Benefits of Alpaca Wool vs. Other Natural and Synthetic Fibers

Thermal clothing for winter sports, such as skiing, back-packing, mount climbing, hiking, camping, and hunting is frequently contains synthetic fibers with semi-hollow cores. That's because hollow core fiber weighs less than the same diameter of solid core fiber, such as wool. Because semi-hollow fiber traps air in its core, the fabric warms up quickly, yet is more lightweight than fabric made from solid-core fiber, such as sheep's wool. Such thermal winter clothing is highly prized by winter outdoor enthusiasts.

Not only is alpaca fiber semi-hollow, but it is renowned for its wonderful fineness that outmatches many of the micro-fiber synthetics. The fineness of alpaca fiber makes it very soft to the touch. It has no itchiness, such as sheep's wool. Unlike synthetically engineered micro-fiber, which is frequently made from petroleum; alpaca fiber is produced by living animals. As such, producing alpaca fiber is gentle on the environment.

Alpacas are sheared once a year, like sheep. So you don't have to slaughter alpacas to harvest their fleece. This makes alpaca fiber production to be a sustainable process. In addition, alpaca manure is a valuable fertilizer by-product that can enrich the soil.

Moisture Wicking

Much of today's high-end thermal fiber has moisture wicking properties. Wicking and absorbing moisture are different properties. A paper towel absorbs moisture. It keeps taking in moisture until it becomes saturated and is very wet. Wicking is when the fabric transports moisture away from its source to the outside of the fabric, where it is able to evaporate. Because wool and cotton are very absorbent and do not have good wicking properties, many people complain that their feet sweat or feel wet in wool or cotton socks. In addition, winter sweating in clothing made from cotton or wool will make you that much colder. However, alpaca fiber has low moisture absorbency with great wicking properties, resulting in greater comfort and warmth. For example, alpaca socks will keep your feet much warmer than wool socks.

Alpaca Fiber is Hypoallergenic

Unlike wool, alpaca fleece contains no lanolin. So it requires no special chemical and scouring agents to remove fatty lanolin. Many people who are allergic to wool can comfortably wear alpaca fiber next to their skin.

Alpaca fiber typically is about 22 microns in diameter. (There are 25,000 microns in an inch.) Such a fine micron count makes alpaca fiber very soft. The softness of alpaca over wool of the same micron count is due to a scale height of 0.4 micron for alpaca versus 0.8 micron for wool. If you compare an alpaca fiber to a wool fiber under a microscope,the surface of the alpaca fiber will be smooth, but the wool fiber will appear to have scales. The lower scale height of alpaca fiber creates a smoother, slippery feel with a less scratchy surface. The flatter scales on alpaca fiber makes it softer, less itchy than Merino sheep wool of the same fineness.

So when you shop for winter clothing look for luxuriously

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Where can i get my alpaca wool spun?

I have my own alpaca wool that i would like to be spun. I am located in Temecula, Ca