I once spent the night in the mountains with temperatures a few degrees above zero Fahrenheit and thirty mile an hour winds. I had an army half shelter, a thin sleeping pad and two wool army blankets. It was a very comfortable night. The trick is in an overlapping technique that wraps completely around the body putting two layers under and over the body in a draft free cocoon.
I have bred Merino sheep in Australia all my life and can vouch for the 'breathe-ability' of pure wool blankets. I use nothing else at home as they allow me to peel them off one at a time depending on small temperature differences (I get a headache if I get too warm in bed). And when it comes to men's suits, I never wear anything but a pure-wool suit (only Australian merino wool), because of the superior quality (they start at about $600 AUD). But what you have to be careful of is when some manufacturer labels their product "Merino", which was the brand name on a suit I once looked at, which was simply a brand name and had nothing to do with Australian merino wool. The suit was rough to the touch and I knew instantly it was not made from Australian merino wool, so I said to the salesman, "This is not made from Australian merino wool!" He assured me it was, but I kept insisting it was not, and in the end I said, "Listen Charlie, I run 6,000 Australian merinos on my property, and I know a thing or two about wool, and this is NOT merino wool. Finally I had shut him up, because he was trying to (excuse me), pull the wool over my eyes. They had simply come up with a brand name, "Merino", trying to fool people. The suit was actually made from coarse cross-bred wool, costing a fraction of the price. So be careful to ask a few questions before some fool tries to do the same to you.
I love good wool. I have purchased and knit using wool superb results. As I'm starting to consider my next phase in life, as an unvaccinated healthcare worker, I'm leaning hard towards my roots with large animals and would love to raise sheep.
Thanks for the info! I have 2 merino wool sweaters that belonged to my mother (I’m in my mid ‘60’s) still look beautiful today. Any recommendations of good producers available to consumers? Today’s goods are difficult to parse.
@@LabiaLicker I buy a new pure-wool suit every three years or so. A reasonable quality one costs me around AUD $600. You need to dry-clean a suit every few months, so it's not a big deal.
I've used both sleeping bags of all kinds and wool blankets. When I was in the Army training and sleeping in the barracks, we had no time to make our beds but the beds had to be made. So we slept on top of our made beds with nothing but the extra wool blanket (we weren't supposed to have) to cover with and I'll tell you nothing is warmer for the bulk and weight. We also had four piece sleep systems issued when we went out in the field and those are the warmest thing I've ever slept in but they were giant even after compressing them all the way down and they were well over ten pounds. Ten pounds of wool will be even warmer in the same bivy sack but more resistant to moisture. When it's going to be near zero degrees, you add a wool blanket to the four piece system and everything is good. You're going to survive in a four piece system down to twenty degrees below zero but I don't know how much sleep you are going to get. Wool may weigh more than down or hollow fill for the same comfort level but it will work day after day in all conditions. Add a layer of gortex on the outside and you're possibly warmer than down or hollow fill sleeping bags by themselves.
I find the diagonal-wrap-burrito-style even more restrictive and hard to exit quickly from than a sleeping bag. At any rate, I'm a few days shy of 55 and have been using wool blankets on the ground and at home for over 35 of them. I've been doing pre-1840 technology primitive "camping" for all of those years and find that a loose set-up is ideal; especially when on the trail with horses and the occasional/unpredictable night time horse-eating sounds come from the darkness and startle them. A moisture barrier, such as a tarp (I use the one I roll my blankets in), as a groundcloth and blanket base and blanket cover has served me in all weather. As a rule of thumb, an equal amount under as over you is the way to start. Adjust with availability of browse, etc. With this set-up I can bring my essential gear in with me (12 ga. flintlock smoothbore [unloaded], shooting accoutrements, etc.) and keep them dry and ready to hand. For added warmth, lie down and slightly over-roll to the direction you want your side opening in. This will cause the blanket cover to fall alongside you and be trapped when you come back to your new neutral position. That entire side is now sealed. A well-done and thorough video. Good job.
i love wool blankets, i got a couple of scratchy army surplus 100% wool blankets 12 years ago (swiss? switzerland?) they are plenty warm. my wife got a Faribault pure & simple blanket and even though that particular style is not merino wool it is very comfortable. im not rich but i just ordered the Faribault frontier marino wool blanket. queen size weighs 9.88lb. if i remember i will post my thoughts here when i get it.
@@tamassoltesz4232 YES! i got it and tested it last winter. it is incredibly warm. it is the thickest wool blanket ive come across; the faribault 'frontier' blanket. its not nearly as scratchy as my military wool blankets. i have since ordered another faribault blanket. they are the best wool. every prepper should get wool blankets because of their ability to resist heat damage and retain body heat even when they are wet. and thank you for leading me back to this post. i tried to find it but lost it. good blankets are so important if SHTF
@@tamassoltesz4232 I really recommend to check out bushcrafispain's wool blankets I have been using one for more than a year now and did sleep in it in -5/-7 C without a problem, hands down it is a hudsonbay quality or even better ! You need to have a goretex bivy or something ( I m using bushcraftspain's oilskin tarp ) to block the wind out and then it performs near to a down sleeping bag.
One of the most honest assessments of cold weather camping I have ever seen. With a sleeping bag I'm too constricted. However, it my assertion that if a canvas cowboy style bedroll cover is used. A cowboy bedroll is approximately 6" x 36" rolled up, sans accoutrements (i.e. Pillow and sheet) and, is constructed from oiled canvas. Dimensions are as follows the bed has a 6 to 7 foot body length, a 3 foot width, to incorporate the thickest dimension of the torso area, 3 foot flaps on each side to encompass the body, a 2+ foot flap for the foot coverage, with the rest as a head riser and rain flap. BTW, use oiled canvas. P.S. Keep oiled canvas reconditioned at the minimum every 5 years if used annually otherwise as conditions dictate.
Interesting treatise on wool blankets. I have many as well, nothing name brand but I’ve come across a few surplus finds that would blow your mind! One of them is allegedly Italian, queen sized, 100% wool, tight weave, dense and heavy…$53. I do like them for tradition but honestly, the older I get the lighter my pack is getting. Yes modern materials melt but holy crap, don’t stand that close to the fire! 😂. I still camp every season, in winter I couldn’t lift the amount of blankets it would take to equal my 0 degree down/Gore-tex bag. That last blanket is amazing, when I win the lottery I’ll get one. Thanks!
Man that's a whole lotta blanket. I just keep a milsurp wool blanket on me, it was cheap, and it's pretty light. Though I'm more about getting around on foot, not with a motor vehicle. I also can't carry a heavy load as I'm a woman, but I still carry enough to have a nice night's sleep. Perhaps the local climate makes what I carry a lot safer for me. I appreciate the talk! It's nice to know I didn't completely screw up like the time I decided it'd be smart to buy Gerber products lol.
