They are not the same and don’t provide the same benefits.
Shearling is organic while Sherpa is man-made. Shearling is a tanned hide from a sheep turned inside out, so that the smooth tanned leather is on the outside and the sheared wool is on the inside. Sherpa is a man-made material, polyester, that is glued inside another material which can be leather, suede or vinyl etc.
While both shearling and sherpa bring added warmth to a garment that’s where the similarities end.
Sherpa will help trap warmth but does not breathe so a person is likely to become much more hot in a Sherpa lined jacket or coat, possibly even to the point of overheating and having to unzip or remove it. In addition to trapping warmth the Sherpa will also trap odors, so if you sweat in it it will pick up the smell and become unpleasant and will need to be cleaned or deodorized. Lastly, Sherpa is also not moisture wicking so as you begin to heat up, if you begin to sweat it will become damp inside and uncomfortable. Sherpa is significantly less expensive than shearling but the drawbacks don’t outweigh the cost savings.
Sherpa looks nothing like real shearling
Shearling, while much more expensive than Sherpa, not only traps in warmth maintaining your body heat, but it’s breathable, moisture wicking and naturally antimicrobial. Because shearling is breathable you will be able to maintain your body heat without overheating. And because it’s moisture wicking it will pull any sweat away from your skin. And to top it all off, because real shearling is naturally antimicrobial it will never pick up any smells or body odor. Real shearling costs significantly more than Sherpa but from a cost benefit perspective it’s absolutely worth it.
Real shearling
And don’t think shearling is just for coats or other outerwear. The best slippers you can buy are fully lined inside - bottom, sides and under the tongue with shearling. They’ll keep your feet at the perfect comfortable temperature, wick away moisture keeping your feet dry and they will never smell.
Right on the money, David! Not only does shearling offer all the features you've covered, but it outlasts other materials in tough use, too. I've worn shearling-lined bison slippers for years and years. They've worn like iron inside and out. It's worth mentioning that bison leather on the outside is also essential to their long life. Bison is the toughest leather available. If the outsides were made out of anything else, I'd be walking around in "shearling only" wrapped around my feet. That material combination isn't cheap. A pair of LL Bean shearling-lined bison slippers, for instance, sells for $119. In the long run, though, they cost less than "super cheapie" slippers that need to be replaced every y…