Great video! I own several shells from Arcteryx, Peak as well as TNF and numerous mid-layers. I only own one base layer. Last season I skied 60days in that base-layer and washed it once 😳 Honestly, it didn’t smell to bad.
I've personally found that wool is the only thing that's worth it when it gets real cold. I only use synthetic when I exercise in the cold because of the ability to transfer moisture. However, when you go trecking or touring in colder than -10 it simply falls short. Also, wool does not chafe, and as you said, has a more comfy fit and softer feel.
I find wool “wicks” and drys just as good if not better than any synthetic used as a thermal base layer. I have synthetics that wick super fast but are thin and designed to keep you cool in summer, obviously not the goal here. Wool’s insulating property when wet and insulting ability per ounce are far superior to synthetics. Then there is wool’s ability to help regulate body temp. Wool base with a high quality breathable shell with good vents is a nice multi season setup.
Nice work Jens - keep it coming! FWIW I only wear merino now - the smell factor trumps all else. The one downside I find with it is that it holds moisture more than the plastic stuff. So, even though it is generally as warm, if I work up a good sweat on a cold day and then slow down I have got pretty cold as the base layer stays wet and the gets very cold. So, merino is warm if you are not moving much, stays warm as you exercise hard but you mustn't stop! Gotta keep working until you can get into somewhere warm.
For me the one piece Merino Wool Suit works best. I own 3 pairs... 185gm Ortovox for spring skiing days, 2) 200gm Kask of Sweden for most days and 3) 330gm Kask of Sweden for those really cold days. The feel, warmth and comfort is perfect 😀
I don't see any one-piece suits at kaskofsweden.com. I've been wearing The Ninja Suit by airblaster all day, and I don't feel like it's keeping me warm at all. Maybe the only purpose of the "base layer" is to wick sweat, and the mid layer is the insulative, while the outer layer is just to keep snow out and let moisture escape? I've read that "compression" base layers are the best, which makes sense if its main purpose is to WICK; it would need to be in contact with all the sweat glands. Does anyone make a compression merino/wool base layer? Does anyone know more about these things? I've never been comfortable on a skiing trip in my life. I'm ready to finally do it right, if I can just figure it out. I wish I could keep my hands, feet, and face warm too.
Jens! I agree. I have been running in my 65% merino T with no washing and it smells great. I’m gearing up for long expeditions in the mountains with no access to clothes washing.
For thirty years my base layer has been silk. Wintersilks, back when they were still around and now Thermasilk. Silk feels great on your skin, is incredibly durable, and is excellent at transferring moisture away from your body. Yes, In winter you will need an insulating layer above and I usually use inexpensive fleece because it's effective and cheap enough to have multiple pairs in different thickness/weights.
Marino all day long for me. Sooo much better and worth the money. So much warmer/ adaptive to conditions . Wool is proven to be the best insulating material to wear closest to the skin.
I like pure merino when im in my sleeping bag as it is very comfortable and warm. For active pursuits, 50:50 merino polyester blend rules them all. Doesn't stink like pure polyester and you can pop it mindlessly in the laundry together with other gears when you stop in town. 😆
This was really interesting. I have been skiing one week or so per year for 40 years and was looking at replacing some of my base layers, one of them being a 37 year old cotton one from Descente, as some are no longer stylish. Nevertheless they are always seen at apres ski. I have always worn one base layer per day, so take 6 on holiday as I do not want to smell like Jens’ right armpit when I am socialising. Ideally I would replace 4 of my base layers but there was no way I was going to drop all that cash for one trip, but I would only need one merino wool base and then I could smell like Jens’ left armpit at apres ski 🎉, job solved, merino now on order.
Thanks for this video. Ease of everyday care is where synthetic destroys wool :) Merino : delicate washing cycle, low spin speed, no tumble dry, dry flat - too much effort, not my stuff.
