Why Merino Wool Underwear is Our Number One Choice for the Mountains

We spend a lot of time talking about shells, mid-layers, and boots. But the layer closest to your skin is the one that decides whether your day is good or miserable. That's why Merino wool is our number one choice for the mountains · and it's not just about warmth.

Temperature regulation, naturally

Merino wool naturally regulates your body temperature. In warm weather, it keeps you cool and dry, and when it's cold out it provides warmth without the bulk. On a backcountry day you're climbing hard and sweating, then stopping at the summit in the wind · Merino handles both ends of that without you having to fight it.

It stays dry and fresh

Merino can absorb a remarkable amount of moisture before it ever feels wet against your skin, and it wicks that moisture away fast. It's also naturally odor-resistant · a real asset on a multi-day trip where laundry isn't an option and you're sharing a hut with five other women.

Soft, not scratchy

The Merino we use is fine enough to wear directly against the skin with zero itch. It moves with you, doesn't chafe under a pack, and holds its shape wash after wash.

Our advice

If you're building a backcountry kit, start at the skin. A good Merino base layer set is the single most reliable upgrade you can make · it outperforms synthetics across the widest range of conditions, and it's the piece we never travel without.