Outdoor Brands Are Hiding a Better Fabric

There's a fiber that's been worn at 14,000 feet for thousands of years. It outperforms merino in nearly every measurable category. The fashion world has known about it for decades.
So why has the outdoor industry completely ignored it?
That's the question that sent me down this rabbit hole. What I found changed how I think about every base layer I own — and exposed some things about merino wool that most brands would rather you didn't know (like the chlorine gas bath your "naturally soft" shirt probably went through).
In this video, I dig into the science of alpaca fiber — the semi-hollow core that regulates temperature in both directions, the natural UV resistance that beats merino by 10-20%, and why it can be worn for days without smelling. I also share the story behind Arms of Andes, a brand built by two siblings whose family roots trace back to the high Andes communities where these animals have thrived for millennia.
This isn't a brand that found a trend. It's a brand that grew out of a place.
If you've ever wondered why your synthetic base layer reeks after one hike, why your "wool" shirt felted in the wash, or why nobody in the outdoor space is talking about the one fiber that might do it all better — this one's for you.
🦙 Check out Arms of Andes: https://armsofandes.com/