Merino wool vs. Alpaca Royal

How does a Royal quality alpaca product compare to a merino wool product?

Alpaca and Merino are both natural fibers and premium materials that are rapidly taking the world by storm. The advantage of Alpaca wool (Alpaca Royal) is that the fine alpaca fibers feel softer against the skin and are significantly lighter in weight. This is precisely why garments made from Royal grade (≤ 18 µm) alpaca have a luxurious feel.

Image 1. Alpacas on the Tienda Molino farm in the Netherlands

Figure 2. Merino wool sheep in Australia

Is alpaca wool warmer than Merino wool? Yes

All wool fibers work well as insulators. There are small air pockets between the fibers. Your body heat warms the air in the air pockets, making the wool sweater feel warm.

The difference between merino wool and alpaca wool is in the structure of the fiber. Alpaca wool is naturally temperature-regulating due to its fiber structure. An alpaca sweater may feel cool at first. But when you put on an alpaca sweater, the air pockets warm up quickly and protect you from the cold. This also works the other way around, preventing you from overheating in warm weather.

Figure 3. Close-up of alpaca wool. The structure of the fiber keeps the alpaca warm in the cold mountains of Peru. (Photo: International Alpaca Association)

Is alpaca wool itchier than Merino wool? Yes and No

It is not possible to generalize about the lack of prickles. It depends entirely on the quality of the fiber. If we are talking about alpaca in general, it can be very prickly, as can other wool fibers, especially sheep's wool fibers.

However, knitwear made from Royal-grade (≤ 18 µm) alpaca fiber (Ruukkin Kehräämö Alpaca Royal) does not feel itchy against the skin. Therefore, even people who find merino wool products itchy can often wear Alpaca Royal knitwear directly on bare skin.

Factors affecting the softness/pilling of wool fibers:

1. Lanolin content

Lanolin is a wax naturally found in sheep's wool, produced by the sheep's sebaceous glands. It acts as a protective barrier and moisturizer. Although it is used in some skin care products, it is an allergen for some people. Unlike merino, alpaca wool has a naturally high moisture resistance, which is why it does not need lanolin to keep its wool protected. Being lanolin-free, alpaca wool also attracts fewer bacteria and dust, which is why alpaca wool is hypoallergenic and antibacterial.

2. Fiber thickness

Not all alpaca wool is equally soft. The same goes for merino wool. The thickness of the fiber can determine whether it feels prickly or soft against the skin. Wool fibers with a thick diameter feel rough, while very fine fibers, less than 20 microns in diameter, feel soft against the skin (cf. Alpaca royal ≤ 18 µm vs. Baby Alpaca ≤ 22 µm).

3. Fiber smoothness

Wool fibers have microscopic scales that protrude from the surface of the fiber and cause a prickly feeling. The smaller and more even the scales are, the smoother the fiber is.

The scales of alpaca fibers are small and lie flat against the surface of the fiber, so high-quality alpaca wool (Alpaca Royal) does not cause itching. The overlapping scales of merino are protruding and very visible. The itching caused by this can be reduced by filling these gaps with a chemical treatment.
Merino wool used in clothing is generally chemically treated to remove lanolin and the scales from the fibers (Chlorine-Hercosett, Superwash, Ecowash), which makes it feel much softer and less itchy than untreated sheep's wool, but the treatment is toxic and releases microplastics into the environment, both at all stages of production and during consumer use, wearing and washing. However, high-quality alpaca wool does not need any special treatment: it is naturally soft, which makes it more pleasant on the skin.

Is alpaca wool more durable than Merino wool? Yes

Alpaca fiber is very flexible and can withstand more pressure and tension than merino wool. Studies show that alpaca fiber has a tensile strength of up to 50N/ktex, which allows for the production of thin clothing that can withstand heavy wear. Merino fiber, on the other hand, can withstand pressure much less, 30-40 N/ktex.

Figure 4. Merino wool fiber in a microscope image

Figure 5. Alpaca wool fiber in a microscope image

Is alpaca wool more breathable than Merino wool? Yes

Breathability refers to the ability of wool to move moisture away from the skin when you sweat. This fundamental property helps to combat odor and increase wearer comfort. Both Merino wool and Alpaca wool are effective at absorbing moisture and transporting it to the outside of your garment so it can evaporate. However, alpaca wool has been shown to be superior in breathability compared to other natural fibers and modern technical fibers.

Is alpaca wool more water resistant than merino wool? Yes

Alpaca wool is particularly famous for its water resistance. Alpaca wool only binds moisture at 8% of its weight. Merino wool can bind moisture at up to 30% of its weight. This property of alpaca wool makes it a superior insulator and it dries faster than merino wool.

Is an alpaca product a more environmentally friendly choice than a merino product? Yes

Alpaca is an environmentally friendly friend. Alpaca farming is never based on intensive production. Unlike goats and sheep breeds, alpaca does not destroy vegetation when grazing, but on the contrary, improves the survival of vegetation. Throughout its entire life cycle, alpaca and products made from alpaca wool use very little water. This superfine fiber is never treated with chemical treatments and synthetic processes.

Merino wool undergoes a toxic “superwash” treatment to make it soft, washable, and comfortable. Merino wool is also often blended with other synthetic fibers, such as nylon, to enhance its luxurious feel, which increases microplastic pollution in the environment.

Are alpaca products valuable? Yes and No

We believe that the high price of Ruukkin Kehräämö Alpaca Royal knitwear is not expensive when you remember that this is the most luxurious wool product family on the market. It is durable, stays good year after year and is 100% recyclable. Our customers think that our Alpaca Royal knitwear is definitely worth the investment.

Royal quality alpaca fiber (Ruukkin Kehräämö Alpaca Royal) does not itch, is warm and does not need to be chemically treated. Therefore, its natural properties remain unchanged in the final product and it performs better than merino wool and other types of sheep wool.

This is why Royal-level alpaca fiber is ideal for smart business, everyday luxury, outdoor clothing, hiking socks, and even underwear products.

Alpacas have been bred for thousands of years in harsh conditions on high mountain plateaus precisely for their high-quality wool. In ancient times, the use of alpaca wool was reserved only for royalty. Its exponentially fine properties and vitality have made it the goddess of the knitting industry. In Ruukki Kehräämö's online store and shop, you can explore luxury alpaca knitwear.