Synthetic base layers dominated the 2000s. Merino is taking back the market — and for good reason.
A Quick History
Merino wool fell out of favour with outdoors people in the 1980s and 90s as synthetic fabrics became cheaper, faster-drying, and more reliably produced. But merino has fought back. Modern merino base layers from quality manufacturers are a genuinely superior product for most Australian outdoor applications.
The Temperature Regulation Advantage
Wool absorbs up to 35% of its weight in moisture vapour before it feels wet — and it continues insulating while doing so. Synthetic fibres move moisture away through capillary action, which works well when active but stops when you stop. In Australian conditions — stalking hard then glassing from a ridge — merino manages the transition better than any synthetic.
Odour Resistance
Wool fibres have a natural lanolin coating that inhibits bacterial growth. A quality merino base layer worn for five consecutive days on a remote hunt smells noticeably better than a synthetic worn for two. On a week-long pack hunt where every gram matters, carrying fewer changes of clothing is genuinely valuable.
Weight Classes
150gsm (lightweight): Warm-weather hiking, active use.
200gsm (midweight): The all-rounder for most Australian hunters and anglers.
250–300gsm (heavyweight): Alpine, winter, camp wear.
Care
Cold water, wool-specific detergent, low spin, lay flat to dry. Never tumble dry on high heat. Wash less often than synthetics — three or four uses between washes is realistic.
Browse our merino base layer range.
