A wool guy here! I am regularly bullyed by the lads, that call me square and old fashioned... I tell them vivid descriptions how they will suffer for weeks with bad burns and melted plastic on their skin (or what would be left of it...) I call them "lycra-boys" and give them bad dreams!!! My greatest concern are the "green-horns", who, by the lack of knowledge and experience, just go with the flow and buy some fancy brand of layers, do not have the slightest idea of their advantages and disadvantages, do not know how to combine them and the time and place to wear this or that. Besides having an alpaca poncho (that can be used as "last resort" sleeping bag), I usually carry a thin blanket made from a local loden equivalent. Out of the box, I have a magnificent woodie (my Christmas gift for myself) made from yak knitted wool... I always have wool band (theoretically to be used around the neck) that I wrap aroud my waist...it keeps that area warm, it prevents cold wind from entering from below and serving as lumbar cushioning and support makes carrying a backpack much more confortable! In more extreme conditions I also carry a yak wool xal that I wrap around my head/shoulders/torso... For the neck I use a merino wool buff... I also use (my fav) a merino & possum hair beanie, 2 color brown and "dirty" white from New Zealand that is fantastic (it's the first time I hear the possum hair garnments mentioned anywhere...so, at least there are 2 of fanatic users ;-) Stay well and thanks PS: subscribed!
as I grew up in Latin America (Patagonia, Andes, and Amazonas) I got plenty of experiences with natural fibers, especially wool and cotton/hemp. As a youngster I always wore untreated wool ponchos and sweaters, as the Indians did (Lama, Alpaca and Sheep wool) But then "modernity" arrived and we slowly changed into Polyester garments... BUT after freezing and sweating for ages inside Gore-Tex & Co I am going back to natural wool (lanoline-rich) and treated canvas (beeswax) And I am not disappointed! It is obvious that the manufactures should attain better quality levels than my old indigenous garments, and that multi-fiber garments can serve a wider range of uses and performance requirements, but the essential thing still remains a very simple one: quality never gets out of style, and these natural products can have a very high intrinsic value! This also opens interesting opportunities for local communities that decide to embark in this quality crusade for functional design, performance and workmanship, which is good for sustainable local economies and also for the environment!!!
Yes. I read on Filson site, years back, about lanolin being a FEATURE, not a flaw, and they made such a good sales pitch, I bought one of their mackinaws, and it keeps you dry from the outside, and your body heat makes it wick to the outside, which is key to keeping you warm next to your skin. I wonder why no one ever talks about a good, old-fashioned sweater.
@mezmerya5130 I wear waxed cotton and a full zip wool sweater and I can regulate my sweat just fine. Having layers that are functional and adjustable is more important than having the latest high tek plastic garment.
Hey! Great video. Very informative. I hate comments like this so I’m hoping to engage you in conversation rather than come off as “you’re Wrong” It’s my understanding that fleece can retain some loft when wet and still provide some warmth. Not as warm as wool but still some warmth. Plus (I believe) fleece only retains 1% of its weight in moisture leaving it to dry exceptionally fast. Thus leaving you warmer after even a partial dry. But wool actively warms as it dries but takes longer and holds a much higher percentage of water. Curious your thoughts. Like I said Great video.
Thank you. I just discovered your channel and am enjoying the content! To tell you the truth, I haven’t had my fleece or wool real wet in cold conditions. Other than my OHT experience, I am usually pretty careful about getting wet when it is cold. I when it is cool, I will hike with no mid layer, hike fast enough to stay warm, and then put on my dry mid layer under my tarp and in my hammock. When it is colder, I just don’t get wet. Your logic about fleece vs wool seems logical. Thanks for watching.
I’m a day hiker and horse person. I get fleece, wool, and down outer clothing used from thrift stores for wonderfully low prices. I have several down coats I got for around $15 each.
Enjoyed watching this video! I, too, have invested a lot in wool, mostly Smartwool! I am totally sold on it. I first discovered merino wool socks and they changed my life! I now have many shirts and sweaters of different weights, a hoodie, a running jacket, a vest, long johns, gloves, and I have two wool fleece hoodies. I wear them all the time in winter, not just when I hike. I can definitely tell that wool regulates my body temperature much better than other fabrics. I don’t get cold and I don’t get hot when wearing it. It has taken a while to determine which combinations of shirts work in various temperature ranges, but over time I’ve figured it out. I notice if I wear fleece I most often get hot because it doesn’t breath as well. An additional benefit is that I can wear the wool more times before washing it. This means less laundry and less wear and tear from washing. They are great for traveling because of this as well. One down side is moths! I lost a couple of Woolx base layers to moth holes. Now I am very careful how I store my wool in summer months. It’s too big an investment to lose that way! I am totally sold on wool. My friends get tired of hearing me talk about it so much!
ima gather ll three weights of base layer, three weights of hiking sock, them injinji toe socks in at least two weights, and stop buying cotton and synthetics all together. speak to me of the green shirt you wear in this video, it looks awesome! thanks so much for this walkthrough, it will help explain the reasons behind higher end gear to my less understanding compatriots.
I usually wear wool and fleece, but I have a down jacket that I wear as an everyday jacket in the fall. Great video. Just subscribed to the channel. Looks like a few hours of your videos will be watched over the next few days. Lol
As a knitter, I use and learn the properties/qualities of many fibers. Only “super wash” wool is chemically treated to remove the scales for several reasons (does not felt). Regular non superwash wool is not treated and can and will felt with wear, wash, rubbing, friction, etc. alpaca does indeed insulate better, but does not have any structure at all (soft and drapey). Many of us will use a wool/alpaca blend for strength and structure especially at the seams of garments. Yak is another super insulator. If wool is the 40° down, alpaca the 20°, yak would be the 0 or -20.
Indeed, here in Mongolia if you want to be warm, aside of Cashmier, Yak or Camel for warmth is the better choice. It can also handle more moisture. Downside is that it's difficult to colour it, so it looks a bit boring. But the worst part is that you need to know the good producers. Hairs of these animals can be like cashmere, but only if it's combed out well. Otherwise you will get longer hairs, older hair etc in it which might cause itchiness or less thermal insulation. Yak is the most expensive of the 2. Camel sits closer to wool, so it's the best bang for buck with lots more thermal capabilities than wool.
Regarding insulation, it is more complex than just saying that this type of wool or that type of wool will be warmer. The insulation property of animal fibers boils down to 3 main things since they are all made of protein: finess/thinness of the fibers (measured in micron count), density (how many per given space/volume, but that is more about weave techniques and styles), and how hollow or not the fiber. When it comes to size/fineness/thinness of fibers, sheep's wool and alpaca can vary *tremendously.* Coarse fibers do not trap/still as much air as ultra fine fibers. Hence, ultra fine merino wool can be "warmer" than coarse alpaca. If the fibers from the sheep and the alpaca are about the same micron count (measure of size and how fine), the alpaca will be a bit warmer because alpaca fibers have some void/air pocket areas in them. Those air pockets within the fiber are more insulating than a more solid material because the latter will be more thermally conductive. As to Yak, I'm not sure about the void/air pockets or not, but these do tend to be finer, on average, than sheep's wool and alpaca in general with a micron count between 15 and 25. But, there is certainly sheep's wool and alpaca that can compete with that. Fineness/thinness will trump everything else, insulation wise, because the name of the game is stilling/trapping air molecules, which are quite small. Out of all the typical used animal fibers, ultra fine Angora rabbit fur is probably the most insulating because the fibers are very hollow, while also potentially being very fine as well. But, it is also fragile and delicate. Angora rabbit fur is best used in blends, or as a fill--sort of like goose or duck down in that sense. Except it doesn't work as well as downs because it tends to felt, clump, and stick together too much. Next in line would be mulberry silk because the micron count is usually found within a 10 to 14 range or so--that is very, very fine. And, rather than being more cylindrical shaped fibers like most animal fibers are, they are more trilobal shaped which traps/stills air better. I just looked up Yak fibers and it seems like they are fairly hollow in structure--apparently more than alpaca--this would account for the greater insulation potential. They sound like they are a more durable version of Angora rabbit fibers. Maybe less hollow (and sometimes less fine/thin). But, as far as insulation potential and natural materials go--nothing compares to high quality, high fill power goose down and Eider duck down. These are in a class of their own because of the 3D voluminous structure, the many, many, many super fine fibrils (which make silk and angora rabbit fur fibers look coarse in comparison) that tuff out from the shaft. When it comes to stilling air from convecting (air movement due to gradients between higher and lower energy [heat] zones)), it is nearly the perfect structure and design to do so.
Another knitter here, very glad you chimed in on this. Also, per Justin’s comment - this is why there are a lot of fibre types, density processes etc., and one chooses depending on what you want in the garment, hat, whatever.
I’m not much of a camper/hiker anymore, but I’ve always liked wool for sweaters and coats. Recently I noticed some wool socks at Costco. I bought them, almost on impulse and curiosity. I can’t remember when I last wore wool socks-many, many years ago! Always cotton/ polyester/nylon, etcetera, but mostly cotton. The new wool socks are fantastic! They are warm, VERY comfortable, and when I take them off before bed, they don’t even smell. I was astounded! I went back to Costco and bought more, and will do so again soon. I am converted to wool socks.
I am a sock knitter and love working with wool, bison down combined with wool, alpaca and other natural fibers. If you are a person with bigger calves, seek a sock knitter who can customize your socks. I live in a temperate to desert hot climate and I wear wool socks year round for their insulation and comfortable breathable properties. Additional benefits include abrasion protection from shoes.
Wool, alpaca, waxed cotton canvas are my preferred materials. In my 20’s I wanted all tech gear. Then at a camp fire, as you mentioned, a couple fire embers on my shoulders and I had wet freezing arms the rest of the trip. I love my wool and waxed duck cotton.
Lots of good info. I will have to check out the thin wool shirts and the possum down. I hike and backpack year round. I have my own set of Baselayer, midlayer outerlayer I use. For winter on my top half, I use a Wool blend for my Baselayer, Med a thin long sleeve fleece shirt, outer-layers Wool sweater, Fleece jacket, down coat, rain jacket. for the bottom half Wool blend for my Baselayer, Nylon blend paints, synthetic insulated long underwear, military Gor-Tex paints. I wear all that in the mornings or evenings. I love my alpaca winter hat. During the summer months I have been trying to ditch the fleece jacket and use a down jacket instead.
nice thoughts and commentaries. I am a builder in Maine and needless to say I am out and active all year. The best advice for staying warm and active at or below freezing I got was from an old timer. I followed his sage advice and ware a light wool sweater with a light weight wind breaker over it. The key is that I have my disposable cotton ( yes I know death cloth) sweat shirt over the top. This keeps the wind breaker from flapping and pumping out the warmth and is a layer that takes the daily use of a job sight with out a significant wardrobe malfunction. This combination allows range of motion that is not possible in the big coats like Carhart makes. I use this combination hiking as well but trade the death cloth for a heavy wool sweater. Thanks glad I found ya Im a new subscriber.
Yeah the "death cloth" does still have its uses, though I'd never thought to use it as an overlayer like that, I might try that this winter for snow removal om Ontario.
Can you give me an example of a windbreaker? To me this just means a lightweight nylon jacket (like something a runner would wear in the rain). Or, do you mean something like a soft shell that actually protects a bit from wind and provides some warmth
If you can get alpacca socks, they are worth the price. I bought six pairs three years ago, wear them nine months a year, only one has a hole, my feet are always toasty warm.