Personally, i think you left out one of the most advantageous properties of (merino)wool: you hardly have to wash the stuff. Just airing, preferably in moist or freezing cold air, will make it fresh again - a miracle which none of my sleeping bags ever accomplished. Stains don't attach lightly to wool, but when they do they can mostly be easily removed with a damp cloth. If you, against all odds, do have to wash your wool, just a few drops of cheap basic hair shampoo and lots of cold to handwarm water will do what needs to be done. I could go on and on about wool. I'm a woolfanatic. I've been sleeping deliciously between furry sheepskins for over a decade and the insulation works against heat, too. All my long winter underwear (i live near the Polar Circle) is made of merino wool. This year, i even insulated the inside of my roof (a closed loft) with fresh-from-the-sheep-rough wool (no merino!), which would otherwise have ended up at the garbage lot. It works great, but i must admit i was very relieved to notice the sheepy smell only on the closed loft... ;-) But anyway. Wool is wonderful. Thanks for your connaisseur talk about a favourite subject! :-D
I have just begun my transformation from down sleeping bags to wool blankets. My wife bought me a really cool blanket pin for the very nice wool blanket I have. Wool blanket wears like a fine coat too. We don’t get a lot of really cold weather here, but I’ve lived in the high mountains before, and can see the advantage of a good wool blanket.
I love the honest appraisals of gear like this. I've been a sleeping bag man for most of my outdoor life, but I'm rethinking them in favor of the "cowboy bedroll: sort of an inverted T of thick canvas sewn to a wool blanket. Wrap the arms of the T around you and flip the top over your head and you don't need a tent or even a bivvy. Haven't assembled mine yet, as I'm trying to learn the sewing machine first, but I think it will be lighter than a sleeping bag plus tent, and still offer plenty of versatility and warmth.
We're still using my grandmother's Merino blankets, probably a good 70 years old now and still going strong. Our family took the gold medal for our South African super fine Merino wool shearing on the London wool market for years. It was always an item of pride to point to what could be made from that wool. Thanks for a useful evaluation.
@@backwoodsbiker4311 another army trick my father taught me as a boy: if your socks are woollen and they’re wet you can dry them in the flames of a campfire. They will steam dry quickly and wont scorch. It only works with wool though. You can’t go completely overboard so caution is still necessary but we’ve used the method for years and it works well.
I have 3 wools from the 40's..two are white with navy on heads in a a blue wide stripe,the other is green and nearly as thick.. Any two I can sleep well with say a tarp to 0° F.....i tent camp so thank you grandpa!!!
When i was hiking up in the mountains of korea, we slept in Buddhist temples sometimes, on the floor. All i packed in my backpack was an army OD wool blanket. I spread the blanket out on the floor, laid down on one edge and rolled over and rolled the blanket around me like a sleeping blanket.
They work, but they're usually not 100% wool (more like 70/30) and are too thin with no nap. They're designed for indoor racks. If I were to use those outdoors, I'd carry two.
I love wool and you made some good points... However, if you are big or 6 foot plus then the queen size burrito method doesn't provide enough coverage. 2 twin size blankets work much better and provide more options!
Depends on what you want. For those lightweight speedy hikers - Sleeping blanket. For durable rugged camping and years of use - Wool 100%. Thank you for the video Wool information I'm updating my shopping list while researching!
Great video! Thanks for sharing your experience. My husband has a small collection of some of the best examples the Hudson's Bay Company made throughout the decades. I haven't seen anything else that comes close to those super thick antiques. They are really something. Hard to find in good condition after 100 years but he finds them!
I guess im asking randomly but does anyone know of a way to log back into an Instagram account..? I somehow lost my account password. I love any tips you can offer me
@Dariel Walker Thanks for your reply. I got to the site on google and Im waiting for the hacking stuff atm. Takes a while so I will get back to you later with my results.
I agree with your comment about blankets being good down to about 40°F. I've tried heavy blankets below those temps out West, but I thought I was going to freeze to death. My coldest sleep was -35°F and that took two 6 pound sleeping bags, yikes. I'm going to check out the $375 blanket, looks like premium gear. Thanks for this great video.
I managed to _”acquire”_ two Canadian military DND wool blankets. One is grey, one is red. Great quality, great extra insulation for sleeping in the field. Will never part with them.
I have a few fairbault mill wool blankets.; I used to live 30 minutes away from Fairbault... they will never replace my feathered friends and western mountaineering sleeping bags though!
I have a couple of nice sleeping bags, but I never zip them up. I use them like a blanket with a “foot box”. I also have a very nice, large wool blanket.
I'm a handweaver and process, prep and spin. Outdoor use woolen blankets were historically created with wool that was "spun in the grease", meaning the lanolin was left in the fibers which created a near waterproof fiber that was spun "worsed" (fibers aligned) from sheep that had long lustrous (smooth, not fluffy) fibers. That's the same fiber that became the waterproof outerwear of the British Isles when woven into tweed or knit into fishermans sweaters. Hot water and agitation of woolen (lofty fibers) after weaving is called "fulling" and this results in the wool fibers tightly arranging becoming a dense mat that is then "brushed" to create softness to the hand. What you get with some of the mills you highlighted. A handwoven product isn't loose weave unless you want it to be. Adding man-made fibers to wool products makes them less likely to be eaten by bugs or creatures. And merino fibers are for next to the skin products (undies and socks) and are not the ideal for outside protection. My 1960s wool sleeping bag lines my dogs kennel. The tent has been replaced by a teardrop (bears love to scratch themselves on) and we sleep better.
I have often wondered about modern wool products vs historical goods due to the missing lanolin in modern wool. Is it possible to obtain an historically accurate blanket, made the old way? Without raising my own sheep? 😂. Thanks for your commentary.
@@asmith7876 absolutely! Funny how many people start spinning, weaving and sewing to fulfill desires of historic accuracy, especially men. I purchase fleece online like most spinners, and it can come raw or processed. No raw fiber is allowed in my house...it stinks like sheep and I'm still combing through the last raw fleeces I processed. You can purchase spun yarns directly from spinners, and handwovens through Etsy, local guilds, fiber festivals, and stores catering to these activities. Men have traditionally been the weavers in many cultures. It was a man, Jim, that taught me how to spin at Yarnbarn of Kansas (he's the owner).
Wow, fascinating information you provided, thanks. Another question I have is merino wool really WARMER than other wool? I don’t believe so. I just think merino is SOFTER with no scratchiness like regular wool. Thank you kindly in advance.
@@markcummings6856 recommend The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook for an answer to your question. Sheep do not hold the "warmest" per weight fiber question, nor the "softest". There is also the question of how the fiber is spun and the fabric created. Merino just has better breed advertising and volume.
Just now purchased the Faribault Mill Cabin Blanket. Thank you for the guidance! They asked how we heard about it and we told them your TH-cam Channel name👍
@@backwoodsbiker4311 Great to hear! We're in Missouri and don't use any heat source because we live in an apartment with tenants on each side and below. We're freeloaders I guess, haha. In Christmas gift exchanging our daughter-in-law offered to go in with us for the purchase after I told my wife about your recommendation. We're warm as it is but if everyone's power went down that wool blanket will be an especially significant heat insulator. Merry Christmas to you and yours!🎄
One thing I have noticed about wool blankets is that they will take longer than a sleeping bag or regular comforter to warm up, but they keep the heat better due to higher material density. I bet if you wrapped in Gore-tex on top of that burrito you could melt into a puddle and boil away at -20...
If you think you'd stay warm using a couple of blankets and a Goretex tarp at 20 below, you've definitely never done any winter camping. Twenty below takes a serious winter expedition sleeping bag with about a 4 inch loft. This blanket stuff is for fair weather campers.
