BlackOvis Base Layers

[dh.hamilton1]

What’s the general consensus on BlackOvis base and mid layers?

Is it warm, is it good enough for the below applications for the price vs Sitka or first lite?

I probably only average 10 days at most in the field for spring turkey and 20 days from October to the end of December for whitetail. All eastern hunting in WV.

Just looking for some reasonably priced merino base layers that work but don’t break the bank.

Any other suggestions are greatly appreciated.


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[skip189]

Black Ovis merino base layers isnt bad but seems a bit scratchy to me. Prefer first lite merino base to others.

 

[dh.hamilton1]

Black Ovis merino base layers isnt bad but seems a bit scratchy to me. Prefer first lite merino base to others.

Does the scratchiness go away after wash at all?


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[Mike 338]

About 3 years ago,I got caught up in the merino wool fad so I ordered a bunch of Black Ovis sets in different weights. Long johns, briefs, beanie. Price seemed good. Well, they're about a junky as junky gets. First washing they developed holes along with separation around the elastic waistbands. Yes, I followed all the washing instructions. Holes and snags all over them. To top it off, they're not very warm. Flash alert... your merino wool stinks when you stink. I still use them around home because I have them. I don't use them in the backcountry unless the weather is mild. I can't wait to wear them out fully so I can justify throwing them away.

 

[MTJake]

I have a number of black ovis merino wool base layer pieces. They have treated me well. I have never pulled the trigger on the more expensive hunting companies merino (KUIU, Sitka, First Lite, etc), mostly because of budget constraints. So maybe I don't know what I am missing! But as base layers, they work well for me down well below zero.

Once they get wet with sweat, they take a long time to dry. My Black Ovis merino has generally lasted four to five years each with probably fifteen to thirty days a year per piece or more. I am pretty careful to not have them on the exterior, because they do not handle brush or barbed wire at all, but they are not built for that either. I have not noticed any scratchiness, they are very comfortable to me. However, their briefs have a very weird fit, I would not recommend those at all.

 

[dh.hamilton1]

About 3 years ago,I got caught up in the merino wool fad so I ordered a bunch of Black Ovis sets in different weights. Long johns, briefs, beanie. Price seemed good. Well, they're about a junky as junky gets. First washing they developed holes along with separation around the elastic waistbands. Yes, I followed all the washing instructions. Holes and snags all over them. To top it off, they're not very warm. Flash alert... your merino wool stinks when you stink. I still use them around home because I have them. I don't use them in the backcountry unless the weather is mild. I can't wait to wear them out fully so I can justify throwing them away.

What do you use for base layers now then?


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[98XJRC]

The lighter weight 150 and 200 gr I haven't had issues with them being itchy. I bought a set of 250gr for late season and that stuff is initially itchy. It does go away as the day goes on, but upon initially putting it on it can feel a bit rough.

The thinner stuff is somewhat fragile and easy to get holes in, but that may just be the nature of merino in a lighter weight. Occasionally I'll just wear the lighter merino when hiking, with the awareness that it may get holes if busting brush. Granted for the price I paid for it I'm not that upset about it. I also haven't had issues with the 150/200 drying out, although I imagine the 250 would take awhile.

 

[Mike 338]

What do you use for base layers now then?


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The old standby, polypro in a weight appropriate to the temperature, or pretty much anything other than that old bumpy cotton. Not saying merino isn't good either, but I won't be buying that particular brand again.

Here's the deal... if you're humping up a mountain like a madman and sweating out your clothes and then you stop and a it's cold and windy, then you're going to be cold regardless of what under-duds you have on. Leaving camp at the right time so you don't need to run up a mountain, and managing you weight and speed of travel is probably a better strategy than throwing money at the latest and greatest super-textile. If the weather is miserable and you're in it, everybody suffers to some degree. In terms of odor, yes polypro retains odors more and that can be a thing if you no longer can stand yourself. For me, from the time I leave home to the time I return and take a shower, I don't think about that. From the animals perspective, it won't matter how much you stink because if you didn't hunt the wind and they're downwind, your cover is blown, period.

Well then again, so far, nobody has asked me to be an underwear model in a catalog so what do I know?