The idea that Merino wool is a new product is absurd. It's a breed of sheep that's been around for centuries a d has always been primarily bred for its soft wool. I don't know if camping products have micron count, but that's what you should look for, under 25 for a micron count if you want it too feel good. Other breeds such as Ramboulet or Cormo can be just as soft as Merino.
What's somewhat new is the newer methods of processing merino (and/or other types of wool). One of the common practices among so called "sports wool" companies is the removal of the scales from the wool. This does a few things--it completely eliminates felting and severely reduces shrinking, and it also further increases skin contact comfort besides the micron count (fineness or more accurately--size). The downside, which I haven't seen anyone else talk about, is that it would also slightly decrease thermal insulation capacity. Since most thermal insulation in relation to fibers relates primarily to the fibers trapping/stilling air to decrease thermal conduction--a perfectly round fiber will be easier for air to get around, pass over, etc than one with micro ridges--the latter will still/trap more air more effectively. It's probably not a significant difference all in all though, since it is primarily the overall fiber itself which is doing most of the air stilling.
@@justinw1765 in the Fiber Arts Comunity that's called super wash wool. I've never spun it, but I have knitted one scarf for my son with it. It's definitely not as warm, but still warmer than synthetic.
@@justinw1765 afterthought, if you can find superfine wool under 20 micron count that will be warmer than the super wash, but just as soft. It will still felt (shrink) though. Making wool products oversized and shrinking them to size is another method of increasing the functionality of wool. Also, if your willing to experiment with breeds, some breeds of wool don't felt as much. From what I know those tend to be mountain breeds. Welsh breeds of sheep are known for being resistant to felting.
Great video. I can vouch for merino wool keeping you warm even if it gets wet. Had my foot go through ice and the water go over the top and onto my boot. It was 15° out and so I took the boot off and emptied the water and rang the sock as good as I could. Wore the sock for 6 more hours of hiking and my foot was toasty warm. No blisters either.
I love merino wool. My Norwegian Devold sweater is so warm, nice and soft. My preferred layering in the winter: Inner layer of merino wool, a second layer of fleece or wool, third layer of Gore-Tex to protect from rain and wind, while also breathing.
Honestly, It really doesn't matter what you use, synthetic, wool, or down. What matters is that you understand the pros and cons of each and you understand how to layer. After that it is all personal preference and what your bank account can afford.
I absolutely love my Smart Wool and Darn Tough socks ! Be it summer or winter. I just adjust the thickness and or number of layers of socks for conditions and activities. I often go with two thinner sock layers to help avoid blisters. As to Down vs Wool, I haven't used Down since I was a kid, and for my purposes weight is not a major concern, so I'll stay with Wool (and some man-made materials) for all my -15f to 98f needs.
For me down sleeping bag works as i take care to always have it dry, keeping it in my bag or in the tent. I'm a wool fan for my coat, merino wool for socks, hats and gloves here in the Scottish highlands massive variation in temp and rain
I have worked in mountaineering/backing shops and I can tell you that goose down is a by product of processing geese for food in China. 1 billion people can eat a lot of geese.
i have a couple pairs of darn tough socks and then a shirt/pants smartwool base layer and it makes a huge difference imo. The biggest advantage about those items is the huge amount of warmth you get for the weight.
I am not a big friend of down, because of price and fragility, something you do not have to worry about with wool. Nowadays, after years sweating and chilling inside fleece and GoreTex I abandoned these materials completely and changed to wool, felt and waxed canvas, and I will not go back!
@@J.Young808 in my experience wool from any camelid is better than sheepwool since per weight it is warmer, but you should make sure you have a decently knit piece, since the fiber is a little "weaker" (holes can develop in exposed areas) A combination of more than one (natural) fiber is perhaps the best solution, combining strength with warmth. I have a couple llama/alpaca ponchos that are clearly lighter than my sheepwool ponchos, at equal or better degree of "warming ability". Some manufacturers also use synthetic fibres in the mix, and I thing this is ok as long as you do not exaggerate. It should help with the strength of the cloth but that is it. "Odor inhibiting" properties and slow, flame-free combustion are inherent to these natural fibres and this plus should not be eliminated by the adding of synthetics.
@@senanladnonu9552 it is somehow "heavier" but that conclusion is also a certain "perception" that goes far beyond mere grams or ounces... other factors like performance in wet conditions, flame-retardant properties, odor inhibition properties, recyclability of the material, "image" of the material and the product, etc, etc, really affect factual evaluation, and from here "perception" is built, which is a complex and no doubt "dynamic" association of ideas... So I would not totally support your judgment, although even I would not walk to the volcano tip with my sheepwool poncho...
Great video. I'm with you 100%. Wool is the best (I'm wearing three merino wool items right now, and most of the time.) In 2016 I back packed around Japan wearing layers of polyester. I stank and I couldn't get rid of the stink. I went to an endless number of laundromats trying to get that stink out. Japan is a very fastidious country and I stank. (Tip: the best way is direct sunshine, on all four sides of your garment, front back, turn inside out... I had a bathing suit I'd forgotten in my car for several days- I tried the highest recommended wetsuit deodorizers, even a little bleach, nope. Sunlight? Four days. That was a few years ago. Smell never came back.) I did some Googling. Duh! Wool. Of course, I'd wear a sweater take it off, catch a whiff and think - I'll have to wash this before I can wear it again. But a week later, cold morning....the sniff test...it no longer smelled. (You can try this with your first merino wool t-shirt. Wear it until it's got some BO, then hang it up for a couple of days. The smell should be gone. Hang a cotton T next to it. (It may stink less but I think it'll still smell.) Polyester? It'll stink. Underwear drips.... sorry no deal there. If you drip in your merino Icebreakers, it'll smell like urine and that won't go away until you at least rinse it.) I'd already been wearing smart wool socks for years. After Japan, I got merino underwear, t-shirts, short and long sleeve, in three different thicknesses for layering. Terrific stuff. In 2018 I backpacked all over the UK, no stink,. Sometimes I'd just give my stuff a quick wash in a bucket, hang it up to dry. This was interesting. The outside would dry and feel warn, but inside it would be damp and cold. This is wool's wicking effect. So I'd turn it inside out. Sometimes a couple of times. Other times I'd put it on damp and my body heat would drive the moisture to the surface where it quickly dried. Wool is the best. It's got a good temperature comfort rangeThe underwear and shirts cost a lot. $40-50 for underpants, T-shirts usually $30 on up. To me it's worth it. (I got a smartwool/merino buff on Amazon - it was too small - I had to add a panel of spandex to get it comfortably over my head. So avoid that item.) Polyester sucks. I have a $240 Patagonia puffy jacket. A complete joke. Sure it's warm, but any amount of body perspiration it begins to stink and the stink doesn't go away. I tossed it in my car for emergencies. re: your wool Wristies. I made something this out of spandex. I've got Reynauds disease or chillblains - cold hands and feet. I made my wristies like fingerless gloves, except for my fingers it's just a long tube for all of them. This overhangs my finger tips but can be pushed up out of the way. The spandex is thinner than most wool items, so my variation wristie is only good if you have some thin merino. (the spandex while synthetic doesn't seem to have the stinky problem so .....) Another wool item that's terrific SealSkinz waterproof socks. While trekking through Dorset in April, in the mud and rain I first wore two layers of smartwool socks in my waterproofed boots. My toes would be cold in my sleeping bag (sleeping bag socks of course) for about an hour. When I switched to the SealSkinz (high tops) I could feel air moving through my toes. They were by far the best demonstration of the Goretex effect. They were absolutely waterproof. End of day I'd put on my sleeping bag socks and my feet were already warm. You can't wear them where water will get in through the top. Once water gets inside SealSkinz it won't leave. I tried a pair of SealSkinz gloves paddling off the coast of Southern California. Of course water got in at the wrists. Unbelievably cold. At first I thought there was something wrong with the gloves. But at home I tested them against the socks in a bucket of water and they worked exactly the same. Everyone should have a pair of SealSkinz socks. And if you follow my advice and that in the video.... you'll spend some money. To me it's worth every penny. The real Merino wool bargain are Aran Island sweaters. Thick, comfortable, warm - they look great. $80-$130. They're always running a sale. Their cheapest merino sweaters will be the best sweater you've ever owned. A bit heavy for a lot of backpacking.
