WHY WE LOVE IKSPLOR MERINO WOOL
Hiking around Monarch Lake when Ivey was two and a half months old.
Ivey was a summer baby - he was born June 5th. When we moved to Colorado a month later, it was HOT. Everyone we’ve talked to has said that last summer was unusually hot. Not only is there a learning curve to hiking with a baby, but hiking in that kind of heat is another level of complicated.
After doing some research, it quickly became apparent that merino wool clothing is the way to go for babies on the trail. Before having a baby, I didn’t own much merino wool clothing. I knew it was a good material for athletic clothing, but that's about where my knowledge ended. Here are a few things that I’ve learned that have made me into a total merino wool convert:
Temperature Regulation - merino wool keeps you warm when it’s cool and cool when it’s warm. No matter the weather, merino is the perfect material for base layers.
Moisture Wicking - Wearing a baby in the heat will always be hot, but merino layers help keep your babe as comfortable as possible by moving moisture away from the skin.
Sun Protection - most merino wool clothing has a UPF rating of 50+. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends waiting until babies are six months of age to use sunscreen. If you combine merino base layers (long sleeves and long pants) with a good sun hat and socks or shoes, you can provide solid sun protection for your babe without sunscreen.
Eco Friendly - merino wool is one of the most environmentally friendly fabrics can buy. It is a renewable resource - it can be harvested from merino sheep (which can produce wool for up to 7 years) without depleting the sheep population. It is a natural fiber and can biodegrade back into the environment unlike synthetic fabrics like polyester. The production of merino wool has a low environmental impact compared to other types of animal-based products and requires less water and energy to produce than cotton. It has a long lifespan and can withstand repeated washing - but it’s antimicrobial properties and stain resistant qualities make frequent washing unnecessary!
There are many brands that sell merino wool clothing, but my personal favorite is Iksplor. We’ve tried a few other brands over the last few months, but Iksplor’s quality is unmatched. They sell items in a variety of cute colors, the have tops perfect for nursing, and they’re a women owned company! What’s not to love?
In honor of Earth Day, Iksplor is celebrating all weekend with 20% off. When checking out, use the code EARTH20. Click here to shop Iksplor’s merino wool base layers!
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