Merino at Altitude: The Material that refines Mountain Protection.
In the peaks, where conditions can shift in an instance, the margin for error narrows with every ascent and the textiles you trust become as critical as the tools you carry. To quote lakes author Alfred Wainwright 'There's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.' For this reason, we select fine-grade merino wool, natures most advanced performance fibre in our thermal face protecting snoods and beanies.
1. Thermo-regulation: Merino thrives where synthetic fibres fall short. There ultrafine structure creates a natural thermal buffer, retaining warmth in sub-zero winds while preventing overheating on steeper climbs through its breathability.
2. Superior Moisture Properties: The nature of any activity, not least mountain sport, requires the human body to perspire. During movement and exercises the body can release one to two litres of moisture per hour. Merino Fibres act as a moisture 'manager', pulling and wicking sweat and salts away from the skin and bleeding this to the air around, with a low moisture regain value, therefore drying faster than modern polyester materials.
3. Natural Skin Oil Repellent: Merino is oleophobic, so instead of skin oils breaking off from our bodies and embedding onto our clothes through movement and exercise, Merino actually breaks this down and effectively respells this either by discharging it or allowing it to 'float away' in the atmosphere around.
4. Natural Odour Deflection: The composition of merino also allows for super anti-microbial qualities, which is a significant benefit for any long climb, expedition or exploration. The pH value, Keratin and Lanolin inhibit the growth of odour-causing bacteria, ensuring longer durability.
5. Softness and Comfort: Scratchy next to skin wool is a thing of the past, due to advancements in welfare and care merino sheep. At Peak, we only select 17.5 micron wool, which is classified as 'superfine' and for such reasons has a soft, comfortable feel.
So whether you're navigating exposed ridgelines, setting a pre-dawn skin track, or waiting out a weather at a storm-swept belay point, these pieces deliver quiet, durable, clever performance. Think - Merino isn't just a material. It's a refined alpine solution. Natural. Technical. Essential.