We believe wool should not be reserved for special activities. It should be used every day!
One of the best ways to incorporate wool into your daily life is to start with underwear and other items that essentially act as a base layer. Switching to wool underwear can be a game changer due to its moisture absorbing and quick drying properties, as well as the anti-order and sanitary properties. In addition, if you take care of them properly, they can last you a very long time.
See below for some of the essential wool items can you can start exploring.
One of the best ways to incorporate wool into your daily life is to start with underwear and other items that essentially act as a base layer. Switching to wool underwear can be a game changer due to its moisture absorbing and quick drying properties, as well as the anti-order and sanitary properties. In addition, if you take care of them properly, they can last you a very long time.
See below for some of the essential wool items can you can start exploring.
Underwear briefs: boxer briefs and other underwear for both males and females are probably one of the best ways to start when trying to incorporate wool into daily use. All the of the advantages of wool as a fabric are well aligned with what you’d want from underwear. Wool boxer briefs offer a blend of comfort, support, and performance that traditional materials often lack. The moisture-wicking properties of wool keep you feeling fresh and dry all day, while its natural breathability helps regulate temperature, keeping you cool in the heat and warm in the cold. With its soft texture and superior durability, wool boxer briefs provide unparalleled comfort and longevity, making them an excellent choice for everyday wear.
Socks: for the same reasons mentioned above, wool is a great option for socks
Under shirts: wool undershirts for daily business wear can be incredibly beneficial. You can choose short sleeve options and long-sleeve options depending on the season and your preferences. These products can be even more beneficial on business trips where you may have limited access to laundry services because you can wear the same undershirt for multiple days without having odor or hygiene issues. It can be very difficult to find short and long sleeved wool options that have white (or off-white) colors that can be used as undershirts for formal dress code. However, we’ve identified some options that work well for these purposes (see below).
Base layers and athletic use: wool's role as a base layer for athletic and outdoor pursuits, such as hiking and skiing, is unparalleled. Its moisture-wicking properties efficiently manage sweat, keeping you dry and comfortable during strenuous activities. The natural insulation of wool regulates body temperature, providing warmth in cold conditions while remaining breathable to prevent overheating. Additionally, wool's odor-resistant and antimicrobial qualities keep you feeling fresh throughout your adventures, making it the ideal choice for prolonged outdoor activities where performance and comfort are paramount.
Socks: for the same reasons mentioned above, wool is a great option for socks
Under shirts: wool undershirts for daily business wear can be incredibly beneficial. You can choose short sleeve options and long-sleeve options depending on the season and your preferences. These products can be even more beneficial on business trips where you may have limited access to laundry services because you can wear the same undershirt for multiple days without having odor or hygiene issues. It can be very difficult to find short and long sleeved wool options that have white (or off-white) colors that can be used as undershirts for formal dress code. However, we’ve identified some options that work well for these purposes (see below).
Base layers and athletic use: wool's role as a base layer for athletic and outdoor pursuits, such as hiking and skiing, is unparalleled. Its moisture-wicking properties efficiently manage sweat, keeping you dry and comfortable during strenuous activities. The natural insulation of wool regulates body temperature, providing warmth in cold conditions while remaining breathable to prevent overheating. Additionally, wool's odor-resistant and antimicrobial qualities keep you feeling fresh throughout your adventures, making it the ideal choice for prolonged outdoor activities where performance and comfort are paramount.
Alpin Loacker
Offers great boxer briefs for men and has options for women. The boxer briefs are 85% merino wool, 12% polyamide, and 3% elastane; this blend offers all the benefits of wool while also providing stretchiness of the synthetic materials.
✓ Underwear
✓* Undershirts: short sleeve
✓* Undershirts: long sleeves
✓ Socks
* lack of light color options needed for formal wear
Sourcing / animal welfare: “The majority of our wool comes from farmers in Australia and New Zealand, and more rarely from Argentina and South Africa. We source this wool from a renowned German supplier: Südwolle. Südwolle is subject to the ZQ standards – a program launched by the New Zealand Merino Company. ZQ has set itself the goal of sensitizing people to incorporate their own standards and values into their purchasing decisions. High-quality merino wool is always a smart and sustainable decision. The ZQ seal ensures that merino wool meets ZQ's five core values: animal welfare, environmental sustainability, social responsibility, traceable sources and high-quality wool.”
Offers great boxer briefs for men and has options for women. The boxer briefs are 85% merino wool, 12% polyamide, and 3% elastane; this blend offers all the benefits of wool while also providing stretchiness of the synthetic materials.
✓ Underwear
✓* Undershirts: short sleeve
✓* Undershirts: long sleeves
✓ Socks
* lack of light color options needed for formal wear
Sourcing / animal welfare: “The majority of our wool comes from farmers in Australia and New Zealand, and more rarely from Argentina and South Africa. We source this wool from a renowned German supplier: Südwolle. Südwolle is subject to the ZQ standards – a program launched by the New Zealand Merino Company. ZQ has set itself the goal of sensitizing people to incorporate their own standards and values into their purchasing decisions. High-quality merino wool is always a smart and sustainable decision. The ZQ seal ensures that merino wool meets ZQ's five core values: animal welfare, environmental sustainability, social responsibility, traceable sources and high-quality wool.”
Wool Love
One of our favorite 100% merino wool boxer briefs are from Wool Love. Overall, this brand has a great offering of high quality merino wool products that are simple and easy to incorporate into daily use.