@@donnievance1942 Depends on a person's physiology. I sleep with no heat on in the winter, in Colorado. I sleep in tighty whities. Sheet only till 55°, then a thin thermal hospital blanket till 40°, then one wool Army blanket. My ex used to shiver when the temperature was 70°.
I love my Pendleton wool blanket. I sleep better wrapped up in that on my bed than fighting with sheets and comforters all night long. Plus, there's something oddly soothing about rubbing my feet against the wool.
Wool blankets are very nice. As for sleeping bags I use one as a top quilt in my hammock. I also use a wool blanket. For old style camping I use wool blankets. Thanks and take care.
I was in boy scouts 1960s, and also hitch hiked all over USA back in the 1970s. I used both. I found that a medium sleeping bag and military poncho with a vegetation mattress will keep you warm and dry even in a down pour. Double laid blankets are not good for someone over 5'8". Feet will freeze.
Thomas Blanket story is the fabrication of a Victorian newspaperman in Bristol. Woven blankets are as old as weaving, and the word comes from a northern French term for soft grey woollen cloth. The Salish though made blankets out of dog hair (they're not alone, some breeds have fine long hair specifically for spinning and weaving). Most cultures made blankets for double duty though - you both wore them and slept under them. The term blanket may have been brought to England by Flemish weavers, but it's more likely that French speaking Anglo Normans introduced the word rather than the Dutch speaking Flemish.
I havve a Boreal shirt from Lester River Bushcraft that is made out of a wool blanket. It has a hood and is roomy enough to add layers underneath. It is my” If i had to leave home with 1 item it would be it”. Just ordered a merino wool blanket from Faribault mills. Hope it lives up to its reputation( and price).
I have two Woolrich blankets. They are 80-20 wool blankets. I have one on my bed and one in my running bag. I also have one 100% wool blanket that I purchased at Ft. Chartres in southern Illinois some years back. The manufacturers label is faded (why I don't know) but it is 100% wool. It is itchy but it sure keeps me warm on cold nights.
The likely Point Blanket you bought in Illinois has all the loft and fluff that keeps you warm. Woolrich blankets will freeze you below 35F. They are house blankets. However they do make good blankets to lie on to shield you from ground cold.
🐻 When the foraging Bear comes upon you snug-as-a-bug in your sleeping bag, it remembers...say, that last burrito kicked alot, but Uuuhhmmm...Uhm... it sure was tasty!
I bought 2 blankets from Oxfam last month. They are big enough for a single bed, but scratchy, they're new, made from recycled wool. They definitely make a difference on cold autumn nights in the UK.
My husband and I have Italian Navy surplus blankets, new, from a military surplus store. I’m sure the Navy uses wool blankets because of the moisture on ships. These things are heavy and 1/2” thick. I know they aren’t Merino wool, but they are very warm when we are camping.
I never liked sleeping bags much, but good ol' blanket, that is somethink I love. Actually like to use ones made from bit rougher wool as I like the bit scratchy texture on me skin. Wool blanket is me favourite both indoors and outdoors!
I love merino wool too! I’ve got all my outdoor clothes In merino wool! Like merino fleeces lol etc! Merino gloves! It’s really amazing stuff and it really seems to be lasting and washing VERY WELL!! I’ve still got all my original stuff. IE crag hoppers tops and bottoms etc! I like the merino wool though it’s just kinda expensive..
Thank you for your informative video 👍 appreciated your knowledge on wool they are my thoughts exactly 💯 😀 that wool is the best ever for warmth...Keep your videos flowing 😀 I'm interested in anything regarding camping 🏕 etc...
First time seeing this channel. Definitely Gained my subscription! I’ve got a wool blanket that costed me $200 and while it’s good, it’s definitely not for harsher weather conditions. If paying double means that I’m not only prepared for more, but I’m also able to pass it along in my later years, then im all for it!
There are several high quality blankets out there in that $200 range. But as you go up in quality in pursuit of performance you add weight. That's where I reach for the expedition weight Merino wool. They not only keep out the wind and cold, but are much lighter than their counterparts.
I'm using 2 100% wool tight weave blankets. They work for me down to 29f fine in an ice storm. I layer them for loft. I would think mine are more lightweight side at 4lbs each.
Yes! Growing up in Grizzly bear country of the Pacific Northwest, I've noticed that too! Every camper killed and eaten by a Grizzly, was sleeping in a sleeping bag!
I have a fleece blanket ( full size ) it is light and easy to carry and inch for inch pound for pound it is warmest wool is good material you can't beat mother nature
My Mother and her Mother where weavers of wool. So how "Tight" a blanket is woven all depends on the weaver, and the type of loom and fiber they are using. I have a cloak made from a felted wool blanket, heavy, but very very warm.
I have a queen size merino blanket I use home during the spring and fall. Is way loftier than regular blankets and seems fragile, unlike the regular military blankets. I don't think you can have it both ways. Good thing to have around the house if you need to layer up with a quilt or duvet since the merino blanket does not compress that much and you can add something on top.
Merino blankets come in different material weights. I have a heavier version which is a little thicker than most military versions...very warm down to 35 degrees. I also have a thinner merino wool that is about the same thickness as the military blankets. It too is warm down to about 50 degrees. After that I'm layering another blanket into the mix.
The only blanket i trust to sleep in temperatures below 40 degrees without a fire is the Hudson Bay 6 Point blanket. But if you have to carry two blankets to stay warm, you are better-off with a quality sleeping bag. The only reason to choose a wool blanket over a sleeping bag is weight. A blanket can double as a pack, a coat, a hammock, a stretcher etc. But if you have to carry two blankets, that advantage is gone. Honorable mention on best bushcraft blanket would be the Filson Mackinaw.
Right now on my bed is a red Hudson Bay wool blanket originally purchased in 1954. I think it has two black lines, so at one time it would have cost 2 beaver pelts.
My mom gave me a wool emergency blanket from when she was a paramedic, I take it everywhere with me. Mine is pretty thick and not as maliable as the ones you have there.
I've tried both and I just find sleeping bags 10x warmer. It's my go to. The wool blanket stays in the car for emergencies, but if I want a good night's sleep I'm going for a sleeping bag.
@@jonothandoeser Wool blankets just don't have the loft and really don't cut the wind at all like a sleeping bag. Unless you're in a climate controlled structure with no convection, or under a tarp with a reflective fire, a wool blanket doesn't hold a candle to even a cheap modern sleeping bag.
@JoeMac1983 My antique Witney point blanket has mega loft from the long nap. After a good lanolin wash, I use a reversed wire pet brush to gently brush out the nap for super loft and warmth. They are heavy though. Huge differences in various types and brands of wool blankets. And if you're going to go for an outdoor wool blanket, it should be 100% wool and minimum queen size. A brand new Hudson Bay is around $600 USD.
I ordered a Faribault Mills Frontier Blanket, Queen size, for $545. It is their heavy weight blanket, but they don't call it "Merino" wool. They call it "very fine". Same for the Cabin blanket.
I love wool blankets and gave up on sleeping bags years ago. Now I am struggling with the weight/bulk of a good blanket as I am a backpacker who walks everywhere and I am 68 years old.