Alpaca is only warmer than wool, when the fibers are a similar size (measured in micron count). And they are a bit warmer in that case, because the fibers have air pocket/void areas where as sheep's wool is more solid (and thus more thermally conductive). Ultra fine merino sheep wool is more insulating than coarse alpaca. Back in the day, Polartec used to make hollow polyester fiber fleece garments which they called air core. They claimed a 20% increase in thermal insulation over their regular solid fiber based fleeces. That seems reasonable. So if you're comparing similar sized sheep's and alpaca wool, then I would expect the difference to be similar to that 20%.
I’ve worn only wool socks for the last six years or eight years. I’ll never go back to cotton. At times when I know my feet are likely to get wet at temperatures near or below freezing, I wear a double layer as described in the video. I also only wear vented/mesh shoes. I’ve sloshed through freezing slush and my feet were only cold at the instant the water hit my feet. From then on the wool did its job and kept my feet warm. This is my every day, year round, footwear. In my vehicle I keep extra wool socks for emergencies. I keep at least one pair of medium density socks that fit properly and at least one pair of heavy density socks that are one size too big so they don’t compress my feet over the other two layers. I also keep a second pair of one or the other to put on when I get where I’m walking if I need to abandon my vehicle. I even crossed an icy parking lot with just the wool socks on. My shoes were slipping on the ice. The wool “gripped” the ice. My friends thought I was nuts for carrying my shoes. But, I was the only one not sliding around on the ice. When I got the the door I just slipped my shoes back on like it was nothing at all. Weird side effect. My feet have become less sensitive to colder temperatures. I can now wear flip flops at temperatures near or just below freezing… as long as my feet stay dry.
Living in China I loved my down coat. It was great even down to -40C. It was sad to leave it behind when I moved to a hot country. Once got lost in the snow with my partner. I was properly kitted out and stayed warm in the snow cave but he was not and was becoming hypothermic when the rangers round us. They pulled a down jacket out of their supplies to put on him and it soon had him toasty warm. When i need a down jacket for warmth but it is wet I just wear the goretex outer over my down jacket. It works well for me.
My go-to for the past decade has been wooly caterpillar down. It takes a crap ton of wooly caterpillars to make even the lightest shirt, but if you’re diligent about collecting them when you see them, you do eventually end up with enough hides to sew together. 🐛
Great topic and the Comments are fascinating as well. Extremely informative. Thanks everyone. Also… you might not be ashamed to hug a tree. They give so much and (perhaps I am wrong) are essential. Thanks also for the facts about synthetic fleece and plastic from tarps in the great outdoors. I hadn’t known the levels. It will shape my purchases going forward.
One of the few useful videos on these materials that is genuinely useful since it is fairly balanced. Most take the line "only x material is ok, all others are crap". I have wool base layers and a down jacket for when I'm not moving but I still use a lot of fleece midlayers. I got a lot of it when starting out (you can't beat it on price) and haven't had a strong enough reason to replace it while it's still good. Also, as a very small woman, gear weight is a big issue for me. You can easily get fleece made from recycled bottles and the main microfiber threat is in washing and you can get a special washing bag to mitigate that. Also, remember that most environmental impact is in production so the most ecofriendly option is almost always the item you already have. There are some exceptions like very old inefficient appliances, but throwing out a bunch of gear that is still good to replace it with more environmentally friendly options is totally counterproductive.
Good into. I’m fairly informed about the best uses of wools and downs. But the alpaca hoodie and fleece wools are new to me…I’ll have to research them more. To add, I got a pair of bison socks for Christmas last year. They are very warm and usable as a wool alternative. Not sure on the company name off my head, but they make gloves and hats too that I may try out someday. Thanks for the info
My grandfather always said The most valuable item you own, should be your coat. A good hat and scarf , and a few dollars in your pocket . And you'll never freeze to death. So far he's right as rain. I have lived like most would or could only dream of. But , the great outdoors can be lonely. I somehow always was fine with just me. Legs are giving me a fit in my middle years. Never quit walking or distance walking . The day you do , is the end of your mobility ...!!! Never stop walking. Peace.
I like how you showed the b roll of the pulk not sure if you were aware there’d be a lot of people who didn’t know what that was but I certainly learned something new. A lot of times in these videos people can spit a lot of information at you but aren’t able to communicate it in a way that sticks. That little clip without any more on the subject - was *chefs kiss* well done video.
Very in4mative ...Thanks! I purchased 6 REI polyester closeout 1/4 zip long sleeve lite weight jerseys (25yrs ago)and i use them regularly on my summer bike rides in Davis, CA, i tote a spray bottle when the temp goes up, they still hold up, however i use merino wool when in the cooler San Francisco bay area also lasted 25 yrs Keep up the very nice posts
I was trapped overnight in Mt. san Jacinto during a winter storm (was doing a day hiking). Thankfully I was wearing a heavy ski jacket by Columbia . All of us (2 groups of stranded hikers) slept close to each other to stay warm. That jacket saved me, being a tiny female with low body fat. I don’t remember what else I wore except the jacket. It was weighty with thick outer shell, totally a day hike overkill until I had to spend a night in high altitude and heavy snow fall.
I am actually not a hiker, I am a knitter. It was very interesting to listen about your experience with fibers. Thank you for sharing! I like alpaca - it is not as hot as wool, it is warmer than wool, but it is not trying to fry you 😄. I think that you should try silk. It is another one very interesting fiber, especially eri silk. Silk is naturally temperature regulating and anti-bacterial, and odor resistant (the same about alpaca though).
I’m a seasoned day hiker but will begin backpacking. This video is so informative, especially as I prepare for the cold season. Thank you for uploading!
Cotton turtleneck, wool turtleneck sweater, and light down over that seems to work for me on some very cold hikes. My favorite wool ragg sweater is full of holes...but who cares!
"...where wool really excels is when it's hot out..." This line got a like from me. Wool does sooo much more than just staying warm, and the message needs to be spread. So many people today just don't know because they're surrounded by cotton and synthetics their whole life. I have the heavier-weight Injinji NuWool socks and I've never been happier with any socks. Wish the combination of toed and wool wasn't so hard to come by, it's briliant! They breathe enough to stay cool and give better insulation for the weight than anything else I've seen.
Also, wool is naturally anti-bacterial and it's actually hard to get wool to reek. On top of that, "if" one should get an ember on it, the ember dies out on the wool and won't burn a hole.
For use around camp and fires, Filson makes some down jackets that are waxed cotton on the outside. Obviously these are going to be much heavier than a synthetic but for lazing about outdoors with fire and brush the waxed canvas is much more resistant to burn and tear damage. Depending on your use case it could be a great option.
Good comparison. I always pack a down jacket and down sleeping bag, there's nothing better than down for warmth. The base layer is usually merino wool and mid layer depends very much on the weather. But that's for colder climates. When I'm going to the tropics my clothing choices are very different. I choose tencel or tencel with merino because of the cooling effect, moisture wicking and breathability. I highly recommend it for hot climates.
I'm a waterfowler that camps and hunts. For sleeping I use a zero degree bag from Dicks. An army wool blanket over that keeps me very comfortable. Wool clothing is my choice to stay warm hunting. If I sweat a little it's no big deal. Wool and wet isn't bad. I've gotten wet, wrung out the Wool clothes and continued to hunt.
Replaced most Down insulation with Primaloft and other synthetics and I couldn'tbe happier. But I couldn't give up wool as a base/mid with soft shell outer.
That's awesome how you mentioned the Ozark Highlands Trail! I'm local to that area and we do some trail maintenance here every year. My go to is a quick drying long sleeve shirt with a rain jacket over for trails. Off trails which is 95% of my hikes are a light fleece sweater and a thick long sleeve work shirt over for briars.
I don’t need the cold weather products mentioned, but found the information helpful with understanding differences in fibers. Watched until the end. Thank you.
I do love my AGC alpaca hoodie. It's my goto Mid layer for Fall and Winter trips. It is light and surprisingly warm. I really do like it a lot. However, I have not been super impressed by its durability. I have sewn closed at least a half dozen holes over the past year, and I don't wear it that much. They did send me some patches, which helps, but I'd like to see future iterations maybe sacrifice a couple ounces of weight in favor of a more durable weave.
I feel that alpaca etc is best combined with some polypropylene, polyester, or nylon fibers to increase durability. Polypropylene would be best for weight and insulation.
Wool and down is really for different uses. Down will be warmer in general, probably windproof. But wool is durable and breathable. Weight wise down wins. So for me both
Well it is not the down itself that is windproof, it is the nylon or polyester shell and you can buy wool jackets with a synthetic shell. Down makes more sense for a sleep system, where it is not going to get wet even in the harshest of downpours, but for moving around and hiking I think either wool or synthetic insulation makes more sense, since both can handle wet weather much better.
Microplastics from synthetic fleece are being found in fish in Sydney Harbour. The scientists studying the plastic determined that it'd come from synthetic fleece which had been through a washing machine.
Some good ideas in this video. I'd love to move away from fleece for the exact reasons stated in this video. I will say that I moved to a synthetic puffy and haven't looked back. I managed to let it get wet out at 30° and didn't freeze. Even better the thing dried out very quickly. They are worth the extra bulk and slight increase in weight IME. I also love my down booties. Mine are just cheap ones but if I was to replace them I'd go for an apex pair from EE.
I have a over 30 years old down anorak that doesn't rip easily, not even with branches. My father wore that anorak when i was a child, and i am over 40 now. Sure it doesn't look new, and sure neither my father nor i wore it ever when hiking. but we wore it for skiing, and work outside. It's just that most down jackets and anoraks today have an extremely thin outside layer. Maybe that's als to do with the "throw away mnetality" society has evolved to in the last decades. Or it's planned obsolescence by the manufacturers. Also the thing with being warm when wet: I have polyester moisture wicking shirts and merino with the same properties. Neither of them keep me warm when they are wet from sweat without a layer on top, and both equally keep me warm when i put another layer on top. (even when it's a siple cotton t-shirt. It's not just the material but the weaving that makes a difference. I have a longarm undershirt for very cold weather which is a mixture of merino wool and polyester if i remember correct. it has a "rough" inside and is smoother outside. Its comfortable, keeps warm, doesn't start to stink easily.... And i have if for 23 years already. It kept me warm under the uniformgear i got as a conscript, in -20°C weather and even when colder during winter mountain training on a glacier in winter. I have fleece hats (strangely i don't find english words that differ from the winter thing that covers your ears and keeps you warm from the "hat-hat" with a brim that's against sun and rain. English is really missing our here) and wollen hats, from sheeps wool and alpaca wool. I can't confirm that fleece won't keep warm when wet. In my experience my fleece winter hats keep as warm as the woolen ones. 🤷♂
Almost - just wanted to say you've become my favorite TH-camr in the backpacking community. I most look forward to your hikes, but the gear videos are also well done. I really like the group hikes with your friends who are also (mostly) on TH-cam; it's fun to watch each of the videos from the same trip and compare the footage and experiences. The humor you inject into your videos ("What's that scat?") entertains me. Your off-camera narration (e.g., the introduction to the trip, offering relevant facts, with animated map) is professional, your editing is compelling; you're getting good at this!
A good alternative to merino wool, when it comes to underwear or 1st layer, is lyocell or tencel (a fiber made out of bamboo), lightweight, keeps shape even after hundreds of washing cycles, dries fast, keeps cool in heat and warm in cold conditions. Even at -20 degrees during a backcountry skiing tour, I just used that + a thin softshell send layer and a hardshell as 3rd layer...less weight, less bulky, perfect for mountaineering, climbing, backcountry ski touring
I wear wool for everything that directly touches my skin. Wool base layer, socks, and underwear, and capilene thermal tights and hoodie for cold weather option, wool beanie, wool liner gloves, and wool buff for other cold. The combination of wool's thermal, wicking, and anti-microbial/anti-stink properties just can't be beaten for base layer. Down is great for final insulation, but shouldn't be what touches your skin directly, and is mostly good for sleeping in or standing around in dry-cold conditions.
