Merino Wool
Why Glacial Gear Uses the Finest, Ethically Sourced Merino Wool on Earth
At Glacial Gear, choosing Merino wool wasn’t the challenge — choosing which Merino to use for each product was. We source exclusively from suppliers who uphold the highest standards for quality, ethics, and responsible production. Every fiber we use is thoughtfully selected to match the needs of the product it becomes.
Our Merino comes from three purpose-selected sources:
• ZQ Merino (New Zealand) — premium, ethically certified Merino
• Ultrafine Australian Merino (single-origin) — premium lightweight Merino used for our exclusive Zpacks sleeping bag liner
• Superfine Australian Merino — durable, trail-ready Merino used in our Trail Rag Elite
Each is premium.
Each serves a purpose.
All meet our uncompromising standards.
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Why We Choose ZQ Merino®
ZQ is the world leader in certified ethical Merino wool. Their growers follow strict requirements for:
• Non-mulesed, humane treatment of sheep
• Regenerative land and water management
• Environmental sustainability and biodiversity protection
• Independent third-party welfare audits
• Full traceability from farm to finished textile
ZQ Merino is soft, consistent, durable, and ideal for high-use outdoor gear — which is why it forms the backbone of many Glacial Gear products.
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Why We Use Premium Light-Weight Ultrafine Australian Merino for the Zpacks Sleeping Bag Liner
For our premium, lightweight sleeping bag liner sold exclusively through Zpacks, we use a single-origin Australian ultrafine Merino known for exceptional softness and next-to-skin comfort.
This Merino typically falls in the 14.6 to 15.5 micron range — an extraordinary level of fineness:
• Regular wool: 30–40 microns
• Typical Merino: 18–21 microns
• High-end Merino: 16–18 microns
• Our ultrafine premium lightweight fiber: 14.6–15.5 microns
This produces a fabric that is:
• Incredibly soft — comparable to cashmere
• Naturally breathable and temperature-regulating
• Light, supple, and luxurious
• Responsibly sourced and fully traceable
Because of its exceptional softness and ultrafine quality, this is the Merino we reserve exclusively for our lightweight sleeping bag liner made for Zpacks.
ZQ and our ultrafine Australian Merino are both premium — they simply excel in different performance roles.
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Why We Use Superfine Australian Merino for Our Trail Rag Elite
For our Trail Rag Elite line, we use a superfine Australian Merino chosen specifically for durability, trail performance, and daily-use comfort.
This Merino offers the ideal blend of:
• Superfine softness in the ~18.5-micron range
• Strong, long-lasting fiber structure for abrasion resistance
• A consistent hand-feel even under heavy use
• Excellent moisture management and natural odor resistance
• An ideal fabric weight for strength without bulk
• Ethical sourcing and traceability back to Australian growers
This is the Merino that stands up to sweat, weather shifts, friction, and thousands of wipes against the skin — exactly what a Trail Rag Elite is designed for.
Where ZQ provides certified consistency and the ultrafine fiber provides premium lightweight softness, our superfine Australian Merino provides rugged durability engineered for long-distance hiking.
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Why Merino Wool Is the Heart of What We Do
Merino wool naturally neutralizes odor, regulates temperature, wicks moisture, and stays breathable across all climates — all while remaining renewable and biodegradable. No synthetic fiber does all of that at once.
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Characteristics of Merino Wool
• WARM: Natural crimp traps heat
• MOISTURE-ABSORBENT: Holds up to 30% of its weight in water
• BREATHABLE: Moves moisture vapor easily
• COOLING: Evaporative effect regulates body temperature
• MOISTURE-WICKING: Pulls sweat from the skin
• DURABLE: Elastic fibers resist damage
• SOFT: Ultrafine fibers feel smooth and comfortable
• ODOR-RESISTANT: Natural lanolin inhibits bacteria
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The Origins of Merino Wool
Merino sheep originated in Spain and rose to global prominence after arriving in Australia in 1797. Generations of selective breeding produced some of the finest wool-growing flocks on earth — including:
• the certified ethical growers behind ZQ,
• the historic ultrafine single-origin sources used in our Zpacks liner, and
• the Australian growers who produce the superfine Merino used for our Trail Rag Elite.
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Premium Merino, Purpose-Selected. No Compromises.
Whether it’s:
• the certified premium performance of ZQ,
• the premium lightweight ultrafine softness of our single-origin Australian fiber, or
• the superfine, trail-strong Australian Merino used in our Trail Rag Elite,
every Glacial Gear product begins with Merino chosen intentionally, ethically, and with performance as the priority.
We don’t choose Merino because it sounds good —
we choose it because it is the best.
Washing Instructions
After weeks on the trail (and the occasional rinse in a creek), wash your Merino gear with a mild or wool-specific detergent using your machine’s hand-wash or delicate cycle. Lay flat to dry, or tumble dry on low heat.
(Avoid hanging wet wool to dry, as it can stretch out of shape.)