FAQ

What are the two lines?

Naturals is cotton, wool and lyocell — no polyester, no nylon, no elastane in the fabric. Performance is built for the days the terrain decides how hard it gets; where a piece there uses a synthetic, its product page names it to the percent. That's the standard across the store: exact composition, stated plainly, on every product page.

What is lyocell?

Fair question, and the honest answer has a wrinkle in it. Lyocell is made from wood pulp dissolved in a solvent and spun into fiber, in a closed loop that recovers about 99% of the solvent. It comes from a plant, but it is manufactured — under US labeling rules it is not a “natural” fiber, and we will never call it one. We pair it with merino because merino handles temperature and refuses to hold odor, while lyocell handles moisture and brings the wet strength merino lacks on its own. Together they do most of what polyester does.

Can I race in this stuff?

People do, and plenty always have. Cotton holds water, so over a long day it will feel heavier than a synthetic would — that is the trade. For a short race in decent weather it is a non-issue. For a hundred, you know your own skin better than I do. The merino and lyocell line is being built for that end of it, and the honest timeline is "when it is actually good."

Why does shipping take longer than Amazon?

Production takes 2–5 business days before shipping. We’d rather quote an honest lead time than promise overnight and miss.

What if the fit is wrong?

Check the fit and sizing notes on each product first — our garment-dyed cotton runs relaxed, so size down if you want a standard fit and stay true to size if you want it roomy. If you are between sizes or unsure, email info@headwindsco.com before you order and I will tell you straight rather than sell you the wrong size. If it is still wrong when it arrives, the returns policy is linked in the footer and we are not going to make it weird.

When does the merino/lyocell line launch?

When it survives a real 50-miler on the founder’s own skin without chafing. The first sample is commissioned. Nothing gets sold until it has survived real mountain days on the founder’s own skin. The full status, including what we still don’t know, is on The Merino Line. The Grind List gets every update, every failure, and first access.