If it were possible, I'd wear wool products 365 days a year. WS AXIO LITE TEE

Tomoko Fukutaki, a mother of one who loves mountains, rivers, the sea, snow, and everything in between, and an outdoor writer active in outdoor and winter activity magazines, shared her recommended items for this summer.

Raise your hand if you're so in love with the comfort of wool, a gift from sheep, that you want to wear it all year round! I'm sure there are actually quite a few people who want to wear wool for underwear, socks, T-shirts, and other items not just in the field, but in everyday life as well.

Wool, represented by Merino wool, a staple in outdoor activities, is known for its soft texture, ability to maintain a comfortable level of moisture on the skin, and its natural antibacterial properties make it resistant to odors. It's also a magical material that keeps you warm even when wet, and prevents a sudden drop in body temperature due to evaporative cooling, helping to prevent chills from sweating in cold climates.

This is a must-have item, especially for women who are sensitive to the cold.

"If it were possible, I would wear wool products 365 days a year."

However, for most people, including myself, this is not possible. Wool is an expensive item, so expensive that it would cost you two synthetic shirts, and because it is made from natural materials, it is a very delicate product. I think it has become a treasured item to wear in the field for "crucial occasions" such as long-distance hiking, river climbing, backcountry, etc.

Good news for wool lovers: TB's "Axio" material, which was released in 2020.

This Axio is amazing!

Axio is a type of yarn called "twisted yarn" that was jointly developed by Nikke Fabric, a company headquartered in Bishu, a textile production area stretching from the western part of Aichi Prefecture to parts of Gifu Prefecture, and TB.

It literally means "threads twisted together," but thanks to the technical skills of Oshu craftsmen, "polyester filaments (ultra-fine fibers) are run in a spiral inside the wool fibers," making it such an innovative material that at first glance it's hard to imagine how this can be achieved.

Nikke Fabric and TB took on the development with the common goal of "creating the most functional hybrid wool in the world."

So what if Axio became wearable?

I'll explain it in bullet points to make it easier to understand. There are some parts that are a little difficult, but please follow along!

① Because the polyester is not exposed on the surface of the yarn, the feel and texture of wool remain intact.

2) Because the surface of the yarn is smooth and uneven, it is less likely to pill when rubbed than conventional 100% wool fabrics. In a test using a special machine, the 100% wool fabric broke after 6,000 rubs, while Axio showed visible changes after 12,000 rubs and the thread broke after more than 20,000 rubs.

3) In tests to evaluate the strength of the fabric to break when pulled, the placement of synthetic filaments inside the yarn significantly increased durability, making the fabric more than twice as strong as a 100% wool product.

④ Some polyester fibers use a type of "irregular cross section" that has grooves in the thread itself, giving it outstanding moisture absorption and release properties. It quickly evaporates absorbed sweat, allowing the fabric to dry in a short time. It dries faster than 100% wool products and also has a cooling function.

Up until now, many wool x synthetic hybrid materials have been released by various brands in various ways. For example, there are fabrics that use different wool and synthetic fibers on the inner and outer surfaces of the fabric, fabrics that use wool and synthetic fibers on the warp and weft of the fabric, and fabrics that have synthetic fibers wrapped around the "outside" of wool fiber bundles. All of these have been created with the sole aim of combining the best of both wool and synthetic fibers.

Its latest material, Axio, can be said to be a masterpiece born from the craftsmanship of Oshu, one of the world's leading wool producing regions.

I've actually been wearing it every day for the past week (without washing it, as it was a test run), and it's soft, slightly moist, and doesn't smell. Also, in high-intensity activities like running, where wool can't absorb sweat as well as it should, the synthetic fibers inside the wool really shine, and it dries in no time.

Above all, it's relaxing because you don't have to feel like you have to take good care of wool products when wearing them in your daily life! (laughs)

This is useful. You might want to wear it in the ocean when you're sea kayaking or SUP, where you tend to get wet and cold.
I wish there were long sleeves too.

Personally, compared to the creamy smoothness of Merino wool fabrics, I felt a slight stiffness when I first got it. However, this only felt when I was concentrating on the fabric, and I completely forgot about it when I was out in the field, running, cooking, taking care of my kids, watching a movie, or getting drunk. That's about it. It went away after a few washes.

Now, with the arrival of Axio, it may be possible to fulfill your desire to wear wool 365 days a year.

I hope they release a silhouette that can be worn not only for activities but also for everyday use. This material is surely suitable for hiking socks. No matter how carefully you wear wool hiking socks, the heels tend to wear out, so I have high hopes for Axio!