like a protective layer. Therefore, dirt and odors cling to the fiber surface and do not penetrate it. Due to the strong crimping of the fibers, water droplets also have a very small surface area to adhere to and simply bead off due to their surface tension."
TRIPLE2
Merino wool as cycling clothing?
"Anyone who has read the text up to this point surely understands why we at TRIPLE2 find merino wool so great for cycling clothing. The advantages are simply phenomenal."
"Because we are often exposed to strong temperature fluctuations and weather changes while cycling, merino wool is extremely suitable as a temperature regulator in a cycling jersey, an insulation jacket, or in pants. It cools when it's warm, warms when it's cold, and handles moisture very well. For example, if you set off cycling in the valley in heat and sunshine, and at the summit there is a bit of wind or it becomes cloudy and you start to feel chilly, you will be grateful for your merino wool cycling jersey."
The antibacterial properties and odor-reducing effect of merino wool will particularly please bikepackers and alpine crossers who value low weight. Because the wool does not smell even after several days of use, it is extremely suitable for traveling with a minimal packing list and low weight.
"However, we do not want to hide the fact that merino wool also has some minor disadvantages. For example, it is not as robust and tear-resistant as a pure synthetic fiber. It usually does not dry as quickly as pure polyester either. And of course, there are people with sensitive skin who find merino wool, even in a superfine quality, to be scratchy or too warm."
For this reason, there are now solutions from yarn and fabric suppliers in the textile market that are mostly based on a blended fabric.
What blended fabrics of merino wool and other fibers are there?
To compensate for the few disadvantages of merino wool, the suppliers of fabrics and yarns have made it their mission to add missing properties or improve properties of merino wool by using other fibers (i.e., blended fabrics). The following materials are often found in a merino blend:
Polyester – Makes the fabric more durable, dries faster – Disadvantage: despite the use of recycled polyester, not particularly environmentally friendly.
Nylon – Makes the fabric very durable. Often offered as a 2-face material. This means: Merino on the inside and nylon on the outside with very high abrasion resistance. Commonly used in cycling shorts and cycling jackets – Disadvantage: despite the use of recycled nylon, it is not particularly environmentally friendly.
Elastane – makes the fabric extremely elastic and also offers an even higher recovery power than Merino already has – Disadvantage: despite the use of recycled elastane, it is not particularly environmentally friendly.
Tencel – Is derived from wood and is actually a viscose called Lyocell. It makes the fabric even softer, has cooling properties (20% better than pure Merino), is very stable, and can regulate temperature similarly to Merino while absorbing a lot of water very quickly. And Tencel is also antibacterial like Merino. Great: Tencel, like Merino wool, is a natural material and decomposes completely in compost.
"Depending on the application, we use nylon + merino fabric. But we also love combinations with Tencel, especially in the area of baselayer."
TRIPLE2
How sustainable is merino wool?
In a word: very! This is simply because, compared to other fibers, Merino wool is a natural, renewable raw material. While particularly synthetic fibers consume a lot of energy and resources during production and require additional chemicals and fibers for extra functions like odor control and elasticity, all of this is already included in the Merino fiber! It is therefore naturally a functional fiber, with the technology provided directly.
Additionally, Merino wool decomposes completely in home compost after its lifespan. The fibers are fully composted after just 90 days. And: Due to the self-cleaning effect of Merino wool, cycling clothing does not need to be washed as frequently, which also helps to protect the environment.
However, the problematic aspect of Merino wool is largely the treatment of Merino sheep. When it comes to wool sourced from Australia and New Zealand, you should ensure that the Merino wool is Mulesing Free. What does that mean? Unfortunately, Merino sheep in Australia and New Zealand suffer from infestations of fly larvae. These larvae particularly nest in the often wrinkled and soiled folds around the animals' rear ends, which are contaminated with feces and urine. As a result, the sheep can develop myiasis, which can be fatal for the animals. To prevent this, large areas of skin around the rear end are removed from the sheep without anesthesia. This is not only a bloody affair but also extremely painful and traumatizing for the animals.
"However, there are also other methods to protect the sheep from fly larvae infestation. The animals are cleaned and sheared more frequently in the problematic areas, regularly checked, and treated medically if necessary. This makes the wool more expensive, but the well-being of the animals is more important. Therefore, we use exclusively Mulesing-free, certified Merino wool in all our Merino products. Our Merino wool products are produced in a facility certified by the RWS (Responsible Wool Standard)."
IS MERINO WOOL SUITABLE AS INSULATION?
Are you looking for an ultra-lightweight, insulating jacket with a minimal pack size, but don't want to deal with high-maintenance down or synthetic fibers? How about insulation made from merino wool? Thanks to the Merino sheep and German know-how, there is insulation that works at least as well as down or synthetic fibers with brand names like Primaloft, Climashield, and others. We use it, for example, in our jacket DUUN and the vest DUUNSOOL. You can find out more about what’s behind it here.
WOOL INSULATION
We love wool. Also as insulation. Because here it shows its strengths compared to synthetic fibers or down. It is lightweight, does not clump, and keeps you warm. What lies behind it, you can read here!
TRIPLE2
Care instructions for merino wool?
