Active underwear

Active sports underwear / ski underwear and Merino wool

Why is it different from ordinary wool?

The merino sheep from which Icebreaker gets these wonderful fibers live in the Southern Alps in the New Zealand. The mountain range has quite a few peaks over 3000 m above sea level (the highest Mount Cook is also New Zealand's highest peak, 3724 m). Weather conditions change very quickly, in summer the temperature is over 30 degrees. C, and well below -10 feet in winter. C and even lower.

Merino sheep survive these extremes because of their incredible natural "fleece". Their summer coat is extremely light and breathable and maintains a cool temperature even at very high temperatures. In winter, they get an extra layer of wool to protect them from very low temperatures.

WE BELIEVE THERE IS A BETTER WAY. AND NATURE HAS THE ANSWERS.

Simple, effective, inventive. Natural solutions are not tested in laboratories! They face a natural,  field test. If nature goes wrong, sheep die.

A quick history of merino wool

Clothes made of ordinary, traditional wool warm perfectly. But they are heavy and take up a lot of volume. The "real" old wool sweater takes up half of our backpack. When wet, plain wool clothes take a very long time to dry. The itching that classic wool usually causes is also very annoying.

In the 70s, clothing made of synthetic fibers came onto the market. A real hit. Lightweight and easy to maintain. But they shriveled up a lot and smelled very bad when they sweated. Made from petroleum, they were also quite flammable. Finally, the merino wool clothes arrived. The right solution, without bad features! Light, soft, do not itch, do not wrinkle, do not stink, warm in the cold, cool in the heat. Nature really knows what is best and what works. Because merino wool is made in the mountains, not in a petrochemical lab. They are naturally renewable, recycled and biodegradable fibers.

Properties that make me love merino wool:

• Thermo regulation - merino wool fibers
• Nonflammability – merino wool fibers are naturally flame retardant. If they come into contact with another combustible object, they do not melt, stick together,...
• Biodegradable – natural fibers that break down quickly and naturally.
• UV protection - the material blocks UV rays (UVA / UVB / UVC) from penetrating the skin.
• Resistant to stench – merino fibers absorb sweat molecules and “process” them, so the smell of sweat is not present.
• Quick-drying material - fibers absorb moisture on the skin and transport it outwards.
• Flexibility – merino fibers are extremely flexible. They can stretch more than 30% without breaking, and return to their original state.
• Softness – merino fibers are naturally soft and silky to the touch. A pleasant first layer of clothing, directly on the skin.

Icebreaker explores the relationship between people and nature. It's about kinship, not conquering. Nature is our hero.

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