Wool is not the only material that counter balances and minimizes odor buildup and retention. Some other materials that are very good at this are flax linen, hemp, ramie, rayon and other similar types of human modified cellulose material like tencel, modal, etc. And even among synthetics--nylon is significantly better than polyester in the odor department. Conversely, polypropylene is significantly worse than polyester. A lot of all this relates to a material's moisture regain. Fabrics made out of materials with a higher moisture regain, do not promote the growth of odor causing microbes. Meaning, the lower the moisture regain, the more the material tends to promote the growth of odor causing microbes. And beyond, and deeper than that, it relates to the surface electrical charge of the material. As an aside, I prefer alpaca over sheep's wool because it has air pockets in the fiber which make it a bit warmer on a per micron count basis, and since there is slightly less solid material, it also dries slightly faster. It also has higher tensile strength. The odor reducing properties are very similar. But all in all, there is not a big difference in all the above.
@@justinw1765 Thanks, excellent information. I should add to the experience I shared that I do have some nylon clothes. Shorts, pants, travel shirts. Great for hot weather, very cool, comfortable, quick drying and yes, it also doesn't stink.
great comparison vid. I've been gathering gear lately and i have gone merino where i can, and regular wool where i can't. If you made a community channel poll, thats how i would vote.
I do historic trekking and wear a lot of plain wool, and spent more then one night below 0f in the tall timber. Outside of army blankets I’ve not met this scratchy wool golfs speak of
The scratchiness of wool can depend on your skin sensitivity. If you’ve got baby smooth skin, you’re going to be more sensitive than someone who grows a five o’clock shadow in three hours. An example of “scratchy” wool would be Shetland. Merino and alpaca are good examples of non-scratchy wool.
Outer wear wool, you can add back some oil to the wool and waterproof it. Commercial operations strip off all the oils. Don’t use vegetable oils that will dry out and cake. About 1/3 of a sheep’s fleece fresh sheared is lanolin.
FANTASTIC video. I’m team wool by far. I love the various wool stuff I already own (including the very same Boreal Shirt by Lester River Bushcraft). Thanks for the ideas and great video (and funny outro).
wool makes me itchy - but I got a cashmere pullover as a teen and love it ever since (pullover / scarf and hat) - as an underlayer I have a 100% mulberry silk top or a long sleeve (cools and warms)... I have also a puffy jacket and a long (military style) wool mix coat. I traveled across Tibet in January / February (some years ago) with only 1 extra leggins underneath the trousers (polyester / cotton mix).
If you can find wool military pants, they work great. I have Austrian wool pants that were made in 1959. I've seen US Air Force wool pants that were even thicker than the Australian pants. I'm sure they are very warm. These are cold weather camping clothes. Not for summer or even warm fall and spring weather.
Big Bill (Canada), CC Sutlery (Idaho) are also good for cheaper new wool pants. Big Bill sells 28 oz wool that is very thick. Stanfields sells great base/mid layer for a good price. Not all merino, so I like mine as a midlayer. For stuff like socks, you typically want 80% wool minimum and not too tight to cut off circulation.
Layering is an absolute in cold weather and the exterior layer can be either similar to Carhart type or something like gore-tex. At least that is what 15 years in Alaska taught me
Imo, nothing better than a thick, fuzzy inside, smooth outside *WOVEN* polypropylene garment for an outer (like one of the old, military cold weather base or mid layers polypro). Because of a few things. It actually breathes unlike gortex, but is still hydrophobic enough that it repels most moisture (not a hard rain) and won't absorb any moisture directly into the material (just between the fibers, but it can be shaken out very easily). It is very lightweight. And it is one of the least thermally conductive of materials, which on a same loft per loft basis compared to other materials, makes it slightly warmer/more insulating (I specify on a same loft to loft basis, because most of the thermal insulation happens from stilling air, which is much, much less conductive than all solid materials we use for garments/clothing). The downside is that it is not fully waterproof and isn't the most abrasion resistant material in the world. Also melts very easily when exposed to high heat. If the wind is high, you will need to wear a wind jacket underneath the polypro garment. If the windjacket has a good DWR, this will also significantly increase the water resistance of the system as well.
Tweeds a great fabric been using it here in Scotland for hunting and hiking for thaw last 200 years and kilts before that. Tried and tested for the weather here
Great stuff. Just picked up some super warm smartwool socks and a lightweight 650+ down puffer on clearance, been great for winter snowshoeing Also recently picked up a waxed canvas ground cloth lined with 100% wool tartan. Looking forward to using the cloth as a liner for my camp chair on chilly nights and a mat for my pack and my feet under my hammock at night.
@@tombryant6061 Thanks. I've seen them in my searches on etsy. I have several items from a person in the states - Colorado Bushcraft and I highly recommend him. Reasonable prices and excellent hand made items.
I wear my ghost whisperer to work sometimes. People get confused about all the patches on it. That camp fire is always so warm though 😂 Great info, bro
my favorite base layer shirts where 2 & 3$ at thrift stores. I also have filson and swanndri wools. I wear my pendleton mackinaw cruiser almost everywhere. I buy wool slacks (unlined preferred) from suits at thrift stores and often make cargo shorts out of them since theyre thinner for summer. Wool can go forever without washing and doesnt smell. A great way to make thicker wools closer to waterproof is lanolin. I lanolined a few sweaters, my cruiser jacket, and a few thicker pants and its amazing how well they shed water. im wool, all the way. I have a few pairs of "sweater pants" and shorts. yes, sweater shorts. They make great thermals for active times in the cold, or under lederhosen.
I love my merino, but also have a Ghost Whisperer because you just can't beat it for warmth vs weight. One of my favorites is a Wool/Bamboo combo hoodie I got a couple of years ago. It is both an insulating layer and a sun layer for me, as somehow it seems to keep me warm and cool at the same time.
@@susie9893 It is pretty thin fabric, but stretchy and I don't have any holes or anything. (I live in the SE, so don't wear it a ton). The only issue I had with the garment (which is a Tasc Elevation base layer hoodie) was that the stretchiness made some stitches pop on the thumb holes/cuff when trying to take off. It is a great piece of gear that I wish they made available again.
