Merino is what you might call an ‘active’ fabric, striving to constantly balance the cyclist’s temperature through release & absorption of moisture.​ Merino Wool derives from a breed of sheep named – Merino. The sheep is one of the world’s most ancient sheep and tends to live in very harsh environments, meaning it has to have a very good quality wool coat for protection from the elements. This wool also regulates body temperature due to its natural breathability, keeping you cool in the summer months by wicking away any moisture, and therefore, keeping you comfortable while riding your bike. Against the skin, Merino Wool feels incredibly soft due to its ultra fine fibers. This makes it the perfect fabric for constructing high quality base layers for anyone from skiers to winter runners. Merino also offers high warmth to weight ratio, being extremely light but still incredibly warm. As you can imagine, all of the wool that creates the coat of a merino would weigh a tonne if it wasn’t lightweight. Luckily, for the Merino sheep, its wool is warm but doesn’t weigh much, and therefore, doesn’t hinder it when it’s roaming the mountains. Another useful benefit Merino Wool offers, is its natural antibacterial properties which fight off odour.

Preferably, you wash your merino wool by hand. Giving your wool a hand wash is recommended. It is the gentlest way to care for this fabric. Fill a basin with enough warm water to cover your garments. Add a mild detergent. You can use a merino wool wash or any other detergent that is gentle and made for delicate garments.Completely submerge your piece in the water and let it soak for 3 to 5 minutes. Rinse it with warm water to get the soap out.Do not twist or wring it to drain the water. Take the garment and squeeze it to get as much water out as possible. You can also lay it out on a towel and roll the garment in it so that the towel absorbs the water. Lay it flat on a dry towel or on a drying rack so that it can dry.

If you do throw your wool into the washing machine, make sure it is on a gentle cycle. If your machine does not have this, choose a cycle that is marked suitable for knits. Do not throw them in the regular cycle as the agitation may ruin your garment. Use warm water and a gentle detergent.

This option should not be used too often. Dry cleaning uses harsher chemicals that will damage the wool over time. Hand washing is still the best option, but having it dry cleaned is allowable on occasion.

To remove stains you can use a little mild detergent. If you have a grease stain, sprinkle some cornstarch or baby powder on it. Rub the powder gently on the stain until you see it come out the other side. Give the garment a shake to remove any remaining powder. If the stain is still there, repeat the process until it disappears.