Hands down, Wool, if you buy quality and you can keep the wool munching bugs away. Cotton is also known as “Death Cloth” in damp, cold environments, and wool allows me to count sheep and sleep.
Here are the reasons why:
Wool – Pros and Cons and Myths
Pros
- Moisture wicking – Keeps you drier, even when it gets sweaty on the inside or wet on the outside, you will be drier
- More durable than cotton – It’s keratin, same as hair, so it is much stronger than plant based fibers though bamboo is an interesting option
- Antimicrobial – kills or slows the growth of microorganisms
- Odor Resistant – less stinky after a few days of hiking, though I change socks more frequently than shirts
- Fire Resistant – Cotton self ignites at about 410ºF (210ºC) but wool doesn’t ignite until it gets past about 1050ºF (570ºC) – campfires can cause small holes from embers
- High quality wool feels great all around
Cons
- Costs more than cotton clothing – Remember my mantra, quality vs quantity, though wool socks I love to have in quality and quantity
- Bugs will eat them – I keep my wool socks sealed an air tight bag as I have had my shares of bug eaten wool clothing, even with cedar planks in the closet or drawers
Myths
- Wool is itchy – Yes, it can be if you buy poor quality wool clothing. Well designed and fabricated wool clothing is not itchy at all.
- I’m allergic to wool – No, there is no allergic reaction to wool since it is not an allergen. Buy better quality wool to reduce the itchy feeling – Merino wool is a good option
Remember, this is just wool vs cotton, and depending on which clothing you are getting, i.e. socks vs pants, the material choice will be different. I hope this information will help you decide what to donate or toss out, what to buy and pack in your bags for clothing.
