Merino vs synthetic for cold temps?

[Jens22]

Lets hear it! If you have tried both let me know which you prefer. Mostly interested in cold temp situations while backpack hunting. Hard not to sweat while hiking steep hills in layers so I want to stay warm when shot gets real

 

[Zappaman]

Either... (I prefer wool OR cotton)

But backpacking an elk out one year (115 lb pack) I stripped to a cotton tee-shirt in 35 degree, 30 MPH wind and was still "hot" burning that energy as hard as I had in my life. I didn't get cold until 20 minutes after dropping that pack AND drinking a very cold beer (4 mile 1,200 vertical ft. up/down hike).

Base layer aside, I'd be more interested in my jacket which can come off or go on when I stop to sit and glass. I own two jackets... one for "cold" weather days and one for "not so cold" weather days. I've used cotton, wool, and plastic bases and prefer a wool base (on cold days) and cotton on "warmer" days. Cold days = below 25 degrees ALL day. Warm = all other days.

I don't like plastic, but use it when it's good stuff in a jacket/sleeping bag (but not for base layering- I like to breath). And I take cotton sheets for my -15 "poly" bag too.

 

[Hangtown]

All I do is back pack hunt, any where from 4 to 10 days at a time. For me, it’s merino all day. As far as temperature control, I feel the two fabrics are very comparable. The biggest difference for me is the smell factor. Merino might smell a little when wet, but it pretty much goes away when it drys. The synthetic stuff can get real ripe after a couple days in the back country, and it stays smelling funky until it hits the washing machine at home. Just me two cents!

 

[Bump79]

Baselayer Research and Applications

Intro: I've done a lot of research into materials lately and learned a lot. Big one is why I haven't been as satisfied with my merino as I used to be. This is largely due to moving from the Rockies to the South. I still do a lot of hunting out west but I've noticed that whitetail hunting here...

www.rokslide.com

 

[sr80]

synthetic for me, i recently picked up a OR echo long sleeve, apparently its a new material than their previous echo tops. Man that thing dries out fast, might be the fasted drying base layer ive tired to date

 

[quaggy25]

Both will maintain your temperature relatively the same.

If you sweat a lot, synthetic will dry faster, so If hiking and camping synthetic will help. Most manufacturers are now treating them with anti microbial treatments as well so they have less of a chance of smelling like BO that some have mentioned.

Merino won’t dry as fast so if hiking and camping you run the risk of a damp layer. I’ve heard the term “warm when wet” which to my understanding is a misnomer. It won’t feel “warm” but it will maintain your temperature. It’ll just feel damp to the touch. Merino can sometimes have the wool smell from sweating but is naturally anti microbial so won’t get that BO smell.

 

[doverpack12]

I got on the merino train around 2011 used it exclusively until 3-4 years ago and now always at least start with synthetic short sleeve base. I’m dryer and more comfortable. Smell for me with modern synthetics is more about hygiene than shirt. If you are hairy you will smell bad no matter the shirt.
Easy to saturate a merino shirt, they take too long to dry vs synthetic and in cold weather especially I want to be dry vs wet. With any wind and a wet merino base it’s not a fun day or hunt.

 

[coyotecreek]

Always synthetic in cold temps, merino in warm temps.

 

[Bump79]

There's lots of options out there. I started paying more attention over the last 2 years. I really do feel like it comes down to personal preference but there are differences in how materials perform.

A 100% polyester base is going to try extremely quickly. However, it is going to wick moisture extremely poorly because it only absorbs .3% of it's weight in water. My recommendation for a synthetic is to try and get a poly/nylon blend. The nylon will actually pull sweat off your body.

I find that a synthetic needs to be extremely tight fitting to essentially force the sweat to the exterior. Otherwise in hard pushes I find myself just dripping in sweat.

 

[Bump79]

Merino performs pretty damn well across the board but I dislike it in high humidity hunts because I never seem to dry.

