Tag Archives: merino wool

When it comes to selecting good socks for hiking you have to learn from history and embrace modern knowledge at the same time. From Ragg Wool to synthetic materials there are many good options you can choose from. Maybe you have good socks for hiking and need more help with preventing blisters. If that's you then sock liners might be the answer.

Let's start by going back in time, tried and true, durable and dependable wool. Classic Ragg wool is very warm and very durable. Odds are you will wear out many years before ragg wool socks do. Merino wool is probably the most popular and practical type of wool you can get. It doesn't smell bad or itch and wool will always be a renewable material so it's good for the environment. Wool naturally wicks moisture away from your skin and maintains its thermal properties when wet. Below are just six fantastic hiking socks for you to consider.

A lot of hikers don't know about or use sock liners. Sock liners provide a protective layer to your feet by reducing friction and hot spots during long hikes and strenuous activity. Sock liners are made of polypropylene or other synthetic materials that are designed to wick moisture away and keep your feet dry. Pull them on over the top of your hiking sock to reduce friction, hot spots, blisters, and wet feet.

Most normal socks are made with little thought to their specific use. Cotton and spandex are sewn together and mean to be pulled on our feet without consideration to blisters, heat spots, durability, length, moisture control, and insulating properties. Common socks are not the only option. Expensive exotic socks are not the only alternative.

There are socks made specifically for hard working people who live on a hard working budget. We've put together a selection of socks for work that might work well for you. All of the following are less than $20 and many come in two packs.

Boot Socks - A variety of boot socks are designed to be long enough for wearing boots without having them bunch down around your ankle. Some socks have been created with military use in mind, but they can give you a huge advantage around a construction project, landscaping job, or any work environment that is demanding on your feet. Boot socks are made from your choice of wool, merino wool, acrylic, nylon, cotton and sometimes a comfortable blend.

Great socks for work aren't all boot length. A great pair of hiking socks are also perfect for your hard working feet. They are sewn with flat, smooth toe seams and with stitching to reduce hot spots and blisters. If you face long days on your feet then you should treat your feet well with some thick comfortable socks.

Maybe you're an avid extreme winter mountain trekker or you simply get the chills while working in the cool office, you operate heavy mining equipment year round or you work for the US Coast Guard. Either way, thermal long underwear, also known as base layer or long johns, may be just what you need to stay warm and comfortable. The type you choose will depend on your activity level, your budget, and the temperature.

There are many types of thermal underwear but our customers usually choose one of these top three.

Merino Wool

Merino Wool thermal underwear is our warmest underwear. It doesn't itch or smell like regular wool can. It is very soft and comfortable against your skin. It wicks moisture away from your skin when you get wet. It also maintains its thermal properties, keeping you warm, even when it is wet. Best of all, it is made from natural materials that are environmentally sustainable. Merino sheep need a haircut once in a while just like you do - no harm done.

Polypropylene

Polypropylene is a popular material for thermal underwear because of its affordability. It is less expensive than many other options, but has many of the same benefits. Polypropylene will stay warm when it gets wet. It is durable and will last a long time. It dries very fast compared to other materials and it also wicks moisture away from the skin.

100% Cotton

100% Cotton thermal underwear and long johns are hands down some of the most comfortable, warm underwear you can get. It is very affordable, comes in a variety of colors and styles, and is made from renewable and natural fibers. The comfort and feel of cotton is hard to beat.

Around the year 3300 BC, a primitive man now known as Otzi, or the "Iceman", lived among the mountains near Italy. In 1991 the preserved body of Otzi was discovered mostly frozen in a high ice form. What was most exciting was that most of his clothing and survival gear were still intact.

Otzi wore a fur hat made of bear hide, a cloak of woven grass reeds, a belt of calf leather, bear skin shoes, and most importantly - long underwear made of goat skin wool. Long before recorded history, early humans lived and thrived based upon their ability to endure the environment. The tools they created and and materials they formed into their clothing were a serious matter.

One of the most enlightening parts of Otzi's attire was his long underwear. Made from goat skin, the woolen hide provided him insulation from the snow and wind. In modern times we have the advantage of high performance synthetic thermals and time tested merino wool long underwear. We can learn from the ancient wisdom of primitive man and combine it with modern technical advancements.