I really liked the visual aid and you explaining your layers. I think this video would get way more traffic if you titled it something like "a visual representation of how to later for cold weather" something like that. Nice editing and the blooper reel was a hoot, good stuff all around!
LOL! Merino is not a "new" product. It might be new to the major manufactures, but it's been around since the Middle Ages. I love my Smart Wool base layers.
Yes, watch the New England Forests videos. Much of the lower elevations in New England were cleared for Merino sheep in the early 1800's after someone brought back some Merino sheep from Spain. I can't remember which of their videos I saw this in but they are interesting to listen to anyways.
Oh, its been around far longer than that. As far as we know, sheep have been domesticated for their wool, meat, and/or milk for at least 10, 000 or so years.
Sheep wool is not really all that hollow. Sometimes some of the fibers get some little void pockets, but it is a much more solid fiber than alpaca, yak, bison, polar bear, caribou, etc. These are latter fibers are more truly hollow. Sheep (rather the domestic breeds and species human's use) generally are not adapted to more extreme cold areas like most of the above animals are. Sheep do live in some of those areas now, but that is a more recent thing because of humans. I'm talking natural habitats and where they originally adapted to. Domestic sheep first came from/developed in southwest Asia and in the Middle East--not extremely cold environments. I'm sure there has been some micro adaption to different climes were certain breeds were for a long time, like say Spain, or the Highlands of Scotland, etc.
Nice video. Only use 100% wool. Don't buy wool blends as these usually contain petroleum products and aren't healthy to wear, plus it reduces the thermal and antimicrobial properties in natural wool. Also, just last week alone I found three pure wool sweaters at my local thrift store. One was merino and the other two were lamb's wool, plus I got a wool hat. I got all four pieces for less than $17.00. I get a lot of my wool at thrift stores. You'd be surprised what you can find. Last year my husband found and purchased a 100% cashmere men's long coat for $13.00. Amazing find. Also ethically sourced down usually means the duck or goose was killed prior to harvesting the down. Now, don't get me wrong, I eat meat; but for those who don't this could be an issue. I'd like to find a down sleeping bag second hand. I'm still adding to my camping gear because I'd like to try winter camping and a down sleeping bag would be nice to have under my wool blanket 😴 For mittens I'd suggest you go with Icelandic wool over thinner merino wool gloves so that you have two layers on your hands.
Secondhand DEFINITELY the way to go but I have NEVER seen any merino wool in an offline (ie physical) thrift shop (this may be cos I'm Aussie); so lucky you. But there ARE natural merino blends out there but most AREN'T athletic wear. You just need to be open (and prepared to be charged like a wounded bull 😏). Personally I'm starting to lean more towards alpaca due to the durability - I'm getting a little sick of constantly darning my 100% merino pieces
My thick a** wool knee high socks are an item I will NOT give up from Sept-April. I know they are heavy, bulky, etc... Still love them! I am a wool gal myself. Not saying I don't run with the geese now and again... but I am born and raised Northern girl. #woolalltheway
Great video! You did make a point about pronouncing “balaclava” correctly, so I will point out Merino is pronounced “meh reeno”, not “mah rano”. Hey, I’m an Agriculture Educator. Very informative content!
Thanks for that! Also, Merino sheep are not new. They were introduced to Vermont @ 1803 and my family farmed Merino sheep for over a century. As a knitter and spinner I’ve worked with Merino wool almost exclusively for decades. It is a great material and we are lucky to have so many new companies producing great Merino clothing. I’m partial to Ibex!
Justin Young alpaca is a fiber, from an alpaca. It has many of the same qualities of sheep’s wool, but lacks one big factor. It has no memory. A garment made with alpaca will stretch as one wears it, but will not spring back into shape as Merino does. It has to do with the crimp in the wool that is shorn from the sheep. I’m not sure this question is meant for me, but that’s my answer.
A big point I try to make with people just starting out and asking for advice, is to know what you want from that puffer. I only use them as insulative layers - not the outside layer on its own - so for 90% of people, getting that $25 one with the artificial stuffing from WM will work just fine, so Swiss Tech is the brand. Get the Decathlon puffer if you're still on a budget but want one that has a hood and works as an outside layer (but not a waterproof one). If you want something that will almost exclusively be worn walking to and from your car at a local craft brew pub or REI, you'll obviously want the Patagonia Nano-puff. 🤣
Like my insulated real tree coveralls they are super warm. Feel like I’m in a sleeping bag. Work outside below zero temp and works great. Paid $100. Drawbacks to all these warm wither clothes is restriction of movement and they are heavy. Warm and thin should be the goal of these really expensive backpacking clothes.
The problem with down is that is gets wet from air humidity, not necessary rain or sweat. If your going in sub zero or high altitude conditions, that is not a problem for jackets and bags since the air is dry. The thing that down apparel is fragile is a convention because thin shell is used to keep the size and weight low. There are water proof shell down jackets and bags or thicker shells like Pertex Endurance made for expeditions but that kind of defeats the purpose of down gear for the regular user.
It is actually worse in sub zero conditions, because the moisture from you body can condensate within the down and freeze. This was a big problem in earlier Arctic and Antarctica explorations from Euros and North Americans. Accounts of bags and jackets accumulating pounds of ice within them, was not uncommon. In those kind of conditions, you really need a vapor barrier to block the moisture from entering into the down or other lofted material.
Wool also doesn't shed microfibers into our waters and lands. It is impossible to really "leave no trace" if one is shedding synthetic microbes. Alpacca wool is as good or better than merino wool. Sometimes it is cheaper. Wish there were more gear options for no synthetics.
Keep in mind my list has nothing to do with merino wool but rather coarser wool. Wool beats down in cost per wear by a big margin. Down beats wool in next-to-skin comfort (but try WeatherWool first). Wool beats down in dampness. Down beats wool for folks who like to layer less: weight. Wool beats down in odor. Down beats wool in long-term stationery cold conditions by a big margin. Wool and down are different in storage. Keep wool away from moths and keep down out of plastic and long-term compression. Final verdict: wool for longevity or down for lightness. I'm choosing wool.
You know you guys are so far behind the times In NZ that’s a Zed not a zee We’ve been farming Merino wool something you can’t pronounce, for many years well before World War Two. What you show in your left hand that laced up jacket. We have had that since just after ww2. And it’s called a Swandri. All the bushman and farmers use to wear these jackets, brilliant. Most use to sleep in them and they breed them tough down here. But not me. Icebreaker has a brilliant add. “Still wearing plastic” REI bought Icebreaker a few years back So your still behind the times 😂
Thanks for the video. I wish I did more reviews on my channel like this. I'm waiting for my new filson style wool jacket to add to my arsenal. There is one question people never seem to answer and I myself will be testing when I get my wool jacket. That is.... When comparing a high quality down, let's say 800ish to put a number on it, and a decent heavy weight wool such as the boreal you have, how many oz of down equates to a lb of wool? IE, how can you compare warmth between the 2 different types. Is your boreal by itself warmer than your down jacket by itself?
