Recommendations for Layering with Wool

[Elsecaller]

FYI
I have a heavy Alpaca or Llama (can't remember which) wool pullover sweater a hunting buddy gave me that is the warmest pc of clothing I own. It replaces two layers of anything else.

I had one of those once, got it for a deal at a local fair. Every time I wore it I'd sweat my butt off.

[Jack Whitmire Jr]

I don't have a man bun or a straight billed hat but I do have a Sitka Stratus Jacket that works great when coupled with a wool layer underneath LOL.

[electricstart]

Minus 33 Merino wool , expedition weight . Merino wool socks . Works for me , Usually thinsulate bibs and parka over . Your choice all name brands are good.

[huntsfairchase]

My wool is older and well worn (Sleeping Indian) and the weave has tightened considerably from getting wet and drying while being worn etc, so it does a great job on wind by itself. It started out as an XL 25 years ago and now fits like a L. Maybe even an Xtra Medium    I can’t layer much under it without hindering drawing the bow, so I wear a t shirt, layer of merino wool, and a flannel most days. Down in the teens and colder I add a lightweight down vest.

If a guy knew what he was doing, you could probably buy your wool on the roomy side and shrink it a bit to tighten the weave to get the same effect.

 

[Mike Malvaini]

Grey Wolf is primo!!! Well made and last for ever, not to mention fully functional. You can even have it custom made to fit you perfect as a bowhunter. Great company, and long time Sponsor of Tradgang.  I will be passing mine down to my grandson as it still looks brand new after a decade.

[Elsecaller]

Grey Wolf is primo!!! Well made and last for ever, not to mention fully functional. You can even have it custom made to fit you perfect as a bowhunter. Great company, and long time Sponsor of Tradgang.  I will be passing mine down to my grandson as it still looks brand new after a decade.

It is expensive, but the quality is well worth it. i only wish he offered more plain colored options or plaids as opposed to the camo patterns.

[Wudstix]

Just dug out a 1/4 zip wool top from New Zealand wool that fits great, will perhaps fit a light layer or two under it.  Perfect for underneath my Asbell pathfinder, with room for a wind blocker vest, if needed.
 

[cacciatore]

I really like wool for its many properties and I like to have an external layer of wool clothing because it’s quiet and it absorbs the light. If in the need of a wind barrier and extra warm I layer under with different weights down vests.
Some old solid cachemire pull over are light weight a super cozy.

[Sam McMichael]

Under the wool underwear, I like a pair of silk long johns such as a skier would wear. This adds a layer of warmth with no noticeable weight increase, which is helpful, because I have not found a fully effective non-synthetic top layer. Fortunately, winter in the South is not generally excessively cold or windy so my down vest gives a fair amount of wind breaking protection. Not being a wool purist, I usually just reach for my camo Army field jacket. However, I do remember seeing a German sweater with a wind breaker lining in a military surplus ad some time ago, possibly Sportsman's Guide, but I don't recall if it had any customer rating.

[Elsecaller]

So, I think I have a system worked out.

Base Layer - Merino Wool base layers

Insulating Layer 1 - Merino Wool Jogger Pants and Merino Wool Hoodie. Swap out a Carhartt Wind Fighter fleece if it's really windy.

Insulating Layer 2 - If necessary I have a lightweight down vest I can fit under the outer layer for a top. For bottoms I have nice fleece bibs unless its unseasonably warm, then I just have some great cargo pants.

Outer Layer - Asbell Wool Pathfinder. For rifle season throw my hunter orange mackinaw cape over. Pack a lightweight rain jacket
 that fits over in case it rains.

[GCook]

Yes.  Synthetics. 😄😉

[Wudstix]

Haven't had the need to layer much wool this season, so far.  Took some to LTR but it stayed in the luggage bag.
 

[MnFn]

Cabelas wool bibs (it has wind stopper of some kind in it) a light weight down jacket over that covered by an Asbell anorak. It works pretty well, until it’s really cold —0.

[Larry Dean]

In my younger days, I often hunted in below zero conditions. The problem with synthetics that block wind completely is perspiration.  It all depends if you are hiking a long ways or still in slingshot range of your pickup. Some wool is much better at blocking enough wind to stay warm enough. I have Pendleton soft wool shirts that I have worn all day on canoe trips when temps reached 80 degrees and did not feel that i was over heating, they breath in the breeze, but still in the evening when the wind died down was comfortable in the lower 60s.   Good wool has a very wide comfort range. An oversized Frog Tog rain jacket packs tight in the back pocket of my Filson Double mac camo coat, but if the wind chill starts getting through the Frog Tog will block more than enough while I am not mobile, it also comes in camo patterns.

[Tim Reese]

Pretty much what elsecaller does. Almost exact. If super windy I have a sleeping Indian wool vest with wind blocker I might use instead of the down vest. I do like the down for light weight and pack ability.

Don’t skimp on base layers!! And get 200 and higher weight. 400 is great for really cold

[Elsecaller]

In my younger days, I often hunted in below zero conditions. The problem with synthetics that block wind completely is perspiration.  It all depends if you are hiking a long ways or still in slingshot range of your pickup. Some wool is much better at blocking enough wind to stay warm enough. I have Pendleton soft wool shirts that I have worn all day on canoe trips when temps reached 80 degrees and did not feel that i was over heating, they breath in the breeze, but still in the evening when the wind died down was comfortable in the lower 60s.   Good wool has a very wide comfort range. An oversized Frog Tog rain jacket packs tight in the back pocket of my Filson Double mac camo coat, but if the wind chill starts getting through the Frog Tog will block more than enough while I am not mobile, it also comes in camo patterns.

Similar to what you're saying I've found that if I wear a few good layers of wool between my skin and a synthetic out layer for rain or wind I can maintain some of that breathability/moisture wicking while also not getting soaked or chilled to the bone.

[Overspined]

Lofty wool is best. Like a nice wool sweater, wool power, I like KOM, other brands, ETC. ONLY in windy or super cold conditions I use down underneath and if necessary a goretex cover. A heated pnuma vest on Med lasts 4 hrs. Gotta just adjust with the conditions when sitting still.

[RIVERWOLF]

...imho for a wind blocker while wearing wool you can do no better than a super light/thin cycling/running vest worn over a base layer under your wool. If in real cold driven winds you might opt for the jacket. You can get these on-line in real thin -  super light weight material.  I don't want to be like Ralphie's little brother in Christmas story trying to shoot a bow  , so for my mid base wind protection I reach for the synthetic ultra light cycling/running vest .

Cheap , light , comfortable , effective.  I let the wool do the keeping warm part , and the tech. stop the wind in light weight fashion 

[Bigriver]

a company called Sporthill makes pullovers in a material called 3SP.It is dead quiet, stretches, and is windproof to 35 mph. I use it a lot under my Graywolf and KOM stuff. It is one of my go to pieces of gear.

[pdk25]

I just wear wool with appropriate layers as long as the wind isn't blowing too much.  If it is really ripping and you don't have to worry about noise, you can use any windbarrier that you want to.  It is those intermediate times that are tricky.  If it is a medium wind, I usually use a tighter knit layer either just under or over, but it still has to be somewhat quiet.  I have berber fleece vests with a windshear lining that are pretty quiet that I wear over the top.  Not having the liner in the sleaves helps immensely, but then I use a tighter weave layer for the sleaves.  Sometimes a Klamath from first light, but just about anything will do.