Basically, our cycling clothing made from merino wool has several natural advantages: it has self-cleaning properties, it has antibacterial properties. This leads to the most important rule: wash merino wool products as little as possible! Instead, hang them outside overnight multiple times to air out. This is better for the environment and your wallet.
"But if it has to be done, we have gathered all the tips for you on how to best wash and care for your merino cycling clothing:"
How do I wash merino wool?
"Actually, it's quite simple. First, you should check the washing instructions that are sewn into every triple2 product. They explain the specifics in detail. Generally, the following procedure applies for washing merino wool:"
• Close all zippers if available
• Turn the shirt or pants inside out
• If you are washing multiple items, then Merino products made of lightweight material should be washed in a mesh bag.
• We recommend a wool wash program for our products.
• Clean your merino products: Therefore, best to wash cold. For stubborn dirt, a maximum of 30°C!
• Duration: maximum 30-40min (depends on the machine)
• Spinning: maximum 800 rpm
• Always wash the products with a liquid wool detergent.
• Avoid laundry detergents and enzyme-containing detergents – these damage the wool fiber and the natural lanolin layer.
• Avoid bleaching and fabric softeners as well as other care products, as they accelerate the formation of pilling.
• If you are on the go and do not have a washing machine or wool detergent with you, we recommend hand washing with lukewarm water and your hair shampoo. Because what your hair can handle, your Merino wool jersey can handle too. But: Do not knead or wring too hard. This damages the Merino fiber.
How do I dry merino wool?
In an ideal case, you don't have to do much at all. Since merino wool dries very quickly by nature, it is enough to shake out your merino product after washing and let it dry on the line in fresh air or on the drying rack in the living room. By the way: Clothespins can distort the merino material. If they are not absolutely necessary: It's better to do without them.
"If it needs to be done very quickly, the dryer can also be used. But only if you can set the temperature to a maximum of 40°C. Because: too high temperatures will cause the merino wool to shrink. Therefore, merino wool should never be dried directly in the sun or hung over a radiator, as the temperatures here are often much higher."
How do I store merino wool and prevent moth holes?
When your summer jerseys made of merino wool disappear into the wardrobe over the winter, you should store them properly to still enjoy them in the summer. To do this, you first need to wash and dry the merino clothing. Once that is done, you should store the products in a dry, dark, and cool place. To prevent moths, lavender, thyme, or rosemary can help as natural protection. Commercial mothballs will work as well.
If you want to be completely sure, you can also pack the clothes in a plastic vacuum bag. Then you can be free from annoying moths. If you do happen to spot one, you need to act rigorously. All wool products should then go into the freezer or ice compartment for days to kill all moths and moth larvae. After that, it's time for damage assessment. Have holes already appeared? Then maybe your grandma can help you with darning, or you can take the affected item to the alteration tailor – they can handle it.
TRIPLE2
How do I prevent pilling on merino wool?
Pilling, or small wool balls on the surface of a Merino product, occurs whenever small hair tips on the surface become matted over time due to external influences such as friction. These fiber ends protrude from the actual yarn from which the fabric is knitted. One can say: The more uniform and longer a Merino fiber is, the fewer fiber ends protrude from the yarn and can become matted. Producing such Merino yarns is labor-intensive and expensive. Nevertheless, pilling cannot be avoided under all circumstances. This is because Merino wool is a natural yarn with the corresponding properties. But don't worry. Modern Merino yarns are inherently less prone to pilling. In addition, the fabrics are extensively tested and assigned a pilling factor. This ranges from 1 (heavy pilling) to 2 (pilling), 3-4 (minimal to no pilling), and up to 5 (no pilling / automotive). Our Merino fabrics achieve at least pilling class 3. Many blended fabrics with a nylon outer layer even reach 5.
Pilling usually does not occur on its own, but rather through external friction. This is particularly caused by Velcro fasteners, straps, backpack straps, and buckles. Therefore, be sure to keep the influence of these items on your Merino product as low as possible. Additionally: Wash products inside out: Because the friction during washing raises the fiber ends on the outside of the fabrics, which leads to pilling. Therefore, it's better to have the outside facing in.
"Should pilling occur nonetheless, the pills can be easily removed with the help of a razor blade or a special pilling razor."
"If it needs to be done very quickly, the dryer can also be used. But only if you can set the temperature to a maximum of 40°C. Because: too high temperatures will cause the merino wool to shrink. Therefore, merino wool should never be dried directly in the sun or hung over a radiator, as the temperatures here are often much higher."
What can I do about holes in merino wool?
"If you find holes in your merino product, hopefully they weren't caused by moths. If they were, you can find out what to do further up. If not, then your enemy is probably your washing machine or better: what and how you wash. Because most holes in merino wool are caused by:"
- Buckles, Rivets, Snap Fasteners
- Velcro fasteners
- Open zippers
- Wrong detergent
Therefore, a basic rule: Close everything that can be closed before it goes into the washing machine. In particular, zippers and Velcro. And: Wash delicate and fine merino products in a mesh laundry bag. This protects your styles and you will enjoy them longer.
How do I dry merino wool?
To be honest? Save that and go cycling instead! Merino wool is naturally very elastic and hardly creases. It also smooths itself out during the drying process. Even better is if you simply put on your jersey or pants after drying. The last little wrinkles smooth out through body heat as if by magic.
