wool best for the $$$

[dino]

I'll agree with Roger too.  I have a pair of columbia bibs that I have worn for about 5 years.  Put them thru a lot of use and will last several more years.  Won't say they are the same quality as KOM, but the didn't cost $500 either.  Darn good stuff for the money and wouldn't totally discount them. dino

[NoCams]

I just bought some Columbia pants from a fellow traganger, should arrive tomorrow. Very interested in seeing how they do in the wind. I have heard the big diff in cheap wool and good wool is the weave and ability to beat the wind. I do realize that Columbia is recycled wool and synthetic blend compared to 100% virgin wool in the SI, KOM, and Gray Wolf.

I did hunt a few weeks back in 20 degree temps with a stiff 15 mph wind and I think I could feel the wind cutting thru my heavy Woolrich Malone pants. Did not get cold , but did feel different than I felt the day before in the same conditions with my Cabelas Revolution Fleece 150 gr thinsulate with wind and waterproof lining. Maybe one day I can get some Gray Wolf, I hear it is good stuff.

nocams  

[**DONOTDELETE**]

It has been my experience that ALL wool, whether virgin or recycled, gets more windproof with age/use/exposure to dampness. I think KOM calls it "fulling", but it's nothing more than a small amount of shrinkage, tightening the weave. I was somewhat disapointed with my Woolrich pants until they met thier first rainstorm. The subsequent "fulling" made them more windproof.

[feve316]

I own Sleeping Indian and KOM. I feel the wind through those 2 just as much as my Columbia stuff and I hunt in Iowa in the late season. When its cold and windy I throw on a pair of wind pants under them all and problem solved. For the money you wont go wrong with Columbia wool I have had a pair of their pants for about 8 years now and have worn the crap out of them and they are still in good shape. No the material isnt from one of Teds hand fed sheep but I would say it performs just as well in my world...

[feve316]

I own Sleeping Indian and KOM. I feel the wind through those 2 just as much as my Columbia stuff and I hunt in Iowa in the late season. When its cold and windy I throw on a pair of wind pants under them all and problem solved. For the money you wont go wrong with Columbia wool I have had a pair of their pants for about 8 years now and have worn the crap out of them and they are still in good shape. No the material isnt from one of Teds hand fed sheep but I would say it performs just as well in my world...

[vtmtnman]

I also have the Columbia wool.It's not the most expensive but if you want decent camo wool you don't need a second job to pay for I recommend it.Kept me warm in 5 degree morning hunts with proper layering.

[NoCams]

This is the first time in years in hunting in wool. I have a old pair of Woolrich Malone pants I would use when it was very cold. For years I hunted in full goose down coveralls, VERY WARM and VERY LOUD. I have since retired them due to the noise. I would even carry them to the stand they were so loud you could not even walk in them with the nylon outer shell.

Here is my dilema and brief observations after hunting this year in wool and my tried and true Cabelas Revolution Fleece.

Wool is much more comfy, quiet, and breathable. Very comfortable over a wide range of temps. I have tried the Woolrich Malone Heavy Pants and the Columbia Pants. I realize they are not on the same planet with SI, KOM, and Grey Wolf from what I have been told. The downside to the wool is the WIND ! I hunted yesterday in 30 degree temp with 15 MPH wind. I did not get cold being on stand about 3hrs, but could feel the wind blowing right thru the pants down to my Ullfrotte' longjohns. If the temp would have been 10-15 degrees colder I think my legs would have got cold. No way you can stay warm with the wind blowing the warm air away from your body.

My Cabelas Revolution Fleece is very warm and windproof, not so breathable or comfortable if the temp goes up and you have a long walk back and forth to stand. It is quiet, but not as quiet as wool. If it is 20 degrees and a deer is 10yds or less I think it would hear the fleece if you moved too much. It has the Dry Plus lining that makes it waterproof and windproof. Nice if you get caught in a unexpected rain while on stand.

Since the wool I have has no options for fighting the wind and I do not want to wear another windproof layer what can I do ? If I wore another layer to fight the wind I feel I would get sweated up and defeat the purpose of using wool anyway. Also more clothes to buy and keep up with. What about getting caught in rain? I am sure if it was not a downpour the wool would be fine for a few hours.