And I haven't tried alpaca wool vs. merino wool yet, mostly because of the price, but I will have to give it a shot eventually when I can afford newer, better gear. LOL.
@@debbylou5729 Understandable. The prickliness of the fiber can be itchy or irritating to certain people with sensitive skin. I have heard alpaca is better for that. I also have a blend of wool/bamboo/neoprene/polyestrene that was extremely soft and comfortable on my skin. Maybe look for something like that instead of 100% merino wool or alpaca wool.
@@danielcluley870 my question is, what can I wear under? Silk isn’t thick enough and cotton stays wet if you sweat. Are there thicker silk products? I’m firmly in the wool camp, having had friends who run pack animal hunting trips in Montana. There are some down coats that are waterproof that I’ve used in Chicago. Their shell cuts the wind which is what will kill you there. It also FEELS bulkier (is that a word?) which might be a perception thing. I thought compression was an issue as per the hunters.
@@debbylou5729 I've been experimenting with linen as an underlayer since I too can't usually deal with wool against my skin (though I can tolerate cashmere), I'm led to understand that it wicks away the moisture that cotton tends to hold onto.
The fur for your Possum gloves is more likely from the possums found in Australia and New Zealand (although not native to New Zealand and very invasive there). They have the hollow hair shafts which are, like you said, amazing for insulation. But this is different from the North American Opossum.
Quite true what you say. From ex- NZlander now Australian. Many years ago I lived (in Dunedin, NZ) close to a possum tannery. Did know where tanned pelts were exported to.
Yep. I'm no expert, but the on'y survival t'ing a North 'merican 'possum is a good f'r is to make a pot o' 'possum stew. But I do s'pose one could roast such a critter if'n ye ain't got no pot.
Possums are a protected native species in Australia, so they can't be used for the fur trade there. In New Zealand, they are an introduced species (from Australia), and now a pest species here, which is why they are trapped and their fur and meat used in the clothing and dog food industries, respectively. The fur used in the video is most probably sourced from New Zealand, as I don't know of any other country that deals in such a product, or even has possums like we do.
@@BeachcomberNZ Hmm? Now I was only a traveling visitor to Australia in 2005, but I recall that those possums (which I saw for myself btw) were considered pests and I was told (maybe wrongly, idk) that poison was even used to control them unlike with other critters, which Australia seems to have no shortage of. Has something changed since 2005, or did I just consistently encounter local possum haters during my visit?
when someone talking about cold weather hiking has mostly mitts instead of gloves it adds so much credibility. unlike most youtube, where people just camp near cars and review gear.
Lambs Wool wins hands down - light, warm when wet, and keeps the wind out as its a snug fit. Come back from a run in snowstorm in old wool jumper - 1 inch snow on chest, had to take woolen .Datchein mits off as they were too hot. Totally cosy.
Hi. I'm not technical on gear, I just wanted to say, one, don't listen to the negative comment people; two, the chartreuse fleece you are wearing is my favorite color. Thanks for all of the info. We benefit from your research and experience.
Hi, the New Zealand icon shirt or jacket, worn by hunters, farmers, mountaineers and any bloke who lived outside the city wore a Swanni, thats a long bush shirt made by Swanndri NZ Ltd. since 1913. The wool used must have been tough and never lost the natural lanolin oil coating the sheep wool. These shirts that were long, nearly down to the knees and the modern ones had a hood. I had my first one for nearly ten years. Had to throw it away as my wife was fed up mending it and one fay washed it! That stuffed up the jacket and I had to buy a new one. What a waste, it was so well trained, I could whistle and it would come. Possum in this country are considered a vermin and killed on sight. We have hunters out catching possum just for their hair. They tell me it sells for $50 a kilo. I have possum mohair socks. Just great for winter steelhead fishing. Cheers mate. Harera
Alpacca Wool is the best! Thanks for talking about shedding microfibers into pristine environments. I layer my wool with linen and/or silk. Yeah that can be expensive, but there are lots of wool,linen and silk clothes at second hand stores. I have a ridiculously bright silk jacket I wear at camp. Wish there were more companies offering natural fiber gear.
Totally agree with you about the down socks. I've had a pair of Feathered Friends down socks with outer booties that are absolutely fantastic. They keep my feet warm at night and I can still get up and walk out of the tent with the outer booties without having my feet get cold.
in winter i wear ski base layers, I find them more comfortable and Breathable than standard thermals, a thick fleece mid layer ¼ zip top, and water resistant puffer down jacket, all costing under £80.
I've owned the same Tennier MSS set-up (military bags/bivy) for well over a decade. My -10 bag I literally sleep in every night in my bed as a quilt and it still performs after literally thousands of nights of use. It's 4.3lbs and packs down to the size of a basketball. I know, I know, $40 is too little to pay for a sleeping bag and some'll get offended at me saving a grip of money and it being 8oz more than a highfalutin goose down bag costing $500 is going to be a deal breaker for men who have two X chromosomes, but I typically sleep in the woods in the single digits and I haven't died (yet). I wake up toasty and comfortable and with a smile. For gear, I strip down to my base layer & (clean) wool socks with a wool beanie. The heat your body throws off stays inside the bag and turns it into a furnace. A big meal before hittin' the sack is also generates a lot of BTU's while you sleep. I love wool for gear, synthetics for my sleep system. There is no substitute in the woods for a good night's sleep. For me personally, that makes all the difference in the world. But a sucky night's sleep is going to give you a sucky day no matter how many ounces or square inches one saves in their pack on the trail. Life is easy. 😊
Hiking for over 40 years now since I was a kid, mostly in the mountains (Alps, Pyrenees and Himalajas). I like - depending on the weather of course - (merino) wool, linen and felt. I don't have problems with fleece but just have found better options. What I stay away from: cotton, Goretex and every "noisy" textile.
I use wool and silk when hiking. Silk on the skin, with wool being the next layer. For the outer layer I use unbleached natural colour wool.Of course you need some rain and wind protection, but that can be rather lightweight.The most difference that wool gives you is, that if you get completely wet, wool is still giving you some warmth. Fleece will produce mixrofibers when washed.
I use a lot of the same gear. I love my down socks for the same reasons you spoke of. I have the same gloves and over mitts. I have a whole tote or more of Smart Wool and I have never purchased any of it. Yep Christmas and Birthday gifts from my wife and family. I have pretty much gotten away from fleece and switched to more natural fabrics. For those of you who have not tried down socks, give them a try. I also have down pants and when the weather gets cold in the pack they go. Take care
Great Explanation! Thing is: only with wool you can get a garment, that is completly natural fiber. All other materials are made of or made with plastic.
The synthetic fleece is often made in part with recycled plastic bottles ....what else do you think they are doing with all those pop bottles and shampoo bottles?
A couple of years ago I discovered MerinoLOFT (by Icebreaker) jackets and now use them almost exclusively as the outer layer. It is light and compresses like down but still works well while wet. If I am out in light rain for only an hour or two, I don’t even bother to putting on rain protection over it.
Cotton t then poly something or other then fleece long sleeve and then lightly insulated water proof windbreaker. Wool blanket with radiant reflective over that for sleep. Cheap because I'm not in crazy cold or wet. Wool is great for taking my money....love it.
Thanks for this overview. For completeness, it is worthwhile to also mention synthetic insulation options for sleeping bags and jackets (& in addition to fleece jackets). It is a well-known debate along side with down. Because of the ""wearing"" disadvantage of down, I recently switched to a synthetic puffy jacket - which gives me a little better sense of security in wet weather around freezing, while accepting the small weight penalty. I do have a merino wool mid-layer that is my go-to layer when there is a slight chill in the air - very comfortable and good to hike in when starting out on cool mornings.
Fibers wear out way before down if you take care of the item, either it is a jacket or a bag. Fiber dont bounce back the same way, and becomes more compressed over time. A fiber bag will be colder after just a few years, a down can last if taken care of for 10 years. I do agree on shoulder season, fiber all the way if there is a chance of moisture that gets the down wet.
@@chirsbom337 Agree. I currently use a down quilt - fantastic to crawl under in high mountain altitudes. Moisture is a concern but I think that I can control it much better for a bag than a jacket. BTW - I still have my first down bag that I bought from Dick Cabela in 1972. Haven't used it in several years, but I think it would still be comfortable.
Thanks for this video. I do part-time snow removal in Canada so am always trying to fnd that perfect balance of affordable, keeps me warm when it's effing cold out, doesn't make me sweat when I'm working hard, won't be destroyed by my job... I haven't yet found a wool I want to wear next to my skin, except that one Kashmir sweater I have but it's a bit heavy for everyday wear but I do love it for winter jogging. I also have to adjust my wardrobe depending on precipitation, 0C snow is way wetter than snow at -10C and my overpants for work are cotton cargo pants so I have to adjust my undergarment situation depending on the weather, I like the wool blend long johns when it's cold and dry but if there's a chance I'll get my lower half soaked, I want polypropylene long johns or even poylyester fleece pj pants... And if it's not TOO cold out and I know I'll end up sweating, the polyester polarfleece shirt under my jacket works fine as long as I take off my scarf once I'm warmed up for ventilation purposes. That time I tried the cotton waffle weave undershirt was a complete mistake, it's fine as an underlayer in my cold house but not when I'm sweating but I got a bit chilled on my drive home from work after sweating into it. Last year I tried linen as my undershirt and it was ok except when the wind blew up my back, when it's not in direct contact with skin it gets COLD. I know with sweaty horses in winter, we'd use a cotton net cooler with a wool blanket on top and the cotton would absorb the sweat and the wool would wick it to the exterior surface and soon they'd be dry enough to put their regular fibrefill winter blankets back on, but I guess that fails when you put a winter coat on top of it, and continue to exercise. The major disadvantage with wool (aside from it making me itchy when directly in contact with my skin) is that no matter how careful I am with it, there are moths or something in my house, and every wool garment I own that doesn't immediately go into a storage bag after use has at least one hole in it now (ok the holes in my newest wool shirt that I hand-sewed for wearing as a top layer around the hose, I blame on the rabbit getting to it, but still). I also find even if I guess wrong about the temperature and end up sweating in my polarfleece shirts, I just get stinky but not chilled from the sweat, and that stuff's a lot easier to launder and store than wool, which is why I've made myself several more once I found a pattern that I liked. I did find a superfine wool at the fabric store, maybe I'll try making and undershirt out of it and see if my skin tolerates that... that's my other reason for grabbing the polarfleece, I never need to worry about what I can put under it, my skin has no problems in direct contact with polyester. I know my scouter friends all holler Cotton is rotten!! but I still find the best foot solution for me is cotton sweat socks with giant fuzzy wool or acrylic insulating socks in my steel toed workboots, my feet don't tend to sweat and even when I end up misjudging the temperature and wearing the boots that leak if it's too warm, my feet are fine until I get home and realize they're wet. I find my feet feel wet if I don't have that cotton layer on and just go with the fuzzy sock straight on my foot, though if I'm just kicking around in my cold house, I don't need the cotton layer. I guess we all have to figure out what's best for ourselves in what situations, like your clothing you wear around camp but not on the trail.
Ok great video for people with lots of money to spend on gear (maybe not no much for others), but at least you mentioned the campfire, more than once even, so I definitely gotta give a thumbs up for that.
