Will pass on wool

[swampthing]

Sitka gear is a good compromise, First Lite is good and comes in lighter layers is another one, Cabelas Berber Fleece is a good compromise as well that has that shine factor lessened by the nature of it being napped. Melts to your skin in a fire so don't fall in one. Easy clean up and drying. Downside is you will be a bit puffy with layers in real cold and wind.
With wool, why would you wash it? Put it in a trash bag with a box of arm and hammer over night, done.
 2 layers of it is way more than enough! 3 if you are in Saskatchewan and not moving!  
 In cold/wet conditions/survival situations, extended durations WOOL works, poly is decent.

[AWPForester]

A lot of mine were wore out, holed up, and non functioning after 5 years, much less 35.  People make a big deal outta not being able to wash it.  Just as stated above, if you have the kind that has to be handwashed.  Dry it hot and whip it out.  I know I'm not the only one to have this happen, but by the time you wash your high tech garmits alot the shrinking that has happened to them is just as noteable as the wool.  But nobody addresses that.

I had shirtails to short to stay tucked. shirt sleeves are too short.  Holes in the shirts of the "new fabric".  All caused by shrinking, piling, and bascially falling apart due to being worn out.  And the stuff stinks when you get it dirty or wear it for a couple days without washing it.

To each his own but I been down both roads and the wool route is so much better for ever use.  One more tidbit for you fellows down south.  A good insulator protects from heat as well as cold.  So if you are wearing a long sleeved garment, I promise you wool will be cooler and more breathable than any synthetic.  Those sweaty days would feel so much better in a light wool long sleeve versus a stinky, wet, polyester or cotton shirt.  Your missing out and don't even know it.  There is a reason top of the line suits and warm weather clothes are made from wool as well!

God Bless

There's something about wool and deerhunting...they seem to go together. There are many things about wool that are a pain--the price, the upkeep-- but for quiet, warmth (add a wind blocking layer as needed) and the way it reacts to natural light (nonreflective, an important and largely unreported phenomenon), wool is the winner. I have had deer walk right up to me when I'm wearing wool!   :eek:   To each his/her own.

[Kevin Dill]

I would never have a reason to badmouth wool....but:

I had a full set of KOM. Sold it. I bought a full set of Sleeping Indian. Sold it. I used to routinely wear some kind of 100% wool garment to the treestand. Sold them. I've had at least $3,000 invested in top line wool over the past 15 years. Today I own none. I still hunt in cold and windy or wet environments, and I'm more comfortable than ever.

[b.glass]

I buy Goodwill wool sweaters oversized and wash them like all my other hunting clothes in hot water then dry them in the dryer. They felt together making them even warmer and end up fitting pretty good. I've never been more comfortable hunting in the cold.

[screamin]

Merino wool for a base layer can't be beat imo. Its warm yet cool because it breaths so well. Where it really shines is in the stink factor. Back when I used some of the high tech base layers after two days in the hills I could hardly stand the stench, and yes I use an unscented deodorant. I had to wash those clothes in camp in a little ice chest then rinse in the creek. With wool, even in the 90's and the sweating that goes with it, merino wool will go 5 days to a week with no stench. I have one shirt for each week of my hunt. I only wash them once a year after the hunts are over in cold water, gentle cycle, then line dry. I do prefer Primaloft for insulation, its much lighter than wool and packable raingear for wet weather.

[cahaba]

Merino wool socks is the extent of the wool I wear. Here in Alabama fleece with windstopper keeps me very comfortable. It's not bulky,dries quickly and when it needs washing just throw it in the washer with some no scent,no fabric brightner detergent and it's good to go. A jacket,pants and heavy ECWCS longjohns keep me warm down to those few days it gets in the teens with very little weight or bulk. I buy Legacy fleece with windshear from C#@#%as for less than $150.00 for a nice hooded jacket and pants.

[John Scifres]

You CAN spend a crapload of money on any type of clothing.  But you don't HAVE to. Shop smart and there is good, low care wool out there.  A great thing about it is that you don't have to wash it as much as synthetics and it is a better insulator than cotton, the other natural fiber.

