Merino Wool for Better Sleep

By Ridge Merino

Merino Wool for Better Sleep

Pictured: a skier gets cozy in a bunk bed in a backcountry yurt wearing an Aspect base layer shirt, Hyde Joggers and a Layton Beanie.

Can't sleep? Look to the sheep. 

Sleep in Merino wool to wake up less often

Did you know that Merino wool can lead to a better night's sleep? It's true. Waking up in the middle of the night — aka "sleep disturbance" — is no fun. According to results from a sleep research study in 2019, wool sleepwear led to better sleep on average for study participants (all 50-70 years old).

As the results state, "In older adults with no health concerns, sleep disturbances are often linked to the thermal environment that is vital for sleep maintenance."

Natural fibers like Merino wool and cotton can absorb and transfer moisture (what we call moisture wicking), which leads to better body temperature regulation, which leads to better sleep. In this study, wool outperformed both cotton and polyester sleepwear for multiple sleep parameters.
"In a quest to find the most comfortable and functional wool pants my wife and I opted to try the Hyde Merino Joggers. We immediately donned them as soon as they arrived and actually slept in them that night, proving they not only regulated body temperature but were like sleeping on a soft cloud. As a result, I donated three pairs of sweatpants, saved a ton of space in my travel packing, and slept like a baby while wearing them."

- Matt, Hyde Joggers
a man lying in a bed in a backcountry yurt in Merino wool base layers as sleep clothes
Settling in for bed in a backcountry yurt wearing Ridge Merino base layers and socks.

Fall asleep faster with Merino wool

In the above study, it was also found that the participants 65 and older fell asleep within 12 minutes on average in wool, compared to 22 minutes for polyester or 27 minutes for cotton.

Another study from 2016 looked at the effects of sleepwear fabric on 17 healthy young participants. "Sleep onset latency" is the scientific phrase for how long it takes to fall asleep.

"Sleep onset latency was significantly shortened when sleeping in wool with trends of increased total sleep time and sleep efficiency compared to cotton sleepwear."

Participants fell asleep faster and had deeper sleep when sleeping in wool compared to cotton at lower temperatures (62.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

This should come as no surprise, as Merino wool's inherit qualities make it the ideal sleepwear for improved slumber. Merino wool naturally offers unique temperature and moisture management and is a soft, smooth fabric perfect for a cozy night of sleep.

A more recent 2024 review in the Journal of Sleep Research looked at existing research on sleepwear and sleep quality. Wool came out on top (compared to cotton and polyester) as the most consistently beneficial for sleep, particularly for older adults and people who struggle with poor sleep. Cotton and polyester showed no meaningful difference from each other in the one study that compared them directly.

a woman wearing a black Canopy Tee and pink Merino boy shorts
A super soft sleep pairing: a Canopy Tee with boy shorts.

Keep your skin comfortable and happy sleeping in Merino wool

Trying to sleep in scratchy clothing or fabrics that irritate your skin is a sure way to have a bad night. All of our Merino clothing is made with superfine, soft Merino, but our new Canopy Collection takes soft to a whole new level.

The next time you're having trouble nodding off, consider wearing garments made from sheep instead of just counting them.
"We can also say that these shone in the sleep test—we felt like we were wearing a pair of fancy pajamas."

- Outside Magazine, Inversion Base Layer Bottoms

Our Merino Wool Sleepwear Picks


a man and a woman drinking coffee together in their underwear on a porch
Having coffee in Ridge Merino underwear - a bralette and boy shorts for her and boxer briefs and a Journey tee for him.

1 comment

  • Michelle Henry on

    What a surprising find! Thanks for sharing this post. Sounds like the perfect sleepwear.

    Michelle
    www.betterbedsolutions.com

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