Sound advice and info.I play the combinations depending on when and where,(as you advise),but I am and was never, out longer than one day. Guy over the road from me (English Lakes)has 3 Alpacas,plus youngster.But it's just his hobby...so far.
Glad you mentioned the alpaca option and App Gear Co may be one of the few using 100% alpaca. Some other companies use blends. I don't use down much, mostly where I hike it is wet a lot of the time - The Blue Ridge escarpment is essentially a rain forest (think Western Va. down thru the Smokies and into N. Ga.) + I am not kind to my gear. Likewise, I don't have to deal w/cold much at all like you do. If you want light, alpha fleece may also be an option.
One thing people don't talk about is that down jackets are not always the best thing to wear on exploration camping/backpacking. They easily rip when walking through heavy brush. So mostly wool and a little fleece is my goto. And then I keep a down jacket bundled on my sled until I need it at night. Love that you brought it up because my winter camping is very dangerous on down. Big brush and bigger fires!
What I have observed is that today's typical rich tourist hiker sticks to the high traffic trail like Linus sticks to his blanket, and almost all their concepts about the right and wrong way to hike, pack, gear and everything follows from that extremely narrow (literally) point of view. As a hiker/bushcrafter who explores/camps away from the trail as the best most wonder filled parts of my hikes, my gear requirements are very different from theirs. Wool is a must for me. btw as a poor man it is getting harder and harder to find at thrift stores, but gems can still be found in such places.
@@paulrevere2379 That is exactly how I feel. It is so weird how "backpacking" has turned into a weird game of sleeping in plastic sheets shivering and eating cold soaked unsalted food. I understand shedding weight is good, but when you are measuring your zippers for weight I think one has become certified crazy. My joy comes from the seclusion and wild feeling. I dont want to see people and I don't want to be judged because my pack isn't ultralight....
@@Zoltoks I have had lots of time to meditate on my observations, so while I am still somewhat critically harsh on the tourist hikers I have actually eased up a bit. I think there is a deep human desire to experience something genuine. This means leaving one's comfort zone and tasting some hardship. What the pampered wannabe adventurer craves is what I call "dirt cred", but social conditioning takes over along with ego and entitlement mentality. (Tourist btw means that a person "buys" an experience rather than paying for it with time, effort and risk - the traveler's way). So the tourist does to app thing, follows a schedule, and pretty much slow runs from one resupply town to the next, so they can show off their great life achievement, but they miss the best parts in the process. It's about the journey, not the destination. But when everything is pre-planned and your app tells you what to expect around every turn then it's no longer an adventure; it's just roboticly going through the motions which is quite sad. Those kind of hikers never really hike their own hike, and most would be shared shitless to go old school. Still I am glad that people get off the couch and make some attempt, and ultra-entitled hiking has lost some of its novelty I think. If nothing else, they do make it clear that almost anyone can give it a go. Some basic gear items are usually needed for hikes of serious duration, but it doesn't need to be the high end expensive stuff. I get most of what I need from thrift stores, not easy but doable.
Thank you for mentioning the Alpaca. I found an Alaca farm near me and was wondering about their qualities. I will be waiting for your report on the Alpaca hoody.
You really need to try the Alpaca- in my experience the hype is real. I much prefer alpaca over merino. I’m one who sweats a lot and that drives my layering and fabric choices. My problem with merino is holds 30% moisture and once I quickly get it saturated it dries slowly leaving me cold (I do almost all my hiking in the cooler months). I find a merino synthetic blend is a vast improvement over straight merino. Hands down the best base layer for me is the Brynje wool thermo- a merino synthetic “fish net”. I can’t find anything that moves moisture faster than this base layer. With this and a sun hoodie I’m good hiking down to freezing. At the freezing mark I add a alpaca hoodie. I can’t say enough good things about alpaca- has all the pluses of merino but only holds 10% moisture. The semi hollow fibers are very warm comparatively. The wind tends to go through it so layering with something that can cut wind works really well like my sun hoodie. Light gloves, alpaca neck gaiter and beanie complete my temp regulation system when active. I did 10 days hiking in Icelandic Highlands with this layering system and was very comfortable. While everyone else was bundled up in puffy coats I was very comfortable in chilly, windy conditions hiking miles over snow and ice. Left my puffy jacket at home and didn’t regret it one moment. It rains often in Iceland and I doubt d this layering system to be excellent under my goretex rain shell- even when hiking all day in rain. So I’m a big fan of alpaca. I’ve tried different brands and some are made better, some I find itchy and some soft and very pleasant to wear. Alpaca is pricy. In the end one has to find out what works best for them in the various conditions they are in.
Interesting comment regarding merino - is that 100% merino? Sydney (Australia) summers are hot and humid and switching to an Icebreaker 52% merino t-shirt ("Cool Lite") made a massive difference to me. On a recent technical hike in 80%+ humidity and the odd light shower I stayed comfortable, drying very quickly in the slightest breeze, even though the humidity was so bad that I had sweat constantly dripping into my eyes.
I use both sheep wool and alpaca wool socks. I have found that the alpaca doesn't make my feet any warmer - but they stay warm longer. The downside is that the alpaca socks seems to stretch out pretty bad afer a coupel days use, where the sheep wool doesnt. As such I tend to no use the sheep wool when walking, and the alpace with biking.
I have two Alpaca hoodie and do not regret it, best buy ever. Make sure you buy one size smaller than what you usually wear they stretch a lot make sure you wash them in cold water use Woolite soap for wool and dry them out on a towel if you want to keep them in good condition. I also have a Melanzana sweater love it but never wear it near fire same with down, I love merino wool drop cotton the day I found there was something better, warmer and dryer. I have also possum mittens, gloves and beanies from New Zealand, very warm and soft. I just find it upsetting that the good quality clothes are so damn expensive, I also have Baffin booties (what you call your socks). Good video man you know your stuff, well done...keep them coming, I am a new subscriber to your channel.
Fleece is my all-time comfort warmth. Feels great next to skin. It's just snuggly and warm. But, I don't like the way it wears over time. Wool never feels as warm as fleece to me, but I have wool shirts (Pendleton, Filson, Woolrich) that are over 20 years old and look brand new. I just started getting into merino wool as a base layer and have been really impressed. I think about wool and fleece as base and mid layers. I'm converting my base layer to merino, as I love it. My mid layer is either going to be merino, waffle fleece (e.g., Skygoat), or alpaca. For me, down is more for the outer layer (down jacket) or my sleep system. Great for insulation, but a different use than wool and fleece.
Good presentation and overall explanation. There is no perfect material, it all depends on what you are doing, for how long, the weather, are you climbing rocks, bushwhacking, in open plains, some kind of mix, etc. I would only add that a windbreaker (even a canvas jacket) on top of anything breathable can keep even more heat in... my go-to when the breeze is too strong for comort.
Interesting note about synthetic fleece fibers causing impacts on the environment. Hadn't head that before as I really prefer sf in my outdoor clothing. merino wool underwear really helps keep the funk down. That's my first adoption of its use above my feet.
A very crucial topic. Basically, if something is made of plastic, all nylon/polyester/elastane, it is leaching plastic into the environment, even when you wahs them at home (unless you have a filter installed). The outdoor community needs to start living consciously regarding the impact of our gear.
@@TarikVann What struct me was this year as a first time BWCA visitor, all of the marks on rocks fron aluminum boats. Plastic or composite boats would also have something left behind as well. Certainly wet foot portaging prevents that but just setting you boat down during a portage or overnight could cause impacts. Awareness of our impact is very important but we also need to experience wilderness so that it's not taken for granted.
@@buckman840 totally agreed, those that have the capability need to be extra careful by buying sustainable products because maybe the less fortunate can't afford them, and as a society we should use sustainable products to build areas so that the future generations don't suffer for our enjoyment.
Funny you mention Possum. On Svalbard there is a local brand that mixes Possum fur into their products. This is a place where it can get to -30F/-35C. It is the warmest thing they have there. Great material.
In my opinion, the best fabric for the cold is llama, and one of the smartest things I ever did was I bought a 100% llama vest that was so warm in 0° weather that I didn’t even need a coat
Have we forgotten about cotton? Most of my shirts are plain cotton. usually ill do a tee shirt and a flannel over that, and if i need more i start going to insulated shirts and i keep a rain poncho. for pants, im finding i like sporting my regular skinny jeans underneath a pair of heavy duty double knee jeans with suspenders. then i carry pajama pants and wool socks for sleeping. in this way, i can essentially layer my hiking outfit directly over my everyday outfit. kinda nice running around in my levis at camp.
Appalachian Gear Co's hoodie always sold out, so as an alternative I bought "The Hoodie" by Paka Apparel, and I love it. It's now my go-to insulation layer.
I have been using darn tough for years. I have 3 pairs that have hundreds of miles and years of use that need sent in to test their exchange warranty. I have only tried 2 other brands which didn’t last a quarter of the time. I need to try the individual toe sleeve. Thanks for the tips as I’m trying to convert over to more wool options
I would say Smartwool socks are on the whole a little more comfortable than Darn Tough, but not quite as durable, depending on the particular sock style
When I go back to the old country Ireland I buy light and heavy wood vests. I carry 1 of each when I travel here in US or indeed anywhere. Been frozen in places that was supposed to be warm then again I’m older in age.
Wool wins for me! Especially fond of merino but might have to try alpaca or possum. Down has its place for staying warm while being still or sleeping and during extreme subzero outings.
Your feedback on cold with the actual temperature for different products was very insightful thank you. I commonly chaff when a person says cold because I am 45 miles southeast of Edmonton Alberta Canada I know cold.
A wool guy here!
I am regularly bullyed by the lads, that call me square and old fashioned...
I tell them vivid descriptions how they will suffer for weeks with bad burns and melted plastic on their skin (or what would be left of it...)
I call them "lycra-boys" and give them bad dreams!!!
My greatest concern are the "green-horns", who, by the lack of knowledge and experience, just go with the flow and buy some fancy brand of layers, do not have the slightest idea of their advantages and disadvantages, do not know how to combine them and the time and place to wear this or that.
Besides having an alpaca poncho (that can be used as "last resort" sleeping bag), I usually carry a thin blanket made from a local loden equivalent.
Out of the box, I have a magnificent woodie (my Christmas gift for myself) made from yak knitted wool...
I always have wool band (theoretically to be used around the neck) that I wrap aroud my waist...it keeps that area warm, it prevents cold wind from entering from below and serving as lumbar cushioning and support makes carrying a backpack much more confortable!
In more extreme conditions I also carry a yak wool xal that I wrap around my head/shoulders/torso...
For the neck I use a merino wool buff...
I also use (my fav) a merino & possum hair beanie, 2 color brown and "dirty" white from New Zealand that is fantastic (it's the first time I hear the possum hair garnments mentioned anywhere...so, at least there are 2 of fanatic users ;-)
Stay well and thanks
PS: subscribed!
as I grew up in Latin America (Patagonia, Andes, and Amazonas) I got plenty of experiences with natural fibers, especially wool and cotton/hemp. As a youngster I always wore untreated wool ponchos and sweaters, as the Indians did (Lama, Alpaca and Sheep wool) But then "modernity" arrived and we slowly changed into Polyester garments... BUT after freezing and sweating for ages inside Gore-Tex & Co I am going back to natural wool (lanoline-rich) and treated canvas (beeswax) And I am not disappointed! It is obvious that the manufactures should attain better quality levels than my old indigenous garments, and that multi-fiber garments can serve a wider range of uses and performance requirements, but the essential thing still remains a very simple one: quality never gets out of style, and these natural products can have a very high intrinsic value! This also opens interesting opportunities for local communities that decide to embark in this quality crusade for functional design, performance and workmanship, which is good for sustainable local economies and also for the environment!!!