[Gary Logsdon]

Certainly more than one fabric works in the field but in many ways doesn't it simply come down to PERSONAL SATISFACTION??? It does for me. Over the years I've noticed how non-reflective wool is in the woods - even in strong sunlight. I like the quietness, comfort, and effective "blending in" provided by a wool garment. Heck, I even like the smell when wet! My story is polar opposite to what someone else reported.  I have sold most of my synthetic "hi tech" clothing with "camo" patterns and replaced them with simple cotton plaids in warm weather and wool in cool to cold temps. When I lean my Kodiak TD against a tree and pull a smashed cheese sandwich from my pocket I feel just like my old friend Fred Bear . . . makes a day afield that much better;^)

[Stone Knife]

I would have to agree with Gary on the non reflective nature of wool and in my opinion that makes it the best choice for a hunting garment.

[McDave]

I usually spend a month or more at high elevations in the mountains backpacking with my wife during the summer.  It gets cold at night, and warm long underwear is a must. If I wore any kind of synthetic long underwear, I might be warm enough, but I can guarantee you I wouldn't have a wife very long, at least not in the same tent!  That stuff smells awful after you've worn it a few nights!  Merino wool is the only way to go. It probably doesn't smell too wonderful after a while either, but it's more of a natural smell, and isn't a problem if you rinse it out in a stream and dry it in the sun every week or so.

[Tall Paul]

Yep, good wool prices are high.  And all the talk about washable wool, I don't believe.  I bought some KOM wool pants and shirt in the mid 90s, and they shrunk like crazy.  And yes, I blocked, and stretched them.  Followed the directions to the T.

I own a KOM shirt now, and some Predator Wool pants and coat, but I never wash them.  Unless they are drenched in blood in something. Mud dries and can be spot cleaned.

[Tom Leemans]

I use mostly wool and won't go back to synthetics. The care may not be as easy, but it's not hard and doesn't have to constantly be done either. The only drawback is cost, but the investment is worth it IMO. My socks and longjohns are mostly merino wool. The Asbell stuff is reasonable as is the LaClair longhunter stuff, which I personally own and is worth it's weight in gold on cold days.

[Tall Paul]

I do wash my merino wool long johns.  Haven't had a shrinkage problem with them.  

KOM is outrageously priced, but the blowdown pattern is awesome camo.

[AWPForester]

Tall Paul, KOM isn't the only maker of wool and the set of ARMY surplus pants I have were washed at least 25 times before I knew better and they shrunk as well, but not to bad.  As stated above by me, anything you wash and dry will shrink, but, if you follow the directions of the manufacturer, you should be just fine.  If not, maybe you had the wrong kind.  I once bought some woolrich bibs and jacket and they shrunk tremendously.  But I didn't follow directions either.  It isn't hard to take care of if you get the right stuff.  At least mine isn't.  Your expierences might be another example that $ signs aren't a true indicator of value.  God BLess

[Hoyt]

Originally posted by Tall Paul:
Yep, good wool prices are high.  And all the talk about washable wool, I don't believe.  I bought some KOM wool pants and shirt in the mid 90s, and they shrunk like crazy.  And yes, I blocked, and stretched them.  Followed the directions to the T.

I own a KOM shirt now, and some Predator Wool pants and coat, but I never wash them.  Unless they are drenched in blood in something. Mud dries and can be spot cleaned.

I decided to do a little wool washing before the season this yr. also..big mistake..same results as you.

[vintage-bears]

I absolutely love my KOM wool.
The best hunting clothes I've ever had and I plan on getting some of classic bowman new wool garments.
They are not cheap but their the best and will out last all other garments, so at the end of the day, they save you money.
......Philip

[Marc B.]

Wool has served my well and I have too much of it to quit now. KOM and Silent Predator in camo and Asbell plaids. I just got a hat from Classic Bowman and will be getting more of it.

I've sent a KOM hooded sweatshirt and bibs through the washing machine several times and mine has never had any shrinkage I can notice.

[Knawbone]

I'm with Centaur on this one,have never cared for the heavy wools. I do however like the 80% wool dress pants I picked up at salvo for 5.00. I had to alter them for my size, no big deal for the price. Also got a nice wool plaid shirt made by LL Bean for 3.00. Light weight, works great.He.......of a nice set of hunting clothes for 8.00.

[Tall Paul]

Hi AWP,

The best wool pants I ever owned were some Swedish Army military surplus. The wind did not penetrate at all!

But they must have been WWII issue, cause they stunk of mold so bad, I had to wash 'em!  Anyway, they didn't shrink, but eventually came apart due to age (I guess).

Theres lots of good wool out there.  I'm just saying that I'm kinda of leery of products that claim to be washable, like KOM.