We used to affiliate wool sweaters with being trapped in itchy, sweaty, cumbersome hotboxes that we needed to endure till our mother and father lastly allow us to take them off. Within the years since, weaving strategies and coverings have turned these wearable saunas into smooth, breathable, premium clothes.
Most wool varieties come from sheep (particularly the lauded merino), however others come from goats, alpaca, and even the occasional muskox. Tremendous-soft cashmere was as soon as extraordinarily costly, however now many cashmere sweaters are priced to suit many budgets. For the outdoorsman, merino wool has sweat-wicking and quick-drying properties that rival artificial supplies. As a bonus, merino naturally limits odor.
To develop this listing, we examined dozens of sweaters from manufacturers together with Patagonia, Smartwool, Ibex, and Pendleton. We donned sweaters for energetic and informal use, assessing breathability within the mountains and luxury on the bar. Our testing course of spans a number of winter seasons, and we’ll proceed to think about new types as they hit the market going ahead.
Whether or not you’re on the lookout for a present for a cherished one or some cozy self-love, there are various sweaters throughout a wide range of value factors which can be excellent for any scenario. So get a hearth going, pour a sizzling cup of cocoa, and take a look at our listing of the very best wool sweaters of 2024.
Editor’s Word: We up to date this information on November 26, 2024, so as to add two new merchandise: the all-weather Dale of Norway Vegard Windstopper Hoodie and our new greatest hoodie, the Royal Robbins Rockcraft Wool Hoodie.
The Greatest Wool Sweaters of 2024
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Iconic classic styling -
Heat -
Comfy
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Not best for technical use
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Heat -
Trendy -
Nice deal for the worth
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Cumbersome for sure actions -
Takes some time to dry
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Excessive-quality, ultra-fine wool -
Windproof and waterproof -
Stunning design
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Very Dear -
Will get further toasty when the climate warms up
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Built-in hood provides versatility and solar safety -
Light-weight -
Breathable -
Nice for energetic use
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Merino is usually a bit prickly -
Has that moist canine scent whenever you get it moist.
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Heat for its weight -
Basic, easy styling -
Excessive-quality zippers
Different Nice Wool Sweaters
We examined dozens of sweaters for this information, however just a few actually stood out. Whereas the awarded sweaters are high tier, others additionally deserved recognition. Listed here are another sweaters which can be value a glance.
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Comfy -
Nice warmth-to-weight ratio -
Black marl offers it a textured look
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Very athletic match -
Not best as activewear
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Fantastic, splendidly smooth texture -
Good worth for cashmere -
Light-weight but heat
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Sturdy -
Dries shortly -
Versatile
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Can really feel a bit scratchy with out an undershirt
Wool Sweater Comparability Chart
How We Examined Wool Sweaters
Our Knowledgeable Testers
Our lead wool sweater tester is Andrew Potter. Based mostly on the east facet of California’s Excessive Sierra, Potter faces an annual lengthy winter season — an ideal time to pattern cozy sweaters. To place this listing collectively, Potter rocked dozens of sweaters throughout all kinds of informal and energetic affairs. Affiliate Managing Editor Billy Brown wrote the unique article and got here again for the most recent replace to lend his cozy experience.
Our Testing Course of
For this information, we thought of probably the most sturdy, extremely acclaimed, well-constructed, and environmentally accountable wool sweater types. We’ve made certain to incorporate choices that can fulfill of us on all kinds of out of doors pursuits, from alpine first ascents to informal bike rides to work. Because the most fashionable sweater will not be the most suitable choice for a cold fall day of yard work, we’ve taken care to think about each’s greatest functions and limitations.
From snowy environments within the Rockies to summer time night campfire hangs, we examined sweaters in each season and each area. Our crew has used these jackets for city commutes, mountain climbing, backcountry snowboarding and splitboarding, bikepacking, and alpine snowboarding. The testers ranged from AIARE-certified backcountry venturers to lifelong recreationists.
Purchaser’s Information: How you can Select the Good Wool Sweater
Supplies
There are numerous types of wool coming from a variety of animals. This selection ensures that there are wools for a myriad of functions, but it surely additionally provides confusion in relation to shopping for a sweater. We’ve taken just a few of the most typical (or attention-grabbing) wools and given them a short look to present you an concept of which kind is best for you.
Lambswool
As its identify suggests, lambswool comes from the primary shearing of a younger sheep. This normally takes place when the animal is round 7 months outdated. The ensuing wool is exceptionally clean and effective, leading to a notably smooth really feel. This softness makes it best for next-to-skin makes use of, like hats and gloves. Its hypoallergenic properties and resistance to mud mites additionally make lambswool nice for bedding. On this listing, the Pendleton Westerly Sweater is produced from 100% lambswool.
