School Me On Wool

[Davyalabama]

Varuste.net is the place --- Do not mistake it for Varusteleka-------
Varuste.net--- Aclima mesh wool --- get some of their Aclima light wool 140 weight and some Devold heavy weight ---- you are set for most any weather ---- Then, top it off with your favorite pants ---

I have started using some 87% Merino Wool,8% Polyester,5% Spandex just light weight socks off Am$%^& and these work in my rubber boots or in my Redwing leather boots turkey hunting or in dress shoes for church. Sometimes in the very low 20's or teens, I need a second pair of these --- These are light weight dress/liner socks. After almost 46 years of hunting, I finally figured out the socks that work for (me). My feet sweat, especially in rubber boots, they also sweat in leather boots and in leather dress shoes. I didn't need more layers, I need a good sock that absorbed and moved water off my feet. My feet were cold because of water on my feet and the cold air surrounding my boots.

 

[43.6N]

Varuste.net is the place --- Do not mistake it for Varusteleka-------
Varuste.net--- Aclima mesh wool --- get some of their Aclima light wool 140 weight and some Devold heavy weight ---- you are set for most any weather ---- Then, top it off with your favorite pants ---

I have started using some 87% Merino Wool,8% Polyester,5% Spandex just light weight socks off Am$%^& and these work in my rubber boots or in my Redwing leather boots turkey hunting or in dress shoes for church. Sometimes in the very low 20's or teens, I need a second pair of these --- These are light weight dress/liner socks. After almost 44 years of hunting, I finally figured out the socks that work for (me). My feet sweat, especially in rubber boots, they also sweat in leather boots and in leather dress shoes. I didn't need more layers, I need a good sock that absorbed and moved water off my feet. My feet were cold because of water on my feet and the cold air surrounding my boots.

Any hoops to jump through when ordering through varuste.net? Was shipping outrageous or did you have import fees?

Looks like it’s all in Finnish or some other scandi language?

 

[Davyalabama]

Any hoops to jump through when ordering through varuste.net? Was shipping outrageous or did you have import fees?

Looks like it’s all in Finnish or some other scandi language?

No. It was easy. The shipping wasn't bad nor import fees (just a few bucks). They have what I wanted, all a lot cheaper than Byernji (sp). The regular merino they have is good quality without paying the prices of the brands people love on Rokslide.

 

[hibernation]

Any hoops to jump through when ordering through varuste.net? Was shipping outrageous or did you have import fees?

Looks like it’s all in Finnish or some other scandi language?

Click on the little Finnish flag in the top right, that opens up the language options for the site.

 

[Formidilosus]

After reading through the current posts on hard use wool clothing, I have many questions.

First, I’m doing an extended January cow hunt on the Wyoming/Idaho border. This has given me an opportunity to reflect on my current cold weather system, and it has been found wanting.

So, for all the true dyed-in-the-wool purists out there, please school me (and others) on wool.

-How do I know if a wool piece is “quality” or not?

Reputation is about it. Scandinavian and European companies with products made in those places are generally high quality.

General pieces for clothing in less the 50’ish degree F weather:

1). Netted wool baselayers
2). Thin merino wool t-shirts and long sleeves
3). Wool sweaters as a mid layer
4). Modern wool pants
5) Hats, toboggans, and beanies
6). Socks


Where good quality wool struggles is when you try to get very warm pieces- they get heavy. That’s where down comes in.

-What types of wool should I be considering?

Depends on what you want it for.

I and those I’m around have extremely heavy use with all the synthetics on the market, for years/decades. A clear shift to natural materials started around 8’ish years ago- not just wool. Synthetics suck for longevity, feel, and health. They can be good for short use, wet, or hot environments. Most synthetics functionally suck for everything else. Wool, down, and certain cotton fabrics have largely replaced synthetics for the vast majority of uses.



Wool pants, wool sweater, wool t-shirt, camel wool socks, wool hat, wool and leather gloves-





Wool T- shirt, wool sweater, wool pants, down jacket, wool hat, leather shoes-

-Would you ever consider buying used wool?

Sure.

-Are there some reputable brands you would recommend?

European, Scandinavian, etc brands usually are good.

-How do I take care of my wool?

Depends on the garment- read each pieces directions.

-Shrinkage?

Depends. Usually no, or easy to not have happen.

-Merino vs Alpaca vs camel?

Depends on the use.

 

[43.6N]

Reputation is about it. Scandinavian and European companies with products made in those places are generally high quality.

General pieces for clothing in less the 50’ish degree F weather:

1). Netted wool baselayers
2). Thin merino wool t-shirts and long sleeves
3). Wool sweaters as a mid layer
4). Modern wool pants
5) Hats, toboggans, and beanies
6). Socks


Where good quality wool struggles is when you try to get very warm pieces- they get heavy. That’s where down comes in.





Depends on what you want it for.

I and those I’m around have extremely heavy use with all the synthetics on the market, for years/decades. A clear shift to natural materials started around 8’ish years ago- not just wool. Synthetics suck for longevity, feel, and health. They can be good for short use, wet, or hot environments. Most synthetics functionally suck for everything else. Wool, down, and certain cotton fabrics have largely replaced synthetics for the vast majority of uses.