Well I enjoy a good wool blanket and have used them a lot.. However if you are the cold weather a sleeping gag rated for the trip is lighter to carry and safer.. Nothing will ever beat a bag that fits you in bad weather.. Now having said that a couple of blankets and a tarp makes a good bed.. as long I am not carrying them I am all for them. For me wool that you wear is the way to go..
...the "coureur des bois", canoeists for the Hudson's Bay Company, were allowed two wool blankets in their personal gear. "By 1700, point blankets (wool) accounted for 60% of the trade."...
I was a sleeping bag guy for years from alaska to georgia. Feel like an idoit for using that tube of discomfort for so long. I had made a down comforter and nice saddle blanket (thickness wise) for under neath and a wool blanket on top with down comforter that is made with fleece outer fabric. I sleep so much better. For backpacking it is a issue but mostly due to bulk.
Etymology The "black" in "blacksmith" refers to the black firescale[citation needed], a layer of oxides that forms on the surface of the metal during heating. The origin of "smith" is debated. It may come from the old English word "smythe" meaning "to strike"[citation needed] or it may have originated from the Proto-German "smithaz" meaning "skilled worker."[2]
I prefer a good wool blanket over a sleeping bag. Even if that blanket gets wet, it will still provide warmth. Granted, they are bulky and generally heaver than a sleeping bag and thus harder to carry vs. a sleeping bag. One thing to remember about wool is that it does require cleaning and does require more space, but overall, a good wool blanket is better than any sleeping bag
A quality, 100% wool blanket doesn't require much frequent cleaning at all unless you roll around in a mud pit or get animal 💩 all over it. Most cleaning you should ever really need is hanging out in the wind and sun for a day. Maybe a few hits with a stick. I only need to do a full on clean of my wool blankets maybe once a year if they've been used a lot.
l camp at least 40 night each year in all 4 season some years double that and have been doing it for 50 years. I once had to get through a 30 degree night with only a foam pad and wool blanket. It was a long night. If I had one of my 2 down sleeping bags it would have been no problem. I motorcycle camp a lot and need to be able to stuff down all my items. I would say 20 percent of my nights are 10F - 20F, 20 percent are above 45, so 60 percent of my trips are between 20F and 45F. I do need to be a I careful with down to keep It dry and almost all of my camping is in the Rocky Mountain regions where it's dry even when there is snow. Wool blankets have a place. but, they are not even in the ball park with the comfort provided by down. I. can't sleep in a zipped sleeping bag so I unzip them all the way and using them as blankets. If any of you are going out to camp and it will be down to 20F - 30F and you think a wool blanked will work, give it a try but, have your down bag with if you find that 3/4 inches of wool isn't enough.
uhhh.... it just cools you slower than other natural materials. synthetics dry faster, maintain warmth better, and for their insulation are lighter and generally more compact than wool.
@@anotheryoutuber_ While living in the deep forests of the Pacific Northwest (during a brief time of homelessness in my youth), I used a sleeping bag for the first night only and it made my sleep cold, wet, dreary, and terrible. Second day until third month, the marine wool army blanket I got from the Army Surplus store became my best sleep-buddy paired with a poncho and tarp.
@@crusader.survivor but what was the materials of the sleeping bag? cause definitely cotton or flannel bags are gonna do that it in less than ideal conditions, where synthetics have taken me and others through super wet and cold conditions in relative comfort. i definitely appreciate the smoldering versus melting of wool to syntheitcs when very near sparky fires. tarps and ponchos however are indeed friends.
@@anotheryoutuber_ I got that expensive sleeping bag from MEC in downtown Vancouver, guaranteed to keep you warm and dry, but it didn't work in the rainforests of the Pacific Northwest! There's also the stealth factor, modern sleeping bags are noisy when handled, whereas traditional wool blankets are quiet.
Heh when its cold I chuck a double sheepskin on the bed. Done that since I was a kid. I am a farmer in New Zealand. Our wool sells so cheaply many sheep farmers are changing to sheep that discard their wool. There is just no money farming for wool. Such a shame
![BOWKYLION - วิงวอน (ex-change) [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/cLdnZWDaO-w/mqdefault.jpg)
I once spent the night in the mountains with temperatures a few degrees above zero Fahrenheit and thirty mile an hour winds. I had an army half shelter, a thin sleeping pad and two wool army blankets. It was a very comfortable night. The trick is in an overlapping technique that wraps completely around the body putting two layers under and over the body in a draft free cocoon.
Thank you,I bought a huge one last week
Must have been good peyote. 🤪
Why not make a wool sleeping bag
@@skipperh6298 lol. I guess you could
@@skipperh6298 good question. I made a wool shirt outta wool socks. It's my favorite cold weather shirt.
I have bred Merino sheep in Australia all my life and can vouch for the 'breathe-ability' of pure wool blankets. I use nothing else at home as they allow me to peel them off one at a time depending on small temperature differences (I get a headache if I get too warm in bed). And when it comes to men's suits, I never wear anything but a pure-wool suit (only Australian merino wool), because of the superior quality (they start at about $600 AUD). But what you have to be careful of is when some manufacturer labels their product "Merino", which was the brand name on a suit I once looked at, which was simply a brand name and had nothing to do with Australian merino wool. The suit was rough to the touch and I knew instantly it was not made from Australian merino wool, so I said to the salesman, "This is not made from Australian merino wool!" He assured me it was, but I kept insisting it was not, and in the end I said, "Listen Charlie, I run 6,000 Australian merinos on my property, and I know a thing or two about wool, and this is NOT merino wool. Finally I had shut him up, because he was trying to (excuse me), pull the wool over my eyes. They had simply come up with a brand name, "Merino", trying to fool people. The suit was actually made from coarse cross-bred wool, costing a fraction of the price. So be careful to ask a few questions before some fool tries to do the same to you.
I love good wool. I have purchased and knit using wool superb results. As I'm starting to consider my next phase in life, as an unvaccinated healthcare worker, I'm leaning hard towards my roots with large animals and would love to raise sheep.
Thanks for the info! I have 2 merino wool sweaters that belonged to my mother (I’m in my mid ‘60’s) still look beautiful today. Any recommendations of good producers available to consumers? Today’s goods are difficult to parse.
Thank you for your post.
Biggest problem with sheep is keeping Kiwis away. Also I can't imagine having to clean a wool suit
@@LabiaLicker I buy a new pure-wool suit every three years or so. A reasonable quality one costs me around AUD $600. You need to dry-clean a suit every few months, so it's not a big deal.
I've used both sleeping bags of all kinds and wool blankets. When I was in the Army training and sleeping in the barracks, we had no time to make our beds but the beds had to be made. So we slept on top of our made beds with nothing but the extra wool blanket (we weren't supposed to have) to cover with and I'll tell you nothing is warmer for the bulk and weight. We also had four piece sleep systems issued when we went out in the field and those are the warmest thing I've ever slept in but they were giant even after compressing them all the way down and they were well over ten pounds. Ten pounds of wool will be even warmer in the same bivy sack but more resistant to moisture. When it's going to be near zero degrees, you add a wool blanket to the four piece system and everything is good. You're going to survive in a four piece system down to twenty degrees below zero but I don't know how much sleep you are going to get. Wool may weigh more than down or hollow fill for the same comfort level but it will work day after day in all conditions. Add a layer of gortex on the outside and you're possibly warmer than down or hollow fill sleeping bags by themselves.
