does wool insulate better after shrinking?

[Zradix]

Just wondering what you all have noticed.

Does wool insulate better after shrinking?

[J.T.]

I don't know about it insulating better but the weave would get tighter making it more wind- proof which would make it warmer.

[Zradix]

Hey neighbor!

That was one of my thoughts.
Wondered if the tighter weave would hold less air though....hhhhmmmmm

Nice buck in your profile.
Get that around here?
   

[emac396]

I would guess for base layers the air pockets raise R value if it shrinks to tight you would lose insulating value on outer coat I would want as tightly woven as possible. That would be my guess curious what others think

When my son was a youngster he wore a wool sweater for a winter coat that was accidentally washed and it shrunk so it fit him perfectly. He never complained of getting cold until he out grew it and we got him a nice parka. My Swanee camo got soaked and shrunk a little. I got it dry cleaned and extra lanolin added, it was most definitely warmer.

[Jerry Jeffer]

I hope my wool doesn't shrink. I like it to fit. Don't think it matters other wise.

[Jeff Strubberg]

It should be more wind-proof, but since insulation is a product of trapping air, I would think it would insulate less.

[Pat B]

It is the air spaces between the fibers(dead air space) that actually does the insulating. I would think that shrunken wool would have less insulating properties because the air spaces are less.

[calgarychef]

Do a search for felted wool.  It's definately thicker and more windproof.

[Smithhammer]

Wool comes in a vast spectrum of quality and density. There is a huge difference, for example, between recycled wool, virgin, felted wool, merino, etc. I would think that any change in performance would to some degree depend on what kind of wool you're starting out with.

[Scott Teaschner]

Now I would think there has to be a fine balance. Or different types of weaves for difrent apllications.I would think for and outer layer if it is to loose of a weave no mater how better it would insulate with out wind. You Will freeze your you know what off when the wind chill factor hits you. I would imagine thats why some people wear a windstop off some kind. Now under layers I would think a few more air pockets would be helpfull like a wool sweater. I have both Filson and a old swandri jackete. I love them both. The Filson double Mac is a very heavy warm or I should say hot coat. I use this coat only on very cold inactive situations like sitting on top of a horse for a 2 hour ride with -10 weather. Its hard to hike with because you have so much weight. This wool is extermly tight weave and it is two layers and I think thats why it is so warm. The swandri jacket is not as heavy but has a good quality wool and is a tight weave. These jackets where a bargin back in the 90s when Paul Brunner was selling them. They now fetch twice as much used at least the camo ones. This jacket is great and a liitle lighter to haul around. But when it gets cold I mean real cold I wear a sweater under it where the double mack you dont need it. So I now I think there are 3 factors weave, quality of wool and weight that determine how warm it will keep you. I was also told dirt can lesson the R value. So on stuff you cant throw in the washer blow it out with an air hose. You should se it all the dirt come out. I wear a Filson Mac vest everyday and I blow it out quite a bit. Swandri is washable and mine has never shrunk a bit. Just my two cents.

[Orion]

I agree with Jeff, but the increase in wind blocking or decrease in insulating is probably not enough to notice.  A lot of manufacturers pre-shrink their wool before they make it into garments.  Of course, it will shrink more if you need to do it to make it fit better.

[hvyhitter]

Ive had several wool pieces that the weave tightened up on after a few hand washings making them seem warmer as it blocked more wind.....

I like the Filson because they have lots of pockets. Like the old saying goes "put rocks in your pockets and tie down gramma, we have a big blow coming in."  I remember a day once, here in Iowa, that the wind didn't blow, it was also 15 below that day.