Why only Alpaca Fiber is actually warm when wet
December 13th, 2009
I am sure many of you have been told that wool clothing keeps warm when its wet? Well this is only half true. For a long time I came home wearing a woolen sweater after being in the rain and I was soaked, but not warm. Some of you may have heard that Alpaca Clothing keeps warm when wet; also true, but in a different way.
Wool fibers are made up of cortical cells bound by two layers. The outer layer (the epicuticle) forces rain to “run off”, so droplets are not absorbed, but rather remain intact within the soft wool. In heavy rain or extreme humidity -such as that during storms – the epicuticle’s tiny pores absorb water into the center of the fiber; keeping your skin dry. Alpaca wool however acts in a different way. While sheep’s wool absorbs water, Alpaca wool does not. Rather the water is drawn from the body to the outside of your Alpaca Sweater because of the far finer fibers making up Alpaca wool.
Both methods are a means of retaining warmth through maintaining the greatest possible insulation. Because it is wool’s natural crimp that maintains air pockets, the fibers themselves are able to absorb water. However, your Alpaca Coat will not absorb water because it is the air within the hollow fibers that keep us warm. When a woolen sweater gets saturated, the crimp in the wool is lost and the garment is no longer warm, however a saturated Alpaca Sweater will maintain its insulation despite being warm.
Both animals have done well. Their fibers go to great lengths to keep our skin dry where possible and keep the air pockets which keep us warm. However, in the end the Alpacas true have it over our familiar sheep friends. Keep warm today with your own Alpaca Clothing.