Were you in the Canadian army by any chance? I remember sleeping on my bed as well haha
US Army. Apparently we go through the same stuff.
What is a four piece sleep system?
NZ Army. We slept on top of our beds too.
@@thegreatone1018 same for us in barracks basic training. I hated doing the corner edges and rack making before "bulkhead, line" games
Just bought 2 each wool sleeping bags, WW2 Army Surplus Wool Sleeping Bags, an awesome find!
I find the diagonal-wrap-burrito-style even more restrictive and hard to exit quickly from than a sleeping bag. At any rate, I'm a few days shy of 55 and have been using wool blankets on the ground and at home for over 35 of them. I've been doing pre-1840 technology primitive "camping" for all of those years and find that a loose set-up is ideal; especially when on the trail with horses and the occasional/unpredictable night time horse-eating sounds come from the darkness and startle them.
A moisture barrier, such as a tarp (I use the one I roll my blankets in), as a groundcloth and blanket base and blanket cover has served me in all weather. As a rule of thumb, an equal amount under as over you is the way to start. Adjust with availability of browse, etc.
With this set-up I can bring my essential gear in with me (12 ga. flintlock smoothbore [unloaded], shooting accoutrements, etc.) and keep them dry and ready to hand.
For added warmth, lie down and slightly over-roll to the direction you want your side opening in. This will cause the blanket cover to fall alongside you and be trapped when you come back to your new neutral position. That entire side is now sealed.
A well-done and thorough video. Good job.
Ty
I find wearing wool thermals and wool hat helps to keep me snug and warm.
i love wool blankets, i got a couple of scratchy army surplus 100% wool blankets 12 years ago (swiss? switzerland?) they are plenty warm. my wife got a Faribault pure & simple blanket and even though that particular style is not merino wool it is very comfortable. im not rich but i just ordered the Faribault frontier marino wool blanket. queen size weighs 9.88lb. if i remember i will post my thoughts here when i get it.
I'm curious what your thoughts were when you got the blanket.
Did you get your blanket? (Hopefully you'll get a notification about the response :D )
@@tamassoltesz4232 YES! i got it and tested it last winter. it is incredibly warm. it is the thickest wool blanket ive come across; the faribault 'frontier' blanket. its not nearly as scratchy as my military wool blankets. i have since ordered another faribault blanket. they are the best wool. every prepper should get wool blankets because of their ability to resist heat damage and retain body heat even when they are wet. and thank you for leading me back to this post. i tried to find it but lost it. good blankets are so important if SHTF
@@tamassoltesz4232 I really recommend to check out bushcrafispain's wool blankets I have been using one for more than a year now and did sleep in it in -5/-7 C without a problem, hands down it is a hudsonbay quality or even better ! You need to have a goretex bivy or something ( I m using bushcraftspain's oilskin tarp ) to block the wind out and then it performs near to a down sleeping bag.
I just have an old army blanket made from wool on my bed instead of a comforter. That thing is amazingly effective at keeping me warm every night.
One of the most honest assessments of cold weather camping I have ever seen. With a sleeping bag I'm too constricted. However, it my assertion that if a canvas cowboy style bedroll cover is used. A cowboy bedroll is approximately 6" x 36" rolled up, sans accoutrements (i.e. Pillow and sheet) and, is constructed from oiled canvas. Dimensions are as follows the bed has a 6 to 7 foot body length, a 3 foot width, to incorporate the thickest dimension of the torso area, 3 foot flaps on each side to encompass the body, a 2+ foot flap for the foot coverage, with the rest as a head riser and rain flap. BTW, use oiled canvas.
P.S. Keep oiled canvas reconditioned at the minimum every 5 years if used annually otherwise as conditions dictate.
Interesting treatise on wool blankets. I have many as well, nothing name brand but I’ve come across a few surplus finds that would blow your mind! One of them is allegedly Italian, queen sized, 100% wool, tight weave, dense and heavy…$53. I do like them for tradition but honestly, the older I get the lighter my pack is getting. Yes modern materials melt but holy crap, don’t stand that close to the fire! 😂. I still camp every season, in winter I couldn’t lift the amount of blankets it would take to equal my 0 degree down/Gore-tex bag. That last blanket is amazing, when I win the lottery I’ll get one. Thanks!
Man that's a whole lotta blanket. I just keep a milsurp wool blanket on me, it was cheap, and it's pretty light. Though I'm more about getting around on foot, not with a motor vehicle. I also can't carry a heavy load as I'm a woman, but I still carry enough to have a nice night's sleep. Perhaps the local climate makes what I carry a lot safer for me. I appreciate the talk! It's nice to know I didn't completely screw up like the time I decided it'd be smart to buy Gerber products lol.
Personally, i think you left out one of the most advantageous properties of (merino)wool: you hardly have to wash the stuff. Just airing, preferably in moist or freezing cold air, will make it fresh again - a miracle which none of my sleeping bags ever accomplished. Stains don't attach lightly to wool, but when they do they can mostly be easily removed with a damp cloth. If you, against all odds, do have to wash your wool, just a few drops of cheap basic hair shampoo and lots of cold to handwarm water will do what needs to be done.
I could go on and on about wool. I'm a woolfanatic. I've been sleeping deliciously between furry sheepskins for over a decade and the insulation works against heat, too. All my long winter underwear (i live near the Polar Circle) is made of merino wool. This year, i even insulated the inside of my roof (a closed loft) with fresh-from-the-sheep-rough wool (no merino!), which would otherwise have ended up at the garbage lot. It works great, but i must admit i was very relieved to notice the sheepy smell only on the closed loft... ;-)
But anyway. Wool is wonderful. Thanks for your connaisseur talk about a favourite subject! :-D
Good point
Thank you for that informative and thorough Reply. Answered exactly my question of how do you clean these things?
@@davidschexnaydre7012 Thank you! Enjoy your wool! :-D
I have just begun my transformation from down sleeping bags to wool blankets.
My wife bought me a really cool blanket pin for the very nice wool blanket I have.
Wool blanket wears like a fine coat too.
We don’t get a lot of really cold weather here, but I’ve lived in the high mountains before, and can see the advantage of a good wool blanket.
Best thing I was bless with by uncle sam is my wool blankets. Still awesome 40 years later . O.m.g. kept me warm many nights down range and since.
I love the honest appraisals of gear like this.
I've been a sleeping bag man for most of my outdoor life, but I'm rethinking them in favor of the "cowboy bedroll: sort of an inverted T of thick canvas sewn to a wool blanket. Wrap the arms of the T around you and flip the top over your head and you don't need a tent or even a bivvy. Haven't assembled mine yet, as I'm trying to learn the sewing machine first, but I think it will be lighter than a sleeping bag plus tent, and still offer plenty of versatility and warmth.
We're still using my grandmother's Merino blankets, probably a good 70 years old now and still going strong. Our family took the gold medal for our South African super fine Merino wool shearing on the London wool market for years. It was always an item of pride to point to what could be made from that wool. Thanks for a useful evaluation.
Thanks for sharing that great story. I've learned from practical use that merino wool blankets are a no brainer.