Yes. I read on Filson site, years back, about lanolin being a FEATURE, not a flaw, and they made such a good sales pitch, I bought one of their mackinaws, and it keeps you dry from the outside, and your body heat makes it wick to the outside, which is key to keeping you warm next to your skin.
I wonder why no one ever talks about a good, old-fashioned sweater.
3.7 million sheep can't be wrong.
Wool has been working for eons.
your insights just mean you dont hike. or exert yourself in any manner at all.
@mezmerya5130 I wear waxed cotton and a full zip wool sweater and I can regulate my sweat just fine. Having layers that are functional and adjustable is more important than having the latest high tek plastic garment.
Hey! Great video. Very informative.
I hate comments like this so I’m hoping to engage you in conversation rather than come off as “you’re Wrong”
It’s my understanding that fleece can retain some loft when wet and still provide some warmth. Not as warm as wool but still some warmth. Plus (I believe) fleece only retains 1% of its weight in moisture leaving it to dry exceptionally fast. Thus leaving you warmer after even a partial dry.
But wool actively warms as it dries but takes longer and holds a much higher percentage of water.
Curious your thoughts. Like I said Great video.
Thank you. I just discovered your channel and am enjoying the content! To tell you the truth, I haven’t had my fleece or wool real wet in cold conditions. Other than my OHT experience, I am usually pretty careful about getting wet when it is cold. I when it is cool, I will hike with no mid layer, hike fast enough to stay warm, and then put on my dry mid layer under my tarp and in my hammock. When it is colder, I just don’t get wet.
Your logic about fleece vs wool seems logical. Thanks for watching.
I’m a day hiker and horse person. I get fleece, wool, and down outer clothing used from thrift stores for wonderfully low prices. I have several down coats I got for around $15 each.
Enjoyed watching this video! I, too, have invested a lot in wool, mostly Smartwool! I am totally sold on it. I first discovered merino wool socks and they changed my life! I now have many shirts and sweaters of different weights, a hoodie, a running jacket, a vest, long johns, gloves, and I have two wool fleece hoodies. I wear them all the time in winter, not just when I hike.
I can definitely tell that wool regulates my body temperature much better than other fabrics. I don’t get cold and I don’t get hot when wearing it. It has taken a while to determine which combinations of shirts work in various temperature ranges, but over time I’ve figured it out. I notice if I wear fleece I most often get hot because it doesn’t breath as well.
An additional benefit is that I can wear the wool more times before washing it. This means less laundry and less wear and tear from washing. They are great for traveling because of this as well. One down side is moths! I lost a couple of Woolx base layers to moth holes. Now I am very careful how I store my wool in summer months. It’s too big an investment to lose that way!
I am totally sold on wool. My friends get tired of hearing me talk about it so much!
light smartwool shirts are absolutely some of the best for summer hiking.
ima gather ll three weights of base layer, three weights of hiking sock, them injinji toe socks in at least two weights, and stop buying cotton and synthetics all together. speak to me of the green shirt you wear in this video, it looks awesome! thanks so much for this walkthrough, it will help explain the reasons behind higher end gear to my less understanding compatriots.
I usually wear wool and fleece, but I have a down jacket that I wear as an everyday jacket in the fall. Great video. Just subscribed to the channel. Looks like a few hours of your videos will be watched over the next few days. Lol
As a knitter, I use and learn the properties/qualities of many fibers. Only “super wash” wool is chemically treated to remove the scales for several reasons (does not felt). Regular non superwash wool is not treated and can and will felt with wear, wash, rubbing, friction, etc. alpaca does indeed insulate better, but does not have any structure at all (soft and drapey). Many of us will use a wool/alpaca blend for strength and structure especially at the seams of garments. Yak is another super insulator. If wool is the 40° down, alpaca the 20°, yak would be the 0 or -20.
Indeed, here in Mongolia if you want to be warm, aside of Cashmier, Yak or Camel for warmth is the better choice. It can also handle more moisture. Downside is that it's difficult to colour it, so it looks a bit boring. But the worst part is that you need to know the good producers. Hairs of these animals can be like cashmere, but only if it's combed out well. Otherwise you will get longer hairs, older hair etc in it which might cause itchiness or less thermal insulation. Yak is the most expensive of the 2. Camel sits closer to wool, so it's the best bang for buck with lots more thermal capabilities than wool.
Regarding insulation, it is more complex than just saying that this type of wool or that type of wool will be warmer. The insulation property of animal fibers boils down to 3 main things since they are all made of protein: finess/thinness of the fibers (measured in micron count), density (how many per given space/volume, but that is more about weave techniques and styles), and how hollow or not the fiber.
When it comes to size/fineness/thinness of fibers, sheep's wool and alpaca can vary *tremendously.* Coarse fibers do not trap/still as much air as ultra fine fibers.
Hence, ultra fine merino wool can be "warmer" than coarse alpaca. If the fibers from the sheep and the alpaca are about the same micron count (measure of size and how fine), the alpaca will be a bit warmer because alpaca fibers have some void/air pocket areas in them. Those air pockets within the fiber are more insulating than a more solid material because the latter will be more thermally conductive.
As to Yak, I'm not sure about the void/air pockets or not, but these do tend to be finer, on average, than sheep's wool and alpaca in general with a micron count between 15 and 25. But, there is certainly sheep's wool and alpaca that can compete with that. Fineness/thinness will trump everything else, insulation wise, because the name of the game is stilling/trapping air molecules, which are quite small.
Out of all the typical used animal fibers, ultra fine Angora rabbit fur is probably the most insulating because the fibers are very hollow, while also potentially being very fine as well. But, it is also fragile and delicate. Angora rabbit fur is best used in blends, or as a fill--sort of like goose or duck down in that sense. Except it doesn't work as well as downs because it tends to felt, clump, and stick together too much.
Next in line would be mulberry silk because the micron count is usually found within a 10 to 14 range or so--that is very, very fine. And, rather than being more cylindrical shaped fibers like most animal fibers are, they are more trilobal shaped which traps/stills air better.
I just looked up Yak fibers and it seems like they are fairly hollow in structure--apparently more than alpaca--this would account for the greater insulation potential. They sound like they are a more durable version of Angora rabbit fibers. Maybe less hollow (and sometimes less fine/thin).
But, as far as insulation potential and natural materials go--nothing compares to high quality, high fill power goose down and Eider duck down. These are in a class of their own because of the 3D voluminous structure, the many, many, many super fine fibrils (which make silk and angora rabbit fur fibers look coarse in comparison) that tuff out from the shaft. When it comes to stilling air from convecting (air movement due to gradients between higher and lower energy [heat] zones)), it is nearly the perfect structure and design to do so.
Felted wool is very warm when wet
It's the felting that gives it it's amazing low temp, windproof properties.
Another knitter here, very glad you chimed in on this. Also, per Justin’s comment - this is why there are a lot of fibre types, density processes etc., and one chooses depending on what you want in the garment, hat, whatever.
I’m not much of a camper/hiker anymore, but I’ve always liked wool for sweaters and coats. Recently I noticed some wool socks at Costco. I bought them, almost on impulse and curiosity. I can’t remember when I last wore wool socks-many, many years ago! Always cotton/ polyester/nylon, etcetera, but mostly cotton. The new wool socks are fantastic! They are warm, VERY comfortable, and when I take them off before bed, they don’t even smell. I was astounded! I went back to Costco and bought more, and will do so again soon. I am converted to wool socks.
Check out the socks from SmartWool and Darn Tough. More expensive but great stuff!
I haven’t worn non-wool socks for almost 20 years.
I am a sock knitter and love working with wool, bison down combined with wool, alpaca and other natural fibers. If you are a person with bigger calves, seek a sock knitter who can customize your socks. I live in a temperate to desert hot climate and I wear wool socks year round for their insulation and comfortable breathable properties. Additional benefits include abrasion protection from shoes.
Wool, alpaca, waxed cotton canvas are my preferred materials. In my 20’s I wanted all tech gear. Then at a camp fire, as you mentioned, a couple fire embers on my shoulders and I had wet freezing arms the rest of the trip. I love my wool and waxed duck cotton.
You're spot on there's no such thing as ultralight in the winter. I agree with a lot of this. Great video!
Lots of good info. I will have to check out the thin wool shirts and the possum down. I hike and backpack year round. I have my own set of Baselayer, midlayer outerlayer I use. For winter on my top half, I use a Wool blend for my Baselayer, Med a thin long sleeve fleece shirt, outer-layers Wool sweater, Fleece jacket, down coat, rain jacket. for the bottom half Wool blend for my Baselayer, Nylon blend paints, synthetic insulated long underwear, military Gor-Tex paints. I wear all that in the mornings or evenings. I love my alpaca winter hat.
During the summer months I have been trying to ditch the fleece jacket and use a down jacket instead.
Fur on the inside and wool. Been working for people for thousands of years 😁
nice thoughts and commentaries. I am a builder in Maine and needless to say I am out and active all year. The best advice for staying warm and active at or below freezing I got was from an old timer. I followed his sage advice and ware a light wool sweater with a light weight wind breaker over it. The key is that I have my disposable cotton ( yes I know death cloth) sweat shirt over the top. This keeps the wind breaker from flapping and pumping out the warmth and is a layer that takes the daily use of a job sight with out a significant wardrobe malfunction. This combination allows range of motion that is not possible in the big coats like Carhart makes. I use this combination hiking as well but trade the death cloth for a heavy wool sweater. Thanks glad I found ya Im a new subscriber.
Yeah the "death cloth" does still have its uses, though I'd never thought to use it as an overlayer like that, I might try that this winter for snow removal om Ontario.
Can you give me an example of a windbreaker? To me this just means a lightweight nylon jacket (like something a runner would wear in the rain). Or, do you mean something like a soft shell that actually protects a bit from wind and provides some warmth
Any tight weave fabric can be used as a windbreaker, whether cotton, polyester or even felted wool.
Im glad you mentioned about alpaca wool. I decided to buy one this year and I love the warmth performance better than my merino wool.
If you can get alpacca socks, they are worth the price. I bought six pairs three years ago, wear them nine months a year, only one has a hole, my feet are always toasty warm.
Alpaca is only warmer than wool, when the fibers are a similar size (measured in micron count). And they are a bit warmer in that case, because the fibers have air pocket/void areas where as sheep's wool is more solid (and thus more thermally conductive).
Ultra fine merino sheep wool is more insulating than coarse alpaca.
Back in the day, Polartec used to make hollow polyester fiber fleece garments which they called air core. They claimed a 20% increase in thermal insulation over their regular solid fiber based fleeces. That seems reasonable. So if you're comparing similar sized sheep's and alpaca wool, then I would expect the difference to be similar to that 20%.
@@justinw1765 "Alpaca is only warmer than wool," Alpaca is wool.
Where/ how does Cashmere from Mongolia compare? I bought some socks, gloves and Toque from the Government departmental store when I was there.
I’ve worn only wool socks for the last six years or eight years. I’ll never go back to cotton.
At times when I know my feet are likely to get wet at temperatures near or below freezing, I wear a double layer as described in the video. I also only wear vented/mesh shoes. I’ve sloshed through freezing slush and my feet were only cold at the instant the water hit my feet. From then on the wool did its job and kept my feet warm. This is my every day, year round, footwear.
