Alpaca Fiber vs. Wool Fiber

Facts: Alpaca Socks vs. Wool Socks

Alpacas are sheared humanely, unlike sheep. Sheep are sheared in 75% of the world by a painful, extremely bloody process called mulesing. Mulesing is a painful skilled surgical task that involves the removal of strips of wool-bearing skin from around the breech (buttocks) of sheep.

The alpaca fiber is naturally lanolin free, therefore, hypoallergenic. Sheep wool socks are not naturally hypoallergenic. Alpaca fiber is extremely clean and can be spun right after shearing unlike wool, which requires synthetic chemicals to remove the sheep's wool lanolin. If the chemicals used to clean wool are improperly used, the residues can result in ground water contamination.

Alpaca is naturally flame resistant meeting the standards US Consumer Product Safety Commission's rigid testing specifications as a Class 1 fiber for use in clothing and furnishings.

Alpaca fiber wicks away moisture better than wool because the fiber is highly water resistant.

Alpaca fiber has higher anti-microbial properties than sheep wool. Alpaca socks breathe better than wool socks, therefore, no smelly socks.

Alpaca fiber has unique and higher thermal insulation than wool, because the hair has a unique hollow insulating core.

Alpaca fibers have higher tensile strength than wool fibers, therefore, the fiber is stronger than wool.

Alpaca fiber has a smooth hair shaft that decreases the prickle factor felt in wool.

Alpaca is the humane, loving choice of the Animal Kingdom when comparing alpaca fiber vs sheep wool fiber products and socks.

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