Ullfrotte/Woolpower 200 vs 400 wt?

[Brian Gillispie]

Hey guys,

I am sitting on the annual stack of christmas monies,  burning a hole in the pocket as usual.  I want to hear from folks who have used the Ullfrotte long underwear in cold conditions.  I live in North Carolina.  We are more likely to see wet windy weather in the low to mid 30's and sometimes temps will drop into the 20's on a really nasty cold snap.

What I want to know is this.  Is the 400 wt only reasonable in the sub zero range of temps when sitting in a tree stand?  Will I be way to hot wearing it here in NC?

One of the reasons I love wearing wool clothes is the fact that when I sweat in cold weather it still keeps me warm.  Personaly I sweat in any temp when I am active,  so I have to plan accordingly.

Cant wait to hear your responses,

Brian

[tukudu]

I have a pull over and set of long johns in the 200 wt. and use it for layering. If it it really cold on a stand here in PA I will use the 200 under a 400 wt full zip sweater and then put a wool pull over on top of that. I wash and dry mine as instructed and have had no issues with their products. I think this is one of the best products I have owned. I wear it all fall, winter and use the pull over for fishing in the spring and bird hunting.It is also really comfortable, very light in hand. tom

[YORNOC]

I own the 200, 400 and 600 tops. 200,400 bottoms and a 600 vest.  I often combine these without any shirt under my wool outerwear. I'll often keep the 600 sweater rolled up tight in a pack and if I really start to shiver or if very windy and heat robbing out, I'll take off coat and pull it on...its a full zip.
It breathes, so if you keep your outer coat off and walk in with just the ulfrotte layers on, it breathes pretty well, when you stop, put the outer coat back on.
Every body has different abilities to fight the cold, I chill down fast. I would get rid of a lot of stuff before I got rid of any Ulfrotte. I love the stuff. Socks too. Buy the 400, you won't be sorry. Never know when the cold is gonna get ya, be ready.

[Northwoods]

I have the 400wt and it seems comfortable walking to my stand from about 30 down to about 0 or a little less. Haven't tried it in much warmer temps than that yet.  At my stand I layer with 1-2 more layers of wool and have been fairly comfortable. Haven't tried the 200wt.  Good quality and comfortable.

Ted

[YORNOC]

Here is some of my arsenal, the one thing I hate though is METAL zippers. Hate them, I cut 'em off. Metal and cold don't go together too well.


 

[Orion]

I think you would get more use out of the 200 than the 400 in your area.  I have the 400.  Wear it over silk and under heavy wool pants, shirt and coat for temps from 0 to 30 and above.

[YORNOC]

Possibly my mistake...for some reason I thought you already had 200 gram and were wondering if you should buy 400 also.  
If you have none, I agree with Orion.

[NoCams]

What Northwoods said X2. We have 400 and wear it from Nov thru Feb. Best piece of clothing we own. Yes, it seems very expensive when you have to buy it initially but been wearing ours now for about 3 years and worth every penny. I am sure it will last us a lifetime. 40 and above we wear it under regular pants and wool sweater or thin coat. Below that or windy we throw a fleece windproof top and bottom on and if in the teens add a vest or Goodwill wool sweater in too. The wonder of wool is how well it BREATHES ! Never know how bad polypro sucked until Ullfrotte was discovered. We walk around 1/2 mile to most stands and we wear whatever we are going to wear for the day on the bottom and the Ullfrotte top only. Once I get in the tree I sit for 15 minutes or so to make sure I am not hot and cooled down good, then throw on the coat and or other layers. JMHO

[Cookus]

I'd go with the 400.   Why?   I'm a smaller framed guy with little body fat and I only wear mine with a KOM trapper and a wool vest down to about 25 degrees... Why?   I stay warm and my arms and shoulders are unencumbered when it's time to shoot.   Remember, wool is an insulator that does not generate heat;   It retains it!   If you have to walk a mile uphill to get to your stand and sweat, put it in your pack and dress when you reach your destination as the other fellows have suggested.

[[email protected]]

When I had the Helle knife business I was also a Ullfrote dealer.  Good stuff.

I like the 400 with the thumb holes.  If I remember correctly the zipper is on the opposite side of what we are use to here in the states...really no NBD.

Given that you don't have really cold temps you may want to consider two pairs of the 200's and double up (layer) them when you need to.  

You will probably wear the 200's 10 to 1 over the 400's so it may be worth considering.

Recently I have noticed some stretch holes in the bottoms.  A little dissapointed seeing that.

Consider Smart Wool, I have been using that this winter and I like it.

Bob

[Brian Gillispie]

Bob,

I thought this was Smartwool.  I am looking to buy the one piece union suit.  I hate the gap that happens between tops and bottoms when I am sitting in a tree.

I like to wear a pair of wool woolrich bibs and the lighter weight Ron LaClair longhunter shirt when I am in the woods.  With that in mind I am looking to wool long underwear.  So,  200 or 400.

[[email protected]]

Brian,

No, two different companies.  I don't believe SW makes a union suit.

If I remember correctly the Ullfrote union suit did not have a back door flap so you had to take off the whole set before any serious business should occur.  If that is important to you please check it out.  I could be wrong or they may have made changes in the product line.

It seems everyone has different tolerances when it comes to warm/cold.  Given what you have said I think the 200 would be fine but YMMV.

Good luck!

Bob

[684Kevin]

If your tree stand hunting, I'd go with the 400.  I have both but tend to wear the 400 most here in Ohio in the upper 20's and up to 40 degrees.  The only time I use my 200 is layer with my 400 weight when it gets down in the 20's or lower.  You won't be disappointed in Ullfrotte.

[stikbowshooter]

where can you buy this stuff?

[NoCams]

3 Rivers a sponsor here stocks it.

[wahoo]

get em both. I think the 200 is a base layer. I bought the 400 and luv it. I believe it is a layering system like anything else.You can buy it on the net. They will send you a catalog and I think the dealer is in the south .

[Kris]

I was set on the Ullfrotte at one time but passed on it for Smart Wool.  I think Ullfrotte is an excellent product but don't care as much for the more "open knit" that it exhibits.  The Smart Wool has a tighter weave (if that is the correct term) and fits more tightly to my body.  I feel the that the Ullfrotte tends to "drape off" my body giving me that "un-tucked" feeling.  All wool is really good, check them all out before you buy, try them on if you can to develop your own opinion.

Kris

[amicus]

I have the 200 union suit. I really like it. I also have the 400 bottoms and only use them when it gets really cold. The union suit is very comfortable and keeps me warm. So far the coldest its been in my area is in the high 20s and with my union suit and wool overalls I was very comfortable.

Gilbert

[Brian Gillispie]

Anymore owners of these products want to chime in?

[Junglecat]

I just received a Ullfrotte 200 series outfit today.I tried it on and I have to say it feels great.I plan on wearing it this weekend so I will know more next week.