School Me On Wool

[JollyRoger]

Anyone have a recommendation for a super lightweight wool long sleeve with a loose fitting hood? Like the fishing shirts that are popular but wool not synthetic. Tight low profile hoody make it hard to hear IMO.

I’ve been digging the Minus 33 lightweight hoody

 

[Ajsomp]

Anyone have a recommendation for a super lightweight wool long sleeve with a loose fitting hood? Like the fishing shirts that are popular but wool not synthetic. Tight low profile hoody make it hard to hear IMO.

Outdoor vitals merino has been great- I’ve used it since July. I also like the first spear hoody but only used it for the last month or so.

 

[The Ri Guy]

Anyone have a recommendation for a super lightweight wool long sleeve with a loose fitting hood? Like the fishing shirts that are popular but wool not synthetic. Tight low profile hoody make it hard to hear IMO.

As a semi-fanatical wool user I've tried about every single "lightweight" hooded wool option from Sitka, First Lite, Kuiu, Voormi, Woolly, Unbound Merino, Paka, Ridge, Ibex, WoolX, Minus33, Fjallraven, SmartWool, etc. etc. etc.

Stone Glacier Chinook clears all of them by a long shot, in every category.

 

[43.6N]

As a semi-fanatical wool user I've tried about every single "lightweight" hooded wool option from Sitka, First Lite, Kuiu, Voormi, Woolly, Unbound Merino, Paka, Ridge, Ibex, WoolX, Minus33, Fjallraven, SmartWool, etc. etc. etc.

Stone Glacier Chinook clears all of them by a long shot, in every category.

My kuiu lightweight merino 1/2 zip hoody is on its last legs. I tried my best to sew up the rips as they formed. It’s practically a fishnet at this point. But after this last fall, I’m moving on to something else.

I’ll give the SG chinook a close look

 

[The Ri Guy]

My kuiu lightweight merino 1/2 zip hoody is on its last legs. I tried my best to sew up the rips as they formed. It’s practically a fishnet at this point. But after this last fall, I’m moving on to something else.

I’ll give the SG chinook a close look

I still have my original and 2nd Gen Kuiu Merino pieces, both going on a few/several years now.

They never did me wrong, but they definitely feel like sandpaper on-skin compared to other companies offerings, and they have one of the more pungent wool stinks when wet or sweaty, in my experience. Haven't used them for anything in a few years, probably destined for Goodwill.

SG Chinook acts as my outerlayer when mobile or in most conditions, sunhoody or only layer in really hot weather, and I even wear it between my base and Sitka Ambient (or other true mid) in cold weather. Really phenomenal piece, I am not delicate with my woolens and it took 3 years for me to put snags/holes in it regularly busting brush while being as mindful as possible in such endeavors.

 

[43.6N]

I still have my original and 2nd Gen Kuiu Merino pieces, both going on a few/several years now.

They never did me wrong, but they definitely feel like sandpaper on-skin compared to other companies offerings, and they have one of the more pungent wool stinks when wet or sweaty, in my experience. Haven't used them for anything in a few years, probably destined for Goodwill.

SG Chinook acts as my outerlayer when mobile or in most conditions, sunhoody or only layer in really hot weather, and I even wear it between my base and Sitka Ambient (or other true mid) in cold weather. Really phenomenal piece, I am not delicate with my woolens and it took 3 years for me to put snags/holes in it regularly busting brush while being as mindful as possible in such endeavors.

Hell yeah baby.
That’s pretty much exactly what I was hoping the kuiu would have been.

 

[Dobermann]

Yes, the separation is basically at the sewing at the cuffs. Would wear them as a base layer under socks and another pair of pants and/or bibs, and then in either hunting or x-country ski boots.

I didn't put them in a delicates bag for washing, and maybe I should have. Wouldn't think the tumbling action of our front loader would cause that much damage, but I could imagine the agitator of a top loader could stress these garments. Why the leggings came apart and not the top... .

Noticed the prices for these have gone up since last year. Wonder how much of that is from the Rokslide effect!

I wonder if it's worth asking Varuste about an exchange? These should last more than 6-10 times, so surely this would be regarded as not meeting customer expectations.

If they have seen this before, this adds to their dataset. If they haven't, and it was some kind of manufacturing error, then they can chat with Aclima about it.

 

[horpensky]

I wonder if it's worth asking Varuste about an exchange? These should last more than 6-10 times, so surely this would be regarded as not meeting customer expectations.

If they have seen this before, this adds to their dataset. If they haven't, and it was some kind of manufacturing error, then they can chat with Aclima about it.

Indeed, I did reach out to Varuste, with that exact line of thinking. Their response was rather short:

Thank you for contacting us, we apologize the inconvenience.