Wool is the best Wicking and does not retain Oder. The upside is wool keeps you warm if you get wet! So Wool is the best in my opinion. However yes it can be pricey for sure.
love your videos, and this wacky experiment. im curious how the 10 year old synthetic smells right out of the wash, as they are notorious for smells "setting" in the fabric. My wife makes us throw out synethetic stuff on a pretty frequent basis because it has set-in smells.
That's horrible for the environment, those polyester fibers don't break down well. Second, you just let the clothes dry after use instead of throwing them into a close hamper right away. I never have issues and I've worn workout clothes a lot in sports with no problems
I would take merino just because of the smell, only I switched to merino ski socks it was like night and day, I can pretty much wear them for 3-4 days before they start smelling. For the shirt even longer. For pants I dont sweat too much there, Ill stay with synthetic because of the thinness
back in my army days we only used wool. i was stationed in northern norway so it was cold. the reason being that synthetic doesnt warm as good. And when synthetic got wet it got cold while wool would still warm you even tho it was wet. every single one of my teammates who wanted to use their super synthetic wool ended up with frost damages.
Cheers! How about socks? I use one pair of synthetic and one made out of merino and I must say that merino are warmer for sure but I what I dont like about them is that it gets really wet as it absorbs most of the sweat and holds it.. so basically socks feel in skiboots very wet but feets are warm which is kind of weird feeling :D what experience did you have? Thanks
I use merino since 2 years and its awesome for me, they dont smell (my old synthetic ones smelled disgusting after one day) They aren´t much warmer if u pick thin ones (which i always recommend) Never had a issue with them beeing more wet than the synthetic ones
Will watch the whole video but... Merino wins no matter what you say. Merino never stinks. Merino never is wet. Merino never come. Merino never too warm. I always wear my Merino 150g all year round, except in winter when i put 200g to go skiing. With synthetic it's kind of a lottery: done will work well, but smell, some won't, and won't smell, some work but never at the standard set by Merino... So even if it's triple the cost, I'll go with Merino always
You tested a 10 year old product next to a new one? Also, I think there is a huge difference in synthetics, where as Merino is more consistent across brands. I applaud your attempt, but not really fair or conclusive.
You're right, better we poison the animals with plastic clothes that never biodegrade and aren't renewable and just break down into micro plastics in the ocean.
We applaud your personal sacrifice in the name of science and consumer education.
This is actually pretty groundbreaking. Should've gotten a noble prize for your research
Great video!
I own several shells from Arcteryx, Peak as well as TNF and numerous mid-layers. I only own one base layer. Last season I skied 60days in that base-layer and washed it once 😳
Honestly, it didn’t smell to bad.
I've personally found that wool is the only thing that's worth it when it gets real cold. I only use synthetic when I exercise in the cold because of the ability to transfer moisture. However, when you go trecking or touring in colder than -10 it simply falls short. Also, wool does not chafe, and as you said, has a more comfy fit and softer feel.
Hands down, one of the best channels if not the best channel on youtube for skiing/freeskiing.
Love it, keep it up :)
I find wool “wicks” and drys just as good if not better than any synthetic used as a thermal base layer. I have synthetics that wick super fast but are thin and designed to keep you cool in summer, obviously not the goal here. Wool’s insulating property when wet and insulting ability per ounce are far superior to synthetics. Then there is wool’s ability to help regulate body temp. Wool base with a high quality breathable shell with good vents is a nice multi season setup.
Nice work Jens - keep it coming! FWIW I only wear merino now - the smell factor trumps all else. The one downside I find with it is that it holds moisture more than the plastic stuff. So, even though it is generally as warm, if I work up a good sweat on a cold day and then slow down I have got pretty cold as the base layer stays wet and the gets very cold. So, merino is warm if you are not moving much, stays warm as you exercise hard but you mustn't stop! Gotta keep working until you can get into somewhere warm.