That's a good question. My boreal shirt is still pretty new so I haven't had it out in sub zero (F) temperatures yet. With how loose my boreal shirt is I don't think it would be warm enough in real cold. There is just too much room for losing body heat. I would say it would be comparable to my Magma 850 hooded down coat. I would prefer the down when hiking a long ways due to weight. Wool when short miles and around camp more due to durability.
@@MidwestBackpacker thanks for the reply. I will be doing some testing to compare once I get my wool jacket I ordered. Not a huge fan of the aneraks so I got a jacket, but my testing should be comparable.
@@MidwestBackpacker I like this question. To take it a step further, I am thinking about using a merino hoodie as a mid layer instead of my puffy for hiking. Traditionally, I have used a merino base layer with a puffy jacket and a rain jacket top layer for hiking in temps down to the high teens/low twenties. I’m looking at switching to a Polartec Alpha base layer, with a Merino Wool Hoodie (Kuiu 200) mid layer and rain jacket top layer and wondering if this will get me down to the same temperatures with less weight.
I bought a smartwool hoodie base layer and for skiing but was super bummed when I found it was itchy. Not real bad but enough to be uncomfortable. Paid $120 too ouch
Since I was a kid, I've always been a Wool in Fall/Winter fan. I actually had no idea that wool (smart wool) had cooling qualities in the warm/hot weather (Wool? In Summer?? Are you a MadMan????). If this is general knowledge, somehow I've missed it. So I'm going to give it a try this coming summer, thanks for all of this great info.
I"ve worn wool socks with polypro liners in the summer with jungle boots when doing a lot of wet foot stream crossings. It seemed like the wool socks kept my feet cooler than if I used cotton/polyester blend socks. I was surprised by that.
While merino wool is expensive, you can live comfortably with a lot less clothes. Because it is antimicrobial it doesn't stink. You can take far less clothing with you on a hiking trip and not stink badly. Even for everyday use, merino wool is great for things like socks. They don't stink, they don't grow bacteria, and they aren't very conducive to fungus, which means you can wear the same socks for multiple days in between washes.
Very helpful and sumthing I have been working on for a while had never thought of will bib before but I like it where did you get your ? Who made them ? Thanks Ben
Ive been eyeing up a Lester River anorak for a couple of years. I normally wear a Large in shirts and jackets. (5'8", 170 lbs) What size do you think s person should order compared to their normal clothing size such that its not too tight or more importantly not overly loose like a circus tent?
I got into merino wool a couple years ago and I love wearing it around the house and at camp, but I never saw the magical qualities it's supposed to have. After a while I realized all the hype is mostly an influencer marketing effort to increase demand from the wool industry (namely woolmark). Wool is more of a "heritage" material like waxed canvas bags and leather boots. Polyester is lighter, cheaper, wicks better, dries faster, and is 100 times more durable. I've switched almost all of my wool gear out for polyester at this point.
After experimenting with merino wool, now I stay away from midlayers from it, as merino wool gives pretty much zero insulation, but may cause unnecesarry overheating as it's always tight by design. First layer ALWAYS should be fishnet (Wiggys make them in the USA, Brynje here in Europe), made out of synthetic material; then comes merino baselayer. And then midlayer from very dense and itchy and heavy wool (basically a wool shirt). Everything starting from midlayer is oversized. Your mistake seems to be (most of people do this) your layers are tight around the body, you wrap yourself in them; in the end having too many layers. N.B. Merino t-shirts are not cooling anything in summer, I had sweat over all my upper back
Fleece released micro-plastics. More than 1/3 of the micro-plastics in our lives environment come from synthetic clothing. I have a 19oz Shetland wool sweater from Woolrich. I wear it over a thin base Smartwool and under a windshirt when taking breaks during winter ski and hike trips. It keep me warm down to the single digits. Not puffy, just heavy.
Hi Midwest Backpacker, I've just found your channel and subbed to you. Great product comparison film, thanks, I now understand the loft measurement. What's your favourite? Good luck with your channel. Have a great day and stay safe. James
Merino is def not "new", lol. I've heard about it for decades, in Scandinavia were wool in general is popular. New to him, and a new trend yes. Not a new species of sheep. Been around for hundreds or thousands of years I would guess.. (edited spelling error)
@@MidwestBackpacker Thanks for the reply. No I haven't seen it before either but I came across it at a UK company called Isobaa which specialises in Merino activity clothing. Definitely an interesting concept but not sure how good it would be if others aren't doing it too.
Just take a guess ....at the total weight ( on your body) when you have all those clothes on. Isn’t it interesting the amount of crap we’ll carry so we can spend the night away from our comfy houses and sleep in the cold ?
The idea that Merino wool is a new product is absurd. It's a breed of sheep that's been around for centuries a d has always been primarily bred for its soft wool. I don't know if camping products have micron count, but that's what you should look for, under 25 for a micron count if you want it too feel good. Other breeds such as Ramboulet or Cormo can be just as soft as Merino.
What's somewhat new is the newer methods of processing merino (and/or other types of wool). One of the common practices among so called "sports wool" companies is the removal of the scales from the wool. This does a few things--it completely eliminates felting and severely reduces shrinking, and it also further increases skin contact comfort besides the micron count (fineness or more accurately--size).
The downside, which I haven't seen anyone else talk about, is that it would also slightly decrease thermal insulation capacity. Since most thermal insulation in relation to fibers relates primarily to the fibers trapping/stilling air to decrease thermal conduction--a perfectly round fiber will be easier for air to get around, pass over, etc than one with micro ridges--the latter will still/trap more air more effectively. It's probably not a significant difference all in all though, since it is primarily the overall fiber itself which is doing most of the air stilling.
@@justinw1765 in the Fiber Arts Comunity that's called super wash wool. I've never spun it, but I have knitted one scarf for my son with it. It's definitely not as warm, but still warmer than synthetic.
@@justinw1765 afterthought, if you can find superfine wool under 20 micron count that will be warmer than the super wash, but just as soft. It will still felt (shrink) though. Making wool products oversized and shrinking them to size is another method of increasing the functionality of wool. Also, if your willing to experiment with breeds, some breeds of wool don't felt as much. From what I know those tend to be mountain breeds. Welsh breeds of sheep are known for being resistant to felting.
@@justinw1765Superwash isn’t all that new. It appeared in the 1970s.
Exactly!
Great video. I can vouch for merino wool keeping you warm even if it gets wet. Had my foot go through ice and the water go over the top and onto my boot. It was 15° out and so I took the boot off and emptied the water and rang the sock as good as I could. Wore the sock for 6 more hours of hiking and my foot was toasty warm. No blisters either.
Fun fact. Before wetsuits surfers used to wear woolen jumpers in the water in winter to keep warm.
@@laowai2000had no idea, thanks!
If I had to choose one it would be wool without question, but I love both wool and down.
I love merino wool. My Norwegian Devold sweater is so warm, nice and soft.
My preferred layering in the winter: Inner layer of merino wool, a second layer of fleece or wool, third layer of Gore-Tex to protect from rain and wind, while also breathing.
Honestly, It really doesn't matter what you use, synthetic, wool, or down. What matters is that you understand the pros and cons of each and you understand how to layer. After that it is all personal preference and what your bank account can afford.
