buying wool clothing cheap?

I'm going through a wool "phase" and want to try out some wool clothing to compare to my synthetics. I've looked online and come up with "filson" and "woolrich" clothing which will require a second mortgage to get a few layers. Anyone know where i can get some cheaper stuff (I assume wool is wool, right?)

Some army surplus wool clothing is inexpensive and of excellent quality.

Try the Codet or Big Bill Brands, I think they are made in Quebec, Canada. Not the quality of Filson but much cheaper.

Mike

Nope, not all wool is equal. Merino wool is very nice. Virgin wool in general is nicer than non-virgin wool due to longer fibers.

Filson is pricey and worth the bucks IMO, as is Smartwool. I've got a few Filson wool shirts and it's hard to tell from feel that you are wearing wool, no scratch/itch. Smartwool socks are outstanding IMO.

Some Woolrich is good, not as nice as Filson and Smartwool, but good nonetheless. I've got wool from other brands that dates to the early 80's and it still does warm quite well.

My opinion, YMMV.

Look at "thrift shops," such as Goodwill. You can often find like new clothing, including wool, for next to nothing...

I'd almost agree except for the fact that the tops of the socks seem to fit very tight and when I wear them for several hours, they leave deeper indentations on the legs. They are either using too much stretchy fiber in the tops or making them too slender. The sole of the socks feel great though.

Yeti I think that's to prevent them from going down while being active. Mine actually don't do that anymore, I have ~20 pair and they do the first few times then they stop.

Smartwool are AWESOME socks I love them. I also have a smartwool blanket and a woolrich blanket both are very nice.

Thrift shops, though times being what they are the supply of wool clothes is dropping somewhat lately.

For new, look at outlet shops, I bought a really great Woolrich wool coat at an outlet shop on the way to an offsite for work. It was either a Woolrich shop or Burlington Coat Factory. I've seen some wool shirts at Eddie Bauer outlets too.

Locally Pendleton Woolen Mills in Oregon puts out nice wool clothing, some of their shirts are offered in Macys stores, I have 30 year old Pendleton shirts that look like new. Visting Pendleton was like a trip to Mecca. There are other woolen mills around the US still, Faribault (Faribo) Woolen Mills is a favorite and has an outlet in Fairibault MN (not so much on clothing, but great blankets).

If you are looking at thrift stores in your area here is a web site listing thrift stores,

http://www.thethriftshopper.com/

Standard disclamer, no affiliation....

I get a lot from Goodwill type thrift stores. The local one,
Savers, has new woolrich and filson at times.

Also sierra trading post gets them in from time to time.

currently---
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/search/...e&N=9400058

I like the new washable wools. I have some canadian wool t-shirts from
the trading post for 8 bucks each. Also the washable alaskan type
woolrich shirts are great.

Cabela's sometimes has sales on them too.

Our local Meijer Store carries Fox River socks. One variety has 85% wool. They list for 9 bucks. However, after the deer season, they get reduced to 3 or 4 bucks. I pick up a pair every time I go there. Got a drawer full now.

They are not 100% wool, but then again, 85% and the price ain't all bad.

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.

Sure, if you like wearing the weight of a couple of sheep
around.

Course' it would give you that Aura of Clint, ready to bivy on the
Eiger, before beginning his "wetwork".

Yeah, I cannot think of a more appropriate piece of clothing for an Eiger Sanction

Somewhere in one of Colin Fletcher's books he discusses "new tech" warm vs "old tech" warm clothing. I will see if I can find the quote as it really is a good one. Old wool sweaters fall into that comfort warm category that the lightest highest tech plastic fleece seems never able to fill.

A Dachstein sweater is one of those sweaters that is near perfect for sitting in a duck blind or crouched in a snowy field taking photographs of animals. Not always perfect in the pack, but a damn fine "warm" when the time is right.

If I may quote from Complete Walker III (my dog-eared, edge-clipped, much loved, thrice re-stitched-with-a-sewing-awl copy from 1983): [and I'm quoting excessively because to do less would do violence to a damned good writer]:

'Quality of warmth. Both VB [vapour barrier] and three-layer systems, though they can keep you comfortably warm and may even at times make you too hot, never seem to generate the the "toastiness" that you often experience, even sitting still, when wearing a wool or cotton shirt and down jacket. Almost anyone who has tried both new and old systems will know about the difference. I recently confirmed it by ringing the changes on all three systems within a few minutes one windless evening when the thermometer registered 32 F. Yet I have never seen the difference mentioned in print, let alone described. The closest I can come is to say that "plastic warmth" rarely if ever seems to move beyond a mere absence of coldness, while "old-fashioned warmth" can and commonly does become a positive, glowing radiance -- a luxurious sense of well-being, a sensual pleasure.'

