Is Merino Wool Itchy? (Spoiler: No. It's Quite Comfy)

Is Merino Wool itchy? Or a question that hits closer to home: Do Merino Wool socks itch? This isn't the first time we've talked about the Merino Wool itching myth (yes, myth). But some truths are worth restating.

We get it. We make and sell Merino Wool socks - you probably figure we're inherently biased to think Merino Wool garments are the greatest thing since sliced bread. And maybe we are, but the truth is we started using this natural fiber many years ago (and keep using it today) because time has shown us it's the ultimate performance fabric.

High-quality Merino Wool (what we use) absorbs moisture, regulates temperature, and is soft against your skin, providing all-day comfort. Combine that with a high-quality process and dense knit, and you've got some truly comfortable socks.

But for all the skeptics out there, you don't have to take our word for it. As we lay out the facts about this amazing type of wool, we're mixing in real-life reviews from one-time-skeptics now turned wool lovers. Like these:

"Honestly I was concerned about the wool. They’re not itchy, not too hot either and I wore them all day in a hot office. Bottom line: I love them and I’ll be buying more!" - Michelle L.

"They don't slip down to my toes in boots, and they are warm and NOT itchy! That alone is shocking, I've never had wool socks that didn't drive me crazy." - Lynn B.

Is Merino Wool Itchy to Wear?

We know where this question comes from. One too many holidays wearing itchy Christmas sweaters like those knit by Molly Weasley could cause anyone to question if the stated benefits of Merino Wool are worth hours of absentminded scratching (still love you, Molly).

But Merino Wool and traditional wool are not the same. Sheep wool comes in a variety of fiber thicknesses (called weights, measured in microns). Human hair, for reference, is typically 50-70 microns.

The thicker the fiber, the more likely it is to irritate your skin and cause the itchy feeling. This is especially important for base layers, which sit right against your skin. Everyone's skin is different, but generally fibers that measure above 30 microns feel itchy, while fibers below 30 microns aren't.

The rough wool used in those itchy sweaters you're likely picturing ranges from about 35-40 microns. Hence, the itch. The Merino Wool fibers (which only come from Merino sheep) max out at 24 microns. And at Darn Tough, we choose only the highest quality Merino fibers, typically measuring between 17-19 microns in diameter. Now that's fine.

So, if you're wondering, are Darn Tough Merino Wool socks itchy? ...here's what Paul, Christine, and Bridget had to say:

"I've always had an issue with wool socks feeling scratchy, apparently I was not getting quality wool. These are so comfortable, warm and breathable." - Paul S.

"I love Darn Tough socks. I swore I couldn't wear wool socks, but these are not itchy. They breathe and wick better than cotton, and hold their shape better too." - Christine B.

"They do not hold odors, are super comfortable, and not itchy at all! Try them for yourselves, I'm sure you'll love them too!" - Bridget L.

Is Merino Wool Soft?

Just because a fabric isn’t itchy doesn't inherently make it soft. Consider denim, for example. If your favorite pair of jeans was itchy, we doubt they'd be your favorite... but you probably wouldn’t rub them against your face either.

So now that we've established why Merino Wool clothing isn't itchy, that leads us to the next question: is it soft? Maybe socks don't have to be soft, but we're on a mission to make the world's best socks. And that means comfort.

Softness is a bit subjective, but scientists have found ways to define and quantify it. You might be surprised to learn that softness in clothing is defined as the opposite of stiffness. The more flexibility with the fiber or fabric, the softer it will feel.

The TL;DR of all this is that when you touch fabric, your skin interacts with its fibers. The more resistance your skin meets, the less soft a fabric feels - too much resistance and things become itchy. But the opposite is also true - if instead of pushing back against your skin, the fabric instead flexes and bends, you perceive softness.

Basically, if the fabric’s fiber isn't soft, the fabric won't be soft. Merino fibers are what's known as resilient (aka flexible). This natural flexibility is a result of interlocking protein molecules that allow each individual fiber to stretch and recover without losing elasticity or breaking. Merino can be twisted up to 20,000 times without breaking - that's Simone Biles-level flexibility.

All that flexibility gives Merino Wool its softness. And we protect that softness in our sock-making process. How you use fibers can affect their feel - a stiff weave of a soft fiber is going to feel less soft because the weave doesn't allow the fibers to flex and bend to their maximum potential. We knit our socks and knit fabrics can be stretched in all different directions, helping them feel soft and supple.

"Soft, gorgeous, almost buttery, toasty warm." - J. G.

"I always used to picture wool socks as being itchy, but these had me almost forgetting I had socks on. Will buy some more." - Alex D.

"I have very sensitive skin and was a little apprehensive trying wool socks. I was afraid they would be scratchy. Now Darn Tough is all I buy!" - Heather R.

We Make Soft Merino Wool Socks

Try them, and you'll see what we mean.

Let's set some expectations, though: socks should be soft, but they also need to be durable. We aren't saying our socks are as soft as a cashmere sweater. But a cashmere sock couldn't hold up to all the miles of hiking, running, and skiing you put our socks through. Merino Wool can.

We've got over 45 years of sock-making expertise, and in all those years we haven't found a material that combines durability and softness the way Merino Wool does. And when you consider overall comfort, Merino puts in extra hours by regulating your body temperature and wicking moisture so your feet are never too hot, too cold, or too wet.

There you have it. Wearing Merino Wool is one of the best choices you can make in our book. We hope we've convinced you to give soft Merino Wool clothing a try, as these fine folks did:

"They're so soft and to my surprise they're perfect in all weather conditions. I was afraid wool would run kinda hot and maybe itchy. No no, not at all." - Michael R.

"So soft! Like a warm hug for your feet." - Andrew D.

"Solves all my sock problems. Wool socks were always scratchy before but Darn Tough socks don't make my feet itch." - Laurie J.

"I swore I couldn't wear wool socks, but these are not itchy. They breathe and wick better than cotton and hold their shape better too." - Christine B.