I absolutely love my Smart Wool and Darn Tough socks ! Be it summer or winter. I just adjust the thickness and or number of layers of socks for conditions and activities. I often go with two thinner sock layers to help avoid blisters. As to Down vs Wool, I haven't used Down since I was a kid, and for my purposes weight is not a major concern, so I'll stay with Wool (and some man-made materials) for all my -15f to 98f needs.
For me down sleeping bag works as i take care to always have it dry, keeping it in my bag or in the tent. I'm a wool fan for my coat, merino wool for socks, hats and gloves here in the Scottish highlands massive variation in temp and rain
I have worked in mountaineering/backing shops and I can tell you that goose down is a by product of processing geese for food in China. 1 billion people can eat a lot of geese.
i have a couple pairs of darn tough socks and then a shirt/pants smartwool base layer and it makes a huge difference imo. The biggest advantage about those items is the huge amount of warmth you get for the weight.
I am not a big friend of down, because of price and fragility, something you do not have to worry about with wool. Nowadays, after years sweating and chilling inside fleece and GoreTex I abandoned these materials completely and changed to wool, felt and waxed canvas, and I will not go back!
Wool is heavy for hiking. I love shearling coats but too heavy for walking in the mountains.
What about Alpaca vs Sheep wool.
@@J.Young808 in my experience wool from any camelid is better than sheepwool since per weight it is warmer, but you should make sure you have a decently knit piece, since the fiber is a little "weaker" (holes can develop in exposed areas) A combination of more than one (natural) fiber is perhaps the best solution, combining strength with warmth. I have a couple llama/alpaca ponchos that are clearly lighter than my sheepwool ponchos, at equal or better degree of "warming ability". Some manufacturers also use synthetic fibres in the mix, and I thing this is ok as long as you do not exaggerate. It should help with the strength of the cloth but that is it. "Odor inhibiting" properties and slow, flame-free combustion are inherent to these natural fibres and this plus should not be eliminated by the adding of synthetics.
@@senanladnonu9552 it is somehow "heavier" but that conclusion is also a certain "perception" that goes far beyond mere grams or ounces... other factors like performance in wet conditions, flame-retardant properties, odor inhibition properties, recyclability of the material, "image" of the material and the product, etc, etc, really affect factual evaluation, and from here "perception" is built, which is a complex and no doubt "dynamic" association of ideas... So I would not totally support your judgment, although even I would not walk to the volcano tip with my sheepwool poncho...
Why does he blink so much
I'm down with wool.
Great video. I'm with you 100%. Wool is the best (I'm wearing three merino wool items right now, and most of the time.) In 2016 I back packed around Japan wearing layers of polyester. I stank and I couldn't get rid of the stink. I went to an endless number of laundromats trying to get that stink out. Japan is a very fastidious country and I stank. (Tip: the best way is direct sunshine, on all four sides of your garment, front back, turn inside out... I had a bathing suit I'd forgotten in my car for several days- I tried the highest recommended wetsuit deodorizers, even a little bleach, nope. Sunlight? Four days. That was a few years ago. Smell never came back.)
I did some Googling. Duh! Wool. Of course, I'd wear a sweater take it off, catch a whiff and think - I'll have to wash this before I can wear it again. But a week later, cold morning....the sniff test...it no longer smelled. (You can try this with your first merino wool t-shirt. Wear it until it's got some BO, then hang it up for a couple of days. The smell should be gone. Hang a cotton T next to it. (It may stink less but I think it'll still smell.) Polyester? It'll stink. Underwear drips.... sorry no deal there. If you drip in your merino Icebreakers, it'll smell like urine and that won't go away until you at least rinse it.)
I'd already been wearing smart wool socks for years. After Japan, I got merino underwear, t-shirts, short and long sleeve, in three different thicknesses for layering. Terrific stuff. In 2018 I backpacked all over the UK, no stink,. Sometimes I'd just give my stuff a quick wash in a bucket, hang it up to dry. This was interesting. The outside would dry and feel warn, but inside it would be damp and cold. This is wool's wicking effect. So I'd turn it inside out. Sometimes a couple of times. Other times I'd put it on damp and my body heat would drive the moisture to the surface where it quickly dried.
Wool is the best. It's got a good temperature comfort rangeThe underwear and shirts cost a lot. $40-50 for underpants, T-shirts usually $30 on up. To me it's worth it. (I got a smartwool/merino buff on Amazon - it was too small - I had to add a panel of spandex to get it comfortably over my head. So avoid that item.)
Polyester sucks. I have a $240 Patagonia puffy jacket. A complete joke. Sure it's warm, but any amount of body perspiration it begins to stink and the stink doesn't go away. I tossed it in my car for emergencies.
re: your wool Wristies. I made something this out of spandex. I've got Reynauds disease or chillblains - cold hands and feet. I made my wristies like fingerless gloves, except for my fingers it's just a long tube for all of them. This overhangs my finger tips but can be pushed up out of the way. The spandex is thinner than most wool items, so my variation wristie is only good if you have some thin merino. (the spandex while synthetic doesn't seem to have the stinky problem so .....)
Another wool item that's terrific SealSkinz waterproof socks. While trekking through Dorset in April, in the mud and rain I first wore two layers of smartwool socks in my waterproofed boots. My toes would be cold in my sleeping bag (sleeping bag socks of course) for about an hour. When I switched to the SealSkinz (high tops) I could feel air moving through my toes. They were by far the best demonstration of the Goretex effect. They were absolutely waterproof. End of day I'd put on my sleeping bag socks and my feet were already warm. You can't wear them where water will get in through the top. Once water gets inside SealSkinz it won't leave. I tried a pair of SealSkinz gloves paddling off the coast of Southern California. Of course water got in at the wrists. Unbelievably cold. At first I thought there was something wrong with the gloves. But at home I tested them against the socks in a bucket of water and they worked exactly the same. Everyone should have a pair of SealSkinz socks. And if you follow my advice and that in the video.... you'll spend some money. To me it's worth every penny. The real Merino wool bargain are Aran Island sweaters. Thick, comfortable, warm - they look great. $80-$130. They're always running a sale. Their cheapest merino sweaters will be the best sweater you've ever owned. A bit heavy for a lot of backpacking.
Wool is not the only material that counter balances and minimizes odor buildup and retention. Some other materials that are very good at this are flax linen, hemp, ramie, rayon and other similar types of human modified cellulose material like tencel, modal, etc.
And even among synthetics--nylon is significantly better than polyester in the odor department. Conversely, polypropylene is significantly worse than polyester.
A lot of all this relates to a material's moisture regain. Fabrics made out of materials with a higher moisture regain, do not promote the growth of odor causing microbes. Meaning, the lower the moisture regain, the more the material tends to promote the growth of odor causing microbes. And beyond, and deeper than that, it relates to the surface electrical charge of the material.
As an aside, I prefer alpaca over sheep's wool because it has air pockets in the fiber which make it a bit warmer on a per micron count basis, and since there is slightly less solid material, it also dries slightly faster. It also has higher tensile strength. The odor reducing properties are very similar. But all in all, there is not a big difference in all the above.
@@justinw1765 Thanks, excellent information. I should add to the experience I shared that I do have some nylon clothes. Shorts, pants, travel shirts. Great for hot weather, very cool, comfortable, quick drying and yes, it also doesn't stink.
great comparison vid. I've been gathering gear lately and i have gone merino where i can, and regular wool where i can't. If you made a community channel poll, thats how i would vote.
