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?

 

[Bump79]

I've had great luck with ALL the BlackOvis stuff I've tried. I daily wear it and beat the heck out of it in thorns. For the money, you can't beat it.

I haven't had the new 150 or 200 merino. I have had the Keele, Realm, last gen 50/50 150 gsm, Cottonwood pants, shorts, Timber hoody and more. I've had zero issues with any of it. The Keele fits stupid small in the tops but that's about it so size up.

 

[WanderingFarmer]

Interesting range of perspectives so I’ll throw mine in the mix.

If you can get the pieces on camofire at a good sale, they’re an excellent value. I just picked up two more of the 150gsm Venture shirts for $34 each.

They’re a tiny bit scratchy but I don’t notice it other than first putting it on. They’re 95% merino, so more delicate than the blends, but I use them for exercise. They dry fast enough because they’re light weight and the only layer I’ve got on what training and when I throw them in the bottom of a bag still damp they don’t sink to high heaven.

I have First Lite and kuiu merino in the light and mid weights that I hunt in cause I like camo and own it already, but for a base layer, I’d buy the thin Black Ovis stuff on sale in a heart beat. I wouldn’t pay full price for it

 

[IronM]

I have several sets of BO merino, mostly mid weight, and love it. Their first round of merino was not very durable. The stuff they have now contains 13% nylon that for me has held up much better. I wear it every day from fall to spring and have no issues with it. I do have some First Lite, which to me feels softer but for the price difference (especially if it is on camofire), BO is the way to go. I found the Keele heavyweight very uncomfortable so ended up selling it.

 

[Watrdawg]

I have a couple of different weights of BO merino and love them. I've worn them all through the colder months of deer season and this past November elk hunting in Montana. Temps were in the single digits to the upper 20's and I was perfectly happy with my base layers. It's awful hard to beat the prices and the quality is very good!

 

[Bump79]

Camofire.com is loaded with BO stuff today at better than average % off

 

[skip189]

Does the scratchiness go away after wash at all?


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Never seems to get softer but not uncomfortable. Just not as soft and comfortable as others.

 

[Dave_S]

I have whatever the heavier hoodie is, the keele? The material is nowhere near as nice as first lite or sitka. Which I honestly didn't expect. My biggest disappointment was the fit of the hood. It's weirdly shallow. I have a very average sized head. I wear medium sized ball caps. This thing only covers like 50 percent of my head.

 

[HuntCrazy]

I have a ton of there stuff... absolutely no complaints

 

[Sinistram]

To offer a different perspective, you might want to look at Midway's merino base layers. I picked some of these up some years back in a post-season clearance sale when I was starting to try out merino in my kit. They're very soft and warm, and I wore them for several seasons without incident. Now, they're not of the same quality as the big boys, but they are drastically cheaper. As I upgraded to other brands of merino, the Midway stuff was shifted to around the house wear, where it's still serving me well.

 

[Wrench]

I walked off a mountain in a snow storm with my black ovis merino on my pack because I couldn't get warm in it. I was actually able to be warmer without wearing it.

I would never own their merino again. I've had great luck with first lite, minus 33......even some Amazon cheap stuff.....but there must be some cotton in the black ovis because it was impossible for me to get warm once wet.....literally better off without it.

 

[wyosteve]

I have a bunch of Black Ovis midweight merino and I"m really happy with it. Has lasted a number of years and it gets worn daily in the winter. But I agree, get it when it's on sale.