Hi, Thanks for taking interest.

Generally wool production has good ethics amongst its farmers but Merino wool particularly has more negative impact on the sheep. The Merino sheep is very wrinkly thus it has more skin coverage than your regular sheep, more skin coverage means more wool per sheep and they are bred with an unnatural overload of wool. This in turn causes more fly infestation that your regular sheep of which can only be controlled by cutting the sheep's skin/flesh off the lambs rear . Now depending on the farmer will depend on how its done,like a factory they can be tied up on racks and painfully cut which will cause pain and discomfort for weeks.There are other methods available such as fly traps, chemical sprays and management of grazing but its just a lot easier to cut the sheeps skin off.
Other problems though not specific to Merino sheep , is the quantity they are sheared at. Shearers are usually paid by quantity thus the more you shear the more you get paid which in turn means a lot more mistakes are made in a rush to shear and more sheep will suffer deep cuts etc.

I would rather pay extra knowing that my wool has came from an ethical sheep farmer who takes more care in their animal welfare. Thats obviously my choice and its the same with other animal produce I buy , the same as its the choice of others who dont care how the animals are treated as long as its cheap they will buy it.

Can you live with the guilt of leaving a sheep half shorn due to your protest though?

Was tempted until I saw they were lined with Merino, I cant see any info on Sealskinz ethical sourcing the wool.

They also have road socks from £9.72 & MTB from £5.40

Large and xtra large now gone up so be quick on other sizes ..good find;)

It means you are ignorant and dont know how Merino are farmed.

That would be funny if it wasnt for the poor sheep that suffers instead.Im all for using wool if its ethical and the majority of Merino isnt.

Keep your wool on ...


20 second google ... Sealskinz’s Ethical Policy - We asked Sealskinz about their ethics. Where is their product made, how did they ensure good practice in the workplace and in sourcing materials, that sort of thing. Here’s their statement;

“SealSkinz knitted socks and gloves are made and assembled in the UK.

To ensure good employment practice in the workplace, SealSkinz operate to ISO 9001 and to ensure these materials are responsibly sources they are OEKO-TEX and REACH compliant.”

http://product-reviews.trekandrun.com/2013/11/03/sealskinz-mid-weight-mid-length-socks-thermal-liner-socks-a-waterproof-beanie-and-ultra-grip-gloves/

Thanks for trying but that is totally unrelated.
All they are basically saying is that its assembled in the UK and that its chemical compliant with regulations.
Nothing about where they actually source the Merino wool.
Its a big thing these days to be ethical when it comes to animal welfare and all the major companies usually put an ethics page on their web as to how and where there products are sourced yet Sealskinz dont from what I can see.

Would these be good for golfers? Hubby always complaining his waterproof golf shoes don't work! Any ideas on sizing? He is a size 9. Thank You