Merino Wool vs. Alpaca - Which Is Better?

Last Updated on March 26, 2023

Merino wool and alpaca wool both have their unique qualities and benefits. Merino wool is known for its softness, durability, and versatility, while alpaca wool is praised for its warmth and hypoallergenic properties. With so many factors to weigh, deciding which one to choose can be challenging.

Merino Wool vs. Alpaca — Image Source: Shutterstock, Canva

Understanding the differences between merino wool and alpaca wool is crucial in making an informed decision. Whether you’re a knitter, a weaver, or just looking for a cozy sweater, it’s essential to know the pros and cons of each type of wool.

Here, we’ll compare merino wool and alpaca wool, so you can decide which one to choose for your next project.

Table of Contents

Merino Wool

Merino sheep are bred in the mountains of Spain, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries, and the best wool for yarn production is taken from their withers.

As a result of living in a cold climate, Thin (about 20-25 microns) merino wools have acquired a characteristic cellular structure as a result of living in a cold climate, which retains heat well, absorbs moisture, and does not interfere with air exchange, and also makes wool very light and silky to the touch.

Such fibers, even absorbing moisture, keep the skin dry and warm. Moreover, they do not absorb dirt and odors. The creatine in merino wool has bactericidal properties.

A merino blanket is believed to have healing properties; it effectively warms up cold back and joint pain, promotes relaxation, lowers blood pressure, and even helps with insomnia.

Merino wool is easily dyed in a variety of colors. This allows you to create products of a wide variety of textures and colors. Plaids with jacquard patterns, a textured embossed surface, and “pictures” of various subjects that occupy the entire surface are very popular.

In Addition – Discover the comparison – Merino Wool vs. Wool

Alpaca

As for alpacas, they live in the South American highlands. The thickness of their fibers is about the same as that of merino (20 microns for baby alpaca, 30 microns for llamas).

Still, at the same time, they are hollow, absolutely smooth, and very pleasant to the touch, and besides, they do not contain the lanolin characteristic of sheep wool. As a result, an alpaca wool blanket retains heat seven times more effectively than a similar merino wool blanket, and at the same time, it will weigh three times less. Alpaca also has a beneficial effect on the body and promotes effective warming and relaxation of the body.

It is also important that the absence of lanolin reduces the possibility of allergic reactions even in very sensitive people, so the alpaca blanket is considered the safest for newborns.

In addition, this wool prevents overheating, allowing you to maintain a comfortable body temperature in cold and hot weather. Therefore, an alpaca blanket is very versatile – it will be cozy with it both in January frosts and on summer evenings.

However, such wonderful things are quite expensive. But they are very durable and retain both their useful properties and an elite appearance for a long time.

A real alpaca blanket has a discreet natural color. It is often made solid or provided with stripes of a different color along the edges. Traditional patterns also include checks and ethnic South American ornaments.

Thin blankets made of elite baby alpaca wool are often made in one color and with a structure that imitates hand-knitting patterns. First of all, such products are intended for newborns.

As you can see, the choice between merino and alpaca home textiles is more complex. A compromise can be blankets made from their mixture.

They combine the positive properties of both types of fibers; their range is very diverse and allows you to satisfy any taste and level of requirements.