Alpaca vs Merino Wool for Hiking & Backpacking Clothes
Last Updated: October 16, 2025
By Jaeger Shaw
Comparing alpaca vs merino wool for use in hiking & backpacking
This article is sponsored by PAKA Apparel, but the views expressed are my own
When it comes to comparing alpaca vs merino wool, there aren’t many head-to-head, peer-reviewed scientific research studies offering conclusive answers. But based on real world experience, both fabrics perform similarly well in the backcountry, exhibiting softness, warmth, breathability, and natural odor-resistant. While neither is strictly better, I do believe that royal alpaca is softer and warmer than merino.
In the grand scheme of things, differences between alpaca and merino are marginal compared to the massive performance gap between either type of wool vs polyester, nylon, cotton, or lyocell. Furthermore, the fabric weight and knit of a wool garment has a much bigger impact on user experience than which animal its fibers were sourced from. In short, whether you choose an alpaca or merino hoodie will not tangibly affect the outcome of your hike; both are great options!
While differences between merino vs alpaca may be minor, they do exist, and some are more concrete than others. This article highlights what we know based on existing studies, real world hiking experience wearing lots of alpaca and merino, and a bit of amateur lab testing.
- TL;DR of alpaca vs merino – they’re very similar, but alpaca is slightly better for mid-layers, thermals, hats, and socks because it’s warmer and softer. Merino is slightly better for base layers because it’s cooler and more elastic.
While you’re here, don’t miss our guide to alpaca hoodies, merino sun hoodies, and alpaca socks.
This article is sponsored by PAKA Apparel. While we strive to offer a neutral perspective, this creates bias. In addition, PAKA products are featured throughout. When purchasing through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. Here’s why you can trust us.
Cover photo, left Smartwool Classic Merino, right PAKA Lightweight Crew
eight alpaca and merino wool fabrics
Well-Known Performance Similarities between Merino and Alpaca Wool
These are the commonly understood benefits of both alpaca wool and merino wool.
- Both are softer than other fibers due to the fineness of the strands, often as thin as 15-20 microns in diameter. Royal alpaca is the softest of all.
- Both are warmer than other fibers due to their ability to trap dead air, either via hollow core strands (alpaca), or crimped strands (merino)
- Both are less odorous and more anti-microbial than other fabrics after prolonged wear, due to a dense keratin protein base (both), lanolin coating (merino), and smooth fiber strands (alpaca)
- Both are faster drying than cotton and lyocell (because less absorbent), slower drying than polyester and nylon (because more absorbent)
Alpaca vs Merino Wool, Well-Known Differences
These are commonly understood key differences between alpaca vs merino wool.
- Alpaca wool is slightly warmer than merino. Its hollow core fibers trap dead air better than merino, which achieves the same effect to a slightly lesser degree via crimped (corkscrew-shaped) strands. A 2019 study looked into this, and found: “Merino sheep had significantly (P<0.001) longer and thicker fibers than alpacas, but less efficient (by about 20%) insulation at all sample sites."*
- Alpaca wool fiber has an extremely smooth surface that gives bacteria fewer places to collect, contributing to its odor-resistance
- Merino wool has a natural lanolin coating. Lanolin is a waxy substance secreted by sheep. Lanolin forms a protective barrier against bacteria and moisture, which contributes to odor-resistance. Some people are allergic to it
- Royal alpaca, the most choice/expensive option, is considered softer to the touch than merino
- Alpaca wool fibers have a higher tensile strength, meaning they are less likely to snap
- Merino wool fibers have more elasticity due to the crimping, and hold their shape better after stretching
- Production of alpaca wool is considered more sustainable than merino wool because alpacas are lower impact grazers than sheep. They have a softer footprint and require less food, water, and land per animal. Furthermore, the processing of alpaca fibers into wool uses less water than merino.
*2019 Comparison between the thermal insulation properties of Huacayo alpaca and Merino sheep fleeces by Maria Soroko, Anna Wyrostek, Kevin Howell, and Krzysztof Dudek, et al. See research paper. Note, this compares the animals, not sweaters.
Alpaca vs Merino Wool, More Differences I’ve Observed
These differences may not be discussed as frequently as the above, but I have observed them through my work as a gear tester.
- Alpaca absorbs slightly less moisture, which has implications for faster dry times. See below for more about how I tested this.*
- Alpaca has a distinct smell when wet, such as when you take it out of the washing machine. This goes away quickly as it dries and does not linger.
