More than just cozy sweaters, alpaca wool is a remarkably versatile material. But is it suitable for rigorous outdoor use? Can you wear alpaca wool when hiking?
Alpaca wool is a high quality, versatile material that is perfect for hiking gear. It protects from the elements, like rain, wind, and sun; and it will keep the body warm without overheating. It is antibacterial and odor-resistant, so it can be worn for prolonged periods of time.
If you like hiking, you know mountain weather can change on a dime. Luckily, Mother Nature provided a perfect solution: the alpaca's amazing wool is perfectly adapted to keep you safe and comfortable in just those unpredictable conditions.
Discover why alpaca wool is my favorite hiking gear. And why it could be yours, too.
Why Is Alpaca Wool Good for Hiking Gear?
Alpaca wool has a great set of benefits, making it an ideal choice for outdoor activities like hiking. Here’s why:
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Water-Repellent: Those clever alpaca fibers naturally shrug off light rain, so you'll stay drier when things get a bit damp out there.
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Wind-Resistant: The fine, dense weave of alpaca wool creates a real shield against the wind, cutting down on that biting chill from gusts.
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Temperature Regulating: Thanks to its hollow core, alpaca wool is a pro at trapping air. That means it keeps you cozy when it's cold, but also lets extra heat and sweat escape, so you won't overheat.
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Odor-Resistant: Forget stinky gear! Alpaca wool naturally fights off bacteria that cause odors, so your clothes stay fresh, even after days on the trail.
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Flame-Retardant: This is super cool for safety. Unlike synthetic fabrics that can melt, alpaca wool naturally resists catching fire and will self-extinguish when caught on fire. Great for the after-hike-bonfire.
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Durable & Sustainable: Alpaca fiber is surprisingly tough and doesn't pill easily, meaning your gear will last ages. Plus, it's a great eco-friendly choice, being a renewable resource with a low environmental footprint.
Alpaca Wool Protects You From Rain When You’re Hiking
While alpaca wool is not 100% waterproof, it is definitely water-resistant. It has great wicking capabilities and compared to many other fibers, alpaca wool can absorb and retain much more water.
Sounds great. What does that mean?
The alpaca fiber is known for being much smoother than its other woolly-friends’ fibers. The hair of an alpaca has small scales that connect much better together than large scales (like from sheep, for example). Given that they connect so well, there is little room for the water to enter the fiber.
Thanks to the fiber’s smoothness, water can easily “fall off” before it gets into the fabric. These are the “wicking capabilities” of the alpaca fiber. Alpaca wool does this continuously. Rain doesn’t stand a chance. To a degree, though.
When water enters the fiber, it will make the garment wet and you will feel that on your body. Wearing wet clothes is very uncomfortable, and I probably don’t need to tell you that you want to avoid that when you’re hiking. Which is why you want to wear alpaca woolen garments.
Alpaca wool absorbs much of the water that it gathers inside the fiber, where it will sit before soaking the fabric. In other words, it’s trapped inside without making you feel that it is wet. It’s like magic, but then real.
Compared to sheep wool, the degree of water absorption is much higher for alpaca wool than for sheep wool, but there is no consensus among the experts, so I will refrain from quoting an exact number here! :)
- Pro-Hiker Tip: Of course, when alpaca wool gets thoroughly soaked, it will get really, really heavy and wet, but an average shower shouldn’t make the weight increase that much. Just remember: alpaca wool is water-repellent, not waterproof!
Another benefit is that alpaca wool dries relatively quickly.
When the rain is set and done, the water that is absorbed inside the alpaca fiber evaporates. The hollow hair functions as if it were a mini-heater: the water gets trapped; heats up inside the fiber; evaporates; and then dries the garment and makes you warm again.
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Read more about the magical world of alpaca wool and water in another article I wrote: Is Alpaca Wool Waterproof?
The Hiking Experience
Imagine a mountain shower catches you off guard. Your alpaca wool gear will first wick away raindrops. What it can't repel, it absorbs into its fibers without feeling wet. The moisture then evaporates, leaving the fabric dry and your body warm again. If you do get wet, at least you shouldn’t feel cold.
