Healthy sleep, sustainable comfort

Wool is often referred to as a miracle fiber. We love wool but the truth of why it works so well is firmly rooted in science.

You know wool is the best choice for warmth on a cold winter’s night, but do you know why it’s also the best way to stay cool on a mid-summer’s night as well?

We all release moisture through our breath and from our skin – as much as a pint every night. Unlike any other fiber, natural or synthetic, wool absorbs as much as 35% of its weight in water vapor. Cotton absorbs 8% before it feels wet, most synthetics just 5 %.

When I think of wool, I remember the Sunday suit Grandpa wore in sweltering heat and blistering cold. Grandpa understood that wool moved moisture away from his skin, which kept him comfortable. But he didn’t know that wool reacts to moisture instantly, spontaneously drawing it into the core and back out to the environment. This transfer of water vapor generates a kinetic energy that creates a constantly revolving pocket of air between the skin and outside world.

How does it keep me cool?

Grandpa told me stories about how his Dad covered ice from the ice houses with wool to keep it frozen. Doesn’t matter what the temperature is on either side of the blanket or suit, the energy created during moisture absorption sustains an insulation barrier. What’s unique about wool is how that insulation acts like a mini air-conditioning unit.

But if there’s a barrier, how does it keep me from overheating?

This is where the real mystery of wool comes into play. We all perspire all the time and wool’s constant processing of that moisture lets your body do what it does best – regulate your temperature. Since your body doesn’t have to expend energy to maintain a constant temperature, your heart rate relaxes and you fall into a deeper, more restful sleep.

While all this makes sense comfort-wise, it’s also the most hypoallergenic choice. Bed bugs, dust mites, mold, mildew and bacteria thrive in moist, dark environments. Eliminate the moisture and you create a hostile environment for them – which equals cleaner bedding all around.

While technologically-advanced fabrics claim to do the same thing wool does, we wonder why mess with Mother Nature.

• Wool is sustainable
• Wool is natural
• Wrapped in cotton or quilted into a mattress, there’s nothing more comfortable to sleep on

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