Wool pants, wool sweater, wool t-shirt, camel wool socks, wool hat, wool and leather gloves-

View attachment 971941



Wool T- shirt, wool sweater, wool pants, down jacket, wool hat, leather shoes-

View attachment 971943




Sure.




European, Scandinavian, etc brands usually are good.




Depends on the garment- read each pieces directions.




Depends. Usually no, or easy to not have happen.




Depends on the use.

Very much appreciate the detailed line item responses.

Was it you or someone you’ve spent time with who had good experiences with the Verusteleka woolshell pants? And if not, any recommendation for something similar to the fjallraven keb trousers (my current favorite mountain pant), but in wool?

 

[rookieforever33]

Dont forget a good outer windstopper layer over wool or down. Taking it off while exerting energy so you can breath is a must. When I am layered up and moving I avoid windstopper when I can.

 

[hibernation]

Since we're talking wool, anybody have one of these? Pretty classic military surplus design, wondering how thin/thick they are and how they hold up.

British Commando Sweater

 

[Formidilosus]

Since we're talking wool, anybody have one of these? Pretty classic military surplus design, wondering how thin/thick they are and how they hold up.

British Commando Sweater

They are heavy/warm. Too warm for me to do much in. The best wool sweater of the type on the market, that is warm, breathes very well, and is very hard wearing in the Atlantic Rancher Ranger Sweater. It’s the sweater in the pics above.

 

[Formidilosus]

Very much appreciate the detailed line item responses.

Was it you or someone you’ve spent time with who had good experiences with the Verusteleka woolshell pants?

That’s the pants in the pictures above. The best sub 50° F pants in the market.

And if not, any recommendation for something similar to the fjallraven keb trousers (my current favorite mountain pant), but in wool?

Nothing super thin in wool yet. The Kebs are excellent 30-70° F pants. The Varusteleka Woolshell pants with a couple mods are the best sub 50° F pants I’ve found.

 

[jonpall]

Synthetics suck for longevity, feel, and health. -

Good thread.

Not to derail but I like to wear natural materials when I can, but is there any solid evidence that synthetic materials have actual negative health impacts? Most of what I've seen is theoretical or mechanistic but nothing showing actual health outcomes.

 

[Formidilosus]

Good thread.

Not to derail but I like to wear natural materials when I can, but is there any solid evidence that synthetic materials have actual negative health impacts? Most of what I've seen is theoretical or mechanistic but nothing showing actual health outcomes.

Google “PFAS” clothing, “micro plastics clothing”.

 

[jonpall]

Google “PFAS” clothing, “micro plastics clothing”.

Yeah probably some of the stuff I've seen. Not enough to get me to eliminate synthetic clothing but still prefer naturals out of abundance of caution. Definitely a growing area of research though.

 

[Formidilosus]

Yeah probably some of the stuff I've seen. Not enough to get me to eliminate synthetic clothing but still prefer naturals out of abundance of caution. Definitely a growing area of research though.

I’m not sure how someone can actually read what’s out there and not see the issue with plastics in your water, on your skin, and in your brain.

 

[Halligan]

@jonpall, I'd point you to some of the PFAS studies centered around the fire service in the past few years, very comprehensive. Granted, understand kevlar and other products that are referenced as point sources are especially bad harbors for PFAS (more than likely comparatively worse than many daily products), but the health studies show the harm that prolonged exposures can inflict. I'd argue with the proliferation of these chemicals, your statement about eliminating them where you can,even out of an abundance of caution is a good move given the increasing daily exposure to the general populace.

P.S.
As an interesting tangent on how far these chemicals have gone, I recently saw a news bit that stated Maine's DNR has issued a do not eat order in some counties for moose and deer due to high PFAS levels found in game meat.

 

[jonpall]

I’m not sure how someone can actually read what’s out there and not see the issue with plastics in your water, on your skin, and in your brain.

I'm not saying it's not an issue and microplastics/PFAS are ubiquitous I just can't say how beneficial certain mitigation strategies are. If I stop using plastic cutting boards and synthetic shirts will my endocrine system improve in a meaningful way or will my risk of developing Alzheimer's decrease? You might say possibly, so you stack the deck in your favor and that's fine, I've made similar decisions myself. Some make similar decisions on shooting lead bullets, etc.

 

[FrankNess14]

Love my Duckworth Powder hoody and Vapor hoody (sun shirt). My wife went and bought two Powder sweaters for herself after seeing/touching mine.

I started with merino socks, found them extremely comfortable, drier than cotton, and no smell! Then came the lightweight hoody, then the heavyweight hoody, now base layers and I just recently moved to the First Lite Wick undies with the ball pocket…wow. About 3 months in and they are spectacular! Again, no smell after airing out overnight.

I grew up using wool, as that was the only option for cold weather. These days my base layers are always different thickness according to the temps. There are so many good companies these days, both hunting and non. The one company I would check out and recommend is Duckworth, specifically the powder hoody. It will block the wind very well, is very dense, durable and very warm with not a huge weight penalty. I ended up wearing it this month over my down coat in the high country.