I do historic trekking and wear a lot of plain wool, and spent more then one night below 0f in the tall timber. Outside of army blankets I’ve not met this scratchy wool golfs speak of
The scratchiness of wool can depend on your skin sensitivity. If you’ve got baby smooth skin, you’re going to be more sensitive than someone who grows a five o’clock shadow in three hours.
An example of “scratchy” wool would be Shetland. Merino and alpaca are good examples of non-scratchy wool.
Good information
Outer wear wool, you can add back some oil to the wool and waterproof it. Commercial operations strip off all the oils. Don’t use vegetable oils that will dry out and cake. About 1/3 of a sheep’s fleece fresh sheared is lanolin.
FANTASTIC video. I’m team wool by far. I love the various wool stuff I already own (including the very same Boreal Shirt by Lester River Bushcraft). Thanks for the ideas and great video (and funny outro).
Bison wool is pretty impressive too, but also carries the same price tag.
wool makes me itchy - but I got a cashmere pullover as a teen and love it ever since (pullover / scarf and hat) - as an underlayer I have a 100% mulberry silk top or a long sleeve (cools and warms)... I have also a puffy jacket and a long (military style) wool mix coat. I traveled across Tibet in January / February (some years ago) with only 1 extra leggins underneath the trousers (polyester / cotton mix).
If you can find wool military pants, they work great.
I have Austrian wool pants that were made in 1959.
I've seen US Air Force wool pants that were even thicker than the Australian pants. I'm sure they are very warm.
These are cold weather camping clothes. Not for summer or even warm fall and spring weather.
Big Bill (Canada), CC Sutlery (Idaho) are also good for cheaper new wool pants. Big Bill sells 28 oz wool that is very thick. Stanfields sells great base/mid layer for a good price. Not all merino, so I like mine as a midlayer.
For stuff like socks, you typically want 80% wool minimum and not too tight to cut off circulation.
The military wool pants that I've had were so high waisted and hung very low(uncomfortable)when worn like most pants.(especially the older ones)
Nothing better than a merino wool shearling leather coat. But for hiking I go with down jackets, because they are light and water resistant.
Layering is an absolute in cold weather and the exterior layer can be either similar to Carhart type or something like gore-tex. At least that is what 15 years in Alaska taught me
Imo, nothing better than a thick, fuzzy inside, smooth outside *WOVEN* polypropylene garment for an outer (like one of the old, military cold weather base or mid layers polypro). Because of a few things. It actually breathes unlike gortex, but is still hydrophobic enough that it repels most moisture (not a hard rain) and won't absorb any moisture directly into the material (just between the fibers, but it can be shaken out very easily). It is very lightweight. And it is one of the least thermally conductive of materials, which on a same loft per loft basis compared to other materials, makes it slightly warmer/more insulating (I specify on a same loft to loft basis, because most of the thermal insulation happens from stilling air, which is much, much less conductive than all solid materials we use for garments/clothing).
The downside is that it is not fully waterproof and isn't the most abrasion resistant material in the world. Also melts very easily when exposed to high heat. If the wind is high, you will need to wear a wind jacket underneath the polypro garment. If the windjacket has a good DWR, this will also significantly increase the water resistance of the system as well.
Duck Worth brand is worth a mention. High quality Morino Wool products made in America.
Tweeds a great fabric been using it here in Scotland for hunting and hiking for thaw last 200 years and kilts before that. Tried and tested for the weather here
Yes, wool has centuries of being tried and tested. It is very warm.
Good information and cool way to present it.
Great stuff. Just picked up some super warm smartwool socks and a lightweight 650+ down puffer on clearance, been great for winter snowshoeing Also recently picked up a waxed canvas ground cloth lined with 100% wool tartan. Looking forward to using the cloth as a liner for my camp chair on chilly nights and a mat for my pack and my feet under my hammock at night.
Where did you get the wool canvas tarp? I want to reduce my synthetic microfiber foot print.
Late reply but look at Bushcraft Spain
@@tombryant6061 Thanks. I've seen them in my searches on etsy. I have several items from a person in the states - Colorado Bushcraft and I highly recommend him. Reasonable prices and excellent hand made items.
I wear my ghost whisperer to work sometimes. People get confused about all the patches on it. That camp fire is always so warm though 😂 Great info, bro
my favorite base layer shirts where 2 & 3$ at thrift stores. I also have filson and swanndri wools. I wear my pendleton mackinaw cruiser almost everywhere. I buy wool slacks (unlined preferred) from suits at thrift stores and often make cargo shorts out of them since theyre thinner for summer. Wool can go forever without washing and doesnt smell. A great way to make thicker wools closer to waterproof is lanolin. I lanolined a few sweaters, my cruiser jacket, and a few thicker pants and its amazing how well they shed water.
im wool, all the way. I have a few pairs of "sweater pants" and shorts. yes, sweater shorts. They make great thermals for active times in the cold, or under lederhosen.
Interesting. How does lanolin affect the skin and body if at all?
I love my merino, but also have a Ghost Whisperer because you just can't beat it for warmth vs weight. One of my favorites is a Wool/Bamboo combo hoodie I got a couple of years ago. It is both an insulating layer and a sun layer for me, as somehow it seems to keep me warm and cool at the same time.
I'm curious about the durability of this blend?
@@susie9893 It is pretty thin fabric, but stretchy and I don't have any holes or anything. (I live in the SE, so don't wear it a ton).
The only issue I had with the garment (which is a Tasc Elevation base layer hoodie) was that the stretchiness made some stitches pop on the thumb holes/cuff when trying to take off.
It is a great piece of gear that I wish they made available again.
Trail patina 💥
🤺💐
I really liked the visual aid and you explaining your layers. I think this video would get way more traffic if you titled it something like "a visual representation of how to later for cold weather" something like that. Nice editing and the blooper reel was a hoot, good stuff all around!
Great tips bro. I love Smartwool products. Enjoyed the video 👍
The ending 😂😂😂😂
Smartwool is not what it use to be - got cheap with lower grade wool and less of it blended.
Great thanks. Living in Phoenix Arizona . I have one down jacket. One & done . Dry
Nice out takes at the end 😂
Great video. I love all the high tech wears. That looks like a $ 3,000 outfit that you featured. 🇺🇸🐻
You forget to add a large burlap bag over the head and body and over it a large jumbo mailbag over the burlap
LOL! Merino is not a "new" product. It might be new to the major manufactures, but it's been around since the Middle Ages. I love my Smart Wool base layers.
Yes, watch the New England Forests videos. Much of the lower elevations in New England were cleared for Merino sheep in the early 1800's after someone brought back some Merino sheep from Spain.
I can't remember which of their videos I saw this in but they are interesting to listen to anyways.
Oh, its been around far longer than that. As far as we know, sheep have been domesticated for their wool, meat, and/or milk for at least 10, 000 or so years.
Ditch down, primaloft and the like are better in every way. I wear wool almost every day in winter
Wool wristies…good idea.👍🏻
Excellent video. Valuable information.
The good thing is with a hamick is you can build a fire under you- Nice!
Neat video. Very helpful for a lot of folks. Just gotta love the hollow core of each individual fiber of merino wool.
