Wool has fantastic properties
Sheep have sworn by wool for thousands of years, and who are we argue with them. There are a billion of them on earth – robust, adaptable, charming creatures with great empathy. And best of all, they grow wool.
Wool regulates body temperature. If it’s too hot, you don’t get as clammy as you do when you wear cotton or synthetic materials against your body. Most importantly, wool is an excellent insulator, even when it’s wet. So you stay warm on chilly days, even if if you sweat. The wool’s also very breathable, due to the natural constitution of the fibres.
VidIt doesn’t stop there (thanks, sheepies). Containing lanolin, wool naturally counteracts odour. It’s naturally anti-bacterial. Functionally, wool is somewhat “self-cleaning”; it’s resistant to the smell of sweat. It’s not necessary to wash wool as often as you would other fibres: in most cases, it’s sufficient to simply air it properly. Not only is this better for the environment, it makes woollen clothes very suitable for longer trips.
Photo: Crister Næss
Wool is also water-resistant, to a certain extent, so light rain, snow and stains will settle on the surface, or even run off, depending on the weave.Wool garments also tend to hold up better over time. They’re easier to keep clean and wrinkle-free. Merino wool is superior to other types of wool, not to mention fabrics such as cotton, in terms of warmth and weight (musk ox wool is the champion – but it costs a fortune).
Did you know that wool is also naturally flame retardant? If you get embers or flames on the wool, it might smoulder and scorch, but it’s reluctant to burn –which is pretty handy when starting a fire!
Aleksander Gamme interviews sheep to gain better insight into the properties of wool. Why have sheep sworn by wool for thousands of years?
Foto: Anders Møller Vestergård
We’ve been farming sheep for their wool for some 6,000 years or so. Sheep are commonly held to be stupid. But they look good, and taste awesome, and they are excellent listeners.
Don’t use cotton as an inner layer – it retains moisture and takes forever to dry!
Dressing for the mountains?
Do you know the three-layer principal? Read all about dressing for skiing here!
Perfect clothes for unstable weather = perfect clothes for a ski-tour
Wool garments are warm, but can be thin, light, breathable and incredibly soft, too. Clothes made of merino wool and natural materials are kind to the skin, not containing substances that can be irritating or harmful to humans.
For all the reasons we’ve touched on above (temperature regulation, warm even when wet or you sweat into them, don’t smell, don’t burn so easily) clothes made from wool are essential for those of use who spend time outdoors. If you find a good wool piece with a timeless design, you can retire your other basics. With with a couple of woollen t-shirts and a couple of long-sleeved woollen shirts, you have everything you need.
Photo: Crister Næss
These are extremely versatile garments which don’t smell and are soft against the skin. Perfect under a shirt at work, under a casual suit, for everyday use or when working out at the gym. And you don’t have to wash them every single day.
Photo: Crister Næss
The best bonus of all is that you can wear wool clothes for a long time. You contribute to less consumption, fewer washes of your clothes and a smaller and more environmentally friendly footprint. Lovely!
Wool garments are perfect for an active lifestyle, the Norwegian countryside, on tours, or for active families with dogs. And if you’re going on longer trips in forests, mountains and fields – yes, you basically have to have some woollen garments!
Wool on warm days and for training?
Wool is awesome – for running and training, too!
Photo: Anders Møller Vestergård
Wool is perfect for hot days. “Not too hot?” we hear you ask. The answer’s no.
A wool t-shirt’s perfect when it’s warm. Equally so when you’re active, exercising, or running trails in the mountains. It regulates temperature. When a cotton shirt’s soaked, a cold wind will blow right through it; when the sun goes down, it’s freezing. Wool continues to keep you warm.
It dries quickly. And it won’t stink of sweat.
Wool’s also perfect under a sweater in the evenings, all year round, both for everyday use and parties.
Photo: Anders Møller Vestergård
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Five rules for skinning up a mountain safely and enjoyably. A truly competent, experienced ski guide would probably say there should be about twenty. We’re sticking to five get this true wisdom to stick! Consider these rules the basic pillars of laying down ski tracks right – a checklist of things to remember the next time you point your skis to the peak.
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Which cross-country skis? And how long?
Choosing new cross-country BC skis is can be bewildering. We compare length, width, profile. We weigh ourselves and check again. We ask advice on forums. We change our minds repeatedly. So before you pull the trigger, set your mind at rest by reading this overview. If you’re still unsure, you can talk to the expert in your local specialist shop or contact Åsnes’s customer service – we answer questions the whole time and we can usually help!