The Gear You Need: Mountain Trekking in Peru

Shirt and Socks: Icebreaker Long-Sleeved Crew T-Shirt & Mid-Hiker Socks
Without a hint of hyperbole, I swear that merino wool is the best thing to happen to outdoor apparel since the waterproof zipper. But don't take my proclamation as gospel. Everyone, from Patagonia to Smartwool, has been rolling out merino wool layers over the last few years. Why? It's all-natural protection from the elements. It keeps you warm when you're cold, cool when you're hot, wicks sweat, and, perhaps the biggest travel-spec detail, does not retain odors (for evidence, visit my recitation of a weeklong unwashed testing of a merino shirt). And now, with great advances in processing, manufacturers are generating clothes as thin and comfortable as cotton, and perfectly suited to humid climes as much as the typical sub-Arctic wool weather. It's the “I can't believe it's wool” revolution.

Most merino wool products will do the duty, but I continue to gravitate toward Icebreaker, the New Zealand wunderkind company that produces high-quality merino products with a real eye toward fashion. For the trip I wore their long-sleeved crew T-shirt and their mid-hiker merino socks. The shirt, which is part of their mid-weight line, performed perfectly and, while fashion wasn't the foremost concern, the subtle use of color and the athletic fit meant I could transition to a local pub…if there had been one at 15,000 feet. The socks, meanwhile, were orthopedic heaven: strategic cushioning at the ankle, Achilles, and underfoot; lighter use of fabric at the top to keep things cool; and the right degree of fabric for the trip's numerous daylong hikes.

One caveat: moisture (rain, sweat, etc.) on merino wool doesn't evaporate as quickly as with synthetic materials. But wool, by its very nature, will keep you warm even when wet—and even after two days of wearing the same socks, they did not smell. And while the merino wool stuff can be more expensive than other tech-minded apparel, unlike polycarbonates, the merino does not retain smells, either. Take that, synthetics.
icebreaker.com; $80 for the long-sleeved crew T-shirt, $18 for the mid-crew sock