Lol outtakes!
Sheep wool is not really all that hollow. Sometimes some of the fibers get some little void pockets, but it is a much more solid fiber than alpaca, yak, bison, polar bear, caribou, etc. These are latter fibers are more truly hollow.
Sheep (rather the domestic breeds and species human's use) generally are not adapted to more extreme cold areas like most of the above animals are. Sheep do live in some of those areas now, but that is a more recent thing because of humans. I'm talking natural habitats and where they originally adapted to. Domestic sheep first came from/developed in southwest Asia and in the Middle East--not extremely cold environments. I'm sure there has been some micro adaption to different climes were certain breeds were for a long time, like say Spain, or the Highlands of Scotland, etc.
Wool clothing, down sleeping .
Can you do a video on boiled wool? I'd like to see a comparison between it and other wool types as well as other fabrics.
Great review. Wish I had done it!!😎😎
Nice video. Only use 100% wool. Don't buy wool blends as these usually contain petroleum products and aren't healthy to wear, plus it reduces the thermal and antimicrobial properties in natural wool. Also, just last week alone I found three pure wool sweaters at my local thrift store. One was merino and the other two were lamb's wool, plus I got a wool hat. I got all four pieces for less than $17.00. I get a lot of my wool at thrift stores. You'd be surprised what you can find. Last year my husband found and purchased a 100% cashmere men's long coat for $13.00. Amazing find. Also ethically sourced down usually means the duck or goose was killed prior to harvesting the down. Now, don't get me wrong, I eat meat; but for those who don't this could be an issue. I'd like to find a down sleeping bag second hand. I'm still adding to my camping gear because I'd like to try winter camping and a down sleeping bag would be nice to have under my wool blanket 😴 For mittens I'd suggest you go with Icelandic wool over thinner merino wool gloves so that you have two layers on your hands.
Secondhand DEFINITELY the way to go but I have NEVER seen any merino wool in an offline (ie physical) thrift shop (this may be cos I'm Aussie); so lucky you.
But there ARE natural merino blends out there but most AREN'T athletic wear. You just need to be open (and prepared to be charged like a wounded bull 😏).
Personally I'm starting to lean more towards alpaca due to the durability - I'm getting a little sick of constantly darning my 100% merino pieces
@@susie9893 Check ebay. I find deals on there as well, but the shipping fees are a bit much.
Great breakdown 👌
I'm super stoked, Jason is sending me one of his custom sized boreal shirts Monday. Could've used it last week
Great video
I’ve got the same Mukluks! They are awesome.
Can you make a video on how you made your wool sock Wrist warmers
My thick a** wool knee high socks are an item I will NOT give up from Sept-April. I know they are heavy, bulky, etc... Still love them! I am a wool gal myself. Not saying I don't run with the geese now and again... but I am born and raised Northern girl. #woolalltheway
Wool is superior in every way except in weight to warmth ratio. Down is without a doubt lighter. Other than that, wool wins.
Erg leuk en informatief die foto’s van de verschillende lagen kleding
Great video! You did make a point about pronouncing “balaclava” correctly, so I will point out Merino is pronounced “meh reeno”, not “mah rano”. Hey, I’m an Agriculture Educator. Very informative content!
Thanks for that! Also, Merino sheep are not new. They were introduced to Vermont @ 1803 and my family farmed Merino sheep for over a century. As a knitter and spinner I’ve worked with Merino wool almost exclusively for decades. It is a great material and we are lucky to have so many new companies producing great Merino clothing. I’m partial to Ibex!
@@susanfoster8637 How is Alpaca wool?
Justin Young alpaca is a fiber, from an alpaca. It has many of the same qualities of sheep’s wool, but lacks one big factor. It has no memory. A garment made with alpaca will stretch as one wears it, but will not spring back into shape as Merino does. It has to do with the crimp in the wool that is shorn from the sheep. I’m not sure this question is meant for me, but that’s my answer.
I need the toughness and durability of wool hiking through the woods to my fishing spots
Is this guy for real ?
Nope.
A big point I try to make with people just starting out and asking for advice, is to know what you want from that puffer.
I only use them as insulative layers - not the outside layer on its own - so for 90% of people, getting that $25 one with the artificial stuffing from WM will work just fine, so Swiss Tech is the brand. Get the Decathlon puffer if you're still on a budget but want one that has a hood and works as an outside layer (but not a waterproof one). If you want something that will almost exclusively be worn walking to and from your car at a local craft brew pub or REI, you'll obviously want the Patagonia Nano-puff. 🤣
Wool for me, nothing less that 70%, if can find it these days.
Even for casual,wear, my Icebreaker thin Merino sweater is fantastic….thicker one if colder, I guess Down ok for sleeping bag or inside tent jackets
Like my insulated real tree coveralls they are super warm. Feel like I’m in a sleeping bag. Work outside below zero temp and works great. Paid $100. Drawbacks to all these warm wither clothes is restriction of movement and they are heavy. Warm and thin should be the goal of these really expensive backpacking clothes.
Still rather wear cotton in the summer time though
The problem with down is that is gets wet from air humidity, not necessary rain or sweat. If your going in sub zero or high altitude conditions, that is not a problem for jackets and bags since the air is dry. The thing that down apparel is fragile is a convention because thin shell is used to keep the size and weight low. There are water proof shell down jackets and bags or thicker shells like Pertex Endurance made for expeditions but that kind of defeats the purpose of down gear for the regular user.
It is actually worse in sub zero conditions, because the moisture from you body can condensate within the down and freeze. This was a big problem in earlier Arctic and Antarctica explorations from Euros and North Americans. Accounts of bags and jackets accumulating pounds of ice within them, was not uncommon.
In those kind of conditions, you really need a vapor barrier to block the moisture from entering into the down or other lofted material.
Wool also doesn't shed microfibers into our waters and lands. It is impossible to really "leave no trace" if one is shedding synthetic microbes. Alpacca wool is as good or better than merino wool. Sometimes it is cheaper. Wish there were more gear options for no synthetics.
Very informative!
Micro fart orbital?? Did I hear you correctly? Lmbo!!
That was a great breakdown of two hiking staples.
Good vid..🇺🇲🤠
Down has it place, but given the choice... its wool all the way!
If you want the best wool I suggest WeatherWool, Sleeping Indian, Buffalo Wool Co, and Dachstein.
Keep in mind my list has nothing to do with merino wool but rather coarser wool.
Wool beats down in cost per wear by a big margin.
Down beats wool in next-to-skin comfort (but try WeatherWool first).
Wool beats down in dampness.
Down beats wool for folks who like to layer less: weight.
Wool beats down in odor.
Down beats wool in long-term stationery cold conditions by a big margin.
Wool and down are different in storage. Keep wool away from moths and keep down out of plastic and long-term compression.
Final verdict: wool for longevity or down for lightness. I'm choosing wool.
I have tons more wool than down. My down is relegated to quilts and bags...
Hello my friend, great topic to discuss. Nice presentation of your layering system. Take Care and Keep Exploring The Outdoors.
1200 fill power ?!
