Synthetics are a petroleum based fiber, whereas wool is a natural, renewable resource.
Isn't it a little bit unreasonable to assume that someone who farms wool for a living would care so little for his animals that he would treat them inhumanely? The type of Merinos used for production of modern Ultrafine Merino wool products are very expensive, very 'specific', specialised animals that need to be cared for. They're in no way a commerical consumable. These factors are reflected in the high sticker price of these products.

It's ludacrous to assume that all animals whose byproducts we utilise are 'bad' simply because they are animal based - especially considering the alternatives such as oil based synthetics, or water and pesticide sucking commercial cotton.

Also, Deaflamb, can you explain to us how you're 20, but have been a vegetarian since you were 4? Did you just have an aversion to animal products from birth, or was it more of a 'parental indoctrination' thing?


On-topic now - I use Sidi shoes with the Lorica stuff. They fit well and don't look like clown shoes, which is why I bought them. Many cycling shoes are not leather these days. If you're an ideologist, you could see this as a good thing. If you're a pragmatist, you could see this as almost irrelevant depending on your view of our current dependance on oil, and the human cost of that. ( see Iraq et al ).

Anyway, it's cool that you're at least thinking about these things, Deaflamb. Many people don't.