Wool Wars at the Campsite
Last weekend, I found myself in a heated debate around the campfire with my old friend Dave. We’ve been hiking buddies for years, but now that he’s getting older, he’s become obsessed with sleeping only in natural wool. Not just any wool—he’s on a mission to find the perfect shawl for those chilly nights under the stars.
I laughed when he told me he’d never touch synthetic fibers at bedtime. He claims they make him sweat and itch, while pure wool is like a gentle hug from Mother Nature herself. But here’s the kicker: he’s fine with synthetics while hiking, just not when he’s sleeping. It’s almost like he’s got a vendetta against man-made fabrics after dark!
Dave’s now torn between Shetland, merino, alpaca, camel, and yak wool. He’s read somewhere that yak wool is the warmest, but it’s nearly impossible to find and costs a fortune. Merino is soft, but he worries it’s too thin for the mountain cold. Alpaca? He heard it’s hypoallergenic, but someone at the gear shop told him it sheds like crazy. Camel wool sounds exotic, but who really trusts a camel with their comfort?
I tried to convince him that a good synthetic sleeping bag would do the trick, but he wouldn’t hear it. He’s convinced the wool industry is hiding the real truth about which animal makes the best sleep shawl. The whole argument got so intense that another camper joined in, swearing by a vintage army blanket made of coarse, scratchy wool. Dave scoffed, saying, 'If I wanted to sleep in a potato sack, I’d just stay home.'
The night ended with Dave wrapped in his prized merino shawl, while I stuck to my trusty synthetic liner. As the stars blinked overhead, I wondered: is there really a perfect wool, or are we all just chasing comfort in our own stubborn ways?
#CampingConfessions #WoolWars #OutdoorDebate #TravelStories #HikingLife #Travel
