Paka Alpaca Fiber Apparel 2024 Gift Guide

by Brian Mullin on November 25, 2024

paka_sale_1

PAKA – Black Friday/ Cyber Monday Sale
Dates: 11/1 – 11/26
Sale Details: Buy Any Sweater, Get a Free Pair of Crew Socks

paka_hoodie_down

Sol Hoodie

This year, PAKA launched its first-ever alpaca fiber sun hoodie, the Sol Hoodie. The Hoodie provides sun protection while utilizing alpaca’s natural breathability, odor resistance, and temperature regulation.

Made of an alpaca fiber blend, the Sol Hoodie boasts a natural UPF rating of 30+, antibacterial properties, adaptable thermoregulation, and moisture resistance (only retains less than 10%): all owed to alpacas’ evolution in the highly fluctuating alpine environment of the Andes. Built for performance, the Sol Hoodie makes the perfect companion for playing in the mountains. At an airy fabric weight of 181 gsm, the Sol Hoodie will keep you warm and maintain breathability through alpaca fibers’ hollow medullated air pockets.

The Sol Hoodie is made from royal alpaca fiber, the thinnest designation of alpaca fiber at only 17-19 microns, with a softness comparable to cashmere. Each Hoodie features a handwoven Inca ID crafted by women artisans employed at 4x a living wage in Peru. The Hoodie also features a crossover, hat-compatible hood, and thumbholes for optimal sun protection.

paka_hoodie_up

Impressions

The Sol Hoodie is uber soft and provides oodles of sun protection. The long sleeves, Hoodie, and material offer the ultimate UPF protection from the sun’s dangerous rays, especially at high altitudes. The alpaca fiber offers excellent thermoregulation properties, low water retention, breathability, and no stink. It’s like wearing your comfy pair of pajamas; you have live-in character right from the first time you put it on. It’s stretchy and wears well, perfect for bouldering, hiking, biking, hanging out for concerts, at campsites, etc.

The Sol Hoodie is available for $95 in Men’s Camu (Rust) and Supernova (Silver) and Women’s Guava (Blush Pink) and Supernova (Silver).

  • Weight: 260g / 9.17oz
  • Yarn: 67% Tencel, 14% Royal Alpaca, 14% Nylon, 5% Spandex
  • Fit: Regular/Relaxed fit

Click here to buy the Men’s Sol Hoodie

Click here to buy the Women’s Sol Hoodie

paka_sweater

The Original Crew

It can be hard to know what layers to pack for a trip when the nights are cool, the days are warm, and you never know when you’ll get blasted by air-conditioning. Enter the Paka sweater dubbed The Crew. This layer is a great way to keep cozy on any summer excursion, whether you’re enjoying crisp evenings at the beach or a hike that calls for an added layer just in case the temperature starts to drop. This super soft and relaxed fit piece is made from 65% alpaca wool and 35% recycled nylon, providing the perfect blend of warmth and stretch. The Crew wicks like a champ and can be used as the top layer on a milder day or a midlayer on a chilly day.

Impressions

The Original Crew sweater is soft, comfortable, and warm. It’s thick enough to provide warmth during chillier temps but not overly bulky, so it’s perfect for wearing around the house in the cusp seasons or outside on cooler summer evenings. The Crew is decently light, has a long cut, and the weave offers some wind protection. It feels lovely against the skin and reminds me of a friendly, old, well-loved sweater. It looks good, and the alpaca fiber offers excellent thermoregulation properties, low water retention, breathability, and no stink. The Original Crew is perfect for camping, hiking, evening concerts, and whenever you want extra warmth and comfort.

  • Colors – Sky Blue, Light Grey, Eucalyptus, Charcoal, Navy
  • Sizes – XXS-XXL
  • Natural OEKO-TEX-certified dye
  • Raglan sleeves for a full range of motion
  • Stretch side-panels
  • Materials: 65% Royal Alpaca Fiber / 35% Recycled Nylon
  • Fit: Regular/Relaxed fit
  • MSRP – $139

Click here to buy The Original Crew

paka_qr_main

Trail 1/4 Crew Socks

PAKA’s first ankle-height ¼ Crew Sock is made from Alpaca Fiber. Paka takes these inherent fiber features to the next level with intelligent design. The Trail ¼ Crew Sock has a snug rib-knit design to avoid shifting and friction, a breathable mesh on the top to promote breathability and cooling, and compressive arch support. It has targeted cushioning on the top of the toe and back of the heel, which prevents blisters and improves comfort.

paka_qr_top

Alpaca fiber offers excellent thermoregulation properties. It evolved in the Andes Mountains, where temperatures can shift by 70°F in a single day. They are as light as clouds due to the medullated air pockets, making alpaca fiber 3x lighter than sheep wool.

