Merino wool is the darling of the textile industry. It's beloved for its luxurious, soft hand feel, excellent breathability, and odor resistance. These qualities make it an ideal base layer material, especially when compared to stinky, plasticky alternatives like polypropylene. But despite all the buzz, merino is not always a runaway choice.
Merino and synthetics—typically polyester—are the main players in base layer materials. Both have key strengths and weaknesses and excel for distinct use cases, which is good news for those trying to decide what type of base layer will best suit their needs.