Premium Performance long underwear has been crafted from a blend of 85% polyester and 15% spandex. Designed to cut through the cold and wind, Premium Performance long underwear provides maximum comfort and mobility. It also benefits from antimicrobial odor control; a benefit that probably would have been greatly appreciated by Otzi's friends.

If you are more keen on natural and renewable materials, then premium merino wool long underwear is for you. If Otzi had premium grade merino wool thermals he would have been able to stay dry, keep warm, move faster, and smell better. Ancient wisdom still applies when you are venturing into the outdoors. Learn from the lessons of the past and clothe yourselves to thrive.

Don't let the cold months leave you feeling chilly! While the bison may have a nice layer of fur on the outside, that doesn't mean you can't stay just as warm. By adding a layer under your regular outerwear you will provide yourself with an extra layer that will keep you warm.

Like fur, the 100% Merino Wool Expedition Thermal Underwear is designed to keep you warm even if you get wet, and it will guard you from the frigid cold. The Minus33 Expedition weight Merino Wool Thermal Underwear is the perfect option for anyone wanting to stay warm during winter activities. The thermals are designed for both men and women in style and fit.

Our warmest 100% Merino Wool was designed with the avid outdoor enthusiast in mind! It's impressive qualities of comfort, breathability, and warmth  makes it the first choice. The Minus33 brand thermals feature a flat lock seam so you won't have the irritation while walking or moving. Merino wool thermal underwear is much finer and thinner than traditional wool, making Merino wool super soft and non-itchy. This heavy-weight merino wool thermal underwear is sure to keep you warm in even the coldest temperatures.

With a great variety in styles and sizes you can easily find the right merino wool thermal underwear to meet your needs. Also, don't forget that Christmas is right around the corner. Expedition weight thermal merino wool will make any hunter, fisherman, skier, or outdoor enthusiast grin ear to ear.

President John F. Kennedy once said "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." Nathan Hunt and Danny Kennedy, wounded soldiers hiking the Appalachian Trail, have had many people and organizations step forward to help them. What is most inspiring his how many people they have uplifted and helped along the way as well. They aren't just hiking. They are hiking with gratitude.

In just one example, during a resupply stop in Maine, Danny was able to put his medical training to good use. He repaired the damaged toe of another hiker who was in need of help. In the following video you'll see how quick Nate and Danny are to thank and uplift everyone they meet along the way.

Although Nathan had to return home to recover from heat exposure, he is working hard to recover so he can join Danny or take on the trail in the future.

Preparing for any outdoor excursion requires careful planning and equipment checks. For the average day hike it might be as simple as deciding which jacket to wear and how much water to take. But when you are prepping for the Appalachian Trail you are staring at 2,180 miles and terrain variables that would make your head spin. When you total up the elevation gains over that distance it is equal to climbing Mt. Everest 16 times! Now imagine taking on that challenge without any legs. For Nathan Hunt that is a reality!

Nathan lost both legs in 2008 when a roadside bomb tore through his vehicle during a route clearance mission. Like other honorable wounded soldiers before him, Army SGT Nathan Hunt has not let his disabilities interfere with his life. In just a few weeks Nathan and his good friend Danny Kennedy will set out to complete the entire Appalachian Trail. Nathan is taking on this challenge hand over fist in a very literal manner. He will cover each mile of difficult terrain using just his arms to propel himself.

Preparing equipment for the months long excursion has been no simple feat. Nathan has spent a lot of time adapting his gear to give him every advantage possible. He will have to protect his hands and arms just like another hiker would with their feet and ankles. Just to take care of his hands he uses knuckle reinforced combat gloves, neoprene wrist braces, and a set of hand sanding tools which will act like the rubber soles on a pair of boots.

But the innovation doesn't stop there. Using rope and a modified off road skate board Nate will help his hiking partner Danny literally pull a pack of gear across sections of the trail when possible. All of Nate's pants and thermals are modified to eliminate drag and to fit properly. None of these modifications slow down or inhibit his ability to cover ground and survive in the wild. Nate is capable of setting up and climbing into his hammock in less than two minutes!

With way points designated on average every five days, the two man team will cover between 40-60 miles between each resupply spot. Waiting for them at these way points will be food, batteries, water and other essentials to keep them going. Several sponsors have stepped forward to donate critical supplies. Outersports has contributed a solar charger, rope, carabiners, 2 body harnesses, clothing, Merino Wool thermal underwear as well as cameras and important camera equipment to record their journey.

