Tag Archives: wool vs. synthetic

“I don’t necessarily like wearing a lot of clothes, but wearing Smartwool socks is better than not wearing socks.” – ZAC Guide and clothing guru, BJ Cassell During my time at Nordfjord Norwegian Folk School, I had many unique and unexpected lessons. Of all the courses I took, from blacksmithing to crevasse rescue, our textile lesson surprised me most. I had arrived in Norway with my arsenal of quick-drying synthetics and Gore-Tex, ready for mountaineering, cross-country skiing, backpacking, kayaking, and just about every outdoor sport known to man (and Norwegian). What I learned in our 2-hour textile class, however, was that there was so much I didn’t know about various fabrics’ benefits and drawbacks, and how important clothing was to a successful advenutre. After analyzing charts comparing polyester to rayon, gore-tex to triple point, and all sorts of measurements on breathability, insulation, and water resistance, at the end of the session I emerged with one profound truth: For just about every outdoor activity and weather condition, WOOL IS KING (or kongen, in Norwegian). Wool is very trendy right now for outdoor enthusiasts, but it has actually been proving its utility for thousands of years. Another ingenius culminating product of evolution, wool regulates warmth … Continue reading →