Which material should you wear as your base layer on your next hike – merino wool vs. synthetic? Both options come with a range of pros and cons to consider, though the choice mostly comes down to the season and intensity of your trip. There’s a lot to touch up on, and we cover the topic in-depth below.
Why Is Choosing a Good Base Layer So Crucial?
Many outdoor activities, like backpacking, hiking or mountaineering require a lot of physical effort. Trudging through rugged terrain, often in less-than-optimal weather conditions for long periods, takes a lot of stamina. With adequate preparation, you can make the entire adventure more enjoyable every step of the way.
One crucial part of this concerns proper hiking gear, you should always bring the appropriate base layer of clothes to keep yourself comfortable. What makes a base layer appropriate mostly comes down to weather. Making the wrong choice could leave you inadvertently sweating buckets in the summer or excessively cold in the winter.
Merino wool and synthetic fibers are among the most popular choices for base layers. Below, we break down their pros and cons to help you pick the best option for optimal performance on your next mountain hike.
Pros of Merino Wool on Mountain Hikes
Ready to tackle this age-old debate? Let’s start with the pros of wearing merino wool:
Breathable
Merino wool is woven so finely that wearing it feels like having the thinnest, soft, and airy layer on your skin. It allows for excellent airflow and performs exceptionally well even during the most strenuous hikes.
Odor-resistant
Merino wool’s capacity to retain moisture vapor and prevent it from building up on your skin means it keeps the smelly, moisture-loving bacteria out. If the smell of sweat gives you an ick, merino wool should keep you happy for much longer.
Insulation
Even the lightest merino wool or its blends are constructed in such a way to trap heat between the fibers in micro air pockets. If you’re heading out in the winter and cold, merino wool will help you retain heat much more effectively.
Lightweight and Comfortable
Lastly, it’s such a delicate material built not to restrain movement in any way that it almost feels like having a second skin. If you’re afraid of chafing, MW is the go-to.
Cons of Merino Wool on Mountain Hikes
And now for the cons of merino wool:
Price
Although the material is extremely versatile and efficient, merino wool base layers tend to have a higher price tag.
Less Durable
If you’ve ever started a long-winded adventure, such as camping around the Appalachian Trail, it’s possible that your merino wool base layers didn’t come out scot-free, even if they were brand new at the start. That’s certainly a con to remember when considering merino wool vs. synthetics, as the former requires gentle care and is quite delicate.
Potentially Irritating to the Skin
This one is pretty anecdotal, but some find the material a bit itchy and irritating. If your skin is prone to such reactions, you’ll want to keep that in mind.
Pros of Synthetic Garments on Mountain Hikes
In the opposite corner it’s synthetic materials. Time to look over their advantages:
Cheaper
There is not much to say on this front: their vast availability and supply dramatically reduce the cost of producing synthetic material layers, making them more budget-friendly.
Good Overall Performance
You can’t knock a well-made synthetic base layer. They do their job well in virtually any conditions – they’ll keep optimal body temperature to help with performance whenever you need them to.
Moisture-Wicking & Drying
Synthetics, though, come out on top over merino wool in the summer, thanks to their ability to wick away moisture. This also means synthetics tend to dry a little faster after a particularly challenging approach.
Durable
Synthetic fibers are more resistant to general wear and tear and can be machine-washed without worry. A synthetic undershirt or a pair of pants will typically last longer than merino wool.
Cons of Synthetic Garments on Mountain Hikes
And now for the cons of synthetic base layers:
Can Get Smelly
You probably saw this coming (or have already experienced it). Synthetic clothes can’t take in as much moisture before becoming damp due to sweat, attracting bacteria and foul odor.
Less Warmth
If you need the absolute best heat retention possible, synthetics won’t do the job alone. Of course, you can supplement with a thick puffer jacket and other layers that you stack on top, but they may not provide the same consistent warmth of merino wool.
Merino Wool vs. Synthetic – The Bottom Line
So, which is better, merino wool or synthetics? The takeaway here is that for serious mountain hikers, both should have their place among your must-have pieces of gear. In our opinion, merino wool inches ahead of synthetics in colder conditions and when money isn’t an issue, whereas synthetics are the better option for summer hikes or if you’re on a tighter budget.
You may also read: Winter Camping Guide: Staying Warm and Safe in the Cold