Merino Wool
Extremely regarded for its breathability and sweat-wicking properties, Merino wool is sheared from Merino sheep. The fibers are very smooth as effectively, which makes Merino best for base layers and operating attire. This wool can be identified for its capability to withstand physique odor, which makes it nice for multiday journeys and stage races.
Merino wool sweaters are sometimes on the pricier facet. That is as a result of scouring course of required to take away the grease within the materials. This scouring entails washing the wool in chemical substances to take away the grease, leading to roughly half of the preliminary wool. On this listing, the Ibex Shak Jacket is produced from 100% Merino.
Alpaca Wool
These South American camelids produce hole fibers, which makes alpaca wool a fantastic light-weight insulator. Not solely is it lighter and hotter than sheep’s wool, however alpaca wool can be extraordinarily smooth. It’s corresponding to cashmere in softness, but it surely’s fairly a bit stronger. Alpaca’s glorious breathability and quick-drying properties make it a super materials for insulative midlayers. On this listing, the Appalachian Gear Firm All-Paca Hoodie is produced from 100% Alpaca wool.
Shetland Wool
Sheared from sheep from Scotland’s Shetland Islands, this wool is thicker and coarser than different wools. Shetland sheep dwell in a colder local weather, which ends up in the distinctive properties of this wool. You could find this wool in tweeds and Honest Isle sweaters, like Pendleton’s Unique Westerley.
Camel Hair
Most of this wool comes from Bactrian camels, that are typically present in Mongolia, China, and Russia. Slightly than being sheared, it’s collected when the camels molt. The wool’s hole fibers are finer and longer than sheep’s wool. This makes it about as smooth as cashmere. Most frequently, the wool is stored in its pure coloration, a delightful golden brown.
Cashmere
This wool is shorn from the undercoats of cashmere goats initially of the molting season. This undercoat yields exceptionally effective fibers and produces the super-soft sweaters and attire cashmere is understood for.
Cashmere can be identified for its excessive value as a result of low yield per goat. As a result of this wool is solely from the undercoat, a single sweater requires shearing a number of goats. On this listing, the Patagonia Recycled Cashmere Crewneck is produced from 95% cashmere.
Angora
Regardless of the identify, Angora wool isn’t sheared from Angora goats. (Shearing Angora goats ends in a fabric referred to as mohair.) It comes from Angora rabbits, which is so cool we needed to embody it right here.
These fibers are the lightest and warmest we’ve worn due to their clean, hole fibers. If you happen to’ve ever petted a bunny, you’ll have an concept of how smooth that is. However this softness comes with some caveats.
First, Angora sweaters are susceptible to matting and pilling, so Angora fiber is usually blended with different fibers to reinforce sturdiness. Second, that fineness requires breeders to comb the rabbits every day. Whereas it’s most likely nice for the rabbits and a job we’d gladly apply for, it provides to the wool’s substantial value.
How you can Select the Greatest Wool Sweater for You
The very best wool sweaters are identified for his or her warmth-to-weight ratio, which makes them best for each energetic and informal use. That mentioned, there are wool sweaters specializing in each classes, and it’s useful to know what your meant use is.
For purely athletic use, we extremely advocate the Yardang Jersey and the Capilene Air Hoody. Each are extraordinarily mild for the heat they supply, and the weaves keep flexibility that’s best for actions like climbing, biking, and mountaineering. Wool is all the time going to be heat — even when it’s moist. The largest concerns for energetic use are going to be flexibility, moisture wicking, and weight. Each of those wool sweaters excel in these classes.
For informal use, your choices will differ relying on the type you’re fascinated about. Clearly, the Pendleton Unique Westerly sweater is a perfect alternative, however we’d additionally advocate the Out of doors Voices MegaFleece Snap Up and the Smartwool Sparwood Crew. Every choice has a special aesthetic, and all three provide an off-the-cuff look that will additionally suffice in the event you occur to search out your self strolling as a substitute of choosing a rideshare on an evening out.
If you need a wool sweater that may do all of it, the All-Paca Fleece Hoodie might be your greatest guess from this listing. Because the assessment implies, it’s best for energetic use, however we additionally discovered it to work nice for informal use. It seems to be nice, doesn’t have too athletic of a match, and is extraordinarily comfy for wherever your day may take you.
Worth & Worth
The value of wool sweaters can differ resulting from what kind of wool the sweater is produced from, its meant use, and different elements. One fixed on this class is that wool sweaters are typically fairly dear — it may be arduous to search out one for below $100. Right here’s what you’ll be able to count on to get in numerous value ranges.
