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Post by BoomersAreBack on Nov 6, 2016 8:27:55 GMT -8
I was in Colorado in August and saw a shop selling Alpaca wool and finished products. Bought a pair of liner gloves that if I recall contain some synthetic as well for durability. I haven't had a chance to use them yet but I will report after I do use them. In the meantime has anyone had experience using Alpaca wool products?
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Nov 6, 2016 8:38:23 GMT -8
I have a pair of alpaca gloves (and a sweater, which is not backpacking gear) I picked up in Peru a few years ago. I can testify they are very warm, but can't compare by weight. They are bulkier and heavier than my synthetic gloves, but they cover my hands better (farther up the wrist) and are much warmer. It's a trade-off, as usual.
My boys have alpaca hats and, again--very warm, heavier than synthetics but also warmer.
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on Nov 6, 2016 9:56:27 GMT -8
Alpaca is definitely warmer per unit mass than any type of sheep wool. That's true of most of the camelids, included (not surprisingly) camel itself. For widely available fibers, alpaca is hard to beat. Cashmere is also extremely warm for its weight, but is typically more expensive. Musk Ox (qiviut) and Yak are truly awesome performers, but they are astronomically expensive and almost impossible to find as finished garments, and even then they are typically blended with a fiber that's less costly and not as warm.
A few years back, Mrs. big_load wove samples from a variety of exotic fibers for a designer who took them to manufacturers as a representation of what she wanted produced. It was frustrating because the designer could only devote the minimum of costly raw materials to this, and didn't account for loom waste (the ends of the warp from beyond where it's possible to weave). She was paid partially in skeins of alpaca.
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Post by hikingtiger on Nov 7, 2016 13:55:33 GMT -8
I have an Alpaca cap. VERY warm. It's warmer than the one knit from Norwegian wool, but that's partly due to the weave pattern.
I need to move some place with cooler weather to get more use out of both caps. |
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crawford
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Post by crawford on Nov 8, 2016 19:54:39 GMT -8
Love me some Alpaca wool socks, but I hate chasing the darn things down and fighting the socks off them. They can get mean when you take....
Sorry, lost my head for a moment. Yeah, warmer and I believe more durable. Might even take on scent less than sheep's wool.
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