Why We Don’t Use Merino Wool—And What Most Brands Won’t Say

If you’ve shopped for performance socks lately, you’ve seen the word “Merino” everywhere. It’s often sold as soft, moisture-wicking, breathable, and eco-friendly. But what most brands don’t talk about is the animal cruelty behind a lot of that wool.

It’s called mulesing—a painful practice where strips of skin are cut from a sheep’s hindquarters to prevent flystrike. It’s still legal, still widely used, and in many cases, done without anesthesia. For a brand like ours, that’s a hard no.

At MERGE4, we make high-performance socks built for athletes, artists, and everyday wear. We use engineered yarns that wick moisture, offer compression, hold shape, and feel amazing—all without wool. Our socks are made to last, and they’re made without compromising what we believe in.

Yes, there are “non-mulesed” wool options. But traceability is murky, and the marketing often outpaces the truth. Instead of walking that line, we decided to step away from it entirely.

We’re not trying to be the loudest sock brand. But we doing our best to be humane with the information we have. That means:

• No wool. No mulesing.

• Just quality socks that perform.

• Artists paid royalties for their work.

• Real support for causes like Boarding for Breast Cancer and Stanford’s Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital.

If you’re looking for sustainable sock alternatives to wool, or socks that do good without the marketing fluff, we’re here for it. MERGE4 is built on purpose.

It’s easy to look away from the hard parts of supply chains. But we think customers deserve more transparency—and more options that align with their values.