ECWCS VS Merino Wool

[Mfritts]

New member planning 2016 DIY in Colorado. Formerly with the 10th MTN Division stationed in FT.Drum (read: Freaking Cold) I am familiar with the synthetic base layers of the ECWCS clothing system but everyone here seems to go on about Merino wool. Anyone have experience with both? Should I run out to buy wool if I already possess some synthetic layers? Thanks for any input.

 

[Desk Jockey]

I transitioned out of .mil when it was barely .mil nearly 20 years ago.

I turned over my ecwcs clothing and other military gear slowly over several years. Overall, I think at the margin the mil stuff is over built and heavy. It is also loaded with Velcro and the fabrics aren't chosen as much for noise reduction. Apart from those minor quibbles I think your military clothing and gear will be fine.

As to your question, wool is great. Polypropylene is great to. I own a mix and use both. I tend to prefer wool on longer trips due to its ability to resist smell. Poly and synthetic are my go to for shorter and day hunts. I can't say why but my skin also feels dryer in most synthetic base layers than wool.

Bottom line is you should start with what you have and pick up things along the way. No need to rush out and replace gear that will work just fine.

 

[GKPrice]

New member planning 2016 DIY in Colorado. Formerly with the 10th MTN Division stationed in FT.Drum (read: Freaking Cold) I am familiar with the synthetic base layers of the ECWCS clothing system but everyone here seems to go on about Merino wool. Anyone have experience with both? Should I run out to buy wool if I already possess some synthetic layers? Thanks for any input.

Thank you for your service ! I'm not familiar with the ECWCS stuff but merino is very comfortable against the skin and I can wear the same next to skin set for 3-4 days of hard hunting with no stink - KUIU has a new synthetic that's supposed to be pretty good too PELETON I think it is, I think Sitka has some good stuff too - As far as socks go I would not trade my Smartwool merino socks for anything else, PERIOD

 

[cocky84]

I currently have cabelas ecwcs in polar weight, mid weight, and the silk weight top. Also have c4e merino and first lite merino. I like both. Dont think you will be sorry with either but i find myself wearing merino when doing activity and ecwcs when setting. Ecwcs is warmer imo. On elk hunts i wear merino during the day and sleep in ecwcs.

 

[duchntr]

Both have pros and cons. Heres a great article about base layers thats worth a read. http://www.rokslide.com/2012-01-09-...etic-blended-baselayers-for-the-modern-hunter

 

[5MilesBack]

I have several pieces of both ECWCS and merino. For active hunting base layers, there is nothing better that I have found than lightweight merino. I can wear the same set of top and bottoms for a week straight, never taking them off. If I did that with the ECWCS, they'd smell so bad after a couple days that I'd have to take them off. That's the biggest difference.

I find that they both wick the moisture away from my skin, but merino does it better. Also, in the heat of the day, the poly material will make you feel warmer than the merino will.

The only time I use the ECWCS anymore is for stationary activities, as I find that it keeps me warmer than merino does.

 

[Mfritts]

Thanks for all the input guys. May go ahead with a basic Merino base layer just to try it out but will have the ECWCs in camp as well. Thanks again

 

[peddler]

Mfritts, thank you for your service. Here's a weather report in case you are longing to be back at Drum. Just a little snow but temp. is 17* wind at 20 out of the wnw. Some places south of there Tug Hill and Lowville got over 2 feet yesterday.

 

[Mfritts]

I do miss some of the fishing and even Ice fishing but don't see me leaving Texas for NY ever again haha. What brigade you in? I'm former 2-22Inf.

 

[cocky84]

Cabelas was have a really good sale on there ecwcs. Most was 40% off. I agree 100% with 5MilesBack.

 

[Trial153]

I have and use both. My primary determining factor as to which on I chose is based on the amount of activity I plan on. The more I move the more likely I use merino. For stand sitting grid fleece ECWCs is hard to beat.

 

[doncarpenter]

Merino fights the funk longer, and is a better base layer. I have used it with old polypro and stayed warm. ECWCS is good but not as good as merino in my experience, if you can afford to upgrade it will be worth it.

 

[gmajor]

I could never use synthetic underwear. Not a good situation haha. Merino has been amazing for me.

 

[ozyclint]

TUSX has recently conducted a base layer evaluation during the development of their baselayer garments which provides real time, in the field comparisons between wool and polyester. interesting reading.
http://www.tusxhunter.com/resources/base-layer-evaluation-synthetic-and-natural-fabrics.html

 

[HawkCreek]

I used the ECWCS at the USMC mountain weather training center (MWTC) and then later in Norway (in February 2002). While I still have some of the ECWCS stuff the only thing I still use is the GoreTex jacket. The rest you couldn't pay me to use. Except MAYBE durability, polypro sucks compared to quality merino.

 

[Mfritts]

HawkCreek, we used to have "polypro" but it was the itchy brown crap from basic. The "new stuff" when I got to my unit was light weight "silk" and a "waffle" layer on top of that. Is that what you have used? Also out of curiosity where is the Marine mountain school located?

 

[HawkCreek]

I never thought of it as itchy but it wasn't silky nor was there a waffle top so I suppose it was the older stuff. Never saw any issued waffle layers, maybe they got better stuff than what I used.

MWTC is in California, up in the Sierra Nevada range. Base camp was around 7000' and every dang place we went was UP.

 

[LitenFast]

I have merino and cabelas ecwcs grid fleece power dry. I agree with most, merino is the cats pajamas if your on the move some or all the time. I do love my grid fleece too though, I would agree it is warmer than the same weight merino. For stand hunting or something like ice fishing I rarely go out without the grid fleece but it is often layered over lightweight merino. Merino definitely keeps funk at bay a whole lot better as a base layer.

 

[Fjelljeger]

Know all about Ft Drum winters....just pretend all that snow is sand and carry on! Used both the ECWCS and merino. I have been transitioning over to the merino now for the past couple years and like the merino much better for most applications. That said the waffle/grid style still works great and I do regularly use some from Patagonia (R1 type). As others have said, merino lasts a long time before it starts to stink and that is always a good thing.

 

[camping1601]

ECWCS on my legs and Merino on my top. I like the slippery surface on the ECWCS under pants. For their weight I feel there warmer than merino.