What the experts say cont'd...

Andy Kirkpatrick cont'd....

Once home the top ended up being one of the few bits of outdoor clothing I chose to wear every day as it was just so comfortable (plus I didn't have to wash it for weeks). Unlike synthetic fibres, most of which are produced at a considerable environmental cost; both in processing and in being part of the petrochemical industry, wool is a natural fibre and is far more ecologically sound. Unlike down, wool is harvested from a living animal and, as far as I know, there are no 'battery' sheep, with the Merino sheep living quite a wild life in the high pastures of New Zealand. Wool is also biodegradable, just like the animals who made it. Another aspect I like about wool clothing is that it's not a 'dead' fabric; it feels like part of you. Another big factor is that wool is a natural alternative to non-smell synthetic base layers which are impregnated with silver particles (a damaging environmental heavy metal) to stop smells growing, as the fibre will not absorb liquids or oils. I'm reliably informed this new smell resistant process has an environmental impact (the water used in processing cannot be reused for example) and so a natural non-industrial alternative seems like a real bonus, especially in the fact that it actually works far better. I'm sure many people will find it strange that I rate the ecological angle as important and, no, I'm not aiming at becoming the climber's answer to Sting, just that I think we need to start asking more questions about this kind of stuff."

Award-winning designer John Gordon, Pinnacle Aquatics,has been developing wetsuits for over thirty years and admits that he never considered lining his suits with sheep's wool in all that time. But with increased global environmental awareness and some astounding research into the properties of this miracle fibre, John discovered that not only was the merino option a viable alternative, in many areas it was superior to the petro-chemical synthetics currently being widely used. Not to be confused with the wool of a normal sheep, merino fibre has unique qualities that make it superior for the lining of wetsuits. In fact it is one of the most complex fibres - natural or synthetic - known to mankind. With its natural composition and complexity Merino easily adapts to your body's temperature and its unique moisture control properties make it a remarkable discovery for the wetsuit industry.

The mountaineer Rab Carrington, says of Merino:

"Merino wool superfine fibres naturally find a thermal equilibrium with your body temperature to create the perfect base layer for mountaineering and trekking. They provide extended comfort across a wide range of temperatures, conditions and activities. They are thermally efficient, naturally control odours and have a SPF of 25."

Sir Peter Blake, KBE, who helped to bring the America's Cup home to New Zealand, wore prototype Merino wool clothing for 43 days without changing, during his 1994 record-breaking feat in the round the world yacht race.
He said:

"When you are among the icebergs, driving hard for a world record, the last thing you need is to have to strip to change your grundies. I didn't change mine for 40 days and 40 nights. They didn't itch at all, were comfortable at all times, were very warm, didn't get whiffy (as most polyprop does after a few days) and dried quickly when damp..."

And here’s what some of the people who wear Merino in extreme conditions have said about it:

Kym McConnell, author of 'Tibet Overland':

"We biked alongside 8,000 metre peaks and conquered 5,000 metre passes. Only in Tibet is it possible to bike within arm's length of the highest point of earth - Mt Everest. We rode over 2,500 kilometres and wore merino continuously (day and night) for 90 days, and I only needed one set."