Alpaca Wool Protects You From Wind When You’re Hiking
Another feisty element that can throw you off your game when you’re hiking is the wind. Oh, Father Wind, if Mother Earth had only invented something to protect us from you. Oh wait, there is something: alpaca wool!
While alpaca wool is not 100% windproof, it is absolutely wind-resistant. The main reason why alpaca woolen garments are not windproof, is because of their structure. Most garments are either woven or knitted and will leave room for the wind to enter the fabric and bring the chills to your body.
Alpaca wool generally has a small fiber, and can therefore be knitted closely together. It is generally much thinner than your regular sheep wool fiber, and therefore could protect you better from the wind.
In theory, the fiber itself should be totally windproof, if you were to put the alpaca fibers close together so that nothing can go through, you should, in theory, be protected. So, look for tightly or closed woven garments, or double layered garments for the best protection.
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Interested in learning more about the wondrous world of the wind-protecting fiber? Click the link to go to another article I wrote: Is Alpaca Wool Windproof? (Coming soon!)
The reason why the alpaca itself is protected from wind thanks to its frizzy hairdo, is because the fiber tends to get denser closer towards the body. So, bulk up if you want to protect yourself from the wind.
The Hiking Experience
Imagine this: You're hiking uphill, mostly sheltered from the wind. But then you hit the summit, and a biting wind whips you. Good thing you have your double-layered alpaca wool neck gaiter! Pull it over your face for instant warmth and protection—just remember to keep your eyes clear. Now, keep moving.
Alpaca Wool Helps Maintain a Constant Body Temperature When You’re Hiking
Alpaca wool is super breathable. Period. End of story.
Kidding, here’s more on that: Alpaca wool is really breathable, which means that it can insulate heat and isolate cold (and vice versa) without making your body feel sweaty or clammy.
Imagine any kind of garment that keeps you warm, really warm… It is probably thick and tough and leaves little space for air to flow. Or anything that keeps things out (especially waterproof and windproof fabrics: YUKKY!) Airflow: 0%.
But then, there was alpaca. And alpaca keeps heat in, cold out, and maintains a constant temperature, almost no matter what kind of activity you’re involved in. Alpaca woolen garments naturally regulate the air and thus the temperature. It will maintain a comfortable temperature close to your body temperature.
In other words:
- When alpaca woolen garments act as an insulating layer, they are capable of maintaining the air inside (nice and warm).
- The alpaca fiber stores that air inside the fiber, where it becomes an insulating layer (the fabric).
- When the temperature of the air inside rises, for example, when you’re hiking and your body temperature rises, the excess heat will be evaporated out of the garment, back into the air.
- The other way around, the insulating layer will help keep cold out as your body will only feel the temperature that is generated underneath the fabric.
- The other, other way around, when it is actually hot outside, alpaca wool can prevent your body from heating up, because it won’t pass on the heat. The heat will basically reflect off the outer layer and won’t add to the underlying temperature.
Not convinced? Read the full article I wrote here: Is Alpaca Wool Breathable? (YES, and Here’s Why) COMING SOON :)
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Pro-Hiker-Tip: You can actually wear alpaca wool in summer. Read more about it in another article I posted by clicking on the link. (Coming soon!)
The Hiking Experience
As you climb, your body heats up, maybe you're even sweating a little. But your alpaca layer effortlessly regulates the air between you and the fabric, so you stay comfortable. Then, if the sun breaks through and the temperature soars, there's no need to shed layers. Your alpaca wool quickly adjusts to keep you cool, adapting to the change in a heartbeat.
Alpaca Wool Resists Odor When You’re Hiking
When you’re doing a multiple-day trek and have limited space available (because you will be carrying everything on your back yourself), it might come in handy to know that alpaca woolen products won’t absorb or retain any smells: alpaca wool is odor-resistant and antimicrobial.
The Alpaca Owners Association reported that research has proven that the alpaca fiber has natural antimicrobial properties. The original publication isn’t available online, but they are cited in the Morning Ag Clips.
