Wool?

[Fleatrap1]

My job keeps me outside even in the winter and sometimes during the coldest nights of the year.  Most of my cold weather clothing pulls "double duty" and I'm always on the look to something better.  Wool as always intrigued me because of its ability to work when wet.  

With all of the modern "high tech" gear available for hunters as base layers and outer layers as well a guy could go nuts trying to pick out the best cold weather get up.  I'm really considering a wool coat.  Any thoughts or better yet real field experience using wool vs using modern materials??

[Rob W.]

After trying a bunch of different clothing combinations I have decided that I love wool but not for my outer layers. I like good wool longjohns, wool sweaters and vest but my outer is usually something else.


Rob

[Jerry Jeffer]

When it comes to wool, quality is important. Don't go cheap. I prefer Filson myself, but there are many good brands. Something to block wind on your outer layer makes a world of difference.

[Roger Norris]

I am somewhat biased, because I sell wool. That said....

The reason I sell wool, is because I use it. I have used wool in a range of temp's from the 60's down to below zero.

There are some modern materials that shed water great. There are some modern materials that block the wind beautifully. But I have yet to find the material that does ALL OF IT like wool.

Wet, windy, damp, bitter cold.....A proper wool garment will do it all.

My bitter cold outfit is usually:

Merino wool socks and longjohns

Filson or Woolrich wool pants

A thick Filson Sweater

An Asbell wool vest

An Asbell wool zippered jacket or pullover

A wool Stormy Kromer hat

1/2 finger wool gloves

Schnees pack boots.

Honestly, I can stay out indefinitely with that gear. If I get active and warmer, I will unzip the jacket and vest, or remove one of them.  I also often regulate my temperature by removing my hat.

I have heard the argument that modern materials accomplish the same and are lighter weight. I have investigated it, and I'm not convinced....especially when COST is factored in.

I absolutely WOULD NOT sell wool if I didn't believe in it.

[Roger Norris]

I am somewhat biased, because I sell wool. That said....

The reason I sell wool, is because I use it. I have used wool in a range of temp's from the 60's down to below zero.

There are some modern materials that shed water great. There are some modern materials that block the wind beautifully. But I have yet to find the material that does ALL OF IT like wool.

Wet, windy, damp, bitter cold.....A proper wool garment will do it all.

My bitter cold outfit is usually:

Merino wool socks and longjohns

Filson or Woolrich wool pants

A thick Filson Sweater

An Asbell wool vest

An Asbell wool zippered jacket or pullover

A wool Stormy Kromer hat

1/2 finger wool gloves

Schnees pack boots.

Honestly, I can stay out indefinitely with that gear. If I get active and warmer, I will unzip the jacket and vest, or remove one of them.  I also often regulate my temperature by removing my hat.

I have heard the argument that modern materials accomplish the same and are lighter weight. I have investigated it, and I'm not convinced....especially when COST is factored in.

I absolutely WOULD NOT sell wool if I didn't believe in it.

[Sam McMichael]

Good wool is hard to beat, especially in layers. Like some of the others, my outer layer is usually not wool but something that blocks wind better. In really cold times, I start with a bottom layer of silk such as the skiers wear with 100% wool long johns over that. Then wool pants, with the weight dependent on temperature and however much I expect to be moving around. For my upper body layer, I just use either military commando sweaters or go to Goodwill and buy something there. A wool watch cap goes on my head.  Fortunately, the winters in Georgia are seldom cold enough to need all these described layers, but that is the beauty of layering - just use what you need and adjust as temperature changes.

[Roger Norris]

The fat that a member from Georgia uses wool, as well as us Northern boys, speaks to the versatility of wool.

[Fleatrap1]

Thanks guys, I really plan to give wool a try especially for the under layers.  I live in Illinois, winters can get fairly rough from time to time.

[centaur]

Wool is the way! Quiet, warm, non reflective. If it is cool to brutally cold, there is a combination of wool that will do the trick. Millions of sheep can't be wrong.

[LB_hntr]

I'm a huge fan of wool also.  All stuff said above I agree with but will also add a few points.
Wool is one of the most durable longest lasting quiet material out there....it wears like iron.
You would be hard pressed to find any material that absorbs light better than wool (this means no reflectivity).
Wool is the only material I know of that actually keeps you warm when its wet (the wool swells and keeps in body heat and traps body heated air in the air inside the fibers).
Nothing is quiter than wool. I love fleece but it is not as quite as wool. Rubber binoculars squeek when rubbed on fleece but not on wool. Fleece also make noise from the inside rubbimv on your under layers. Wool does not.
   Only down sides to wool is its heavy when its wet and it takes along time to dry. Wool is not very wind proof so keep that in mind and add a wind blocking thin layer under or over the wool on windy days.

Not a season has passed in all my hunting that I'm not using wool for cold weather hunting. I can't see a day in my future where I won't be wearing wool for cold weather. And the best part is do to its durability I'm still wearing the same wool stuff every year that I bought 20 years ago. I expect it will last another 20 as well.

So that's my personal opinion on wool.

[magnus]

I am a sweater even when it's cold if I'm active. The man made materials I always froze in. Once I switched to 100% wool and learned how to layer properly problem solved.

[Roadkill]

I have a very old military sleeping bag-all wool.  I still use it on very cold nights inside my medium wt bag.   I wear swandri cammo as my cold wx outer.  Wool sweaters and military issued wool trousers.  It is cold here, but not as cold as AK or Korea, and I wore as much wool as regs allowed

[Northwoods runner]

One other thing about wool, it doesn't retain odors like the synthetics. If hunting out of a tent camp, just hang the items out in the air and they will be nice and fresh.