Finances
You could find some stable wool sweaters within the below $200 vary. Our favourite funds wool sweater, the Out of doors Voices MegaFleece Snap Up Pullover ($138), is sturdy, presents stable stretch, and appears nice. If you happen to’re making an attempt to get nearer to the $100 mark, the Sparwood Crew Sweater ($105) from Smartwool is stretchy, dries shortly, and works effectively in each in-town and outside settings.
Mid-Tier
In search of a bit of extra? Within the $200-$300 vary, you’ll discover extra sturdy weaves, as you’d discover in our greatest total choose, the Pendleton Unique Westerly Sweater ($249), which remains to be in our common rotation (if it’s ok for The Dude, it’s ok for the remainder of us). You’ll additionally see extra technical choices just like the Ibex Shak Jacket ($260), a full-zip sweater that’s buttery smooth and dries extraordinarily shortly.
Premium
Once you spend over $300, you begin discovering sweaters with distinctive options and specialty makes use of, just like the Dale of Norway Vegard Windstopper Hoodie ($595). It’s dear, however the Vegard’s Norwegian wool is handled to be water- and dirt-resistant, and the built-in windproof layer makes it helpful as an outer layer when the climate turns in opposition to you.
Ceaselessly Requested Questions
As a result of completely different wools have completely different properties, all of it depends upon what you need out of your sweater. If softness is your precedence, look to cashmere, mohair, Angora, and lambswool. If you happen to’re on the lookout for sturdiness, look to Shetland wool and alpaca.
For athletic functions, you’ll want wool that may handle warmth and sweat. Alpaca and Merino are each extremely regarded for his or her capability to vent extra warmth and dry shortly, which makes them best for operating, mountaineering, and different actions. Moreover, they’re odor-resistant, to allow them to be worn for a number of days or exercises without having a wash
Merino wool and synthetics are each well-known for his or her makes use of within the outside and health arenas. Each are very efficient at wicking away sweat and venting extra warmth, however there are just a few notable variations.
Merino is superb for its capability to remain heat even when moist. It’s extremely breathable, smooth to the contact, and extremely odor-resistant.
Alternatively, wool is commonly a lot pricier than artificial supplies. And synthetics are typically extra sturdy and last more than wool (until the wool is bolstered with artificial materials). Some sorts of wool, similar to alpaca, are extra sturdy than others and may end up in attire that’s nearer to synthetics when it comes to toughness.
However artificial supplies soak out faster whenever you sweat, can get downright chilly when moist, and are usually not identified for his or her capability to repel odor. In reality, it looks like they entice odor and maintain on for all it’s value. For us, the scent issue alone suggestions the scales towards wool. And whenever you add the power to remain heat when moist, the softness, and the sheer number of choices out there, wool is unquestionably our alternative materials for sweaters and base layers.
Lambswool is taken from the primary shearing of a lamb, leading to smooth, effective wool. Nonetheless, as a result of it may be taken from any sheep, the micron rely can differ fairly a bit and is commonly not said. A smaller micron measurement means finer and softer wool. Merino wool is taken into account very effective, which implies the fibers are smaller than 24 microns in diameter.
For an on a regular basis sweater, this isn’t as a lot of a difficulty. For journey, journey, and outside functions, Merino is good. It has a superb warmth-to-weight ratio, dries shortly, and retains heat even when moist in chilly climate.
Merino is extra versatile than lambswool and might be helpful in a wider vary of actions. If you wish to be prepared for something, Merino wool is the way in which to go.
It depends upon the kind of sweater. The agitator in a washer can smash the knit of a sweater and may tremendously cut back the lifetime of the wool. And all the time keep away from sizzling water and dryers, as warmth will shrink the garment.
One of the simplest ways to learn the way to scrub your sweater is to verify the sweater’s tag for cleansing directions.
In case your sweater is machine-washable, do that:
- Flip your sweater inside out and wash it with like colours. Shut all zippers, if any.
- Use a gentle cleaning soap or wool detergent. Do not use bleach or material softener.
- Lay flat to dry. If you happen to’re drying it exterior, ensure it’s within the shade.
In case your sweater is dry-clean-only, you’ll be able to most likely handwash it. Right here’s how:
- Fill a clear sink, tub, or one other basin with chilly water, after which add a little bit of gentle cleaning soap or wool detergent.
- Dip your sweater out and in of the water till it’s soaked, after which gently agitate it within the water. If there are any dirty spots, rub these spots softly along with your fingers.
- When it’s clear, drain the bathtub and refill it with chilly water. Dip and redip the sweater within the water till it’s soap-free.
- To dry it, lay it on a towel, roll up the towel, after which squeeze it to take away the water. Transfer it to a drier a part of the towel, repeat till the sweater stops dripping, after which lay it out flat to dry. As above, in the event you lay it out exterior, ensure it stays out of the solar.
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