Unfortunately this kind of damage that caused by external force or something sharp or is not part of the warranty.

We wish you a great day nonetheless!
Kind regards,

Mike / Aftersales

I actually waited to hear back from them before writing my initial post, as I was hoping Varuste would step up and allow the opportunity to see if this was just a one-off. Unfortunately, there seems to be no interest on their part, so I wanted to post my experience as a cautionary tale.

 

[Shraggs]

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




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.

Are those pants heavy?

 

[Formidilosus]

Are those pants heavy?

Haven’t weighed them, but they feel like pants.

 

[Shraggs]

The only wool items I would recommend at this point are merino fishnet baselayers.

Wouldn’t use it for an insulating / mid layer since the CLO value is so low.

Wouldn’t use it as an outer layer because while is it quiet it absorbs moisture, is heavy, has a low CLO value, has no wind breaking capability, and is a burr magnet.

I’m with most wool base specifically woolnet and mid layers. Used wool for years but it really is porous.

Reeently I took a gamble in a vest from Weather Wool. I compared it exhaustively to an older filson, stormy Krommer and wool rich pieces, all that worsted wool. Usually with wool outer I don’t seem warm like down, but not cold unless it’s windy. This brand was remarkably warm and wind resistant and very soft. Very interesting that Measurement but this garment changed my view.

Still a coat is too heavy, but I am considering their pants.

 

[Maverick1]

I’m with most wool base specifically woolnet and mid layers. Used wool for years but it really is porous.

Reeently I took a gamble in a vest from Weather Wool. I compared it exhaustively to an older filson, stormy Krommer and wool rich pieces, all that worsted wool. Usually with wool outer I don’t seem warm like down, but not cold unless it’s windy. This brand was remarkably warm and wind resistant and very soft. Very interesting that Measurement but this garment changed my view.

Still a coat is too heavy, but I am considering their pants.

Wool is wool, regardless of manufacturer. It has a low CLO value, which is a material property irrelevant of brand. It can be paired with other materials and garments for layering purposes, but the material properties are the material properties.

 

[Dobermann]

Are those pants heavy?

They're clearly heavier than most hunting/hiking pants - but as Form said, they still wear and function like pants.

I spent a day in the snow last year in them plus Aclima woolnet leggings and was warm. Wasn't doing strenuous hiking, but I'm not used to the cold, and was concerned in advance about whether they'd be warm enough. Had Varusteleka synthetic overpants on hand - they weren't necessary.

The Sarma TST pants had enough range of motion for getting up and down and running around. Sat straight on snow a few times and no wetting through.

 

[Dobermann]

As a semi-fanatical wool user I've tried about every single "lightweight" hooded wool option from Sitka, First Lite, Kuiu, Voormi, Woolly, Unbound Merino, Paka, Ridge, Ibex, WoolX, Minus33, Fjallraven, SmartWool, etc. etc. etc.

Stone Glacier Chinook clears all of them by a long shot, in every category.

Given that long list, have you tried Duckworth? Curious as there have been a couple of strong recommendations here, as well as Lampers ...

 

[The Ri Guy]

Given that long list, have you tried Duckworth? Curious as there have been a couple of strong recommendations here, as well as Lampers ...

I have indeed, own their first generation Powder Hoody, Vapor Hoody, Vapor Tees, etc. etc. etc. My spouse owns several pieces as well.

Which piece in particular are you referring to or interested in? Happy to provide any insight.

 

[Dobermann]

I have indeed, own their first generation Powder Hoody, Vapor Hoody, Vapor Tees, etc. etc. etc. My spouse owns several pieces as well.

Which piece in particular are you referring to or interested in? Happy to provide any insight.

I think a couple of people here referred to the Vapor as an option for a lightweight piece / sunshirt. I know Lampers likes the Powder as a heavier-weight piece.

I only have the SG Chinook, which is why I posted that as an option for the person who asked about sunshirts - so interested to hear how the Chinook and Vapor compare.

 

[Dobermann]

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.

For those who haven't looked into PFASs before (I handn't, really), BBC just published this quick overview piece today: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8z8pv1e0ko

No doubt there are far better articles out there.

Short advice: avoid synthetic rainwear, filter your water, eat clean ... and don't wear makeup or dye your hair.

 

[The Ri Guy]

I think a couple of people here referred to the Vapor as an option for a lightweight piece / sunshirt. I know Lampers likes the Powder as a heavier-weight piece.

I only have the SG Chinook, which is why I posted that as an option for the person who asked about sunshirts - so interested to hear how the Chinook and Vapor compare.