- New alpaca wool garments can be a bit itchy for the first few wears until the fibers break in. At that point, they feel even softer than merino. This is particularly helpful with socks for preventing blisters, as the softer texture reduce chafing and blister potential. See more in our guide to alpaca socks.
*I tested four 100% merino wool hoodies against four 100% alpaca wool hoodies for absorbency. Here was my process: (1) weigh each garment when dry; (2) run all eight through a rinse-and-spin cycle in the washing machine to desaturate; (3) Weigh each garment again to calculate how much water it clung to; (4) Repeat experiment and average out the results.
I was astounded to get almost identical results in both data sets. On average, merino hoodies absorbed 43.4% of their weight in water, while the alpaca hoodies only absorbed 39.9%. While not a large difference, it felt significant enough to report, and would likely account for something like a 10 minute dry time difference.
You can see the raw data here.
Alpaca vs Merino, Abstract Differences
The following differences between alpaca vs merino are more abstract than hollow cores and lanolin coatings. They are not easily proven, but worth bringing up.
- Alpacas are a domesticated breed of vicuñas, which evolved to live in the high Andes, an extreme climate with drastic temperature fluctuation. Therefore, it follows to some degree that alpaca fiber handles extreme mountain climates better than that of the more pastoral New Zealand sheep
- The merino wool industry is significantly larger and more developed than the alpaca wool industry, meaning more refinements in manufacturing process, knitting techniques, and textile innovations. Ergo, even in cases when alpaca might be a better choice than merino based on fiber performance, there could be a better designed merino wool garment that overcomes any minor inherent disadvantages to offer a superior overall user experience.
Layer Up, How to Choose between Alpaca vs Merino
This is the logic I use for choosing between merino vs alpaca for each type of layer.
- Standard Base Layer: Choose merino wool to use as your all-purpose 3-season base layer, like a sun hoodie, because it’s cooler than alpaca. Even the thinnest merino wool base layers are usually a bit too warm (and much warmer than polyester) during active use. The additional warmth held in by alpaca’s hollow core fibers would only exacerbate the problem. Most people, most of the time, should choose the coolest base layer they can get away with; hence merino over alpaca here
- Thermal Base Layer: If you’re going to be out in the cold, the fact that alpaca wool is slightly warmer makes it preferable for thermal base layering use. See PAKA Thermal Base Layers
- Mid-Layer: Mid-layers are designed to be warm, so you should choose the alpaca over merino wool because it likely has a higher warmth-to-weight ratio. Anything in the 250-300 gsm weight is good for this purpose. Note that wool mid-layers compete with fleece, which can be even warmer and lighter. Also keep in mind that a thicker merino wool garment will still insulate better than a thinner alpaca wool garment. See Paka Sweaters & Hoodies
- Puffy Layer: A number of brands now offer non-down puffy jackets with fluffed wool batting on the inside. Again, because alpaca wool is slightly warmer due to its hollow core fiber strands, it is the superior choice to fill a puffy jacket. See PAKA Mayu
- Hat: Your hat should be cozy, and alpaca is slightly softer and warmer. So this one is a no brainer. See PAKA Marled Beanie
- Socks: A couple years back I tested eight pairs of socks on an eight-day backpacking trip, one-sock-per-foot in a single elimination bracket. Alpaca socks won the tournament, likely because alpaca wool is slightly softer than merino, which reduces chafing and abrasion, which in turn reduces blisters. See Alpaca Trail Socks
- Gloves: Choose merino gloves because there there are very few options for alpaca wool gloves at this time. Without commenting on which fiber is the superior choice, the marketplace for merino wool gloves is so far ahead of alpaca that the choice is practically made for you.
Top 6 Staff Picks from PAKA Apparel
Conclusion to Alpaca vs Merino For Hiking & Backpacking
For most hikers the performance difference between alpaca vs merino wool is not very meaningful; both are soft, breathable, warm, and odor-resistant. Instead you should focus on choosing the right fabric weight, knit, hood configuration, fit, etc. But to the refined gear optimizer, there is a subtle difference, and it should factor into your selection. Merino wool is slightly better for most base layers because it’s cooler. Royal alpaca is slightly better for mid-layers, thermals, and hats, and socks because it’s slightly warmer and softer. If you do decide on alpaca, might we recommend PAKA Apparel?
Click here to add your own text
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!