My friend Leon has an interesting post on his blog (www.survivalcommonsense.com) about wearing wool clothing in winter.

http://www.survivalcommonsense.com/how-to-choose-the-best-wool-pants-for-winter-comfort-camping-and-survivalfeed/?utm_source=October+15%2C+2012+update&utm_campaign=October+15%2C+2012&utm_medium=email

I'd appreciate some feed back. I know wool is very versitle but does it still have a place in the back country.

I found interesting one reader's comment that lanolin is pressed out of the material. Guess that is during the cleaning process.

Blake

www.outdoorquest.biz

Wool absolutely has a place in the backcountry. Synthetics have there place (especially for things like baselayers and waterproof outer shells), but in the winter one of the primary advantages of wool is that it still keeps you warm when wet, and will not catch fire from embers. This means that when it is really cold you can get really close to your fire and not worry about your clothing melting on you or catching fire.

The only thing I don't like about wool is that it tends to be bulky and take up a lot of room in a pack, while synthetics usually pack better.

Wool is awesome, especially if you get into some of the more exotics, like alpaca or quivit. They are both super warm(much more than sheeps wool) and almost waterproof.

With wool, I (ok, mostly my wife) can knit just about any type of clothing we want. Hard to do that with synthetics.

I wear wool shirts most of the winter, and my hunting clothing is all wool as well.

Greg

Two of my favourite words are "merino wool". it's light, warm, comfy, better around the fire and doesn't get all stinky.

Really? I cannot recall one documented case where a campfire caused synthetic clothing to catch fire enough and melted on a person. Yes if you are careless and doing dumb a$$ things such as playing jump the fire and fall in, then you deserve to be burnt...

Compared to almost all on this forum, I spend far more time outdoors and around campfires that enumerate into weeks per year. I always wear synthetics and have not had one shred of clothing melt catch fire nor melt one me...or anyone else I know.

Keep in mind that wool is best for cold and drier environments and not necessarily for cold and constant wet environments like the Pacific Northwest. Up here walking and sleeping in wool clothing that is constantly wet from rain that after a day it gets old very fast...

Probably never happened. But the excellent fire retardent properties sure was the reason wool base layer was mandatory when I worked at an aluminium plant way back when. Yes, you need a pretty good reason to put on wool underwear when you're working in 120F and above with liquid aluminium...



This is where I respectfully disagree on several points. I must admit that I rarely spend many days and nigths in a row outdoors, it's mainly daytrip stuff and the occational camping trip. However, I would say that I do know what wet wool feels like in a cold and wet environment. There is absolutely no way I would substitute my wool base layer for some synthetic equivalent under those conditions - I simply don't trust synthetic to keep me warm when damp/wet. Period.

This isn't meant as a critique of your experience or choice of clothing. Whatever rocks your boat and all that.

I am a bit curious, though: You use the term "gets old very fast", and i guess you mean that you become uncomfortable (but not nescessarily cold). I would appreciate if you could elaborate a bit more on that, please.

Modern synthetics can keep just as warm (and drier) then wool. I know there are wool clothing preferring people out there but I am not one of them and simply prefer synthetics.

As for "gets old very fast", I just do not like the feel of wet wool against the skin, day in day out. And yes over the years I have tried different brands blends etc and it comes down to just a non personal preference, nothing more, nothing less.

And although you may "respectfully disagree", that is okay. As I have stated many times here before, what works best for one person may or may not work for your needs nor for my particular needs and I will leave this thread at that...

What my socks are,a blend,they last a long time.

Our military surplus just got in a pile of wool blankets at 20 each,going to pick some up soon I hope.Going into truck,putting our cold weather supplies together,snow is coming......

I am a fan of synthetics, although wool is adequate. My impression is that wool absorbs more water than synthetics and becomes significantly heavier. I can wash some of my synthetics, wring them out, put them on, and wear them comfortably.
I am puzzled by the comment that synthetics fade... my oldest syn is more than thirty years old and it is still going quite well. It has seen some hairy trips..

Ive never focused on wool clothing although some of my non polypro military long johns are wool/cotton blend.

So I recently bought a pair of wool pants at salvation army for a few bucks to give a try this winter. They appear to of once been part of a suit but really are more like a pair of jeans...nothing fancy.

Looking forward to trying them out this winter. Do you recommend long johns or nylons underneath?