Well, if you look at my history I'm entirely against the grain on Duckworth...but I'm also not an influencer, nor have I ever caught charges. However to state my personal, sole, individual, opinion upfront, I believe they're mostly marketing/influencer hype and not legitimate technical wool forward apparel for serious backcountry hunters.

My Size L Vapor Hoody is ~8oz, my Size L Chinook is ~11oz.

For 1/4th of a pound more, I gain a chest pocket, a huge zip (vastly superior heat dump), a superior fitting hood and built in "neck gaiter", a superior drape in active situations, and a superior fit overall. In addition, the tag on my vapor says it's sub 40% wool, and mostly poly, while the chinook is over 80% wool, blended with nylon -- this is par for the course with Duckworth and really rubs me the wrong way when they advertise themselves as a WOOL forward brand, when they're really just a minority wool blend brand across much of their line. The chinook has held up to way more brush busting shit than both of my Vapors. I do love the Vapor Tee, but understand again it's mostly synthetic, not mostly wool, and have replaced them with other brands for the most part.

TBH I started with Duckworth when they first came to market -- Lampers lived within 2 miles of my house and I jumped on the train from the very first drop. However, when it comes to his favorite piece, the Powder Hoody, I would literally fight anyone about the reality of it.

Wind cuts through it as if it was cotton mesh, the hood is the worst of any hood of my entire life as a hoodie fanatic as it compresses your neck and spine like crazy with the cut, it's way too warm on the move, and way too cold unless it's under a puffy or windproof layer, in which case you may as well take a puffy for less weight, less pack space, and superior output. This basically makes it entirely worthless for anything besides sitting around a fire or stove. I've tried it everywhere -- fishing, logging, hunting, hiking, sitting on the couch, it's just not good at anything practical or realistic, straight up.

SG Chinook clears DW Vapor in every metric, Voormi High E clears DW Powder in every metric, Ridge Merino Cloudripper clears DW Maverick/Polaris in every metric, all while offering more wool content.

I'm not trying to hate on Duckworth, I'm diehard for American brands, but I think it's a straight up influencer/marketing scam compared to other wool options, to be blunt. And I say that as someone with $2k worth of Duckworth in our closet at home that doesn't ever get touched anymore.

 

[Dobermann]

Well, if you look at my history I'm entirely against the grain on Duckworth...but I'm also not an influencer, nor have I ever caught charges. However to state my personal, sole, individual, opinion upfront, I believe they're mostly marketing/influencer hype and not legitimate technical wool forward apparel for serious backcountry hunters.

My Size L Vapor Hoody is ~8oz, my Size L Chinook is ~11oz.

For 1/4th of a pound more, I gain a chest pocket, a huge zip (vastly superior heat dump), a superior fitting hood and built in "neck gaiter", a superior drape in active situations, and a superior fit overall. In addition, the tag on my vapor says it's sub 40% wool, and mostly poly, while the chinook is over 80% wool, blended with nylon -- this is par for the course with Duckworth and really rubs me the wrong way when they advertise themselves as a WOOL forward brand, when they're really just a minority wool blend brand across much of their line. The chinook has held up to way more brush busting shit than both of my Vapors. I do love the Vapor Tee, but understand again it's mostly synthetic, not mostly wool, and have replaced them with other brands for the most part.

TBH I started with Duckworth when they first came to market -- Lampers lived within 2 miles of my house and I jumped on the train from the very first drop. However, when it comes to his favorite piece, the Powder Hoody, I would literally fight anyone about the reality of it.

Wind cuts through it as if it was cotton mesh, the hood is the worst of any hood of my entire life as a hoodie fanatic as it compresses your neck and spine like crazy with the cut, it's way too warm on the move, and way too cold unless it's under a puffy or windproof layer, in which case you may as well take a puffy for less weight, less pack space, and superior output. This basically makes it entirely worthless for anything besides sitting around a fire or stove. I've tried it everywhere -- fishing, logging, hunting, hiking, sitting on the couch, it's just not good at anything practical or realistic, straight up.

SG Chinook clears DW Vapor in every metric, Voormi High E clears DW Powder in every metric, Ridge Merino Cloudripper clears DW Maverick/Polaris in every metric, all while offering more wool content.

I'm not trying to hate on Duckworth, I'm diehard for American brands, but I think it's a straight up influencer/marketing scam compared to other wool options, to be blunt. And I say that as someone with $2k worth of Duckworth in our closet at home that doesn't ever get touched anymore.

Thanks for taking the time to capture all of this - that's really helpful.

That Voormi High E looks interesting ... and amazing to see it's about the same cost as an Atlantic Ranger!

Would be interesting to see how Voormi compares to Devold. I forget the details, but I think @THLR posted here that they have a different kind of weave than most other merino construction, which makes them warmer.