In my vehicle I keep extra wool socks for emergencies. I keep at least one pair of medium density socks that fit properly and at least one pair of heavy density socks that are one size too big so they don’t compress my feet over the other two layers. I also keep a second pair of one or the other to put on when I get where I’m walking if I need to abandon my vehicle.
I even crossed an icy parking lot with just the wool socks on. My shoes were slipping on the ice. The wool “gripped” the ice. My friends thought I was nuts for carrying my shoes. But, I was the only one not sliding around on the ice. When I got the the door I just slipped my shoes back on like it was nothing at all.
Weird side effect. My feet have become less sensitive to colder temperatures. I can now wear flip flops at temperatures near or just below freezing… as long as my feet stay dry.
Living in China I loved my down coat. It was great even down to -40C. It was sad to leave it behind when I moved to a hot country.
Once got lost in the snow with my partner. I was properly kitted out and stayed warm in the snow cave but he was not and was becoming hypothermic when the rangers round us. They pulled a down jacket out of their supplies to put on him and it soon had him toasty warm.
When i need a down jacket for warmth but it is wet I just wear the goretex outer over my down jacket. It works well for me.
My go-to for the past decade has been wooly caterpillar down. It takes a crap ton of wooly caterpillars to make even the lightest shirt, but if you’re diligent about collecting them when you see them, you do eventually end up with enough hides to sew together. 🐛
Great topic and the Comments are fascinating as well. Extremely informative. Thanks everyone. Also… you might not be ashamed to hug a tree. They give so much and (perhaps I am wrong) are essential. Thanks also for the facts about synthetic fleece and plastic from tarps in the great outdoors. I hadn’t known the levels. It will shape my purchases going forward.
One of the few useful videos on these materials that is genuinely useful since it is fairly balanced. Most take the line "only x material is ok, all others are crap". I have wool base layers and a down jacket for when I'm not moving but I still use a lot of fleece midlayers. I got a lot of it when starting out (you can't beat it on price) and haven't had a strong enough reason to replace it while it's still good. Also, as a very small woman, gear weight is a big issue for me. You can easily get fleece made from recycled bottles and the main microfiber threat is in washing and you can get a special washing bag to mitigate that. Also, remember that most environmental impact is in production so the most ecofriendly option is almost always the item you already have. There are some exceptions like very old inefficient appliances, but throwing out a bunch of gear that is still good to replace it with more environmentally friendly options is totally counterproductive.
Merino sheep thrive in some of the hottest parts of Australia . The properties of wool are underrated.
Down socks??? OMG, where have those been all my life??? 😅 This is by far the best thing I have learned so far in 2023!
From a fellow outdoors guy who's been doing this for decades too, really love how straight and direct you are.
Subscribed.
Good into. I’m fairly informed about the best uses of wools and downs. But the alpaca hoodie and fleece wools are new to me…I’ll have to research them more. To add, I got a pair of bison socks for Christmas last year. They are very warm and usable as a wool alternative. Not sure on the company name off my head, but they make gloves and hats too that I may try out someday. Thanks for the info
My grandfather always said The most valuable item you own, should be your coat. A good hat and scarf , and a few dollars in your pocket . And you'll never freeze to death. So far he's right as rain. I have lived like most would or could only dream of. But , the great outdoors can be lonely. I somehow always was fine with just me. Legs are giving me a fit in my middle years. Never quit walking or distance walking . The day you do , is the end of your mobility ...!!! Never stop walking. Peace.
I like how you showed the b roll of the pulk not sure if you were aware there’d be a lot of people who didn’t know what that was but I certainly learned something new. A lot of times in these videos people can spit a lot of information at you but aren’t able to communicate it in a way that sticks. That little clip without any more on the subject - was *chefs kiss* well done video.
Very in4mative ...Thanks!
I purchased 6 REI polyester closeout 1/4 zip long sleeve lite weight jerseys (25yrs ago)and i use them regularly on my summer bike rides in Davis, CA, i tote a spray bottle when the temp goes up, they still hold up, however i use merino wool when in the cooler San Francisco bay area also lasted 25 yrs
Keep up the very nice posts
I was trapped overnight in Mt. san Jacinto during a winter storm (was doing a day hiking). Thankfully I was wearing a heavy ski jacket by Columbia . All of us (2 groups of stranded hikers) slept close to each other to stay warm. That jacket saved me, being a tiny female with low body fat. I don’t remember what else I wore except the jacket. It was weighty with thick outer shell, totally a day hike overkill until I had to spend a night in high altitude and heavy snow fall.
It's a shame Columbia quality has declined so much.
I am actually not a hiker, I am a knitter. It was very interesting to listen about your experience with fibers. Thank you for sharing! I like alpaca - it is not as hot as wool, it is warmer than wool, but it is not trying to fry you 😄. I think that you should try silk. It is another one very interesting fiber, especially eri silk. Silk is naturally temperature regulating and anti-bacterial, and odor resistant (the same about alpaca though).
I’m a seasoned day hiker but will begin backpacking.
This video is so informative, especially as I prepare for the cold season.
Thank you for uploading!
Cotton turtleneck, wool turtleneck sweater, and light down over that seems to work for me on some very cold hikes. My favorite wool ragg sweater is full of holes...but who cares!
"...where wool really excels is when it's hot out..." This line got a like from me. Wool does sooo much more than just staying warm, and the message needs to be spread. So many people today just don't know because they're surrounded by cotton and synthetics their whole life.
I have the heavier-weight Injinji NuWool socks and I've never been happier with any socks. Wish the combination of toed and wool wasn't so hard to come by, it's briliant! They breathe enough to stay cool and give better insulation for the weight than anything else I've seen.
I wear DarnTough wool socks in Florida, in summer - totally comfortable. Good wool is not scratchy.
Also, wool is naturally anti-bacterial and it's actually hard to get wool to reek. On top of that, "if" one should get an ember on it, the ember dies out on the wool and won't burn a hole.
Good advise. I wear two layers of thin wool socks in the winter. One layer thin wool socks in the summer. All this in my steel toe safety boots.
For use around camp and fires, Filson makes some down jackets that are waxed cotton on the outside. Obviously these are going to be much heavier than a synthetic but for lazing about outdoors with fire and brush the waxed canvas is much more resistant to burn and tear damage. Depending on your use case it could be a great option.
Learned my lesson wearing nylon shell down jacket by camp fire. Next morning I saw countless burnt holes on my $250 jacket :(.
Good comparison. I always pack a down jacket and down sleeping bag, there's nothing better than down for warmth. The base layer is usually merino wool and mid layer depends very much on the weather. But that's for colder climates.
When I'm going to the tropics my clothing choices are very different. I choose tencel or tencel with merino because of the cooling effect, moisture wicking and breathability. I highly recommend it for hot climates.
I'm a waterfowler that camps and hunts.
For sleeping I use a zero degree bag from Dicks. An army wool blanket over that keeps me very comfortable. Wool clothing is my choice to stay warm hunting. If I sweat a little it's no big deal. Wool and wet isn't bad. I've gotten wet, wrung out the Wool clothes and continued to hunt.
Replaced most Down insulation with Primaloft and other synthetics and I couldn'tbe happier. But I couldn't give up wool as a base/mid with soft shell outer.
Thank You for the info .
I lived in a light wool sweater in the absorka rang in August . Ya I swetted but dryed comfortably .
That's awesome how you mentioned the Ozark Highlands Trail! I'm local to that area and we do some trail maintenance here every year. My go to is a quick drying long sleeve shirt with a rain jacket over for trails. Off trails which is 95% of my hikes are a light fleece sweater and a thick long sleeve work shirt over for briars.
I don’t need the cold weather products mentioned, but found the information helpful with understanding differences in fibers. Watched until the end. Thank you.
I'm a huge Goosefeet Gear down sock supporter too. They do a great job keeping my feet warm in the fall/winter.
I do love my AGC alpaca hoodie. It's my goto Mid layer for Fall and Winter trips. It is light and surprisingly warm. I really do like it a lot. However, I have not been super impressed by its durability. I have sewn closed at least a half dozen holes over the past year, and I don't wear it that much. They did send me some patches, which helps, but I'd like to see future iterations maybe sacrifice a couple ounces of weight in favor of a more durable weave.
I feel that alpaca etc is best combined with some polypropylene, polyester, or nylon fibers to increase durability. Polypropylene would be best for weight and insulation.
Wool and down is really for different uses. Down will be warmer in general, probably windproof. But wool is durable and breathable. Weight wise down wins. So for me both
Well it is not the down itself that is windproof, it is the nylon or polyester shell and you can buy wool jackets with a synthetic shell. Down makes more sense for a sleep system, where it is not going to get wet even in the harshest of downpours, but for moving around and hiking I think either wool or synthetic insulation makes more sense, since both can handle wet weather much better.
Microplastics from synthetic fleece are being found in fish in Sydney Harbour. The scientists studying the plastic determined that it'd come from synthetic fleece which had been through a washing machine.
Some good ideas in this video. I'd love to move away from fleece for the exact reasons stated in this video. I will say that I moved to a synthetic puffy and haven't looked back. I managed to let it get wet out at 30° and didn't freeze. Even better the thing dried out very quickly. They are worth the extra bulk and slight increase in weight IME. I also love my down booties. Mine are just cheap ones but if I was to replace them I'd go for an apex pair from EE.
I have a over 30 years old down anorak that doesn't rip easily, not even with branches. My father wore that anorak when i was a child, and i am over 40 now. Sure it doesn't look new, and sure neither my father nor i wore it ever when hiking. but we wore it for skiing, and work outside. It's just that most down jackets and anoraks today have an extremely thin outside layer. Maybe that's als to do with the "throw away mnetality" society has evolved to in the last decades. Or it's planned obsolescence by the manufacturers.
Also the thing with being warm when wet: I have polyester moisture wicking shirts and merino with the same properties. Neither of them keep me warm when they are wet from sweat without a layer on top, and both equally keep me warm when i put another layer on top. (even when it's a siple cotton t-shirt.
It's not just the material but the weaving that makes a difference. I have a longarm undershirt for very cold weather which is a mixture of merino wool and polyester if i remember correct. it has a "rough" inside and is smoother outside. Its comfortable, keeps warm, doesn't start to stink easily.... And i have if for 23 years already. It kept me warm under the uniformgear i got as a conscript, in -20°C weather and even when colder during winter mountain training on a glacier in winter.
I have fleece hats (strangely i don't find english words that differ from the winter thing that covers your ears and keeps you warm from the "hat-hat" with a brim that's against sun and rain. English is really missing our here) and wollen hats, from sheeps wool and alpaca wool.
I can't confirm that fleece won't keep warm when wet. In my experience my fleece winter hats keep as warm as the woolen ones. 🤷♂
Wool and fleece both work for me, depending o the situation. The only material I definitely avoid when out in the countryside is cotton. 😊
Almost - just wanted to say you've become my favorite TH-camr in the backpacking community. I most look forward to your hikes, but the gear videos are also well done. I really like the group hikes with your friends who are also (mostly) on TH-cam; it's fun to watch each of the videos from the same trip and compare the footage and experiences. The humor you inject into your videos ("What's that scat?") entertains me. Your off-camera narration (e.g., the introduction to the trip, offering relevant facts, with animated map) is professional, your editing is compelling; you're getting good at this!
Thank you!