BTW, I wore nylons in CA when I use to hunt, they supposedly keep ticks off you and do provide some degree of warmth. Not to mention way they make me look sexy. JUST A JOKE!
Im thinking anything that keeps the itchy wool from bugging me

well timed topic. I have some events planned in the winter that I will be out in the elements for over 24+ hours and will absolutely get soaked from dunkings, sweating or ground soakings. Unavoidable.

I have decent, modern, medium weight poly base layers. But I have been considering the newest Smart Wool base layers that are 100% wool. Its no bulkier and b/c of its properties may be better for me as I know I will be soaked to the skin.

Continue discussion.

Really? I suppose polyesters aren't included in that history of yours. I have a few poly shirts with multiple melts (usually pin holes from sparks, etc.) I've never melted poly onto my skin but I've always heard warnings about polys causing more severe burns because it melts onto your skin and therefore retains the heat next to you longer.

I use both synthethics and merino wools. My preference as of this year is merino wool for my base layer. My synthetics are lighter and are slightly better at evaporating heat but overall, the wool is the better performer. I'm switching to add more merino to by closet but I don't have much outer layers of wool yet and I wear merino and smart wool socks 100% of the year.

bacpac brings in a very good subject,what sort of wool?
i have seen some that is like wearing cardboard and other wool that is soft and drapes over you.some of the best i wore was the Army issue in Korea.
i have a Filson double mac thats great for wet cold,sleet kind of weather but put on a down parka for the sub zero stuff.
having said that i don't think you could go wrong with good quality wool clothing.back in the old days a wool mens suit that had gone shabby,lost it's shape,was used by fishermen and campers all over the East.i'm talking heavy wool here the sort wore in semi-heated workshops and homes and on long walks to and from a trolly stop and not a "dress up" getup..
now i'll turn around and say they did that because thats all they had.i have done sub-zero snowshoeing wearing light weight poly fluff top and bottoms under a gortex rainsuit and was very warm.
hard subject to really get a handle on..German Army wool pants with the plastic in the knees and big pockets would be just the thing to stand guard in but i don't think i would want to hike around in them....
have a easy winter folks---

I like the idea of the new breed of merino wool products, primarily the base layers. However the cost is still to high for me to pull the trigger on it; I'll likely be staying with mostly synthetics for the foreseeable future.

Regarding wool & fire, one place I've been thinking the fire-resistant properties of wool would really shine is in a simple pair of liner gloves. I've only recently started doing a little winter camping and noticed last year at one camp that I was melting little holes in the fingers of my liners by tending to the fire. Obviously this wasn't an injury concern, but I started thinking a pair of wool liners might be more durable in this respect.

Like Roarmeister I have also had a few synthetics that got pinholes on them from blown embers. And you don't have to get defensive teslin, I don't have anything against synthetics at all. I own and use synthetics that I wear and really like.

I just like wool as well. Smartwool is very nice. I have a couple baselayers that I wear for cycling in the cold that are thin smartwool, and they work great.

Greg

I've switched from mostly synthetics to merino wool for general purpose use. Technically, I still think synthetics are better, so if I was backpacking long distances, synthetics would probably be my first choice. They are lighter, dry faster, non-allergenic, and feel better for most people. But the one reason I switched has nothing to do with survival or performance. Wool just doesn't stink as much when you can't wash it. This doesn't seem very important until you have to smell yourself after a few days of not showering. So for traveling, desert camping, or anywhere else you might not be able to wash regularly, that's a pretty big plus. I've heard some of the newer synthetics are better in this regard, but the wool clothing I have beats all the synthetics I've used.

Also, I have been careless and dumb at times, and have had nylon burn my skin. It is not a fun experience, because the natural reaction is to pick it up or brush it off, which only results in two burns instead of one. Luckily it was only dumb enough to teach me a lesson, while not being stupid enough to cause serious injury. It doesn't stop me from wearing synthetic clothing, just taught me to be a lot more careful around hot objects with it. So something as simple as putting on tire chains near a hot exhaust, or having to reach into an engine compartment with a hot manifold, or even cooking around a liquid fuel stove, causes me to stop and sometimes change clothes just to be safe.

I too enjoy the Marino wool products. Part of my baselayer.

While elk hunting (temps in the mid 40's) I had shifted my pants to a ploy blend (REI product, no cotton). After working my way through bogs, creeks beds and getting thoroughly wet all I needed to do was wring out the wool blend socks and allow my pants to air dry.