When a fiber is antimicrobial, it means that it can naturally repel bacteria and the accompanying odors. Compared to chemically treated odor-resistant fabrics, natural fibers, like alpaca, have been found to be more effective and for a sustained period of time.
Did you know that your sweat actually does not smell? What makes it smell (bad) are the bacteria that turn sweat into stinky acids. These bacteria can grow in areas that encourage bacteria to multiply quickly, like your armpits and your toes.
How does this work?
First of all, alpaca wool is breathable and does not give sweat a chance to pile up and get all smelly. Secondly, alpaca wool has those natural antibacterial properties, which help prevent bacteria from getting a hold of your sweat to start with!
For hikers (and everyone who hates doing laundry) this means that you can wear alpaca woolen garments repeatedly and for a prolonged period of time without washing them... Without fear of you and your outfit getting smelly. It’s real!
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Ready to do less laundry? Read more about it in this article I wrote: Does Alpaca Wool Smell?
The Hiking Experience
Packing for a multi-day hike? Just one alpaca sweater will do. Seriously. It handles everything, rain or shine. And don't forget alpaca socks to keep your feet warm if you’re including an overnight adventure. You can even sleep in the same outfit—no smells!
Alpaca Wool Is Flame Retardant Hiking Gear
For multiple day hikes, making a bonfire might be inevitable if you were to heat up some canned beans with fortified protein. Yummy!
If you’re wearing an alpaca garment, you don’t need to worry about catching fire and losing your entire set of hiking gear. In fact, alpaca wool is flame-retardant, slow to ignite and has self-extinguishing capabilities. It also won’t melt on your skin.
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Please note, alpaca wool is not 100% fire-proof. Alpaca woolen garments can still catch fire and burn, as everything will burn when it is exposed to fire for a prolonged period of time. |
What I’m talking about here is that alpaca wool takes more time to ignite compared to synthetic fabrics. So, for example, when alpaca wool is exposed to a flame (let’s say your arm gets too close to the bonfire when roasting your marshmallows), it is less likely that the fabric will catch fire.
Not unlikely, though, as everything will burn at a close a distance to fire and when it's exposed for enough time. However, if an alpaca woolen garment does catch fire, it is more likely that the fire will go out by itself.
Alpaca wool has self-extinguishing properties, which means that instead of burning all the way up the sleeve, alpaca woolen fabric will stop burning by itself. Compared to synthetic fabrics this is a huge plus, because they have a tendency of burning quickly and completely.
On top of that, alpaca wool won’t melt to your skin, like synthetic fabrics would. Alpaca wool will burn, melt slightly, and then char and turn into ashes, whereas synthetic fibers (made out of plastic, basically), are more likely to melt on the skin.
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I wrote an article that talks more in-depth about this. Click the link to read the full story: Is Alpaca Wool Fire Resistant?
The Hiking Experience
After a long day, you've set up camp, anticipating delicious marshmallows by the fire. A spark unexpectedly lands on your arm, on your alpaca wool hiking gear. To your relief, it quickly extinguishes itself, leaving no skin damage. And the bonus?
Oh and did I tell you yet that none of your clothes will smell like smoke the next day? #odor-resistant
Alpaca Wool Is Durable, Natural, and Has a Relatively Low Environmental Impact
As a hiking enthusiast, you’ll surely care about the environment. Good news for you! Alpaca wool is not only comfortable for you, but also a better choice for the environment.
There are three reasons why alpaca wool is a more sustainable choice compared to many other materials:
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Durable: Alpaca wool is known to be strong, and that means that hiking gear made with alpaca wool will withstand the test of time. It doesn't pill easily, it doesn't show wear and tear quickly, and it maintains its shape over time.
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Natural: Alpaca wool has many amazing qualities naturally. In other words, without using chemicals that are often bad for the environment. For example, being water-repellent, odor-resistant, and fire-retardant are amazing features that other gear has industrially added to it.
- Low Impact: Alpacas themselves have a comparatively low environmental footprint, being gentle on pastures and efficient grazers with their soft-padded hooves that leave little impact.