For me the one piece Merino Wool Suit works best. I own 3 pairs... 185gm Ortovox for spring skiing days, 2) 200gm Kask of Sweden for most days and 3) 330gm Kask of Sweden for those really cold days. The feel, warmth and comfort is perfect 😀
I don't see any one-piece suits at kaskofsweden.com. I've been wearing The Ninja Suit by airblaster all day, and I don't feel like it's keeping me warm at all. Maybe the only purpose of the "base layer" is to wick sweat, and the mid layer is the insulative, while the outer layer is just to keep snow out and let moisture escape? I've read that "compression" base layers are the best, which makes sense if its main purpose is to WICK; it would need to be in contact with all the sweat glands. Does anyone make a compression merino/wool base layer? Does anyone know more about these things? I've never been comfortable on a skiing trip in my life. I'm ready to finally do it right, if I can just figure it out. I wish I could keep my hands, feet, and face warm too.
Jens! I agree. I have been running in my 65% merino T with no washing and it smells great. I’m gearing up for long expeditions in the mountains with no access to clothes washing.
I am relatively new to skiing and I have found your channel very useful now that I am starting to buy my own equipment - thanks
Very cool! Ski jackets, next?
For thirty years my base layer has been silk. Wintersilks, back when they were still around and now Thermasilk. Silk feels great on your skin, is incredibly durable, and is excellent at transferring moisture away from your body. Yes, In winter you will need an insulating layer above and I usually use inexpensive fleece because it's effective and cheap enough to have multiple pairs in different thickness/weights.
Marino all day long for me. Sooo much better and worth the money. So much warmer/ adaptive to conditions . Wool is proven to be the best insulating material to wear closest to the skin.
5:47 i guess synthetic won that one quite dominantly :)
I like pure merino when im in my sleeping bag as it is very comfortable and warm. For active pursuits, 50:50 merino polyester blend rules them all. Doesn't stink like pure polyester and you can pop it mindlessly in the laundry together with other gears when you stop in town. 😆
This was really interesting. I have been skiing one week or so per year for 40 years and was looking at replacing some of my base layers, one of them being a 37 year old cotton one from Descente, as some are no longer stylish. Nevertheless they are always seen at apres ski. I have always worn one base layer per day, so take 6 on holiday as I do not want to smell like Jens’ right armpit when I am socialising. Ideally I would replace 4 of my base layers but there was no way I was going to drop all that cash for one trip, but I would only need one merino wool base and then I could smell like Jens’ left armpit at apres ski 🎉, job solved, merino now on order.
great concept love this channel🔥🔥🔥
Excellent video. Well done and thank you. However, I think if I had a merino base layer, it might not smell but my pits still would!
Thanks for this video.
Ease of everyday care is where synthetic destroys wool :)
Merino : delicate washing cycle, low spin speed, no tumble dry, dry flat - too much effort, not my stuff.
Wool is the best Wicking and does not retain Oder. The upside is wool keeps you warm if you get wet! So Wool is the best in my opinion. However yes it can be pricey for sure.
love your videos, and this wacky experiment. im curious how the 10 year old synthetic smells right out of the wash, as they are notorious for smells "setting" in the fabric. My wife makes us throw out synethetic stuff on a pretty frequent basis because it has set-in smells.
That's horrible for the environment, those polyester fibers don't break down well. Second, you just let the clothes dry after use instead of throwing them into a close hamper right away. I never have issues and I've worn workout clothes a lot in sports with no problems
what can i do for warm feet? my toes always really ice cold, if i make my buckles more loose i feel to loose in my boot :(
Tnaks for help
Damn! Really appreciate your work for us! Keep going! :)
Also, Jens, are german or denish? (Dansk)
I would take merino just because of the smell, only I switched to merino ski socks it was like night and day, I can pretty much wear them for 3-4 days before they start smelling. For the shirt even longer. For pants I dont sweat too much there, Ill stay with synthetic because of the thinness
Cool video dude!
thanks for the info. At the end you should have framed your head just in front of those horns. LOL!
The smell did it for me!
