The merino sheep graze the highlands of New Zealand and Australia. They are characterised by their very fine and soft wool that protects against the extremes of any climate, from freezing winters to heatwave-struck summers. The wool is technically smart by nature and ideal for a performance-driven active lifestyle.

Durability & Stretch

As Merino wool fibers are very fine and tightly knitted, combined with their complex structure of interlocking protein molecules (keratin), your merino pique polo shirt is naturally resilient yet flexible and can be extended more than 30 percent without damage. Compared to cotton, the merino wool fabric is six times stronger, much more flexible, and more resistant to natural wear and tear.

As you don’t have to wash merino wool often, because of its natural antimicrobial properties, you are extending the lifetime of this already naturally durable fabric.

With the great flexibility and stretchability of merino wool fibers your merino polo shirt will blanket the shape of your body, leaving you in complete comfort. It is a natural choice of high-performance wear for physically active people.

Soft Feel

Merino wool feels incredibly soft on your skin and it doesn’t itch like other wool. Regular wool has thick fibers that don't bend easily when pressed against your skin, leaving you with an itchy feeling. The merino fiber is so thin and flexible that when it touches your skin, it simply bends gently, providing a silky-soft feeling.

Moisture & Heat Control

Merino wool manages moisture better than any of its competitors, synthetic or natural. It is an active fiber which reacts to your body’s temperature better than fibers such as polyester, nylon, and cotton. 

Keeping you dry and comfortable

Merino will absorb and retain 30-35 percent of its weight in moisture and still feel dry and smooth on your skin. You can compare this to most synthetic materials that feel wet to the touch after they hit an absorption level of around seven percent. This means that when your body starts heating up, merino wool keeps you from getting that clammy feeling, whilst synthetics get you sweaty quite early on.

Technically speaking, your merino shirt is much more breathable than its competitors because when your body heats up it efficiently absorbs moisture from the space between your skin and the fabric and releases it into the atmosphere to keep you dry. 

Synthetic materials, such as nylon and polyester, work much in the same way in terms of wicking moisture but with much lower moisture absorption capacity, meaning that by wearing snöleo merino wool you will feel dryer and temperature-regulated for longer than if you were wearing synthetics. 

Merino wool is a technically smart fiber that absorbs and releases heat depending on your body’s climate conditions and the external environment. It’s an exceptional temperature regulator that keeps you warm when it’s cold and cools you down when it’s hot.

Keeping you warm 

Through physical activity your body starts heating up and releases water vapor. Merino wool absorbs and traps both this moisture and your released heat inside its fibers. The result is that you will stay insulated, warm, and dry in cold conditions.

Cooling down

Merino wool is incredibly efficient at releasing body heat; keeping you dry, cool, and ventilated when your body is getting too hot. As merino fibers become saturated with moisture, they start moving any excess moisture toward areas of lower humidity levels, such as into the atmosphere around you. This is called wicking and is the first step in the cooling process. The saturated fibers then start releasing moisture, which evaporates into the air. This is the breathability part of the cooling process, which is essential for you to ventilate and cool down as your body continues to heat up.

Odour-resistance

Merino wool rules them all when it comes to keeping the smell at bay

Merino wool’s outstanding moisture management ensures that odour-causing bacteria don’t have the moist conditions they need to thrive and multiply in your clothes. Compared to polyester, nylon, and cotton, merino wool beats them all with its incredible odour-resilience properties, meaning that you can wear it for days without washing and still feel clean and comfortable.

UV Resistant

Your snöleo polo shirt naturally protects you from harmful sun radiation

Merino wool has natural ultraviolet (UV) resistance, absorbing harmful radiation from the sun. While Merino wool does this naturally, synthetic fabrics and cotton need Ultraviolet Protection Factor elements added chemically.

Allergy-Friendly

Merino wool does not cause allergy

For those of us who have sensitive skin, Merino wool can be a much appreciated addition to the closet. Merino wool has been shown to be well tolerated and not activate enough c-fibers (nerve fibers that detect itch et.al.) to cause itching and may in fact reduce adult eczema.

Machine Washable

This is not your grandmother's bulky wool sweater

The protective antimicrobial properties of your merino polo shirt helps prevent both stains and smell naturally and often airing your garment will be enough for you to reuse. Most of us have had an unfortunate experience with machine washing wool, however, when your shirt does get dirty, our merino wool polo shirts can be machine washed. As with any clothes that you value, we recommend to proceed with care for both your shirt and for the sake of the environment. Wash inside-out with gentle detergents, in cold or lukewarm water, on gentle cycles, without fabric softener, and consider flat or line-drying in the shade to be on the safe side. As thin fibers dry quicker than thick fibers, don’t be surprised if your merino wool polo shirt is ready for you to wear again before your other washed garments. Check your shirt’s care label if in doubt about how to care for your merino polo shirt.

Bonus benefit is that because of the natural elasticity of merino wool and factoring in that it retains its shape well, it is wrinkle resistant, and if you hang your shirt to dry after washing ironing becomes optional.