Wool and REAL Cold....

Otto · February 05, 2007, 07:08:00 PM

Merino wool undies are the berries.

DIAMONDBACK · February 05, 2007, 07:41:00 PM

I love wool union suits,you dont have the shirt rideing up on ya,coming un tucked...you know what I mean.

swp · February 05, 2007, 07:44:00 PM

Silk undies from Winter Silk are nicer, Otto!! Their was an interesting article about silk and wool clothes used by Sir Edmund Hillary on his ascent of Mt. Everest in the "Best of" edition of Backpacker Magazine this month. After using wool longhandles this year I am sold on wool and will be adding more of it. I think I will try adding some silk under the wool also. The only problem I have had with silk is it doesn't last very long.

highcountry · February 05, 2007, 10:06:00 PM

My work uniform is mostly wool. I wear silk under, add wool for real cold days. Last couple of weeks, the high was 28 to 31. Started work a couple of days, -8,-2 . Was soaking wet with sweat but still warm. (Heat wave today). Our work jacket is nylon , my jacket is full of burn holes from flares. I hear they want to change from wool, I hope not. KOM makes a wool jacket I was wanting to wear and get rid of the expensive junk we wear now. But it is the Brass in Phoenis that makes the rules. We are 7000'+ higher than them. Wool when it gets bad!

Swanny in MD · February 05, 2007, 10:26:00 PM

What's the approx. relative humidity there, Roger? Seems to make a big factor in deciding whether weather is indeed cold. I'd guess it's fairly high, eh?

What's more desireable in your opinion?

20 degrees F and 88% humidity, or
5 degrees and 20% humidity?

Or are my choices about the same?

John57 · February 05, 2007, 10:42:00 PM

I can't stand the stuff.
When I hunt I'm normaly out for three days at a time.
I wear the same clothes the whole time and usualy get rained on at lest once.
Once wool gets wet,it stays that way,and becomes heavy.
Three days in wet heavy wool an I've had a guts full.
It's 2007 guys.

Ron LaClair · February 05, 2007, 11:27:00 PM

I spent 10 days on the Moose John river in Alaska. I lived in a set of KOM wool. I got rained on and snowed on but I stayed comfortable the whole trip.

WOOL...It's what smart outdoorsmen wear.

Molson · February 06, 2007, 02:12:00 AM

I'll hate myself in the morning for giving this secret out, but if you find Swedish Military Surplus Wool Pants at Cabelas or Sportsman's Guide in your size, buy them. For less than $20 a pair I've got 5 years hard use out of them. I outright abused them, throwing them into the washing machine on cold and hang drying them repeatedly. They just refuse to fail. With one or two layers these things keep you comfortable down below zero. They really are an amazing bargain.

To me, if it's below 60 degrees, some part of me is covered in wool. There's just nothing better.

woodchucker · February 06, 2007, 08:36:00 AM

Years ago I ruined the Johnsons wool jacket that my mother gave me before she died by washing it.(cold water/tumble dry NO heat)Well,IT SHRUNK!!!!!

After that I went to Poly/Polar fleece because it was easily washable.However.....I was never as warm as I was when I was wearing wool.

This year I started hitting the local GoodWill store and buying 100% wool pullover sweaters for layering under a wool jacket (or under a cotton camo jacket) I have picked up several sweaters for between $2 and $5. If they shrink or get ruined I can just throw them away and it won't hurt LOL.

Flathead Willie · February 06, 2007, 08:45:00 AM

Luckily it doesn't get that cold here but I still like my L.L. Bean wool shirts and socks. Even soaking wet they are warm. If it gets real cold during bow season, I have some wool Army pants to put on under my insulated camo coveralls.

TexasBubba · February 06, 2007, 11:42:00 AM

John57,

Billions of sheep can not be wrong.

Wool is the way to go. I have hunted many days on a few Alaskan rivers and as some know Alaska in the fall time can be wet and add in the river factor, well lets just say you can remain wet for a couple of weeks. But, with that said I have always remained warm and functionable on those wet days.

I remember when the Army issued wool clothing for the cold weather those were some warm garments and then they switched to polypro and gortex

Head to toe wool

woodchucker · February 06, 2007, 04:24:00 PM

Cool picture Bill!!!!!

Seeking Trad Deer · February 06, 2007, 04:29:00 PM

I can take frigid cold but just can't stand a strong wind on a cold day. Hate wind on such days.

Problem Child · February 06, 2007, 05:52:00 PM

I'm a "frugal" bowhunter. I buy the polypro longjohns,add a $5.00 Army wool sweater and if it's windy I'll add a cheap fleece jacket and I stay warm. It was 21 degrees the other morning with a a breeze and I was comfortable.It does sound like the 4th of July when a pull off the fleece jacket with all the static.