'It's interesting, I find, that at least some textile researchers recognize the difference. But although they like hell want to understand what goes on, so that they can do something about it with improved synthetics, the causes remain unknown. Naturally, the researchers will not admit, officially, that old-fashioned warmth is necessarily "better" than plastic warmth. And I guess it could turn out that the latter is more calorie-efficient or something. Still, sensual pleasure is sensual pleasure. And you presumably go backpacking for pleasure. But pleasure can be measured in many ways, and one one or them -- as TBs always remind you -- is by the lightness of your load.'

'So the future remains sweetly uncertain. ... I only hope you now know enough to go out and make up your own cotton- or polyester-pickin' mind.'


Well, Fletch is The Man, and a hero of mine. And I know exactly what he means. I personally suspect it's about holding water vapour close to the body. A mini-sauna is delectable -- ask any Finn -- but in my experience there's a nasty payback later in the day. So I've gone totally synthetic for long walks. But I wouldn't turn down a down vest around camp either.

Thanks for the quote, excellent piece of writing and Fletcher hits the nail on the head.

Schwert, the army surplus is the real deal and a whale of a bargain. I have an orignal Dachstein sweater (cardigan not the pullover) and I have a surplus sweater and the wool and the knitting is exactly the same. I bought mine from an ebay seller, Northdoorway, who also operates a web site. Also try Swiss Link. The sweaters are sometimes sold as Austian Commando Sweaters. I want to find a zip front version, just because I think I need one somehow.

The company making Dachstein sweaters is still around, I'm not aware of any US companies importing the products anymore. Climb High used to be the US importer in the 1980's.
http://www.lackner-wolle.at/pulover.htm

The Dachstein sweater weighs a ton and packs down to the size of a VW Bug, but it I were out and the SHTF I can't think of any garment I'd rather be wearing.

I am always looking for wool clothing in retail places on sale. I went to the Eddie Bauer Outlet store last month and found a $100 merino wool sweater on sale for $14. This summer I went to JC Penny and found a whole rack of clothes on clearance, and acquired two wool sweaters for $6 each. I also went to Old Navy and found a Cashmere blend for $6 and a wool blend for $4. The plus to finding these retail store blowouts is that my wardrobe is not all olive drab or navy blue solids. Functional doesn't always mean doing without a little fashion.

In the past, I've found used Pendletons and Woolrich wool shirts at thrift stores for as low as $5, but usually they price them up around the $15 to $20 range. Even at that price those shirts are much cheaper than new, and usually not much worse for wear.

I've also bought yards of wool fabric on sale and had my wife make various items, like a nice Pendleton wool anorak she made for me that cost me about $20. Unfortunately, I have been unable to break her of the habit of throwing my wool clothes in with the rest of the laundry; the result being my wool clothes eventually end up belonging to my daughters.

Wool was not at all practical in Florida. I got half my wardrobe back in circulation just by moving back to Denver. Wool has it's place, but is not the end all/be all for cold weather. Lucky for me, wool against my bare flesh is not itchy or irritating.

This morning it was about 12 degrees up on the train platform, with the wind chill putting it about 3. I had on my poly HD thermal pants under my black synthetic slacks, I was wearing my Thor-Lo hunting socks inside my oxfords, and I had on a short sleeve poly tee under my Eddie Bauer Merino wool sweater, with my London Fog rain coat with light wool liner atop that. Some lined leather gloves, a wool blend scarf, and a decent watch cap to finish the ensemble, and I have been nice and comfortable all morning. I may have to remove the poly thermal pants soon, as the office is too warm for all this clothing.

Thanks for digging that quote out....really is a fine piece of writing. I mostly agree with it too. I do find that a merino baselayer gives me an excellent start on that toastiness that Colin finds even if outerlayers are plastic.

I have 3 or 4 pairs of Dauchstein mitts...all from the 70's and early 80's and would not trade them for anything. One of those surplus sweaters will be coming my way next year.

Damn, those Austrian sweaters are sold out already.