Okay you wool experts chime in here and help me out ! I know the wind in TN is no where near as bad as it is in ND, KS, and other western states with wide open spaces. What do you guys that hunt in wool do about wind ? Thanks for the help !

   
nocams

[feve316]

I have a pair of lined wind pants from wal mart I put on under my pants and under them a pair of heavy fleece long johns when its real cold. I wear these under my Columbia and SI wool pants. Wash the wind pants a few times to break them in a little and they are quiet under the wool.I know the Cabelas dry plus stuff is nice when windy and rainy but it is noisy especially when its very cold out. My legs dont get too warm while walking but I do leave my coat off until I reach my stand,otherwise my upper body will sweat . I bought the Cabelas bowhunter extreme parka for really cold weather and it seems to be alright it is warm. For super quiet though the dry plus linngs just dont cut it. I do think Windshear is quiet though. I also have a revolution fleece pullover and it is noisy I dont wear it bowhunting. I think the key is if you buy wool have something windproof to put on underneath when needed. I think having it under the wool keeps it quieter when moving to draw a bow unlike these coats and pants lined with it right under the surface, its always noisy. I know my buddy had Ted at Sleeping Indian make him an archers pullover with his wind stop linng in it, about 2-3 times on stand and out came the scissors to cut it out, it just made too much noise.

[thp]

Just noticed this topic so I'm sure this has already been said but I got a great pair of LL Beane dress pants off of Fleabay for dirt cheap and then bought a large Longwool Hunter shirt from Ron LaClair.  That along with an old quilted shirt, and some new high tech base layer stuff and I've been able to endure 90% of what the Iowa climate has thrown at me this year.  For late season hunting I throw on my $ 45.00 rain/wind breaker over the wool and have been pretty warm.

[NoCams]

feve316,
Thanks for the feedback, but again I was hoping to not have to wear another layer like a windbreaker under my wool. I wonder if the premium wools, SI, KOM, Grey Wolf will cut the wind enough that you could stay warm ? In a mild wind, say less than 20 MPH that would work. Any more wind than that in my area is like a gale in the woods. I am sure SI, KOM, and Gray Wolf offer the linings for hunters in western states where the wind is over 20 MPH daily !

nocams

[Paul/KS]

I was looking for wool pants at the KC Cabela's yesterday and saw a few pairs of good stuff, Filson's and Colombia in the bargain cave. Alas, none were my size...  :(  You skinny gents might be luckier.
I did find a pair of the Colombia camo wool bibs on a clearance rack. They were marked down about 30%...    Not a bad deal I thought.

[Day Dreamer]

Walked into the local Goodwill today bought a mint condition pendelton shirt, made in the U.S.A (cabelas carries pendelton but made in china), and a 100% merino wool sweater 4.oo each. That is great wool for the money!

[Curtiss Cardinal]

Originally posted by Ghostman:
Over the years I've invested a small fortune in premium wool clothing and have to disagree with the statement "wool is wool".

Not all wool is 100%, many brands like Codet, Johnson, Woolrich and Beagle have nylon or synthetic blends added. Columbia is made from recycled wool and is junk in my opinion.
 

My Codet is 100% wool and even though made from recycled wool is pretty good. I've never had Columia but tried some on once and it felt thin for the supossed weight.
There isn't anything wrong with 15% nylon. You only have to worry about wool blends when the wool makes up less than 40% of the blend. I prefer 100% but in some things like socks a blend can be superior in being long wearing. Absolutely agree with all that said they disagree that "wool is wool" Types differ in quality and qualities of type. Some are good only as outwear some only for rugs(still made into clothing though).

[feve316]

No Cams I have them all but grey wolf. And yes the wind will cut through all of it, moreso in the columbia but not a big noticeable difference. I dont think theres any way around not wearing another layer unless you get the outfits lined with a windstop. I do think Kings version of the windstop is different than SI. May be worth a look.

[Gil Verwey]

Used King of the Mountain wool. I have been hunting in 16 degree weather on stand in just a KOM shirt, bun warmer pants and beavertail vest. I only had thermal underware on under it. I was amazed how warm it is. You can buy it used and barely worn for half the price. It is a very heavy weight wool. I get mine from a KOM dealer that lets people trade their old in for new. I could never afford the cost of their new items.

I used to hunt in Woolrich, Malone, Codet and some military surplus wool. Nothing compares to the KOM in my opinion. I have one Sleeping Indian vest but it is a light weight wool vest, so I can't realy compare their garments to the KOM. I have many KOM garments.

Gil

[NoCams]

Good things going here guys, keep it coming. From the sound of everyone's replies thus far it seems with wool you are still stuck with the need for a windproof layer or liner, just like I currently have in my Cabelas Revolution Fleece. I think the only diff would be that the wool is quieter than the man made fleece.

nocams

[Morning Star]

I've owed some of the fancy stuff, but have recently found those $69.00 Cabelas camo sweaters' do just as well.  They actually layer better because it's weave is stretchable.  If it get's windy, I put a windblocker overtop.  Wearing a wind blocker over top of any wool goes much further than wearing one under it.