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Run Natural in Merino wool

Merino wool moves like nothing else. Light, soft, temperature-regulating.

It’s nature’s original performance fabric, one we’ve trusted from our earliest cold-weather runs. We wear it because it keeps us dry . We wear it because it keeps us warm. And when the temps flip and we overheat,

it cools us down too as Merino is naturally thermoregulating in both directions. We wear it because it keeps pace with the season. Certified by Woolmark.

Powered by nature. Tested by winter and by you. This is Merino. This is why it matters.

Built by nature. Backed by science.

The Merino wool fiber is 100% natural, biodegradable, and renewable. We partner with Woolmark to ensure that our wool-rich styles meet the highest standards of quality and performance, from the mountains it comes from, to the miles you spend in it.

Woolmark is a third-party certification that tests wool products for five core qualities: fibre content, durability, colourfastness to light and liquid, and laundering performance.

Woolmark is the global authority on Merino wool—a not-for-profit organization backed by over 60,000 Australian woolgrowers.

Their work supports the entire lifecycle of wool: from the growers who care for the sheep and land, to the scientists and designers pushing natural performance forward.

Merino wool adapts to the moment.

When your run takes you through changing elevations, shifting winds, or city corners that feel 10 degrees colder than the last, Merino keeps you stable.

That performance comes from Merino’s complex fibre structure: a naturally crimped, breathable, semi-coiled fiber that can trap warm air when needed or allow heat to escape when you’re pushing pace.

Its natural thermoregulation works like a second skin: trapping warmth when you’re cold, breathing when you heat up.

Sweat smart. Stay fresh.

Cold sweat is the enemy of enjoying winter activities

Merino pulls moisture away from your skin and releases it into the air, keeping your core dry and your layers from becoming a sauna.

Wool is naturally hydrophobic on the outside, and hygroscopic at its core.

Brass tacks, that means it resists external moisture while absorbing internal humidity like sweat. Even better? It fights odour naturally, so you can wash them less often without compromising performance. . Less funk. More freedom.

Performance, without the scratch.

Merino’s fibres are so fine they flex against the skin, bending instead of poking. To get technical: most performance Merino ranges from 17.5–19.5 microns, or ~70–80 Nm in yarn count. Finer than traditional wool, it feels comfortable and ultra soft next-to-skin unlike your scratchy ski socks.

It provides smooth comfort, even over long distances. This is why elite athletes reach for Merino from base layer to beanie.

It’s a feeling that gets better the more you move.

Translation: no itch, no chafe.

Because winter has layers. So should you.

When it’s below zero, we don’t retreat. We layer. When the trail gets slick, we don’t slow down. We adapt. When the sky goes grey, we still go out. We move with the season. We run with purpose. We wear Merino.

Because there’s a different kind of joy in running through winter. It’s not just the silence of a snowy trail or the visible proof of your breath. It’s knowing what’s next.

That the gear you’ve chosen is light, natural, technically superior and it was made to meet the season. Not to fight it.

Merino wool has always been a part of running’s history. It’s earned its place in its future.

Merino wool and Ciele Athletics.

and why we use it the way we do.

We don’t just use wool, our Merino gear is Woolmark-certified to guarantee the best quality wool garment. One of our core fabric families is Sorino™, a category of 100% natural technical fibres.

In Sorino | W products, it’s 100% Pure New Wool, like our TRBeanie, SKLBeanie, LGRBeanie, and CXBeanie, all made entirely from Merino wool. Soft, warm, and built to last. In others, we mix it. But never without reason.

In the Sorino | WS group, Merino meets silk. The VNTBeanie, ACBeanie, HLSBalaclavas, HLSNecktubes, and the FRDMask are certified as a Wool Rich Blend by Woolmark, ensuring lasting softness, warmth and durability. The same premium Merino-silk blend carries through to our HLSLongsleeve and HLSTShirt, built for comfort over distance.

Why silk?

Because while most brands blend Merino with synthetic yarns like nylon, we took another route. Silk strengthens the wool without compromising what we love about it.

It’s still soft. It’s still breathable. But with durability and luxury that’s hard to beat. And it’s still 100% natural. All of our Woolmark certified Merino and Merino-silk blend products are made in Europe. Premium factories. Thoughtful construction.

Because when we talk about natural performance, we mean it in every thread, every choice, every run.

photos by marc santos

words by sean hamilton

view our entire Woolmark collection→

Ciele Athletics