I tried to order last night and got tossed out of the order pages and by the time I got back today they were all sold.

Great find though.

Keep looking for the sweaters, they turn up from time to time at various surplus stores. I'm still on the hunt for a zip front version if I can score one cheap enough.

Searching out the military surplus is worth the effort. Different countries use different kinds of wool. Some itches, some doesn't. With polypro or some such underneath, makes little difference.
My favorite wool pants of all time are the old U.S. Navy pants, especially the zip-up variety. Same wool as the ones with all the buttons on front. Very soft.

Sorry to dig up this again...

But I figured those into cheap wool might be interested to know, Sportsmans Guide is selling four pairs of surplus East German wool pants for 25 odd dollars or so... pretty good deal. A quick search seems to say everybody who bought them are happy, so I also ordered a pack.

I also went and hunted down an Austrian Alpine Sweater at my local surplus store after seeing the recommendations on this thread. I don't know how much it usually goes for, but for 30 bucks I'm very happy with how warm it feels when I pulled it on!

Thanks Akilae, and welcome to the forum!

Yep, SG always has good surplus deals, lots of wool.........

The "buyers comments" section is fairly new, good to see them add it.

Consider joining their Buyer's Cub, it's worth it for their buyer's only deals if you use them often.

Thanks for the welcome!

For some reason everybody I've heard talk about Sportsmans Guide fall on two extremes: Love them for the price, hate them for the service. I was leery ordering from them until I saw a few people mention that they actually got their wool pants as advertised.

My first foray into wool was ordering a Swedish wool great coat off US Cav. Sucker weighed a ton, and was unfashionable as heck back in college, but kept me warm. So much so I then ordered a pair of Swiss wool combat pants, which was even more unfashionable (leather ankle garters?!). They were cheap back then too, I think US Cav was clearing them out, $50 for the coat, $20 for the pants. The same coat and pants are going for more these days.

I think my next wool purchase will be a Schott pea coat. Not cheap though...

I got a nice PM from a member who has never posted informing me that Sportsman's Guide has the Austrian Sweaters in stock again....more sizes this time around and also $4 more, but this time I have one on the way.

Thanks.


http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=500870

I got the "Dutch military sweater" from Cheaper Than Dirt. I like it very much. The size and fit was right on. I'd say it it is a "light-medium" weight. It has had one trip through the washing machine without apparent harm. They thoughtfully include a spool of repair yarn. My only nitpick, and its a minor one, is that the head hole is a bit roomy, losing some warmth thereby. I have a 38 inch sleeve, and there is enough length for me to turn back the cuff. At 6' 3" and 235 lbs, the 2XL was just right in length and girth. The "weave" is neither tight nor loose, with an attractive, subtle vertical ribbed pattern. My wife really likes how it looks on me, FWIW, and it has quickly become a favorite. I rate it an excellent buy at $30.

Jeff

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/BJR876-1.html

I have an old Norwegian army sweater which is fantastic. I looked for a source but couldn't find any. Pity, it is the best sweater. It is long, long sleeves with a thumb hole so you can pull the sleeves over your hands, collar can ride high. It covers all of the normal gaps, is exceptionally warm and durable. it carried me through the mountains of Afghanistan and still looks good. I traded a poncho liner for it in Bosnia, and now I wouldn't trade it for anything.

I have some Swiss army wool pants which are exceptional also.

Well finally my Austrian Sweater arrived. It is just like I remember the Dachstein's long ago. Heavy dense wool, tall tall collar, very well constructed.

Cut is sort of trapezoidal....narrow waist, broader shoulders. This makes it a bit of a tight squeeze getting it on, but it fits nice. I got a Large....probably should have ordered an XL to compensate for the more European cut.

This one has cotton facings on the sleeves and shoulders for wear resistance, button epaulettes, made in 1985 and looks to be essentially brand new.

Glad I got one and thanks. This one is going in my car kit for sure.

Sounds like you have the D190 Arktis Antarctica Shirt,

http://www.qmstores.co.uk/gbu0-prodshow/AK-1514.html

If it is the same one you can get the D190 here at;

http://www.arktisusa.com/PriceList/

Not the same one, but I like it a lot! Thanks.

For those in Minnesota, yesterday I saw the Austrian sweaters in Mills Fleet Farm for $30. I was in the store on highway 36, but other stores likely sell them as well.