@@backwoodsbiker4311 another army trick my father taught me as a boy: if your socks are woollen and they’re wet you can dry them in the flames of a campfire. They will steam dry quickly and wont scorch. It only works with wool though. You can’t go completely overboard so caution is still necessary but we’ve used the method for years and it works well.
I'm Canadian so I've used it in the cold and it still keeps me warm in British Columbia winter's
I have 3 wools from the 40's..two are white with navy on heads in a a blue wide stripe,the other is green and nearly as thick.. Any two I can sleep well with say a tarp to 0° F.....i tent camp so thank you grandpa!!!
I have an old, original Hudson's Bay blanket I've had since I was a toddler
When i was hiking up in the mountains of korea, we slept in Buddhist temples sometimes, on the floor. All i packed in my backpack was an army OD wool blanket. I spread the blanket out on the floor, laid down on one edge and rolled over and rolled the blanket around me like a sleeping blanket.
I would use a army blanket with a sleeping bag cover for summer weather. Served me well when I was in the service.
They work, but they're usually not 100% wool (more like 70/30) and are too thin with no nap. They're designed for indoor racks.
If I were to use those outdoors, I'd carry two.
I love wool and you made some good points... However, if you are big or 6 foot plus then the queen size burrito method doesn't provide enough coverage. 2 twin size blankets work much better and provide more options!
Depends on what you want. For those lightweight speedy hikers - Sleeping blanket. For durable rugged camping and years of use - Wool 100%. Thank you for the video Wool information I'm updating my shopping list while researching!
Great video! Thanks for sharing your experience.
My husband has a small collection of some of the best examples the Hudson's Bay Company made throughout the decades.
I haven't seen anything else that comes close to those super thick antiques. They are really something.
Hard to find in good condition after 100 years but he finds them!
I guess im asking randomly but does anyone know of a way to log back into an Instagram account..?
I somehow lost my account password. I love any tips you can offer me
@Billy Hamza instablaster =)
@Dariel Walker Thanks for your reply. I got to the site on google and Im waiting for the hacking stuff atm.
Takes a while so I will get back to you later with my results.
@Dariel Walker it worked and I actually got access to my account again. I'm so happy!
Thank you so much, you saved my account!
@Billy Hamza happy to help =)
I agree with your comment about blankets being good down to about 40°F. I've tried heavy blankets below those temps out West, but I thought I was going to freeze to death. My coldest sleep was -35°F and that took two 6 pound sleeping bags, yikes. I'm going to check out the $375 blanket, looks like premium gear. Thanks for this great video.
I managed to _”acquire”_ two Canadian military DND wool blankets. One is grey, one is red. Great quality, great extra insulation for sleeping in the field. Will never part with them.
I have a few fairbault mill wool blankets.; I used to live 30 minutes away from Fairbault... they will never replace my feathered friends and western mountaineering sleeping bags though!
I saw a bloke using sheep skins made into a blanket with a zipper on the side, quite interesting sleep system.
I have a couple of nice sleeping bags, but I never zip them up. I use them like a blanket with a “foot box”.
I also have a very nice, large wool blanket.
I have embraced great kilts for much of my outdoors activities. They make for great bedding and shelter.
I'm a handweaver and process, prep and spin.
Outdoor use woolen blankets were historically created with wool that was "spun in the grease", meaning the lanolin was left in the fibers which created a near waterproof fiber that was spun "worsed" (fibers aligned) from sheep that had long lustrous (smooth, not fluffy) fibers. That's the same fiber that became the waterproof outerwear of the British Isles when woven into tweed or knit into fishermans sweaters.
Hot water and agitation of woolen (lofty fibers) after weaving is called "fulling" and this results in the wool fibers tightly arranging becoming a dense mat that is then "brushed" to create softness to the hand. What you get with some of the mills you highlighted.
A handwoven product isn't loose weave unless you want it to be. Adding man-made fibers to wool products makes them less likely to be eaten by bugs or creatures. And merino fibers are for next to the skin products (undies and socks) and are not the ideal for outside protection.
My 1960s wool sleeping bag lines my dogs kennel. The tent has been replaced by a teardrop (bears love to scratch themselves on) and we sleep better.
I have often wondered about modern wool products vs historical goods due to the missing lanolin in modern wool. Is it possible to obtain an historically accurate blanket, made the old way? Without raising my own sheep? 😂. Thanks for your commentary.
@@asmith7876 absolutely! Funny how many people start spinning, weaving and sewing to fulfill desires of historic accuracy, especially men. I purchase fleece online like most spinners, and it can come raw or processed. No raw fiber is allowed in my house...it stinks like sheep and I'm still combing through the last raw fleeces I processed. You can purchase spun yarns directly from spinners, and handwovens through Etsy, local guilds, fiber festivals, and stores catering to these activities. Men have traditionally been the weavers in many cultures. It was a man, Jim, that taught me how to spin at Yarnbarn of Kansas (he's the owner).
Wow, fascinating information you provided, thanks.
Another question I have is merino wool really WARMER than other wool? I don’t believe so. I just think merino is SOFTER with no scratchiness like regular wool.
Thank you kindly in advance.
@@markcummings6856 recommend The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook for an answer to your question. Sheep do not hold the "warmest" per weight fiber question, nor the "softest". There is also the question of how the fiber is spun and the fabric created. Merino just has better breed advertising and volume.
@@juliemulie1805 Thank you very much.
Just now purchased the Faribault Mill Cabin Blanket. Thank you for the guidance! They asked how we heard about it and we told them your TH-cam Channel name👍
Thanks for the mention. I'm confident that you'll be very happy. I have beaten this one up since first reviewing. Still performs like a beast!
@@backwoodsbiker4311 Great to hear! We're in Missouri and don't use any heat source because we live in an apartment with tenants on each side and below. We're freeloaders I guess, haha. In Christmas gift exchanging our daughter-in-law offered to go in with us for the purchase after I told my wife about your recommendation. We're warm as it is but if everyone's power went down that wool blanket will be an especially significant heat insulator. Merry Christmas to you and yours!🎄
One thing I have noticed about wool blankets is that they will take longer than a sleeping bag or regular comforter to warm up, but they keep the heat better due to higher material density.
I bet if you wrapped in Gore-tex on top of that burrito you could melt into a puddle and boil away at -20...
If you think you'd stay warm using a couple of blankets and a Goretex tarp at 20 below, you've definitely never done any winter camping. Twenty below takes a serious winter expedition sleeping bag with about a 4 inch loft. This blanket stuff is for fair weather campers.
@@donnievance1942 Depends on a person's physiology. I sleep with no heat on in the winter, in Colorado. I sleep in tighty whities. Sheet only till 55°, then a thin thermal hospital blanket till 40°, then one wool Army blanket.
My ex used to shiver when the temperature was 70°.
@@rodleyeriffe9149 Personal variability is a real thing, but ain't nobody gonna sleep under a couple of blankets at twenty below.
Thank you for the video sir, i appreciate your knowledge and experience.
I love my Pendleton wool blanket. I sleep better wrapped up in that on my bed than fighting with sheets and comforters all night long. Plus, there's something oddly soothing about rubbing my feet against the wool.
Thanks for your service. Happy veterans day
Yes very helpful thank you, I am not a rider but a backpacker few ever discuss options.
Wool blankets are very nice. As for sleeping bags I use one as a top quilt in my hammock. I also use a wool blanket. For old style camping I use wool blankets. Thanks and take care.
I was in boy scouts 1960s, and also hitch hiked all over USA back in the 1970s. I used both. I found that a medium sleeping bag and military poncho with a vegetation mattress will keep you warm and dry even in a down pour. Double laid blankets are not good for someone over 5'8". Feet will freeze.
Thomas Blanket story is the fabrication of a Victorian newspaperman in Bristol. Woven blankets are as old as weaving, and the word comes from a northern French term for soft grey woollen cloth. The Salish though made blankets out of dog hair (they're not alone, some breeds have fine long hair specifically for spinning and weaving). Most cultures made blankets for double duty though - you both wore them and slept under them. The term blanket may have been brought to England by Flemish weavers, but it's more likely that French speaking Anglo Normans introduced the word rather than the Dutch speaking Flemish.
Don't you know? Thomas Blanket is a very typical Finnish name
I havve a Boreal shirt from Lester River Bushcraft that is made out of a wool blanket. It has a hood and is roomy enough to add layers underneath. It is my” If i had to leave home with 1 item it would be it”. Just ordered a merino wool blanket from Faribault mills. Hope it lives up to its reputation( and price).
I have two Woolrich blankets. They are 80-20 wool blankets. I have one on my bed and one in my running bag. I also have one 100% wool blanket that I purchased at Ft. Chartres in southern Illinois some years back. The manufacturers label is faded (why I don't know) but it is 100% wool. It is itchy but it sure keeps me warm on cold nights.
The likely Point Blanket you bought in Illinois has all the loft and fluff that keeps you warm.
Woolrich blankets will freeze you below 35F. They are house blankets. However they do make good blankets to lie on to shield you from ground cold.
Thank you for this video. I love wool and ordered a throw from Faribault after watching your review. I plan to keep it in my car.
🐻 When the foraging Bear comes upon you snug-as-a-bug in your sleeping bag, it remembers...say, that last burrito kicked alot, but Uuuhhmmm...Uhm... it sure was tasty!
I bought 2 blankets from Oxfam last month. They are big enough for a single bed, but scratchy, they're new, made from recycled wool. They definitely make a difference on cold autumn nights in the UK.
Sometimes (depends on the wool) woollen garments get less scratchy if you put them in the freezer for at least 24 hrs. This is grandma speaking ;-)
@@hexxan007 thanks for this tip. I'm going to try this.
My husband and I have Italian Navy surplus blankets, new, from a military surplus store. I’m sure the Navy uses wool blankets because of the moisture on ships. These things are heavy and 1/2” thick. I know they aren’t Merino wool, but they are very warm when we are camping.
I never liked sleeping bags much, but good ol' blanket, that is somethink I love. Actually like to use ones made from bit rougher wool as I like the bit scratchy texture on me skin. Wool blanket is me favourite both indoors and outdoors!
I love merino wool too! I’ve got all my outdoor clothes In merino wool! Like merino fleeces lol etc! Merino gloves! It’s really amazing stuff and it really seems to be lasting and washing VERY WELL!! I’ve still got all my original stuff. IE crag hoppers tops and bottoms etc! I like the merino wool though it’s just kinda expensive..
I'm a blanket guy.
Especially when on the bike, if you are at a rally sat next to the fire your not going to wrap yourself up in a nylon nightmare.
Great point...
Thank you for your informative video 👍 appreciated your knowledge on wool they are my thoughts exactly 💯 😀 that wool is the best ever for warmth...Keep your videos flowing 😀 I'm interested in anything regarding camping 🏕 etc...
First time seeing this channel. Definitely Gained my subscription! I’ve got a wool blanket that costed me $200 and while it’s good, it’s definitely not for harsher weather conditions. If paying double means that I’m not only prepared for more, but I’m also able to pass it along in my later years, then im all for it!
There are several high quality blankets out there in that $200 range. But as you go up in quality in pursuit of performance you add weight. That's where I reach for the expedition weight Merino wool. They not only keep out the wind and cold, but are much lighter than their counterparts.
Another pro: your girlfriend wont steal your wool blanket in the middle of the night.
I would.
It's older than me, and used it on literally hundreds of camping trips over the decades
I'm using 2 100% wool tight weave blankets. They work for me down to 29f fine in an ice storm. I layer them for loft. I would think mine are more lightweight side at 4lbs each.
"Nice meal in a fluffy burrito" - epic! will keep that expression in mind when talking to sleeping bags fans.
Yes! Growing up in Grizzly bear country of the Pacific Northwest, I've noticed that too! Every camper killed and eaten by a Grizzly, was sleeping in a sleeping bag!
Two Army blankets and a woobie (all liberated from CIF) kept me toasty warm sleeping in my Jeep at 10 degrees last fall.
I have a fleece blanket ( full size ) it is light and easy to carry and inch for inch pound for pound it is warmest wool is good material you can't beat mother nature
My Mother and her Mother where weavers of wool. So how "Tight" a blanket is woven all depends on the weaver, and the type of loom and fiber they are using. I have a cloak made from a felted wool blanket, heavy, but very very warm.
Lovely! I had an Icelandic wool poncho. It was thick, soft and light. The warmest thing ever!
lol, I was raised in Klamath Falls. Not much going for it, but good camping spots nearby.
I use a vintage issue mummy bag liner made of wool with a wool blanket wrapped around me on top of my canvas oilcloth , toasty is the word.
I have a queen size merino blanket I use home during the spring and fall. Is way loftier than regular blankets and seems fragile, unlike the regular military blankets. I don't think you can have it both ways. Good thing to have around the house if you need to layer up with a quilt or duvet since the merino blanket does not compress that much and you can add something on top.
Merino blankets come in different material weights. I have a heavier version which is a little thicker than most military versions...very warm down to 35 degrees. I also have a thinner merino wool that is about the same thickness as the military blankets. It too is warm down to about 50 degrees. After that I'm layering another blanket into the mix.
The only blanket i trust to sleep in temperatures below 40 degrees without a fire is the Hudson Bay 6 Point blanket. But if you have to carry two blankets to stay warm, you are better-off with a quality sleeping bag. The only reason to choose a wool blanket over a sleeping bag is weight. A blanket can double as a pack, a coat, a hammock, a stretcher etc. But if you have to carry two blankets, that advantage is gone. Honorable mention on best bushcraft blanket would be the Filson Mackinaw.
EXTREMELY expensive though.
@@jonothandoeser check bushcrafispain merino wool blanket I used it in -5 C with no problem
Right now on my bed is a red Hudson Bay wool blanket originally purchased in 1954.
I think it has two black lines, so at one time it would have cost 2 beaver pelts.
Great review! Thank you Sir.
Great information. Thanks for taking the time.
I stumbled upon your channel and thanx for the great information!!
I like my flannel/wool sleeping bag. Best of both worlds in my opinion. I prefer unzipped for most uses. also try camel or yak wool, depending on use.
I got a Swiss link blanket It's 80% it's pretty warm.
Great info!
My mom gave me a wool emergency blanket from when she was a paramedic, I take it everywhere with me. Mine is pretty thick and not as maliable as the ones you have there.
Smart girl!
I've tried both and I just find sleeping bags 10x warmer. It's my go to. The wool blanket stays in the car for emergencies, but if I want a good night's sleep I'm going for a sleeping bag.
It really depends on the quality of the blanket or the sleeping bag
@@jonothandoeser Wool blankets just don't have the loft and really don't cut the wind at all like a sleeping bag. Unless you're in a climate controlled structure with no convection, or under a tarp with a reflective fire, a wool blanket doesn't hold a candle to even a cheap modern sleeping bag.
@@JoeMac1983 Again, it really depends on the blanket and the situation. It's totally different if you're tent camping as opposed to under the stars.
@JoeMac1983 My antique Witney point blanket has mega loft from the long nap. After a good lanolin wash, I use a reversed wire pet brush to gently brush out the nap for super loft and warmth. They are heavy though.
Huge differences in various types and brands of wool blankets. And if you're going to go for an outdoor wool blanket, it should be 100% wool and minimum queen size.
A brand new Hudson Bay is around $600 USD.
I ordered a Faribault Mills Frontier Blanket, Queen size, for $545. It is their heavy weight blanket, but they don't call it "Merino" wool. They call it "very fine". Same for the Cabin blanket.
Give the wooly mammoth blankets a try there 100% Marino wool as well and very thick. And only 74 dollars on Amazon
Can’t be true. Or fake, counterfeit.
Glen Beck recommends wool, ;)
Really very informative video. Thank you and Stay Safe.
I love wool blankets and gave up on sleeping bags years ago. Now I am struggling with the weight/bulk of a good blanket as I am a backpacker who walks everywhere and I am 68 years old.
Merino wool blankets are very lightweght and have exceptional thermal retention. its all i use these days for the same reason.
I just received 100% undyed merino fleece to spin. Was wondering what to do with it… was going to make some socks, may start a blanket too. Thanks
It will spin fine. It doesn't like to be spun to a bulky yarn. Socks would be a good start. Maybe do a three ply yarn and knit fairly tight.
Well I enjoy a good wool blanket and have used them a lot..
However if you are the cold weather a sleeping gag rated for the trip is lighter to carry and safer..
Nothing will ever beat a bag that fits you in bad weather..
Now having said that a couple of blankets and a tarp makes a good bed.. as long I am not carrying them I am all for them.
For me wool that you wear is the way to go..
...the "coureur des bois", canoeists for the Hudson's Bay Company, were allowed two wool blankets in their personal gear. "By 1700, point blankets (wool) accounted for 60% of the trade."...
A GOOD wool blanket a woobie and a sleeping pad will serve you pretty well
I was a sleeping bag guy for years from alaska to georgia. Feel like an idoit for using that tube of discomfort for so long. I had made a down comforter and nice saddle blanket (thickness wise) for under neath and a wool blanket on top with down comforter that is made with fleece outer fabric. I sleep so much better. For backpacking it is a issue but mostly due to bulk.
So I see you do use backpacks, and so have you used haversacks as a extra baggage for bushcraft?
Etymology
The "black" in "blacksmith" refers to the black firescale[citation needed], a layer of oxides that forms on the surface of the metal during heating. The origin of "smith" is debated. It may come from the old English word "smythe" meaning "to strike"[citation needed] or it may have originated from the Proto-German "smithaz" meaning "skilled worker."[2]
I prefer a good wool blanket over a sleeping bag. Even if that blanket gets wet, it will still provide warmth. Granted, they are bulky and generally heaver than a sleeping bag and thus harder to carry vs. a sleeping bag. One thing to remember about wool is that it does require cleaning and does require more space, but overall, a good wool blanket is better than any sleeping bag
Do you hike over 10 miles a day gaining elevation?
A quality, 100% wool blanket doesn't require much frequent cleaning at all unless you roll around in a mud pit or get animal 💩 all over it.
Most cleaning you should ever really need is hanging out in the wind and sun for a day. Maybe a few hits with a stick.
I only need to do a full on clean of my wool blankets maybe once a year if they've been used a lot.
l camp at least 40 night each year in all 4 season some years double that and have been doing it for 50 years. I once had to get through a 30 degree night with only a foam pad and wool blanket. It was a long night. If I had one of my 2 down sleeping bags it would have been no problem. I motorcycle camp a lot and need to be able to stuff down all my items. I would say 20 percent of my nights are 10F - 20F, 20 percent are above 45, so 60 percent of my trips are between 20F and 45F. I do need to be a I careful with down to keep It dry and almost all of my camping is in the Rocky Mountain regions where it's dry even when there is snow. Wool blankets have a place. but, they are not even in the ball park with the comfort provided by down. I. can't sleep in a zipped sleeping bag so I unzip them all the way and using them as blankets. If any of you are going out to camp and it will be down to 20F - 30F and you think a wool blanked will work, give it a try but, have your down bag with if you find that 3/4 inches of wool isn't enough.
Better yet, make a waterproof and puncture resistant nylon covered, down stuffed sleeping bag, with the inside lined in buttery soft Merino wool.
is there a “Scratchiness Scale” for wool blankets? If there isn’t, there oughta be.
I'll have to take a look at Faribault. The company I'm more familiar with is Pendleton.
Love wool like alpaca even more
I prefer wool blankets because wool is pretty much the only material that keeps you warm even though it's wet!
uhhh.... it just cools you slower than other natural materials. synthetics dry faster, maintain warmth better, and for their insulation are lighter and generally more compact than wool.
@@anotheryoutuber_ While living in the deep forests of the Pacific Northwest (during a brief time of homelessness in my youth), I used a sleeping bag for the first night only and it made my sleep cold, wet, dreary, and terrible. Second day until third month, the marine wool army blanket I got from the Army Surplus store became my best sleep-buddy paired with a poncho and tarp.
@@crusader.survivor but what was the materials of the sleeping bag? cause definitely cotton or flannel bags are gonna do that it in less than ideal conditions, where synthetics have taken me and others through super wet and cold conditions in relative comfort. i definitely appreciate the smoldering versus melting of wool to syntheitcs when very near sparky fires. tarps and ponchos however are indeed friends.
@@anotheryoutuber_ I got that expensive sleeping bag from MEC in downtown Vancouver, guaranteed to keep you warm and dry, but it didn't work in the rainforests of the Pacific Northwest! There's also the stealth factor, modern sleeping bags are noisy when handled, whereas traditional wool blankets are quiet.
Heh when its cold I chuck a double sheepskin on the bed. Done that since I was a kid. I am a farmer in New Zealand. Our wool sells so cheaply many sheep farmers are changing to sheep that discard their wool. There is just no money farming for wool. Such a shame
I hate sleeping bags because I tend to change positions often when I'm trying to sleep, which is just a pain when you're stuffed inside a bag
I do dig me some wool.
Thank you.
Grandma Gatewood used a wool blanket to hike the entire appalachian trail.
Thank you
A wet down bag is useless..modern synthetics retain heat but still not equivalent to wool..whatever you choose a bivy sack is a must
Since then have you handled the frontier blanket from Fairbault? I think that's their heavy one.
Both make good bodybags. 😆
Hudson Bay. costly? yes. worth it? Worth every penny.
Drink every time he says “Blanket”😜