Merino wool has been around for a while and is now getting very popular in the hunting world. I believe the company First Lite could be credited with marketing merino to hunters first, and since they have, a few other hunting clothing companies have started to produce merino clothing as well. Merino wool can be made into nearly any base layer clothing from boxers and socks to pants and sweaters.
If you have used merino wool you will know how good of a material it is for use while hunting. The main reason I use it is because of its antibacterial properties. It is amazing to me how I can spend a week in the backcountry, hiking and sweating every day, and at the end my merino wool clothing will have very little to no stink at all. From experience, if synthetics are worn under the same circumstances they end up smelling so bad that they should probably just be thrown away.
Another advantage to merino wool is that it is a very fine wool and can be worn directly next to the skin without itching. This makes for a very comfortable and moisture wicking layer to keep you comfortable all day long. Most merino clothing is fairly thin and not very warm by itself, but this is where layering come in. It easy to layer with different weights of merino wool products to create the right amount of insulation you need. Also with every layer you add, a layer of air is added between items, therefore helping with the insulation properties. Also, unlike synthetics, wool will still insulate some when wet, which can be a lifesaver in some situations.
Bottom line- If you are going on any backcountry hunt where you need a dependable piece of gear, merino wool will not you down.
Hunting companies offering a line of merino wool products:
Other top brands of merino wool clothing (a good place to buy and look at these brands is backcountry.com):
-Ethan Starck
