thanks for the input.

Yeti, I find, with my foot shape, I have to buy one size up for SmartWool brand. I experienced the same discomfort, with the larger size they still stay in place but are not so constricting across the instep.

Sportsman's Guide has wool deals as well, and I just picked up a nice wool vest at Ross Dress for Less, you have to really dig for it in those stores. Don't know if you have them in your neck o'woods.

Filson probably offers the best of the best, and for some things I would definately spring for Filson. Their heavy mackinaw wool coats are just too good to pass up. Their wool shirts are fairly smooth finished wool and while expensive last and last and last. Sometimes a good amount of money spent on something that can last you a lifetime is cheap.

For pants I have found surplus wool pants to be an excellent bargain. Sometimes the wools are a bit harsh but if worn over a thin underlayer are fine. I have found Eastern Block surplus to be about a scratchy as bob-wire but German, NATO, Italian, Austrian, Australian wools and US 1950's era pants to be quite nice overall. Surplus shirts seem never to be cut well for me (too tight). Filson pants are top end (especially their whipcord wools) but for heavy weight wools I actually prefer some of my surplus ones.

Sweaters again, the surplus market offers up some nice stuff, but Filson makes a waterfowler sweater that is near perfect.

Base layers....Ice Breaker and Smart Wool are worth every single penny. Sierra Trading Post many times offers Ice Breaker baselayers at excellent prices. Ice Breaker merino wool baselayers are pure heaven.

For sweaters, Brigade Quartermaster's Woolly Pully are a good value and they have the reinforcing patches (could prevent abrasion from the suspenders that hold your heavy wool pants). But I also like medium and lightweight lambswool sweaters that I find at Simons, a clothing store here for only $30 (made in... China). Shetland wool is lightweight and quick drying. Merino is the poor man's cachemere.

Frankie

wool goes in and out of style- check ebay & goodwill

Oh yeah, keep your eyes open for Pendleton shirts in the Goodwill type stores. Older ones are excellent wool and they show up quite frequently for good prices.

"icebreaker" merino wool at sierra trading post.

These are an excellent bargain. http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=490261

These military sweaters are the surplus version of the Dachstein sweaters which were sold in high end mountaineering shops up to the mid 1980's. The civilian sweaters sold for nearly $200 over 20 years ago.

Outside of the reinforcing patches and the color the sweaters are identical to the civilian version. The wool is exceptional and the sweater is very dense and warm.

On occasion you can find the same sweater with a zippered front and I have my eye out for one if the price is right.

Surplus military wool can be very cheap to purchase. The old British Army Wooly Pully can be had for about $16 or £10 in the UK

http://www.springfields.co.uk/clothing/jackets-jumpers-coats/?id=687&largeimg=1

Even military wool Greatcoats although very old fashioned are available for around $45 or £30 in the UK

http://www.surplusandadventure.com/shop/...oat-523396.html

Or if Woolen Tweed is your thing, for that country gent look then great deals can be had.

http://www.sportsmanguncentre.co.uk/prod...R+Tweed+Jacket/

As mentioned previously Sierra Trading Post has lots of deals on some really high spec woolens. (High Quality Barbour woolens are available at good prices - Probably because woolens are currently out of fashion)


Wool Jumpers and Jerseys

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/0,37073_Barbour-Lambswool-Crew-Neck-Sweater-For-Men.html

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/0,1430Y_Barbour-Sport-Pullover-Sweater-Cashmere-For-Men.html

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/0,37987_Barbour-Lambswool-Sweater-For-Men.html

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/Product.aspx?baseno=1430J&cdf=AffinitySale

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/Product.aspx?baseno=37358&cdf=AffinitySale

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/0,1273H_JG-Glover-Cable-Knit-Sweater-Merino-Wool-For-Men.html

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/0,92954_Merrell-Signal-Sweater-Merino-Wool-For-Men.html

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/Product.aspx?baseno=1273J&cdf=AffinitySale

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/0,1430K_Barbour-Wool-Blend-Donegal-Sweater-Roll-Neck-For-Men.html


Merino Watch Cap and Tilley Woolen Hats.

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/0,56596_JG-Glover-Watch-Cap-Merino-Wool-For-Men-and-Women.html

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/0,53833_Tilley-Endurables-Winter-Wool-Bucket-Hat-For-Men-and-Women.html

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/0,1207Y_Tilley-Winter-Merino-Wool-Hat-For-Men-and-Women.html


Socks

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/0,11501_Bridgedale-Premium-Wool-Hiking-Socks-For-Men-and-Women.html

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/0,11243_Bridgedale-Merino-Wool-Trekking-Socks-For-Men-and-Women.html


Tweed Jacket

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/0,49829_JG-Glover-Harris-Tweed-Jacket-Wool-For-Men.html

Woolen Technical Soft Shell Jacket (limited sizes)

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/0,66799_Marmot-Adamant-Jacket-Wind-Resistant-Soft-Shell-For-Men.html

As you can see there are lots of high quality wool options. Merino wool, Lambswool and Shetland wool are all excellent and are actually remarkably good value considering how well high quality woolens last if taken care of properly.

My Favourite woollen is a Chevalier Orkney Sweater, which is very comfortable and very warm during those winter days

http://www.davidgoldie.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_copy_of_Orkney_Sweater.html

Those sweaters look great....not available until next year, but I am going to order one. If they are truly Dachstein....or even close to a Dachstein then this is the bargain of the century.