Man you got to change that sound affect,I was in the kitchen and it sounds like my dog is about to be sick
You know you guys are so far behind the times
In NZ that’s a Zed not a zee
We’ve been farming Merino wool something you can’t pronounce, for many years well before World War Two. What you show in your left hand that laced up jacket. We have had that since just after ww2. And it’s called a Swandri. All the bushman and farmers use to wear these jackets, brilliant. Most use to sleep in them and they breed them tough down here. But not me.
Icebreaker has a brilliant add. “Still wearing plastic” REI bought Icebreaker a few years back
So your still behind the times 😂
I wear down over my wool undies.. and I'm always too hot.. always have a shell but the wool is safety barrier
Thanks for the video. I wish I did more reviews on my channel like this. I'm waiting for my new filson style wool jacket to add to my arsenal. There is one question people never seem to answer and I myself will be testing when I get my wool jacket. That is....
When comparing a high quality down, let's say 800ish to put a number on it, and a decent heavy weight wool such as the boreal you have, how many oz of down equates to a lb of wool?
IE, how can you compare warmth between the 2 different types. Is your boreal by itself warmer than your down jacket by itself?
That's a good question. My boreal shirt is still pretty new so I haven't had it out in sub zero (F) temperatures yet. With how loose my boreal shirt is I don't think it would be warm enough in real cold. There is just too much room for losing body heat. I would say it would be comparable to my Magma 850 hooded down coat. I would prefer the down when hiking a long ways due to weight. Wool when short miles and around camp more due to durability.
@@MidwestBackpacker thanks for the reply. I will be doing some testing to compare once I get my wool jacket I ordered. Not a huge fan of the aneraks so I got a jacket, but my testing should be comparable.
@@MidwestBackpacker I like this question. To take it a step further, I am thinking about using a merino hoodie as a mid layer instead of my puffy for hiking. Traditionally, I have used a merino base layer with a puffy jacket and a rain jacket top layer for hiking in temps down to the high teens/low twenties. I’m looking at switching to a Polartec Alpha base layer, with a Merino Wool Hoodie (Kuiu 200) mid layer and rain jacket top layer and wondering if this will get me down to the same temperatures with less weight.
I bought a smartwool hoodie base layer and for skiing but was super bummed when I found it was itchy. Not real bad but enough to be uncomfortable. Paid $120 too ouch
Since I was a kid, I've always been a Wool in Fall/Winter fan.
I actually had no idea that wool (smart wool) had cooling qualities in the warm/hot weather (Wool? In Summer?? Are you a MadMan????). If this is general knowledge, somehow I've missed it.
So I'm going to give it a try this coming summer, thanks for all of this great info.
Light weight merino wool is the best summer hot weather option. Cool. Doesn’t stink.
I"ve worn wool socks with polypro liners in the summer with jungle boots when doing a lot of wet foot stream crossings. It seemed like the wool socks kept my feet cooler than if I used cotton/polyester blend socks. I was surprised by that.
While merino wool is expensive, you can live comfortably with a lot less clothes. Because it is antimicrobial it doesn't stink. You can take far less clothing with you on a hiking trip and not stink badly. Even for everyday use, merino wool is great for things like socks. They don't stink, they don't grow bacteria, and they aren't very conducive to fungus, which means you can wear the same socks for multiple days in between washes.
Very helpful and sumthing I have been working on for a while had never thought of will bib before but I like it where did you get your ? Who made them ? Thanks Ben
“Trail patina”😆
Ive been eyeing up a Lester River anorak for a couple of years. I normally wear a Large in shirts and jackets. (5'8", 170 lbs) What size do you think s person should order compared to their normal clothing size such that its not too tight or more importantly not overly loose like a circus tent?
I got into merino wool a couple years ago and I love wearing it around the house and at camp, but I never saw the magical qualities it's supposed to have. After a while I realized all the hype is mostly an influencer marketing effort to increase demand from the wool industry (namely woolmark). Wool is more of a "heritage" material like waxed canvas bags and leather boots.
Polyester is lighter, cheaper, wicks better, dries faster, and is 100 times more durable. I've switched almost all of my wool gear out for polyester at this point.
I find I stink a lot less in wool than poly.
@@MidwestBackpacker Yes that is 100% true, but isn't very important when out in the elements. I'd rather be comfy and smelly than miserable and fresh.
@tavelkyosoba so wool wins for hunters then
After experimenting with merino wool, now I stay away from midlayers from it, as merino wool gives pretty much zero insulation, but may cause unnecesarry overheating as it's always tight by design. First layer ALWAYS should be fishnet (Wiggys make them in the USA, Brynje here in Europe), made out of synthetic material; then comes merino baselayer. And then midlayer from very dense and itchy and heavy wool (basically a wool shirt). Everything starting from midlayer is oversized. Your mistake seems to be (most of people do this) your layers are tight around the body, you wrap yourself in them; in the end having too many layers. N.B. Merino t-shirts are not cooling anything in summer, I had sweat over all my upper back
I could not disagree more with pretty much everything you said.
Great vid. What was the name of the bibs, manufacture? Thanks!
Codet. I bought used ones on ebay.
What do you consider really cold?
yoooo good vid
Cool video man! why you don't own some fleece layers they can be even warmer than wool !?
Fleece released micro-plastics. More than 1/3 of the micro-plastics in our lives environment come from synthetic clothing.
I have a 19oz Shetland wool sweater from Woolrich. I wear it over a thin base Smartwool and under a windshirt when taking breaks during winter ski and hike trips. It keep me warm down to the single digits. Not puffy, just heavy.
Hi Midwest Backpacker, I've just found your channel and subbed to you. Great product comparison film, thanks, I now understand the loft measurement. What's your favourite? Good luck with your channel. Have a great day and stay safe. James
Thank you. I like my loco libre quilts.
I have super sensitive skin, so wool makes my skin itchy and irritable.
Merino is def not "new", lol. I've heard about it for decades, in Scandinavia were wool in general is popular. New to him, and a new trend yes. Not a new species of sheep. Been around for hundreds or thousands of years I would guess.. (edited spelling error)
Down flys out like a tire losing air if you cut it or burn it
Swanndri wool from New Zealand is high quality and affordable.
Thanks for the video. What is your opinion on a puffy jacket with merino filling instead of down?
I have never seen merino wool that wasn’t woven. Interesting thought. I don’t not the lofting quality and weight of unwoven wool.
@@MidwestBackpacker Thanks for the reply. No I haven't seen it before either but I came across it at a UK company called Isobaa which specialises in Merino activity clothing. Definitely an interesting concept but not sure how good it would be if others aren't doing it too.
Not a fan of smart wool I don’t want my shirt notifying them government where I am and when I got there.
Does this boil down to: merino wool when active, down when sedentary?
Hey, are you related to Steve Carell? Jaja I thought on post this, but when i saw the end of your video, i just did it!
Wool. Problem solved.
Just take a guess ....at the total weight ( on your body) when you have all those clothes on. Isn’t it interesting the amount of crap we’ll carry so we can spend the night away from our comfy houses and sleep in the cold ?
I’d guess when at camp and not walking the clothes have to be 10-15lbs.
What is the wool jacket in the thumbnail?
th-cam.com/video/fKNn0T7QLh8/w-d-xo.html
Hahaha I always end up calling it a baklava 🤣 mind is always on food I guess