Five Reasons Why Alpaca Fiber is Best For Your Base Layer

Hiking challenges the body and invigorates the soul. It pushes you to do the unimaginable and leaves you wanting more. To make the most out of this exhilarating experience of ascending majestic peaks, you need to prepare, especially for plummeting temperatures.

Aside from mental and physical preparation, it would help if you also got ready with your hiking gear. The freezing environment may be dangerous for your health, especially with the possibility of hypothermia. The warmest women’s base layer will keep you warm and safe so you can focus on your goal of reaching the top.

A base layer keeps a hiker warm and comfortable because, aside from providing an initial layer of warmth, it absorbs and evaporates sweat. The warmest women’s base layer also protects your skin from the harsh, freezing wind and harmful ultraviolet radiation. Base layers come in different styles and fabrics, but the ones made from Alpaca fiber are fast emerging as the fabric of choice.

Alpaca fiber is a type of wool that comes from naturally grown, camel-like animals called alpaca. These animals are native to South America. 80% of the world’s supply comes from Peru. The Alpaca fiber is an excellent material for a base layer for many reasons. Find the benefits of Alpaca Fiber as a base layer for hiking.

Benefits of Alpaca Fiber as a Base Layer for Hiking

• It is durable

The alpaca fiber is more durable than sheep wool. The highest-quality alpaca fibers are hand-woven by skilled artisans, ensuring a fabric that is spun by a generation of experts.

• It is soft and lightweight

These fibers are exceptionally soft and silky to the skin. When you are hiking, there is the possibility of chafing when you wear base layers with rough fabric. It can get very annoying and painful. The softness of Alpaca fiber ensures that it will be gentle to your skin.  You can say goodbye to chafing, no matter how active you are.

It is interesting to note that excellent alpaca breeding programs churn out a superfine fleece, which amounts to 18-20 microns. It results in unbelievable softness. And unlike wool, it does not have scales that cause itchiness and discomfort.

Its lightweight quality makes it an ideal base layer. You would not feel bogged down in case you need to add several more layers to your hiking gear. 

• It is hypoallergenic

Your sensitive skin will thank you for using alpaca fiber. This hypoallergenic fabric prevents rashes and other allergic reactions. Studies show that three out of ten Americans are allergic to sheep wool. Triggers could be the wool’s coarse fibers and lanolin content.

• It is breathable yet insulates perfectly

The fibers of the alpaca wool have tiny air pockets that provide optimum breathability. Even in cold situations, your body heat will increase when you are active. A breathable fabric will prevent you from overheating.

At the same time, this fantastic fabric creates the warmest women’s base layer due to its highly insulative nature. It will keep you perfectly warm and comfortable.

• It is moisture-proof

The hollow nature of alpaca fiber is naturally wicking since there is no core for the moisture to collect in. It repels moisture away from the skin, thus leaving your layer nice and dry for a long time.

Keep these qualities in mind when purchasing your next hiking gear. Alpaca fiber will provide you with the utmost comfort and protection, making you ready to conquer any peak on this planet.