With AirWool, Henri-Lloyd is launching a unisex collection made from merino wool, designed primarily as a warm mid-layer to be worn under oilskins. At the heart of the concept is the AirWool technology developed by the Norwegian woollen clothing manufacturer Janus. It combines merino wool with a specially knitted, three-dimensional structure: on the inside, a brushed knit forms small air pockets. This trapped air provides insulation without the layer being bulky.
The open-knit construction is designed to wick away excess heat and moisture to the outside. It is the interplay between the fibre and the construction that is key: merino naturally regulates temperature and moisture; the knitted, brushed-on-the-inside structure creates an air pocket that traps heat close to the body. AirWool is therefore designed for the typical situation between active movement and rest periods, when an additional layer of insulation is required that is not too bulky.
The AirWool range includes a hoodie, a half-zip and a waistcoat. According to the manufacturer, the items are available in black and navy/black, and in the combined sizes XS/S and M/L. Under a Sailing jacket for cool and windy days The range is designed to provide extra warmth without unnecessarily restricting freedom of movement or the layering principle on board.
Merino 160: T-shirts that bridge the gap between base layers and casual wear
The second new addition is called Merino 160. Henri-Lloyd uses merino wool with a weight of 160 grams per square metre for this range and offers the shirts with short or long sleeves for men and women. The range is designed to bridge the gap between close-fitting functional underwear and classic leisurewear: light enough for active days on board, but deliberately designed so that it can also be worn in port or whilst travelling.
Merino wool can absorb moisture without immediately feeling damp, and generally takes longer to absorb odours than many pure synthetic fibres. This makes such a shirt particularly useful on multi-day sailing trips, when you don’t want to change it after every use. Whether merino is the better choice, however, depends on the temperature, the level of physical exertion and your personal sensitivity to heat. In a YACHT review of thermal underwear Merino really came into its own, particularly in cold conditions and when worn for long periods; for very strenuous activities, lightweight synthetic base layers remain a good alternative.
In both collections, Henri-Lloyd emphasises the natural fibre’s temperature-regulating, moisture-wicking and odour-inhibiting properties. According to Manufacturer's information Already available online and in shops. For sailors, AirWool is particularly useful as an extra layer of warmth worn under technical outerwear; Merino 160 is aimed more at the range between on-board clothing and casual wear.
Prices and sizes
The AirWool models are available in black and navy/black, as well as in the combined sizes XS/S and M/L. The Hoody costs 160 British pounds, which Half-zip 150 pounds and the Vest 125 pounds. That is equivalent to approximately 187, 175 and 146 euros respectively, including VAT.
The Merino 160 T-shirts are available for women and men in short sleeves or long sleeves. Henri-Lloyd currently quotes 65 pounds for the short-sleeved shirt and 75 pounds for the long-sleeved shirt. This equates to approximately 76 and 88 euros respectively, including VAT. The manufacturer does not currently provide a recommended retail price in euros for the German market.
What has been your experience of using merino as a base or mid-layer when sailing – and in which situations do you still prefer synthetics?