Throughout their travels we hope to bring you regular updates regarding their progress as they set out on the Appalachian Trail. To show your support, Nate & Danny would like all contributions to benefit other wounded soldiers through Ride 2 Recovery.

Did you know that the original founder of Mother’s Day was actually arrested for disturbing the peace? She was! Anna Jarvis and her sister were so upset that the holiday had become more about printed greeting cards and thoughtless gifts that they were arrested while campaigning against it. She said, “A printed card means nothing except that you are too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world. And candy! You take a box to Mother – and then eat most of it yourself. A petty sentiment.”

Mother’s day originated so that families would reunite after being divided during the Civil War. But since its establishment on May 9, 1905 I think most of us would agree with Anna. The mothers of the world deserve more than a generic card. Before we go any farther I should remind you . . .

Mother’s day is May 12

Let everyone else get their mother something from the gift card store. Getting something special for your mother or wife (from your kids of course) means you should find something she actually would enjoy. If yours is the outdoorsy type that likes to hike, camp, do gardening or anything else outside then we can help you with the following gift ideas.

The Port & Company Honeycomb Sling Pack – This is absolutely affordable at less than $6. This sling pack is cute and comfortable with a built in audio pocket and an exit port for headphones. It’s sling design gives it a more feminine appeal compared to a standard backpack, but if a different women’s pack sounds like a better fit there are plenty of options such as a Cinch Pack, Hydration Pack, or even an Xcape Computer Backpack for those who can’t part with technology in the wild. There is also a general rule of thumb that women love bags, purses, and anything that helps them stay organized and look good at the same time.

Sport Tek NRG Fitness Capri - Active women love workout capris but most men are too nervous to pick them out as a gift. So let me make it easy for you. She will love these workout capris! These capris have a waistband pocket to keep her locker key secure. They are made for comfort and freedom of movement so she will not only feel good but she will look good. Comfortable fitting workout capris are a hot item for women who want to stay fit and healthy. These Sport Tek NRG Fitness Capris are a great Mother's Day gift idea for those of you with mom's who like to be active.

Merino Wool Socks – In fact, anything made out of Merino Wool will quickly become one of her favorites. Women are often colder than men. Biologically speaking, women generally have more constricted blood vessels. This puts their blood flow closer to the surface of the skin making them feel colder. The body handles this by redirecting the warm blood flow to the vital organs, leaving their hands and feet freezing! Merino wool is the highest quality and thinnest fiber of wool available. It feels just like cotton against your skin but has all the moisture wicking, and thermal insulating properties you expect from wool. Every time she puts on her Merino Wool Socks or Thermals she will feel warm and toasty and think of you.

If you are a family camper or an outdoor survivalist in your approach to the outdoors there are certain universal recommendations that apply to both. Making sure that your supplies, gear, and clothing are versatile and efficient is always a good idea. This can create challenges when it comes to the unpredictability of weather and temperatures. Packing a wide variety of clothing can cause problems with weight and space. Packing too little clothing can compromise your ability to keep warm when the temperatures plummet unexpectedly.

When selecting the right clothing for the outdoors the same rule of versatility applies. Temperatures can shift dramatically based on your elevation and the composition of the earth beneath you. Those temperatures fluctuate according to air pressure, wind, and moisture. Temperatures will rise when there is more air pressure and go down when there is less. At lower altitudes the air molecules are packed closer together and are warmed up by the radiant heat from the earth. At higher altitudes the air is much thinner so the heat dissipates more rapidly. In either situation the wind and humidity can change unexpectedly. You may hike up a trail in nice warm weather and wake up the next morning with snow on the ground.

Rather than pack your gear according to just the weather report – we also recommend that you plan on unpredictable change. The best way to do this is by selecting the most versatile clothing possible. Without a doubt, Medium weight 100% pure Merino Wool is the best base layer option available. The military has trusted the insulating, water wicking, versatility of wool for decades. Merino Wool is the highest grade and quality of wool clothing available today. Medium weight Merino Wool will keep you comfortable and breathable in hot weather as well as warm and dry should the temperature drop unexpectedly. It’s available as long underwear, jackets, socks, and even hats.