Light wool pants today as I head out for an afternoon elk hunt.

Blake

www.outdoorquest.blogspot.com

Perhaps wool clothing is even more important not only in the back country but even in everyday use due to the greater dangers for transport and the potential for suburban and city fires within the home, office and workplace.

There are some really high performance synthetic and wool garments available for the wilderness. Just choose what works for the conditions and your preference.

For example a Merino Wool Sweater such as a Harkila Clifford Cardigan with a Goretex Windstopper lining makes an excellent replacement for Windproof Polyester fleece. Keeping both wool and synthetics dry is important to keep insulation properties. This can be achieved with a Umbrella in rainy ambient wind conditions and a Goretex Shell in rainy windy conditions.

Even a Merino sweater such as the Columbia Sportsware Exploratory Sweater combined with a Cotton Ventile Windproof will work over quite a range of temperatures.

I do like Merino Wool as I find it tends to regulates body temperature over a wider range of weather conditions than synthetics. Wool can be very comfortable and warm just like cotton. To keep it dry is the trick to keep warm just as with the synthetics and down feathers.

When conditions are very dry such as 0F then even down feathers start to become very useful for insulation.

For cold weather I also like my Laksen Knitted Wool Hat with Goretex lining.

http://www.swillingtonshootingsupplies.co.uk/store/product/8229/Laksen-knitted-Ctx-hat/

A thin merino wool glove liner is nice to have as well even under a waterproofed synthetic glove.

There are some really nice comfortable and functional high technology wool clothing out there. Synthetics do tend to somewhat lighter in weight though but also a lot more stinky when worn for a time in the back woods.

i've worn merino wool socks year 'round forever, and 30 years ago wool was all i wore in winter. i was one serious Filson fan (in wool and canvas).

that was until i took a rafting trip down the Snake with two close friends (also traditionally in wool), and a bunch of younger folks all in modern fancy "plastic" clothing (yuck!).

in wool, we could never dry out. we felt clammy and awful all the time, always very cold. everyone in plastic dried out in minutes, they were always warm and comfy.

for the entire trip we were wet, even big evening fires didn't help.


so yes, wool is much much better than cotton (or cotton canvas) when wet.

wool is much safer around fire.

wool is better smelling than poly. (i'd rather smell like a wet dog than a horrible men's locker-room)

wool is tougher and longer lasting.


but poly can keep me much warmer if wet.

poly dries out very quickly.

poly is lighter weight.

poly shells can be made more rainproof.


thus, there is room for both, depending on conditions.

.

Well balanced thread,I say this a lot,thank you for the education.

Yes, it does. Wool attracts water. Wring it, bash it - there's still plenty of water in it. Similar treatment to a fleece or most other sythetic fabrics will give you a semi-dry result.

Wool IS heavier than, say fleece. Wet or dry. I'd say how much more weight you add for a wet piece of material really depends on what kind of garment you're talking about. I can wring my wool socks or long johns pretty much to a semi-halfway dry state where the weight difference really isn't what I call significant. But a big bulky wool sweater is close to impossible to wring out properly.

I agree with most posters - I like it for a few select layers, but after that I'm pretty synthetic. I love SmarWool socks. I'd love an nice alpaca sweater. Suits made of wool seem nicer than those of cotton or canvas.

But in a rainstorm or blizzard, I'll take my synthetics, even if they do encase down. Sleeping in dry wool is nice, just make sure to ziploc those items.

I'm pretty much a fleece jacket guy.
If clothing gets wet ... get it OFF and get something dry near your skin. In a hurry.
For this reason - a small hand towel with absorbent abilities is really good. Folks here probably have great suggestions. And a backup jacket (stored dry) - if there's any chance of getting soaked.

Pete2

i take fleece,or the lighter stuff i call poly fluff,on all my canoe trips and what i found that really keeps me warm is to take off my shirt,put the poly fluff hoodie on over bare skin and then put the shirt back on.

I've also tried that and can highly recommend it.

BTW, this is one place where the wrong kind of wool comes in second place to synthetics, IMO - contact directly with the skin. The wrong kind of wool can be itchy and drafty. I recently added a thin wool jacket for an emergency extra layer in my urban EDC kit, but it's with the mind set that I likely won't get soaked to my base layer. In a wilderness situation, I take 2 extra layers - a wool and a synthetic.