While companies like Gore-Tex and eVent are not playing around in terms of pure performance, the problem of forever plastics makes it hard to get behind purely synthetic materials. Fortunately, several small companies from Montana, Colorado, North Carolina, and yes - even merry olde England - have created versatile mid layers that are perfect for everything from hitting the slopes to hiking with your kids to traveling across the globe. Let's look at several of the best options that have recently hit the market, and one enduring classic. 

Voormi High-E Hoodie

Compared to some of the new kids on the block (forgive the intentional 90s pop music reference), the High-E Hoodie from Voormi is the kindly uncle of midlayers on this list. Wolf Creek gets more snow than anywhere else in wintry Colorado, and so when a group in nearby Pagosa Springs decided to band together and shake up the outdoor apparel industry, they knew their garments needed to be bomb-proof. Voormi was also inspired by a trip farther from home: a 21-day sufferfest in the wilds of Alaska.

Uniting an expedition guide, a former tech executive, and a veteran textile designer, Voormi spent three years formulating new fabric technology that would check three boxes. First, utilizing the superpowers of Colorado wool to deliver both warmth and ventilation. Second, providing US-based manufacturing in mountain towns. Third, promoting a “buy it well and buy it once” philosophy centered on building a small quiver of essential, durable pieces rather than a walk-in wardrobe stuffed with disposable items. The company launched with one of these: the High-E Hoodie. Its surface-hardened outer layer is much more hardwearing than regular wool and repels moisture, while a snorkel zip can replace your neck gaiter.

Duckworth Sawtooth Shirt

First off, this ain’t your grandpa’s favorite flannel. But similar to the durable piece that Pops probably kept for a couple of decades, it is rugged, versatile, and a no-brainer selection when the mercury starts dropping. Like Voormi, Duckworth was born from a desire to bring clothing manufacturing back to the USA, and to use domestically sourced wool to do so. The main differentiator for Duckworth is that the family behind the brand actually owns the ranch and the resilient high-altitude merino sheep that roam it, enabling them to deliver what they call a Sheep to Shelf supply chain.

By raising and shearing their own wool in Southwestern Montana, the fourth-generation sheep ranchers that comprise the Helle family ensure that only the highest grade product gets the Duckworth seal of approval. The extreme conditions of the Northern Rockies have forced these particular sheep to coat themselves in a wool that isn’t merely soft and plush, but also very hardy. This makes the Sawtooth shirt naturally snow and rain repellant. At just 11 ounces, it punches above its weight as an insulating layer, and the slim fit is just fine for date night or shoveling whatever powder Old Man Winter just dumped on your driveway.

Kora Xenolith Mountain Sweater 2.0

So far, we’ve focused on two pieces that utilize merino wool. But this isn’t the only natural fabric well suited to a wide range of weather conditions. Yaks typically graze on sub-alpine slopes that are covered in snow for up to half the year. These shaggy beasts provide milk and meat for the peoples of the Himalayan Plateau who, like the Native Americans and the buffalo, also use the fur for clothing. The crafty folks at Kora – which is based in the UK – figured out how to harness the lofty, warming wool into a fabric suitable for everyday wear in the rest of the world.

The Xenolith Mountain Sweater 2.0 is just as soft as Duckworth's stellar Maverick wool, which is saying something. It's a little toasty for a sunny fall adventure sometimes but makes a perfect midlayer when the temperature starts to sink. The weight-to-warmth ratio is crazy – no wonder yaks stay warm in winter despite being at such high elevation. What even these formidable beasts don’t have at their disposal is the addition of merino wool and also a layer of Polartec Alpha for added insulation. Having this next to the skin also provides extra wicking capabilities that transport sweat out and away to prevent you from chilling if you’re cross-country skiing, running, or doing some other high-output activity.

Appalachian Gear Company 8020 Long Sleeve Tee

Now we’ve got you used to the concept of a yak wool midlayer, let’s go even further away from the mainstream. There’s little doubt that videos of baby alpacas make anyone with a soul want to hug this fluffy creature that looks like a kid’s plush toy that has come to life. But have you ever thought about wearing their wool? With 45 years of experience in the textile industry, Mike Hawkins and John Gage did just that when experimenting with different natural fibers. The result is Appalachian Gear Company, which has rallied around the flag of crafting outdoor-ready clothing from alpaca wool.

OK, the 8020 Long Sleeve Tee is, as its name suggests, technically a baselayer. But in reality, it is so gosh darn toasty that it’s arguably better suited as a middle piece between a t-shirt and shell or puffy. Like Duckworth and Voormi, Appalachian Gear Company is committed to making its wares solely in the USA, though with the unique twist of sourcing wool from small alpaca farms in Peru. As the fibers are hollow, they ventilate very well compared to wool and yak, with the addition of 20 percent Tencel keeping you cool when the sun breaks through. If you want to go all in on alpaca gear, the company’s All-Paca Fleece Hoodie adds even more warmth and will protect your head too.