 

[jd1006]

I’m pretty sold on the Wool Fishnet next to skin (aclima, Brynje) and thin wool boxers (Sitka, and am really liking SG), then I’m going with synthetic above that (usually the Peloton 97) or a thicker grid fleece. I like the temp regulating properties of wool and the no-stink, but I want the moisture moving when its cold so it gets dry near my skin and I don’t start to get cold. Thick wool takes forever to dry…even if it retains warmth, eventually all of that gets heavy and the damp feeling still makes me feel the chills. Also, if you ad a top layer when stopped that has heavy insulation, i will cook my layers dry more quickly with this setup.

 

[35WhelenAI]

A thin, tighter fit synthetic layer against the skin and merino over it works well for me when It's cold out and I'm active for my upper body. Synthetic wicks away moisture and merino helps insulate. Agree, when Merino is damp it takes longer to dry, I take an extra outer layer to swap for the merino once I am done sweating and let the merino dry out. I use the Helly Hansen "Lifa" long underwear bottoms, they are 50/50 synthetic/merino. Syn against the skin and merino on the outer surface. Those things flat out keep me warm yet don't get damp and clammy. I am very tall with a long torso and Helly Hansen doesn't make stuff that fits well for the upper body. I use "Minus33" for my Merino wool on the upper body and their tall sizes are fantastic.

I don't rely on a base layer or mid layer to keep me warm if I'm not active. Sure it may get warm in the sun but I want to prepare for when it's not warm, not sunny and I'm not active. A lightweight packable down jacket makes short work of warming up.

 

[Seeknelk]

I’m pretty sold on the Wool Fishnet next to skin (aclima, Brynje) and thin wool boxers (Sitka, and am really liking SG), then I’m going with synthetic above that (usually the Peloton 97) or a thicker grid fleece. I like the temp regulating properties of wool and the no-stink, but I want the moisture moving when its cold so it gets dry near my skin and I don’t start to get cold. Thick wool takes forever to dry…even if it retains warmth, eventually all of that gets heavy and the damp feeling still makes me feel the chills. Also, if you ad a top layer when stopped that has heavy insulation, i will cook my layers dry more quickly with this setup.

Man I really want to get and try those fishnet merino tops from aclima! Just waiting for them to come back in stock. Are they pretty comfy under a pack?
I like merino boxers but man, the FL ones last about 18 hrs of hunting for me and the crotch is blown out. Meriwool were a bit more durable but not by much.

 

[jd1006]

I just ordered an Aclima, I have the Brynje. I agree on First Lite…their wool has been living off it’s previous reputation and the quality control and merino % has dropped. I’ve tried many brands of wool and first lite is near the bottom.

 

[oldskool67]

I like a synthetic compression fit short sleeve against the skin and merino over that depending on temperature. In cold weather I’m almost 100 percent synthetic

 

[z987k]

If it's a really wet environment, merino will never dry. You'll stay warm, but you'll be wet.

The only downside to synthetic is the smell. There's some improvement on that but it doesn't last in my experience. I'll usually have a shirt or 2 of both on a hunt depending on time in the field.

 

[1231]

I just ordered an Aclima, I have the Brynje. I agree on First Lite…their wool has been living off it’s previous reputation and the quality control and merino % has dropped. I’ve tried many brands of wool and first lite is near the bottom.

I agree about First lite. The older stuff was a lot better

 

[z987k]

I agree about First lite. The older stuff was a lot better

Mixed Merino is the worst. All the bad qualities of synthetic and wool. None of the good.

 

[Kotaman]

I use merino when it’s cold, synthetic when it’s hot. I’m a “sweater” in the heat and synthetic dries much faster.

 

[Texasbuckeye]

I dont have as much experience with backpack hunting but do have some personal experience while skiing this year, have several days with different materials as a base and the same layer on top.

I have a pair of elberstock net leggings i wear a pair of synthetic over top and then my ski pants. This kept me dry and warm feeling in the active skiing as well as on the lift sitting. I used that for two days before switching to a pair of under armor compression leggings with a thicker pair of joggers over top followed by ski pants. With this combo i was fine while active but as soon as i stopped i could feel the chill of moisture on my legs that didn’t dry as well. I wasnt cold per se, but it was definitely different as the chill came through.

Temps used varied from single digits in the mornings raising to the high 20’s to low 30’s in the later afternoon. Active i was fine with both, but thinking of sitting and glassing, i would much prefer the net style as they seemed to move moisture much better than the compression UA pants.