Wool and wind

[recurvericky]

I know that wool has the best heat retention, but how do you deal with wind cutting through. Living is Kansas, wind is a constant issue.

Do you use some type of wind blocking in material?

[Roger Norris]

Teresa Asbell has sold, in the past, a vest made from a windblocking material (I'm not sure if she has any left).

I actually rarely used mine though. I layer my garments according to conditions, and never have a problem. I am very fond of a wool vest (or 2) as an underlayer....it bulks up my core without interfering with my arms and shoulders.

I have a windproof "golf pullover" that happens to be very quiet (they aren't all quiet). It's very thin, and it helps with the wind.

Wind most affects the back of my neck. I ALWAYS use a hood and wool scarf when hunting in cold, windy conditions.

[DaveT1963]

A simple solution to add wind proofing is to get a wind breaker from Wally World.  Layer it under your wool/fleece.  Some of the newer materials are pretty quiet under wool.

[BEN]

Same as already noted.  I got lucky and got a Cabela's 1/4-zip windbreaker w/collar for about $7 in bargain cave...works great under wool,fleece, etc.

[Dan bree]

Tyvex. One piece jumpsuits.  Material  keeps the wind from blowing  into your house.  Works on you to

[reddogge]

I use a golf "wind shirt" like Roger. Seems to work really well.

   

[pukwana]

Forgive me if this is a noob question, but would't layering the windbreaker under the wool defeat the purpose of wools insulating properties?

[Rob W.]

Down vest underneath or on top depending on temp.

[Zradix]

Originally posted by pukwana:
Forgive me if this is a noob question, but would't layering the windbreaker under the wool defeat the purpose of wools insulating properties?

Yes it does...somewhat.

Ideally you want the wind break closer to being an outer layer.

The wind will blow away retained heat in any garment outside of the  anti-wind layer.

[Fletcher]

Some wool is woven tight enuf to block wind pretty well, but most isn't.  I'll add an extra under layer if windy.  I also have a windblock berber fleece vest that I put on over my wool if needed.

[DaveT1963]

I have found just the opposite.  The wind breaker under wool makes it warmer.  Insulation is nothing mroe than trapping dead air - the wool still traps as much air and the wind block actually helps retain heat that your body produces.

[Gordon Jabben]

A Filson wool vest is woven tight enough to stop the wind.  I like to wear mine under an Asbell pull over on windy days.  Works well for tree stand hunting in our area but too much if you're doing a lot of walking on normal days.

[Pointer]

My Cabelas sweater has a windshear lining which is pretty good. If I'm wearing wool without a liner I use a golf wind/rain shirt. It gets the job done

[Roger Norris]

I just noticed on the ad banner for GFA.com that the Winblocker vest is "back". Thats good news.

pukwana.....When I use my Asbell wind blocker, I go wool underwear, wool sweater, windblocker, and then wool pullover. No problems.

[Zradix]

I have an Asbell wind blocker vest.

I really like it..blocks the wind nicely and I believe it adds some insulation too.

It is very very slightly noisy.
Quieter than any other wind block I've seen/heard though.
But slightly louder than wool when it has fabric sliding over it.

I recommend it!
Makes a WORLD of difference on a windy cold day.
..and the slight sound it makes is all but unnoticeable compared to the wind noise.

[slowbowjoe]

Very light, breathable windbreaker (wind shirt) either over, or under, my wool outer layer.
Windshirt under your outer layer works quite well.
For significant rain,snow, sleet, etc… then I'd go with a quality shell as the outer.
Shot outside here in northern Vermont all through last winter; most I ever wore was my Austrian  wool surplus sweater, with appropriate layers underneath.. and my featherweight 1/2 zip wind shirt (breathable, not waterproof) under it. Cant fit it over! But do wear it over my next best wool sweater sometimes.
Worked for me down to 0F or below, and I get cold easily.

[eidsvolling]

When that Kansas wind is blowing on you in the fall and winter, it probably isn't raining much of the time, right? Putting a quiet cotton layer over the wool will cut the wind and still breathe at the same time. (This technique is used in the Antarctic even to this day.) Snow camo jackets and pants are often good for this. If there isn't snow on the ground, you'll need to find some pattern suitable for your circumstances.

The problem with a good wind breaker is that it can make you sweaty when exerting. For near sub zero breezy days, sitting in a blind or setting up an open blind with something to block the wind works for me. If it gets really cold, I take a mummy sleeping bag, and put that over me.

[DaveT1963]

I often carry my wind breaker in my pack, along with my wool coat and put them on once I settle in

[Overspined]

Wool isn't ideal for sitting in windy conditions unless you have a very wind proof wool like 2 tracks stuff or other felted products.  If sitting is what you do, use very heavily felted wool and it's good in wind.  Not a bad idea to have two sets, one to sit and one to actively hunt.

For the KOM type weave, I always pack a lightweight down jacket and wool underlayers if I'm planning on sitting.  Works most excellent.  I have some sort of Eddie Bauer super light down long sleeve "shirt" I wear underneath with great results, maybe 550 fill, and just take it off when moving.  It's super light, thin on bulk, wind proof, warm, and really doesn't make enough noise to cause issues. It makes just a touch but I've not had issues with game hearing it.