Cool creative and informative idea ! :-)
Ever tried Löffler Transtex Warm? It workes great for me.
back in my army days we only used wool. i was stationed in northern norway so it was cold. the reason being that synthetic doesnt warm as good. And when synthetic got wet it got cold while wool would still warm you even tho it was wet. every single one of my teammates who wanted to use their super synthetic wool ended up with frost damages.
the wool armpit hole is high tech breathability ;)
Love this bro
nice sewing bro
Good videos. Thanks
1:15 what microphone are you using? Nice video dude
could you guys make a video on shin bang as it is never explained well and you guys are good with that
Arran Sangster your boots are too loose or are irregularly pressing on your legs
ingenious!
More product testing!
Thanks! Very nice
Keela make excellent merino base layers
Cheers! How about socks? I use one pair of synthetic and one made out of merino and I must say that merino are warmer for sure but I what I dont like about them is that it gets really wet as it absorbs most of the sweat and holds it.. so basically socks feel in skiboots very wet but feets are warm which is kind of weird feeling :D what experience did you have? Thanks
AndynoSVK1 last November I got a pair of silk ski socks and ditched the wool.
I use merino since 2 years and its awesome for me, they dont smell (my old synthetic ones smelled disgusting after one day) They aren´t much warmer if u pick thin ones (which i always recommend) Never had a issue with them beeing more wet than the synthetic ones
seems like making your own by putting merino in the armpits and synthetic everywhere else could be a good option
I would love some brand to make that.
Merino is the best!
Hey, thanks for that fantastic test you just did. But for me it seems you need to work a bit on your right body part 🤣
Sir, you have just gewonnen the skiing internet. bwwwahahahaaa.
Great video, man the names of your girlfriends family sound very Dutch ;)
Thank you for the good video :)
Nice!!
NICE!!!
hint for using something long time: shoe anti-smell spray...
I have a synthetik one but most of the time I dont use base layers... I dont know why, most of the time it is not cold enough....
Ist ja lustig das du auch deutsch sprichts und so gutes englisch respekt
Will watch the whole video but... Merino wins no matter what you say. Merino never stinks. Merino never is wet. Merino never come. Merino never too warm.
I always wear my Merino 150g all year round, except in winter when i put 200g to go skiing.
With synthetic it's kind of a lottery: done will work well, but smell, some won't, and won't smell, some work but never at the standard set by Merino... So even if it's triple the cost, I'll go with Merino always
Ha'aaaa, you so funny, good info..
Yo! What’s the synthetic material? I’m guessing Polyester?
You guessed right
You guessed right.
But not 100% see here. th-cam.com/video/Sh8BFytupwA/w-d-xo.html
what brand is the synthetic base layer
OMG you can speak german, nice! :D
cashmere socks are best:) merino is not really warmer.
Stomp it tutos woher kommst du Österreich oder Schweiz
You tested a 10 year old product next to a new one? Also, I think there is a huge difference in synthetics, where as Merino is more consistent across brands. I applaud your attempt, but not really fair or conclusive.
Lol wusste nicht das du deutsch sprechen kannst.
Yeah i had not idea either. Aber, er wohnt in Schweiz, so Ich bin uberrascht nicht.
Breathability is where Merino destroys synthetic
Faction
W FREESKI powder skis
One thing: check out if you are not allergic against wool !
My favorite base layers are the 100% Merino Wool. Woolday in Germany have good t-shirts and underwear. woolday.eu
Powder skis
W FREESKI faction
It doesn’t seem like your scale was consistent.
Norsk fårull brukar funka bäst.
That's true, synthetic ones stink so bad...
First
Ist deine oma deutsche?
No she is Swedish as the rest of my family. But my girlfriends family is Swiss.
Stomp It Tutorials ah i get it!! Greetz from austria - winter still going strong 👍🏼😄
Check out peta.com and you'll never touch wool again!
You're right, better we poison the animals with plastic clothes that never biodegrade and aren't renewable and just break down into micro plastics in the ocean.