A good alternative to merino wool, when it comes to underwear or 1st layer, is lyocell or tencel (a fiber made out of bamboo), lightweight, keeps shape even after hundreds of washing cycles, dries fast, keeps cool in heat and warm in cold conditions. Even at -20 degrees during a backcountry skiing tour, I just used that + a thin softshell send layer and a hardshell as 3rd layer...less weight, less bulky, perfect for mountaineering, climbing, backcountry ski touring
@@user-mi3up7ws1f bullshit, lyocell and other similar fabrics use biodegradable organic chemicals to split cellulose
I wear wool for everything that directly touches my skin. Wool base layer, socks, and underwear, and capilene thermal tights and hoodie for cold weather option, wool beanie, wool liner gloves, and wool buff for other cold. The combination of wool's thermal, wicking, and anti-microbial/anti-stink properties just can't be beaten for base layer. Down is great for final insulation, but shouldn't be what touches your skin directly, and is mostly good for sleeping in or standing around in dry-cold conditions.
And I haven't tried alpaca wool vs. merino wool yet, mostly because of the price, but I will have to give it a shot eventually when I can afford newer, better gear. LOL.
That’s funny. I can hardly touch wool….and yes I mean even the finest cashmere……it feels exactly like fiberglass
@@debbylou5729 Understandable. The prickliness of the fiber can be itchy or irritating to certain people with sensitive skin. I have heard alpaca is better for that. I also have a blend of wool/bamboo/neoprene/polyestrene that was extremely soft and comfortable on my skin. Maybe look for something like that instead of 100% merino wool or alpaca wool.
@@danielcluley870 my question is, what can I wear under? Silk isn’t thick enough and cotton stays wet if you sweat. Are there thicker silk products? I’m firmly in the wool camp, having had friends who run pack animal hunting trips in Montana. There are some down coats that are waterproof that I’ve used in Chicago. Their shell cuts the wind which is what will kill you there. It also FEELS bulkier (is that a word?) which might be a perception thing. I thought compression was an issue as per the hunters.
@@debbylou5729 I've been experimenting with linen as an underlayer since I too can't usually deal with wool against my skin (though I can tolerate cashmere), I'm led to understand that it wicks away the moisture that cotton tends to hold onto.
The fur for your Possum gloves is more likely from the possums found in Australia and New Zealand (although not native to New Zealand and very invasive there). They have the hollow hair shafts which are, like you said, amazing for insulation. But this is different from the North American Opossum.
Interesting.
Quite true what you say. From ex- NZlander now Australian. Many years ago I lived (in Dunedin, NZ) close to a possum tannery. Did know where tanned pelts were exported to.
Yep. I'm no expert, but the on'y survival t'ing a North 'merican 'possum is a good f'r is to make a pot o' 'possum stew. But I do s'pose one could roast such a critter if'n ye ain't got no pot.
Possums are a protected native species in Australia, so they can't be used for the fur trade there. In New Zealand, they are an introduced species (from Australia), and now a pest species here, which is why they are trapped and their fur and meat used in the clothing and dog food industries, respectively. The fur used in the video is most probably sourced from New Zealand, as I don't know of any other country that deals in such a product, or even has possums like we do.
@@BeachcomberNZ Hmm? Now I was only a traveling visitor to Australia in 2005, but I recall that those possums (which I saw for myself btw) were considered pests and I was told (maybe wrongly, idk) that poison was even used to control them unlike with other critters, which Australia seems to have no shortage of.
Has something changed since 2005, or did I just consistently encounter local possum haters during my visit?
when someone talking about cold weather hiking has mostly mitts instead of gloves it adds so much credibility. unlike most youtube, where people just camp near cars and review gear.
Great video. I use lots of merinos wool. I had an alpaca scarf ( made by unisef),was also great.
Lambs Wool wins hands down - light, warm when wet, and keeps the wind out as its a snug fit. Come back from a run in snowstorm in old wool jumper - 1 inch snow on chest, had to take woolen .Datchein mits off as they were too hot. Totally cosy.
Hi. I'm not technical on gear, I just wanted to say, one, don't listen to the negative comment people; two, the chartreuse fleece you are wearing is my favorite color. Thanks for all of the info. We benefit from your research and experience.
Hi, the New Zealand icon shirt or jacket, worn by hunters, farmers, mountaineers and any bloke who lived outside the city wore a Swanni, thats a long bush shirt made by Swanndri NZ Ltd. since 1913. The wool used must have been tough and never lost the natural lanolin oil coating the sheep wool. These shirts that were long, nearly down to the knees and the modern ones had a hood. I had my first one for nearly ten years. Had to throw it away as my wife was fed up mending it and one fay washed it! That stuffed up the jacket and I had to buy a new one. What a waste, it was so well trained, I could whistle and it would come. Possum in this country are considered a vermin and killed on sight. We have hunters out catching possum just for their hair. They tell me it sells for $50 a kilo. I have possum mohair socks. Just great for winter steelhead fishing. Cheers mate. Harera
Alpacca Wool is the best!
Thanks for talking about shedding microfibers into pristine environments. I layer my wool with linen and/or silk. Yeah that can be expensive, but there are lots of wool,linen and silk clothes at second hand stores. I have a ridiculously bright silk jacket I wear at camp.
Wish there were more companies offering natural fiber gear.
Totally agree with you about the down socks. I've had a pair of Feathered Friends down socks with outer booties that are absolutely fantastic. They keep my feet warm at night and I can still get up and walk out of the tent with the outer booties without having my feet get cold.
in winter i wear ski base layers, I find them more comfortable and Breathable than standard thermals, a thick fleece mid layer ¼ zip top, and water resistant puffer down jacket, all costing under £80.
I've never thought of a light weight wool shirt, thanks for the suggestion.
I've owned the same Tennier MSS set-up (military bags/bivy) for well over a decade. My -10 bag I literally sleep in every night in my bed as a quilt and it still performs after literally thousands of nights of use. It's 4.3lbs and packs down to the size of a basketball. I know, I know, $40 is too little to pay for a sleeping bag and some'll get offended at me saving a grip of money and it being 8oz more than a highfalutin goose down bag costing $500 is going to be a deal breaker for men who have two X chromosomes, but I typically sleep in the woods in the single digits and I haven't died (yet). I wake up toasty and comfortable and with a smile.
For gear, I strip down to my base layer & (clean) wool socks with a wool beanie. The heat your body throws off stays inside the bag and turns it into a furnace. A big meal before hittin' the sack is also generates a lot of BTU's while you sleep.
I love wool for gear, synthetics for my sleep system.
There is no substitute in the woods for a good night's sleep. For me personally, that makes all the difference in the world. But a sucky night's sleep is going to give you a sucky day no matter how many ounces or square inches one saves in their pack on the trail.
Life is easy. 😊
Hiking for over 40 years now since I was a kid, mostly in the mountains (Alps, Pyrenees and Himalajas). I like - depending on the weather of course - (merino) wool, linen and felt. I don't have problems with fleece but just have found better options. What I stay away from: cotton, Goretex and every "noisy" textile.
I use wool and silk when hiking. Silk on the skin, with wool being the next layer. For the outer layer I use unbleached natural colour wool.Of course you need some rain and wind protection, but that can be rather lightweight.The most difference that wool gives you is, that if you get completely wet, wool is still giving you some warmth. Fleece will produce mixrofibers when washed.
Amazing how wool just doesn’t stink. I have some synthetics that eventually have a permanent smell. That never happens with wool.
soak em in vinegar. smell gone.
@@superblondeDotOrg thank you!! I will try that.
I use a lot of the same gear. I love my down socks for the same reasons you spoke of. I have the same gloves and over mitts. I have a whole tote or more of Smart Wool and I have never purchased any of it. Yep Christmas and Birthday gifts from my wife and family. I have pretty much gotten away from fleece and switched to more natural fabrics. For those of you who have not tried down socks, give them a try. I also have down pants and when the weather gets cold in the pack they go. Take care
Thank you 😊
You are absolutely going love the app gear hoodie!! I actually sleep in mine..Unbelievable comfy looking forward to the review👍🏻
I’ve worn it as a mid layer in cold weather and slept in it. Really good so far!
Great Explanation!
Thing is: only with wool you can get a garment, that is completly natural fiber. All other materials are made of or made with plastic.
The synthetic fleece is often made in part with recycled plastic bottles ....what else do you think they are doing with all those pop bottles and shampoo bottles?
A couple of years ago I discovered MerinoLOFT (by Icebreaker) jackets and now use them almost exclusively as the outer layer. It is light and compresses like down but still works well while wet. If I am out in light rain for only an hour or two, I don’t even bother to putting on rain protection over it.
Cotton t then poly something or other then fleece long sleeve and then lightly insulated water proof windbreaker. Wool blanket with radiant reflective over that for sleep. Cheap because I'm not in crazy cold or wet. Wool is great for taking my money....love it.
Thanks for this overview. For completeness, it is worthwhile to also mention synthetic insulation options for sleeping bags and jackets (& in addition to fleece jackets). It is a well-known debate along side with down. Because of the ""wearing"" disadvantage of down, I recently switched to a synthetic puffy jacket - which gives me a little better sense of security in wet weather around freezing, while accepting the small weight penalty. I do have a merino wool mid-layer that is my go-to layer when there is a slight chill in the air - very comfortable and good to hike in when starting out on cool mornings.
Fibers wear out way before down if you take care of the item, either it is a jacket or a bag. Fiber dont bounce back the same way, and becomes more compressed over time. A fiber bag will be colder after just a few years, a down can last if taken care of for 10 years. I do agree on shoulder season, fiber all the way if there is a chance of moisture that gets the down wet.
@@chirsbom337 Agree. I currently use a down quilt - fantastic to crawl under in high mountain altitudes. Moisture is a concern but I think that I can control it much better for a bag than a jacket. BTW - I still have my first down bag that I bought from Dick Cabela in 1972. Haven't used it in several years, but I think it would still be comfortable.
The alpaca is amazing I absolutely love it, have been using for about 3 years.
Thanks for this video. I do part-time snow removal in Canada so am always trying to fnd that perfect balance of affordable, keeps me warm when it's effing cold out, doesn't make me sweat when I'm working hard, won't be destroyed by my job... I haven't yet found a wool I want to wear next to my skin, except that one Kashmir sweater I have but it's a bit heavy for everyday wear but I do love it for winter jogging.
I also have to adjust my wardrobe depending on precipitation, 0C snow is way wetter than snow at -10C and my overpants for work are cotton cargo pants so I have to adjust my undergarment situation depending on the weather, I like the wool blend long johns when it's cold and dry but if there's a chance I'll get my lower half soaked, I want polypropylene long johns or even poylyester fleece pj pants... And if it's not TOO cold out and I know I'll end up sweating, the polyester polarfleece shirt under my jacket works fine as long as I take off my scarf once I'm warmed up for ventilation purposes. That time I tried the cotton waffle weave undershirt was a complete mistake, it's fine as an underlayer in my cold house but not when I'm sweating but I got a bit chilled on my drive home from work after sweating into it. Last year I tried linen as my undershirt and it was ok except when the wind blew up my back, when it's not in direct contact with skin it gets COLD.
I know with sweaty horses in winter, we'd use a cotton net cooler with a wool blanket on top and the cotton would absorb the sweat and the wool would wick it to the exterior surface and soon they'd be dry enough to put their regular fibrefill winter blankets back on, but I guess that fails when you put a winter coat on top of it, and continue to exercise.
