In Praise of Secondhand Cashmere
My standby camp sweater at Fort Flagler State Park when we rode around the Olympic Peninsula.
I am really big fan of wool for travel and outdoor stuff, and especially cashmere. I am also a REALLY big fan of not spending a lot of money. I am here to prosthelytize about the merits of secondhand cashmere and why you should wear it on your next trip or ride. Wool is an amazing fiber: it’s breathable, naturally antimicrobial, and moisture-wicking. In a lot of cases it will repel water for longer, and dry more quickly than cotton or other natural fibers. I know that merino wool is extremely popular for travel and outdoor apparel since it is really fast-drying and lightweight. However, I have never found merino wool apparel in thrift stores. If you can find it, jump on it! I have never been so lucky.
However, I have on occasion, found cashmere sweaters at thrift stores and I always jump at the opportunity to snag one when I can. I have about four now, and if I am not wearing them while riding throughout the fall and winter, they are packed in my panniers on summer camping trips. They pack down fairly small for how warm and cozy they are — apparently cashmere is about eight times warmer than merino. What I am trying to say is that I wear these sweaters year-round because cashmere is so comfortable and breathable, and I don’t feel bad putting them through the abuse of camping trips and muddy rides because I got them secondhand and cheap!
I have taken really good care of my cashmere, so some of my sweaters are more than ten years old! Here are my care tips:
Wash as infrequently as possible, wool loses fibers and loft every time it’s washed so avoid it if you can! Wool is naturally antimicrobial, so unless it is muddy or really stinky, you shouldn’t need to wash it.
Wash your wool with baby shampoo or Woolite and a dash of vinegar (this neutralizes salts from sweat).
Mix the baby shampoo or Woolite into the water before adding garments — this goes for a washing machine or tub/sink when hand washing.
If using a washing machine, place the garments in a bag for delicates and/or use the delicate cycle.
If hand washing, do not stretch or pull on the garment, this will cause it to deform and it may never fit correctly again. Scrunch the garment to wash, rinse with clean water, and finally press as much water out as possible — do not twist or wring it!
Lay garments flat to dry and again, do not pull or twist on the garment!
On my way to Hawaii in a really weird and dorky outfit. Believe it or not I wore a cashmere sweater during nights in the Hawaiian jungle and was really comfortable!