When selecting a jacket or other outerwear you should be specific with the type of location you are going to. There are versatile options such as an All Weather Soft Shell Jacket. If you know that it may get a lot colder your best option may be a layered coat such as a Ranger 3-in-1. The Port Authority Ranger can be worn simply as a micro fleece jacket or combined with seam-sealed waterproof outer shell when facing moisture and colder temperatures. The outer shell can also be worn by itself to provide protection from moisture as well as keeping you cool. You want to stay warm, but not get too warm so you start to sweat.

If you are unsure what weather and temperatures you might be facing – we recommend you visit the National Weather Service and take advantage of their Climate Prediction Center. There you can look up the total precipitation, average temperatures, maximum temperatures, wind chill and much more.

Imagine sitting inside your warm house in the early morning. You take a peek out the window and see freezing sleet coming down. Your iPhone tells you that in your home town of Toronto, Ontario Canada it's -17° C outside, cold enough that the weatherman advises you to stay indoors. But you are a runner. You are driven to feel blood pumping through you veins, in spite of the bite of the cold against your face.

You suit up like a warrior preparing for battle against the invisible frost giants lurking in the wind. Some might call you crazy, but most people call you Holly!

Holly is a registered nurse and a certified diabetes educator. She is a mother of two and works full time. As a type 1 diabetic herself, she knows that running daily will help her body to be stronger and healthier.  That's why when Holly isn’t working on her graduate degree, taking care of her children, or working at her career she loves to go for a run, even if it means facing the freezing cold of Canada.  On twitter, Holly goes by the handle @chollyrun

Early in January, when Holly shared on twitter the low temperatures in which she was running, the Outersports.com team noticed, and we came up with a plan to surprise her by sending her over $150 in free base layer for runners to help her stay warm while she runs.  In exchange, we would ask her to tell us which ones she liked best, from a runner's point of view.

"I was shocked!  I couldn't believe that me, of all people...I thought, 'They know I am not famous right?' ...seemed a lil too good to be true!"  Holly said of the surprise gift.

Here's a look at the base layer we sent Holly, and what she had to say after giving it a test run:

ColdPruf Expedition
Weight Performance
Base Layer for Women

ColdPruf Merino Wool
Performance Base Layer
for Women

“I primarily own compression run gear from various companies. This is one of the first few thermal base layers that were not compression and were meant for cold weather that I got to test! I first tested the Merino wool blend set (top and bottom) on one of our usual chilly afternoons. The sun was setting and it was -17c and with wind chill was -24c. So it was COLD! My first thought as I put the garments on was “these feel like my pajamas!” They were soft, kind of lose and very comfortable. During my run there were times where the pants would lift up and expose my ankle….I am not used to this as most compression wear is snug with elastic around the ankles…this was a pain.  Around 5k the moisture wicking abilities really showed off as I checked one of my underarm vents and it was dry! After I got back home I recall thinking this is one of the most comfortable base layers yet! But I cooled off faster than I wanted.  An after run hoodie would be highly recommended if you aren’t changing out of these within minutes of stopping your activity."

"The day after was equally as cold and I was able to take the performance polyester blend thermal base layer out for a test run. This set was noticeably thicker in texture and more form fitting. They still felt good, like really good, like when I’m not running – I might sleep in these:) I laced up and headed out for a quickie 5k after work, I really didn’t notice too much difference while running with this set, the leggings stayed put which was good, but when I got home and took my outer layers off I didn’t cool down as fast as with the merino wool set. I appreciated this! I do a lot of interval running, start and stop activities and I don’t want to get chilled when on a walk break before I get back to running again."

"Before receiving these base layers, running in the winter was cumbersome. Don’t get me wrong, compression gear is great, but it has its place among other run clothes. Removing tight fitting sweaty run tights is not my idea of FUN! I really enjoyed the fit of these base layers and their warmth and protection. When Outersports.com sent me these products to try I feel like I won the runner's lottery! Outersports.com is your online source for base layer for running in the cold, with a risk-free return policy!”

Who wouldn’t want to go running in gear that is so comfortable you could sleep in it! Cold weather running is all about having the right apparel. You don’t have to hibernate through winter. Learn from Holly’s experience and protect yourself with the right base layers. It makes all the difference.