The major disadvantage with wool (aside from it making me itchy when directly in contact with my skin) is that no matter how careful I am with it, there are moths or something in my house, and every wool garment I own that doesn't immediately go into a storage bag after use has at least one hole in it now (ok the holes in my newest wool shirt that I hand-sewed for wearing as a top layer around the hose, I blame on the rabbit getting to it, but still). I also find even if I guess wrong about the temperature and end up sweating in my polarfleece shirts, I just get stinky but not chilled from the sweat, and that stuff's a lot easier to launder and store than wool, which is why I've made myself several more once I found a pattern that I liked. I did find a superfine wool at the fabric store, maybe I'll try making and undershirt out of it and see if my skin tolerates that... that's my other reason for grabbing the polarfleece, I never need to worry about what I can put under it, my skin has no problems in direct contact with polyester.
I know my scouter friends all holler Cotton is rotten!! but I still find the best foot solution for me is cotton sweat socks with giant fuzzy wool or acrylic insulating socks in my steel toed workboots, my feet don't tend to sweat and even when I end up misjudging the temperature and wearing the boots that leak if it's too warm, my feet are fine until I get home and realize they're wet. I find my feet feel wet if I don't have that cotton layer on and just go with the fuzzy sock straight on my foot, though if I'm just kicking around in my cold house, I don't need the cotton layer.
I guess we all have to figure out what's best for ourselves in what situations, like your clothing you wear around camp but not on the trail.
Ok great video for people with lots of money to spend on gear (maybe not no much for others), but at least you mentioned the campfire, more than once even, so I definitely gotta give a thumbs up for that.
Sound advice and info.I play the combinations depending on when and where,(as you advise),but I am and was never, out longer than one day. Guy over the road from me (English Lakes)has 3 Alpacas,plus youngster.But it's just his hobby...so far.
Glad you mentioned the alpaca option and App Gear Co may be one of the few using 100% alpaca. Some other companies use blends.
I don't use down much, mostly where I hike it is wet a lot of the time - The Blue Ridge escarpment is essentially a rain forest (think Western Va. down thru the Smokies and into N. Ga.) + I am not kind to my gear. Likewise, I don't have to deal w/cold much at all like you do.
If you want light, alpha fleece may also be an option.
Nice information, i've been trying to incorporate more wool into my wardrobe as of late.
One thing people don't talk about is that down jackets are not always the best thing to wear on exploration camping/backpacking. They easily rip when walking through heavy brush. So mostly wool and a little fleece is my goto. And then I keep a down jacket bundled on my sled until I need it at night. Love that you brought it up because my winter camping is very dangerous on down. Big brush and bigger fires!
Dont use down as an outer layer, put a shell jacket over it.
He actually said that in the first couple minutes
What I have observed is that today's typical rich tourist hiker sticks to the high traffic trail like Linus sticks to his blanket, and almost all their concepts about the right and wrong way to hike, pack, gear and everything follows from that extremely narrow (literally) point of view.
As a hiker/bushcrafter who explores/camps away from the trail as the best most wonder filled parts of my hikes, my gear requirements are very different from theirs. Wool is a must for me. btw as a poor man it is getting harder and harder to find at thrift stores, but gems can still be found in such places.
@@paulrevere2379 That is exactly how I feel. It is so weird how "backpacking" has turned into a weird game of sleeping in plastic sheets shivering and eating cold soaked unsalted food.
I understand shedding weight is good, but when you are measuring your zippers for weight I think one has become certified crazy. My joy comes from the seclusion and wild feeling. I dont want to see people and I don't want to be judged because my pack isn't ultralight....
@@Zoltoks I have had lots of time to meditate on my observations, so while I am still somewhat critically harsh on the tourist hikers I have actually eased up a bit.
I think there is a deep human desire to experience something genuine. This means leaving one's comfort zone and tasting some hardship.
What the pampered wannabe adventurer craves is what I call "dirt cred", but social conditioning takes over along with ego and entitlement mentality. (Tourist btw means that a person "buys" an experience rather than paying for it with time, effort and risk - the traveler's way).
So the tourist does to app thing, follows a schedule, and pretty much slow runs from one resupply town to the next, so they can show off their great life achievement, but they miss the best parts in the process.
It's about the journey, not the destination. But when everything is pre-planned and your app tells you what to expect around every turn then it's no longer an adventure; it's just roboticly going through the motions which is quite sad. Those kind of hikers never really hike their own hike, and most would be shared shitless to go old school.
Still I am glad that people get off the couch and make some attempt, and ultra-entitled hiking has lost some of its novelty I think. If nothing else, they do make it clear that almost anyone can give it a go.
Some basic gear items are usually needed for hikes of serious duration, but it doesn't need to be the high end expensive stuff. I get most of what I need from thrift stores, not easy but doable.
Thank you for mentioning the Alpaca. I found an Alaca farm near me and was wondering about their qualities. I will be waiting for your report on the Alpaca hoody.
You really need to try the Alpaca- in my experience the hype is real. I much prefer alpaca over merino. I’m one who sweats a lot and that drives my layering and fabric choices. My problem with merino is holds 30% moisture and once I quickly get it saturated it dries slowly leaving me cold (I do almost all my hiking in the cooler months). I find a merino synthetic blend is a vast improvement over straight merino. Hands down the best base layer for me is the Brynje wool thermo- a merino synthetic “fish net”. I can’t find anything that moves moisture faster than this base layer. With this and a sun hoodie I’m good hiking down to freezing. At the freezing mark I add a alpaca hoodie. I can’t say enough good things about alpaca- has all the pluses of merino but only holds 10% moisture. The semi hollow fibers are very warm comparatively. The wind tends to go through it so layering with something that can cut wind works really well like my sun hoodie. Light gloves, alpaca neck gaiter and beanie complete my temp regulation system when active.
I did 10 days hiking in Icelandic Highlands with this layering system and was very comfortable. While everyone else was bundled up in puffy coats I was very comfortable in chilly, windy conditions hiking miles over snow and ice. Left my puffy jacket at home and didn’t regret it one moment. It rains often in Iceland and I doubt d this layering system to be excellent under my goretex rain shell- even when hiking all day in rain.
So I’m a big fan of alpaca. I’ve tried different brands and some are made better, some I find itchy and some soft and very pleasant to wear. Alpaca is pricy.
In the end one has to find out what works best for them in the various conditions they are in.
Interesting comment regarding merino - is that 100% merino? Sydney (Australia) summers are hot and humid and switching to an Icebreaker 52% merino t-shirt ("Cool Lite") made a massive difference to me. On a recent technical hike in 80%+ humidity and the odd light shower I stayed comfortable, drying very quickly in the slightest breeze, even though the humidity was so bad that I had sweat constantly dripping into my eyes.
@@lazzasamuels3722 merino/synthetic blends work much better for me vs 100% merino.
The one thing I've learned is to change into fresh under clothing including socks before bed. never been cold doing this but freezing when i didn't
Only wool. Fleece and plastics great for weekend campers
I use both sheep wool and alpaca wool socks. I have found that the alpaca doesn't make my feet any warmer - but they stay warm longer. The downside is that the alpaca socks seems to stretch out pretty bad afer a coupel days use, where the sheep wool doesnt. As such I tend to no use the sheep wool when walking, and the alpace with biking.
I have two Alpaca hoodie and do not regret it, best buy ever. Make sure you buy one size smaller than what you usually wear they stretch a lot make sure you wash them in cold water use Woolite soap for wool and dry them out on a towel if you want to keep them in good condition. I also have a Melanzana sweater love it but never wear it near fire same with down, I love merino wool drop cotton the day I found there was something better, warmer and dryer. I have also possum mittens, gloves and beanies from New Zealand, very warm and soft. I just find it upsetting that the good quality clothes are so damn expensive, I also have Baffin booties (what you call your socks). Good video man you know your stuff, well done...keep them coming, I am a new subscriber to your channel.
great info bro !
Fleece is my all-time comfort warmth. Feels great next to skin. It's just snuggly and warm. But, I don't like the way it wears over time. Wool never feels as warm as fleece to me, but I have wool shirts (Pendleton, Filson, Woolrich) that are over 20 years old and look brand new. I just started getting into merino wool as a base layer and have been really impressed. I think about wool and fleece as base and mid layers. I'm converting my base layer to merino, as I love it. My mid layer is either going to be merino, waffle fleece (e.g., Skygoat), or alpaca.
For me, down is more for the outer layer (down jacket) or my sleep system. Great for insulation, but a different use than wool and fleece.
Good presentation and overall explanation.
There is no perfect material, it all depends on what you are doing, for how long, the weather, are you climbing rocks, bushwhacking, in open plains, some kind of mix, etc.
I would only add that a windbreaker (even a canvas jacket) on top of anything breathable can keep even more heat in... my go-to when the breeze is too strong for comort.
Interesting note about synthetic fleece fibers causing impacts on the environment. Hadn't head that before as I really prefer sf in my outdoor clothing. merino wool underwear really helps keep the funk down. That's my first adoption of its use above my feet.
A very crucial topic. Basically, if something is made of plastic, all nylon/polyester/elastane, it is leaching plastic into the environment, even when you wahs them at home (unless you have a filter installed).
The outdoor community needs to start living consciously regarding the impact of our gear.
@@TarikVann What struct me was this year as a first time BWCA visitor, all of the marks on rocks fron aluminum boats. Plastic or composite boats would also have something left behind as well. Certainly wet foot portaging prevents that but just setting you boat down during a portage or overnight could cause impacts. Awareness of our impact is very important but we also need to experience wilderness so that it's not taken for granted.
@@buckman840 totally agreed, those that have the capability need to be extra careful by buying sustainable products because maybe the less fortunate can't afford them, and as a society we should use sustainable products to build areas so that the future generations don't suffer for our enjoyment.
Hmm, in addition to wool underwear, you made me wonder if the Lume' whole body deoderant could be helpful.
Thank you for sharing your personal experiences.
Funny you mention Possum. On Svalbard there is a local brand that mixes Possum fur into their products. This is a place where it can get to -30F/-35C. It is the warmest thing they have there. Great material.
In my opinion, the best fabric for the cold is llama, and one of the smartest things I ever did was I bought a 100% llama vest that was so warm in 0° weather that I didn’t even need a coat
Have we forgotten about cotton?
Most of my shirts are plain cotton. usually ill do a tee shirt and a flannel over that, and if i need more i start going to insulated shirts and i keep a rain poncho. for pants, im finding i like sporting my regular skinny jeans underneath a pair of heavy duty double knee jeans with suspenders. then i carry pajama pants and wool socks for sleeping. in this way, i can essentially layer my hiking outfit directly over my everyday outfit. kinda nice running around in my levis at camp.
Appalachian Gear Co's hoodie always sold out, so as an alternative I bought "The Hoodie" by Paka Apparel, and I love it. It's now my go-to insulation layer.
Thank you for a very informative video..I love smart wool too…gonna try alpaca though!
I have been using darn tough for years. I have 3 pairs that have hundreds of miles and years of use that need sent in to test their exchange warranty.
I have only tried 2 other brands which didn’t last a quarter of the time. I need to try the individual toe sleeve. Thanks for the tips as I’m trying to convert over to more wool options
Injinji aren’t nearly as durable. 😃
I would say Smartwool socks are on the whole a little more comfortable than Darn Tough, but not quite as durable, depending on the particular sock style
There is a Nikwax spray that will make your Down jacket pretty rainproof.
When I go back to the old country Ireland I buy light and heavy wood vests. I carry 1 of each when I travel here in US or indeed anywhere. Been frozen in places that was supposed to be warm then again I’m older in age.
Wool wins for me! Especially fond of merino but might have to try alpaca or possum. Down has its place for staying warm while being still or sleeping and during extreme subzero outings.
Your feedback on cold with the actual temperature for different products was very insightful thank you. I commonly chaff when a person says cold because I am 45 miles southeast of Edmonton Alberta Canada I know cold.
Ha ha