FAQs

At Happy Yak, we believe in delivering unparalleled comfort while caring for the environment, and yak wool allows us to do just that. Unlike merino wool, yak wool possesses exceptional thermal properties that provide superior insulation in colder climates, keeping you warm and cozy on the coldest of days. But that's not all – yak wool is also naturally hypoallergenic and gentle on sensitive skin, ensuring a blissful, irritation-free experience for our valued customers.

Not only do our yak wool products benefit our customers, but they also leave a lighter footprint on the planet. The process of obtaining yak wool is more sustainable and environmentally friendly compared to conventional merino wool production. Yaks, native to the high-altitude regions of the Himalayas and Central Asia, have adapted to survive in extreme conditions with minimal impact on their surroundings. They require no extra feed and graze on natural vegetation, significantly reducing their carbon footprint. Additionally, our commitment to ethical sourcing ensures that the yak wool is collected responsibly, supporting local communities and promoting fair trade practices

• Yak is 44% warmer per weight than merino wool.
• Yak has 66% better moisture wicking than sheep wool.
• Naturally odor resistant = wear them for days
• Sustainable and not factory farmed. Our yak cashmere is hand-gathered once a year by nomadic herders.
• Yak is hypo-allergenic and not itchy. Allergic to wool? You will love yak.
• Yak is soft as cashmere. With a fiber diameter of 14-17 microns.

You heard that right -- 100% genuine Mongolian yak cashmere. Absolutely no knockoffs. No imitations. No substitutions. People sometimes refer to it as yak wool but that’s not completely accurate. True yak cashmere is actually the fine wool that grows closer to the yak’s body, but we don't mind if you call it yak wool. Check out this other site if you'd like to learn more about the difference between yak wool and cashmere.

The most super obvious way is the luxurious softness that merino can't even compare to. If that wasn't proof enough, the performance and comfort properties of yak cashmere dominate merino wool hands down. We might be partial though. We'll let the science speak for us. 

• It adjusts better to high heat and humidity and can be comfortable in literally any climate.
• Naturally hollow fibers allows it to capture and retain 40% more warmth than merino.
• Yak cashmere’s superior heat properties allow the socks to be lighter weight.
• By weight, yak cashmere is 7 – 8x warmer than merino which means you're getting more heat out of lighter weight garments. That's science, not witchcraft.
• 30% greater breathability means better heat regulation during any type of activity.
• Better moisture wicking capabilities means faster drying and no damp swamp foot.
• Natural UV protection.
• Anti-microbial and odor resistant which means no stank unlike synthetic fibers and cotton.
• Naturally water resistant means that less chance that splash in a puddle or spilled iced coffee will soak those precious tootsies.
• Naturally smooth fibers when viewed under a microscope as opposed to the jagged merino wool fiber. This means a softer fabric with less chemical treatment to soften.
• Naturally dye-free. Yak cashmere comes in a variety of shades of brown, gray, black and white but it can be dyed other colors.
• Naturally resists wrinkling and static.

No. Not even a little bit. Yaks are 2000 lbs worth of lumbering toughness built for some of the most rugged landscapes on the planet. Merino sheep are much smaller and more frail. Check out more about yaks here.

Yaks obviously, but we assume you mean what part of the world? Our yaks don’t have any frequent flyer miles so they tend to be homebodies and stay in Mongolia. Yak cashmere is only available from a few select places on the planet like Mongolia, Tibet and Nepal. These regions are perfectly suited to the yak. They live at a much higher altitudes ranging from 8,000 feet – 18,000 feet. The temperatures there can get as cold as -50° Fahrenheit in the winter and as high as 104° Fahrenheit in the summer.  

Compare that to merino sheep. They can be found in many regions of the world but most commercial merino world comes from Australia and New Zealand at around 3,000 feet. The temperatures there only get down to only -4° Fahrenheit.  

We ask really nicely. When that doesn't work, we comb rather than clip. The process is more involved and takes longer, but it is significantly less stressful and painful. This means our yaks are back out in the open steppes grazing no worse for wear.

On the other hand, merino sheep wool is harvested in an industrialized, assembly-line fashion of sheep shearing which creates a mentality of speed with less regard for animal welfare. This leads to an alarming amount of stress, injury and sometimes death of the sheep.

You try growing your hair out on demand. It’s hard. We’ve tried.

We let the yaks grow their coats naturally, without our interference which produces finer, softer fibers. We gather the yak cashmere to coincide with their natural molting cycles. Because a yak is combed rather than sheared, the yield is lower. No way are we shearing a yak. It doesn’t like it.

Yak cashmere is only available at select times during the year. Once it's gone for the year, it's gone until the next season! Nature doesn't follow any of our schedules nor does it really care about our fashion needs. We're happy to work in balance with the natural cycle of things.

One of the things we stand for is respect for the land. Natural yak habitats are very fragile and we support living in balance with what the land can properly sustain. Because of this, we don't want to encourage an over-burdened level of farming to the environment. It's harmful to the land, the people, the animals and in the end you because you get a sub-par product.  

Unlike merino, yak herders keep yaks in the family for the whole life of the yak. They use it for milk, work, fuel, clothing, transport and when it finally passes, for food.