✓ Underwear
✓* Undershirts: short sleeve
✓** Undershirts: long sleeves
✓ Socks
* lack of light color options needed for formal wear
** can be too thick for use as undershirt for formal wear
Sourcing / animal welfare: Adheres to the standards and certifications of: The Woolmark Company, Responsible Wool Standard, STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX
One of our favorite 100% merino wool boxer briefs are from Wool Love. Overall, this brand has a great offering of high quality merino wool products that are simple and easy to incorporate into daily use.
✓ Underwear
✓* Undershirts: short sleeve
✓** Undershirts: long sleeves
✓ Socks
* lack of light color options needed for formal wear
** can be too thick for use as undershirt for formal wear
Sourcing / animal welfare: Adheres to the standards and certifications of: The Woolmark Company, Responsible Wool Standard, STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX
Smart wool
Smartwool has a proprietary chlorine-based treatment, rendering its products itch-free and resistant to shrinking. While Smartwool boasts moisture-wicking performance and odor-reducing, anti-microbial properties, some purists may lament the departure from the natural qualities of untreated wool, preferring the heritage and authenticity of Hercosett-treated wool. Their boxer briefs are quite comfortable and stylish.
✓ Underwear
✓* Undershirts: short sleeve
✓* Undershirts: long sleeves
✓ Socks
* lack of light color options needed for formal wear
Sourcing / animal welfare: “We’re partnering with ZQ Merino to ensure the sheep that produce our wool are treated humanely, the wool growers are treated fairly, and the farms work to minimize their impact on the environment. We are also helping protect the areas and activities we love by partnering with advocacy organizations that align with our values.”
Smartwool has a proprietary chlorine-based treatment, rendering its products itch-free and resistant to shrinking. While Smartwool boasts moisture-wicking performance and odor-reducing, anti-microbial properties, some purists may lament the departure from the natural qualities of untreated wool, preferring the heritage and authenticity of Hercosett-treated wool. Their boxer briefs are quite comfortable and stylish.
✓ Underwear
✓* Undershirts: short sleeve
✓* Undershirts: long sleeves
✓ Socks
* lack of light color options needed for formal wear
Sourcing / animal welfare: “We’re partnering with ZQ Merino to ensure the sheep that produce our wool are treated humanely, the wool growers are treated fairly, and the farms work to minimize their impact on the environment. We are also helping protect the areas and activities we love by partnering with advocacy organizations that align with our values.”
Meriwool
Offers great merino wool products across many categories. Unique offering of undershirts and baselayers with light colors that are appropriate formal use (as undershirts).
✓ Underwear
✓ Undershirts: short sleeve
✓ Undershirts: long sleeves
✓ Socks
Sourcing / animal welfare: Adheres to the standards and certifications of WOOLMARK and OEKO-TEX. Wool sourced exclusively from Australia and New Zealand.
Offers great merino wool products across many categories. Unique offering of undershirts and baselayers with light colors that are appropriate formal use (as undershirts).
✓ Underwear
✓ Undershirts: short sleeve
✓ Undershirts: long sleeves
✓ Socks
Sourcing / animal welfare: Adheres to the standards and certifications of WOOLMARK and OEKO-TEX. Wool sourced exclusively from Australia and New Zealand.
Danish Endurance
Offers a wide variety of wool and non-wool products.
✓ Underwear
✓* Undershirts: short sleeve
✓* Undershirts: long sleeves
✓ Socks
* lack of light color options needed for formal wear
Sourcing / animal welfare: “To protect animal welfare, we strive to use mulesing-free Merino wool coming from Europe. This way, we are able to ensure the sheep are not harmed during the shearing process.” Adheres to the standards and certifications of: OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, GLOBAL RECYCLED STANDARD, GOTS - GLOBAL ORGANIC TEXTILE STANDARD, BLUESIGN®, and BUSINESS SOCIAL COMPLIANCE INITIATIVE.
Offers a wide variety of wool and non-wool products.
✓ Underwear
✓* Undershirts: short sleeve
✓* Undershirts: long sleeves
✓ Socks
* lack of light color options needed for formal wear
Sourcing / animal welfare: “To protect animal welfare, we strive to use mulesing-free Merino wool coming from Europe. This way, we are able to ensure the sheep are not harmed during the shearing process.” Adheres to the standards and certifications of: OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, GLOBAL RECYCLED STANDARD, GOTS - GLOBAL ORGANIC TEXTILE STANDARD, BLUESIGN®, and BUSINESS SOCIAL COMPLIANCE INITIATIVE.
themazi
The merino wool collection by themazi is one of the best options for undershirts and base layers with light colors that are appropriate for formal use (as undershirts). They use natural dyes in many of their products. They also have great options for kids as well.
✓* Underwear
✓ Undershirts: short sleeve
✓ Undershirts: long sleeves
X Socks
* only offers long leggings (no boxer briefs)
Sourcing / animal welfare: Wool sourced primary from Australia
The merino wool collection by themazi is one of the best options for undershirts and base layers with light colors that are appropriate for formal use (as undershirts). They use natural dyes in many of their products. They also have great options for kids as well.
✓* Underwear
✓ Undershirts: short sleeve
✓ Undershirts: long sleeves
X Socks
* only offers long leggings (no boxer briefs)
Sourcing / animal welfare: Wool sourced primary from Australia
Merino Tech
Another great brand for all your basic merino wool products.
✓ Underwear
✓ Undershirts: short sleeve
✓ Undershirts: long sleeves
✓ Socks
Sourcing / animal welfare: Non-mulesed merino wool from New Zealand
Another great brand for all your basic merino wool products.
✓ Underwear
✓ Undershirts: short sleeve
✓ Undershirts: long sleeves
✓ Socks
Sourcing / animal welfare: Non-mulesed merino wool from New Zealand