Alpaca fiber is a performance powerhouse: naturally odor-resistant, moisture-wicking, and thermoregulating. Alpaca’s impressively low moisture retention rate of 8% (typical wool compares at an average of 18%) helps to keep feet dry and comfortable. It avoids the moisture and friction buildup that can lead to blisters. Alpaca fibers also contain a keratin protein with natural antibacterial properties, making it incredibly difficult to make these socks smell.

paka_qr_shoe

The ¼ Crew Socks are great for biking, hiking, running, etc., where they can withstand the intense usage of vigorous outdoor activities.

paka_qr_flat

Impressions

I used the Trail ¼ Crew Socks for various outdoor activities, primarily hiking, biking, and occasionally slumming around at the house. The socks are uber comfy, with enough padding and support without feeling overly thick. The Alpaca fiber offers excellent thermoregulation properties, breathability, and no stink. They are comfortable and dry quickly, even wet, with minimal water retention. They provide all-day comfort without sloppiness, and the heel and toe protection prevents hotspots.

The Trail ¼ Crew Socks, with its Aplcaca fiber and features, offer performance, softness, comfort, and versatility to keep up with you on and off any trail.

Features:

  • Colors – Black, Walnut, Charcoal, and Forage.
  • Performance 1/4 Crew Sock – $24.
  • Rib knit on the calf to prevent scrunching.
  • The ribbed cushion on the sole prevents sliding within the shoe.
  • Mobility mesh where the foot meets the ankle.
  • Ribbed arch support.
  • Materials: 33% Alpaca Fiber, 7% TENCEL, 57% Nylon, 3% Spandex.

Click here to buy the Trail ¼ Crew Sock.

paka_sock_bare

Trail 3/4 Socks

The Trail ¾ Crew Socks highlight their latest innovation with natural fiber. They incorporate the finest alpaca yarn diameter they’ve ever used to create an ultra-soft, highly durable multisport sock. The Trail¾ Crew Sock is built with a snug rib-knit design to avoid shifting and friction, a breathable mesh on the top to promote ventilation, compressive arch support, and strategic padding for high-impact zones.

paka_sock_shoe

The Trail ¾ Crew Sock is available for $24 in Black, Charcoal Blue, Walnut, Quail, and Forage colors.

Click here to buy the Trail 3/4 Crew Sock.

paka_trail_crew_multi

Trail Crew Socks

They also have the new Trail Crew Socks! Made with the same fiber composition as the Trail 3/4 Socks, the Trail now comes in a traditional Crew height with targeted cushion for long days on your feet.

Click here to buy the Trail Crew Sock.

paka_the_hoodie_multi

The Hoodie

PAKA’s Best-Selling Alpaca Pullover

The sweater that kickstarted it all. Our best-selling hoodie was sourced from Puno’s outskirts, dyed in the mountains of Arequipa, and hand-signed by the woman artisan who wove it in Cusco. Made with a blend of royal alpaca fiber (the softest and highest-quality alpaca fiber) and nylon, the Hoodie is a cozy, durable layer designed for outdoor pursuits. Alpaca fiber is naturally thermoregulating, antibacterial, quick-drying, and 3x lighter than merino wool, meaning it’ll stay dry and breathable all day. The Hoodie’s flexible knitting on the sides and hood allows for ease of movement.

Made start to finish in Peru.

  • Extra cozy, soft, and durable
  • Flexible knitting on both sides + hood
  • Natural comfort in all climates
  • Our unisex best-seller
  • Material – 65% Royal Alpaca Fiber / 35% Recycled Nylon
  • Fit & Feel – Casual / Functional

Click here to buy The Hoodie

{ 0 comments… add one now }

Leave a Comment

Previous post: