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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
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'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 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!
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.
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.
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.
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...
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.
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.
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!
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..
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 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°.
Yahshua - you know Him as Jesus - was born to a virgin, turned water to wine, taught, healed the sick, raised the dead, casted out demons, walked on water, calmed the storm, and fed a crowd of thousands with a few fish and a few loaves of bread, among many other things. He was killed on the cross as payment for the sins of all mankind, three days later He rose from the dead. Forty days later He ascended into heaven where He sits at the right hand of the Father. He is returning very soon, but before He does, Satan, the devil, is coming to pretend to be Jesus/God (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4). Satan is an angel, and he will have certain supernatural powers with which to try to fool everyone. He will, for example, be able to make fire come down from heaven in the sight of men. He will only be on earth a short time before the real King of Kings, Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, returns. When the real Jesus comes we will all be transformed into our spiritual bodies at the same moment. Jesus came in the flesh to offer forgiveness of sins and eternal life to anyone who believes and calls on His precious name! if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. - Romans 10:9 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her. - Matthew 26:6-13 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.... To anoint your self, the sick, or a building for spiritual protection: Get a small bottle of olive oil and pour off a small amount into a smaller vessel like a vial or baby food jar. Use the rest of the bottle for cooking. Ask the Lord to bless your vial of oil in Jesus name. Anoint yourself with the oil by placing a dab of oil on tip of finger and touch it to your forehead, and ask the Lord to bless you/heal you. To anoint your home or other building: place a dab of oil on your finger and anoint the door posts and order all negativity and evil out of the house, and order that nothing negative or evil can enter into your home including piggybacking on a person entering, order it to be so in the name of Jesus. Anoint all potential entrances to your home. To anoint the sick: place oil on tip of finger and touch it to the head of the sick and say a prayer of healing over them in Jesus name. See James Chapter 5:14-15.,..........
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.
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.
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 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
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.
🐻 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 was in the Marines 75-79 and I used to feel cold in the barracks with those green wool blankets. AND, I normally like to have the temps down at night and use minimal blankets but back in the Corps those green wool blankets didn't do it for me.
Oh they were terrible. Cheap but strong was all the DoD cared about. Blue USN blankets were the same as the OD green Corps blankets....and they were for in ship use. Find a point blanket....about 80" x 70". The old period reenactor suppliers have them. Especially 1700s reenactors.
@@STho205 I remember many a time waking up shivering in those old brick barracks down at Camp Lejeune. Maybe those old tight weave wool blankets could be sold for big bucks as "cooling blankets". They sure as hell weren't warming blankets. Thinking about it now, I'm surprised that our good old Marine Corps didn't just issue us a roll of fiberglass insulation for blankets as it fitting would go along perfectly with the poison water we were issued everyday through the pipes.
@@STho205 And in the Marines they were all hand me downs, as were our helmets, and almost every bit of gear we were issued. The leather band in my helmet was moldy and god only knows how many other marines had worn it through the years before I was issued it.
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.
1:46 not an expert here, but take a look at other germanic words for a smith and you'll see why that story is bs: Ge: schmied Nl: smid Da/Se/No: smed Is: smiður
Your information was great, but didn’t go far enough. How do you us these blankets - show how you would fold them and arrange them to make your bed. This is TH-cam after all.
Use them like a blanket. There done. If you want the bed lay he was talking about, there are dozens of videos on it already. For a brief description, lay the blanket along the diagonal, instead of the horizontal. Position your body about 2/3 from the top point - you want to be sure you have plenty of blanket to fold over your feet for the next step. Fold the bottom point up over your feet, then fold one side of the blanket across your body, then fold the other side across your body the other direction. Tuck the leftover portion of the blanket under your body. You will be wrapped up nice and tight under multiple layers of blanket. You'll also be left with material above your head that you can use to fold over your head if necessary. You can do this with a tarp on the outside to form a sort of layered bivvy system. This was a fairly common cowboy bedroll setup.
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.
This history lesson seems suspicious. It seems probable that woolen woven fabrics date back to ancient times where it certainly would have occurred to someone to use such fabrics as a blanket.
Modern sheep are not the same as ancient sheep. Modern sheep have been bred over millennia to have an outrageous amount of will, to the point that sheep will suffocate and die if they are not shorn regularly. Wool has been in use by people for millennia, but it's absolutely not the case that it was in common use around the world until global trade was a thing in the last 600 years or so. Moreover, even with global trade, for anywhere sheep couldn't be raised wool would be a very expensive luxury item. So to say The Ancients were using wool as a common practice is the height of ignorance. Wool would have been rare and expensive before breeding and industrial level husbandry practices made the product relatively inexpensive.
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!
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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).
Merino wool is much lighter, and because of the way it grows on the sheep it provides a much tighter weave that holds in heat at a very efficient rate. The price reflects the difference as well. They are pricey, but they are generational heirloom blankets that will hold up past our lifetime, and others who are lucky enough to get it passed onto them.
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.
...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 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.
Why vs ? I need both when it's under 5 Degree Fahrenheit - my Scottish blanket and a german army sleeping bag (old school version) - trust me I am speaking from experience 🤗 I am just sloppy with my inlets (gotta optimize that pretty soon)
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.
If they are mothproofed or not is very important in how you care for them. I would want mine labeled mothproofed to know they would not be destroyed after paying a lot of money for them!!
So the summary is that at very low temps the sleeping bag is the only thing that works. At higher temps a blanket will do but is heavier and bulkier. Still struggling to see the advantage of a blanket.
All down bags today are water "resistant" until they're not...then you're a popsicle! I have bags as well, but if water in any form is likely, I grab either a synthetic bag, or the always reliable wool blanket.
They’re not wrong that down can get wet and become useless, but you’re not wrong to look at these materials from a cost benefit perspective either. Wool is heavy. There’s wisdom in both the ultralight and traditional bush craft mindsets.
Jens Williamson, III (Deaf) Simple! You all can put the wool blanket in your good sleeping bag if so cold weather. That is it. It works! Thanks for your time. Have a good year in 2022! Respectfully, Jens Williamson, III 😎😷👍🇺🇲 Bexar County 🇨🇱 The camping expert! 🏕️ The Boy Scout in Blanco, Texas and Austin, Texas. Over 40 temp, just use good sleeping bag.👍 Under 30 temp, put the wool blanket in good sleeping bag. Just do it!👏 Over 65 is not funny. We know that. Must keep you warm....🏆 👊 Big Help if you wear the long john (long sleeves shirt and pants and warm socks before bed time). 💡 Wow 😲
No. Sir, you are wrong. A sleeping bag is far superior to wool blankets. I barely survived several December weeks in 1991 camping in Utah because I believed what people said about the superiority of wool blankets. I had about 5 or 6 itchy military surplus blankets from various countries on me. Coincidentally, 21 winters later I camped in the same temperature about 30 miles north, for 16 days. I was comfortably warm in an old US Army surplus sleeping bag on top of a 2-inch polystyrene sheet with a poly-filled comforter over the bag. (When the wind blew hard rain and snow got on my head a little bit so I wore a stocking cap inside the "mummy bag.")
I can't argue another persons experience, and I appreciate your input. However, in my experience the "quality", not the price, of the wool blanket/s is the key. Many a frontiersman and explorer coveted their wool blankets. Not only did they survive in dangerous below zero temps, but they thrived.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Just bought 2 each wool sleeping bags, WW2 Army Surplus Wool Sleeping Bags, an awesome find!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
I'm Canadian so I've used it in the cold and it still keeps me warm in British Columbia winter's
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.
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 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 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.
I have embraced great kilts for much of my outdoors activities. They make for great bedding and shelter.
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
Another pro: your girlfriend wont steal your wool blanket in the middle of the night.
I would.
lol, I was raised in Klamath Falls. Not much going for it, but good camping spots nearby.
Yes very helpful thank you, I am not a rider but a backpacker few ever discuss options.
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 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!
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 find wearing wool thermals and wool hat helps to keep me snug and warm.
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
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
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...
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.
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.
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.
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!
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'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...
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..
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.
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.
Yahshua - you know Him as Jesus - was born to a virgin, turned water to wine, taught, healed the sick, raised the dead, casted out demons, walked on water, calmed the storm, and fed a crowd of thousands with a few fish and a few loaves of bread, among many other things. He was killed on the cross as payment for the sins of all mankind, three days later He rose from the dead. Forty days later He ascended into heaven where He sits at the right hand of the Father. He is returning very soon, but before He does, Satan, the devil, is coming to pretend to be Jesus/God (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4). Satan is an angel, and he will have certain supernatural powers with which to try to fool everyone. He will, for example, be able to make fire come down from heaven in the sight of men. He will only be on earth a short time before the real King of Kings, Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, returns. When the real Jesus comes we will all be transformed into our spiritual bodies at the same moment. Jesus came in the flesh to offer forgiveness of sins and eternal life to anyone who believes and calls on His precious name!
if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. - Romans 10:9
Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her. - Matthew 26:6-13
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon....
To anoint your self, the sick, or a building for spiritual protection:
Get a small bottle of olive oil and pour off a small amount into a smaller vessel like a vial or baby food jar. Use the rest of the bottle for cooking. Ask the Lord to bless your vial of oil in Jesus name. Anoint yourself with the oil by placing a dab of oil on tip of finger and touch it to your forehead, and ask the Lord to bless you/heal you. To anoint your home or other building: place a dab of oil on your finger and anoint the door posts and order all negativity and evil out of the house, and order that nothing negative or evil can enter into your home including piggybacking on a person entering, order it to be so in the name of Jesus. Anoint all potential entrances to your home. To anoint the sick: place oil on tip of finger and touch it to the head of the sick and say a prayer of healing over them in Jesus name. See James Chapter 5:14-15.,..........
Thank you for the video sir, i appreciate your knowledge and experience.
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.
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.
I got a Swiss link blanket It's 80% it's pretty warm.
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 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
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.
Hudson Bay. costly? yes. worth it? Worth every penny.
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.
🐻 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!
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 was in the Marines 75-79 and I used to feel cold in the barracks with those green wool blankets. AND, I normally like to have the temps down at night and use minimal blankets but back in the Corps those green wool blankets didn't do it for me.
Oh they were terrible. Cheap but strong was all the DoD cared about. Blue USN blankets were the same as the OD green Corps blankets....and they were for in ship use.
Find a point blanket....about 80" x 70". The old period reenactor suppliers have them. Especially 1700s reenactors.
@@STho205 I remember many a time waking up shivering in those old brick barracks down at Camp Lejeune. Maybe those old tight weave wool blankets could be sold for big bucks as "cooling blankets". They sure as hell weren't warming blankets. Thinking about it now, I'm surprised that our good old Marine Corps didn't just issue us a roll of fiberglass insulation for blankets as it fitting would go along perfectly with the poison water we were issued everyday through the pipes.
@@ModernNeandertal they were versatile. Hot and itchy in summer. Cold and scratchy in winter.
@@STho205 And in the Marines they were all hand me downs, as were our helmets, and almost every bit of gear we were issued. The leather band in my helmet was moldy and god only knows how many other marines had worn it through the years before I was issued it.
@@ModernNeandertal yep...duration of common equipment was all the QM cared about.
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
“Fluffy burrito” five star rating by Big Bear
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.
Wool blanket inside a sleeping bag 🤔
In Tudor times, some wealthy people has linen sheets made from nettle fibres.
I disagree a blanket has only a place time If you truly are outdoors all gear has it limits blankets fall short many instances
So I see you do use backpacks, and so have you used haversacks as a extra baggage for bushcraft?
Glen Beck recommends wool, ;)
1:46 not an expert here, but take a look at other germanic words for a smith and you'll see why that story is bs:
Ge: schmied
Nl: smid
Da/Se/No: smed
Is: smiður
👍
Your information was great, but didn’t go far enough. How do you us these blankets - show how you would fold them and arrange them to make your bed. This is TH-cam after all.
Most people use them under a dressier bedspread, but they could be used alone. They usually aren't big enough to tuck, so just spread them flat.
Use them like a blanket. There done.
If you want the bed lay he was talking about, there are dozens of videos on it already. For a brief description, lay the blanket along the diagonal, instead of the horizontal. Position your body about 2/3 from the top point - you want to be sure you have plenty of blanket to fold over your feet for the next step. Fold the bottom point up over your feet, then fold one side of the blanket across your body, then fold the other side across your body the other direction. Tuck the leftover portion of the blanket under your body. You will be wrapped up nice and tight under multiple layers of blanket. You'll also be left with material above your head that you can use to fold over your head if necessary.
You can do this with a tarp on the outside to form a sort of layered bivvy system. This was a fairly common cowboy bedroll setup.
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.
I have an old, original Hudson's Bay blanket I've had since I was a toddler
This history lesson seems suspicious. It seems probable that woolen woven fabrics date back to ancient times where it certainly would have occurred to someone to use such fabrics as a blanket.
We stand by our research.
The old roman soldiers used their robes as blankets.
John the Baptist had a robe made out of camel's hair, which is a wool, and it would have been excellent for desert wear and sleep.
Modern sheep are not the same as ancient sheep. Modern sheep have been bred over millennia to have an outrageous amount of will, to the point that sheep will suffocate and die if they are not shorn regularly.
Wool has been in use by people for millennia, but it's absolutely not the case that it was in common use around the world until global trade was a thing in the last 600 years or so. Moreover, even with global trade, for anywhere sheep couldn't be raised wool would be a very expensive luxury item.
So to say The Ancients were using wool as a common practice is the height of ignorance. Wool would have been rare and expensive before breeding and industrial level husbandry practices made the product relatively inexpensive.
Vikings used woolen blankets
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!
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.
Drink every time he says “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 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.
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.
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!
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.
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).
Are the Merino Wool blankets lighter weight than the regular wool?
Absolutely
@@backwoodsbiker4311 Thank you! So the marina wool ones are lighter weight - are they just as warm or warmer than the regular sheep wool?
Merino wool is much lighter, and because of the way it grows on the sheep it provides a much tighter weave that holds in heat at a very efficient rate. The price reflects the difference as well. They are pricey, but they are generational heirloom blankets that will hold up past our lifetime, and others who are lucky enough to get it passed onto them.
I saw a bloke using sheep skins made into a blanket with a zipper on the side, quite interesting sleep system.
Wow over $400 for that blanket (bidenomics).... I wish i could afford one😂
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.
...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 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.
Why vs ? I need both when it's under 5 Degree Fahrenheit - my Scottish blanket and a german army sleeping bag (old school version) - trust me I am speaking from experience 🤗 I am just sloppy with my inlets (gotta optimize that pretty soon)
A wool blanket inside a bivy sack
History is cool 👍
lol, "thomas blanket," the finn? what a silly story. word comes from middle ages french "blanke" meaning undyed wool.
Funny the title says sleeping bag comparison but u didnt even mention it. Smph
is there a “Scratchiness Scale” for wool blankets? If there isn’t, there oughta be.
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.
If they are mothproofed or not is very important in how you care for them. I would want mine labeled mothproofed to know they would not be destroyed after paying a lot of money for them!!
So the summary is that at very low temps the sleeping bag is the only thing that works. At higher temps a blanket will do but is heavier and bulkier. Still struggling to see the advantage of a blanket.
Since then have you handled the frontier blanket from Fairbault? I think that's their heavy one.
I just bought military grade,should it be washed to get smell out n not so itchy
Grandma Gatewood used a wool blanket to hike the entire appalachian trail.
My names Greg too!! Did I ask you this?? I probably have lol
You fail to mention the obvious negative which is weight. My down bag rated to zero degrees is only 3 pounds and water-resistant.
All down bags today are water "resistant" until they're not...then you're a popsicle! I have bags as well, but if water in any form is likely, I grab either a synthetic bag, or the always reliable wool blanket.
Wool will keep you warm when its wet....down, um not so much. Water resistant means it's fine as long as it never even sees rain...lol
Are you a man or a mouse.
They’re not wrong that down can get wet and become useless, but you’re not wrong to look at these materials from a cost benefit perspective either. Wool is heavy. There’s wisdom in both the ultralight and traditional bush craft mindsets.
I have an allergic reaction to wool. What can I put between me and the wool? I do have 2 zero degree sleeping bags
Wool sleep bag had one made my self in the 80s. Like every thing else some wannabe rambo stole it. We tha once did we t long be for it was cool to do
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 cannot use anything wool due to a severe allergy.
Gotta be something else!
Jens Williamson, III (Deaf)
Simple!
You all can put the wool blanket in your good sleeping bag if so cold weather. That is it.
It works! Thanks for your time. Have a good year in 2022!
Respectfully,
Jens Williamson, III
😎😷👍🇺🇲
Bexar County 🇨🇱
The camping expert! 🏕️
The Boy Scout in Blanco, Texas and Austin, Texas.
Over 40 temp, just use good sleeping bag.👍
Under 30 temp, put the wool blanket in good sleeping bag. Just do it!👏
Over 65 is not funny. We know that. Must keep you warm....🏆
👊
Big Help if you wear the long john (long sleeves shirt and pants and warm socks before bed time). 💡
Wow 😲
No. Sir, you are wrong. A sleeping bag is far superior to wool blankets.
I barely survived several December weeks in 1991 camping in Utah because I believed what people said about the superiority of wool blankets. I had about 5 or 6 itchy military surplus blankets from various countries on me. Coincidentally, 21 winters later I camped in the same temperature about 30 miles north, for 16 days. I was comfortably warm in an old US Army surplus sleeping bag on top of a 2-inch polystyrene sheet with a poly-filled comforter over the bag. (When the wind blew hard rain and snow got on my head a little bit so I wore a stocking cap inside the "mummy bag.")
I can't argue another persons experience, and I appreciate your input. However, in my experience the "quality", not the price, of the wool blanket/s is the key. Many a frontiersman and explorer coveted their wool blankets. Not only did they survive in dangerous below zero temps, but they thrived.
Alpaca and OD Green Army blankets for me
Edmund Blanquette, 1330's, England.
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.
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.
Last name says a lot about what a family did?
Huh.
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 still perfer
my plush blankets