Stone Glacier Merino

RFOUST89

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Oct 5, 2017
Messages
287
Location
Central Washington
Looking to upgrade my merino base layers this year, I am considering going with SGs Chinook Line. I primarily used First Lite prior. If anyone has any insight to how SGs merino holds up or compares to other brands, it would be appreciated. My issue with First Lite is the merino pills up, and shows wear relatively easy. I know this is common for merino, just seeing if there are better options out there. Thanks Ryan.
 

Bump79

WKR
Joined
Oct 5, 2020
Messages
1,371
I haven't yet tried the SG merino but I have tried FL and worn Core4Element, Blackovis, Icebreaker, Smartwool, Woolx, Canis (midlayer) extensively and have many friends with Kuiu.

What conditions will you be hunting in? The SG merino is a blend with some nylon. While the nylon should make it more durable in my opinion you would be better off with a merino/poly blend as this will aide drying time.

I've always been a big fan of merino but I'm leaning more synthetic these days. To me it honestly depends on where, when and how you are hunting in addition to how much you sweat. I tend to be an active hunter and stay on the move or move then sit to glass or setup. My happy middle ground is the Blackovis 150 which is a 50 merino /50 poly blend. Great price and materials.
 

CLP

FNG
Joined
May 5, 2017
Messages
58
Location
Denver
I used the SG merino all fall and it’s really good stuff. I find it more comfortable than the Kuiu line and it was definitely tougher than the few pieces of First Lite I’ve worn. I highly recommend it.
 
OP
RFOUST89

RFOUST89

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Oct 5, 2017
Messages
287
Location
Central Washington
I haven't yet tried the SG merino but I have tried FL and worn Core4Element, Blackovis, Icebreaker, Smartwool, Woolx, Canis (midlayer) extensively and have many friends with Kuiu.

What conditions will you be hunting in? The SG merino is a blend with some nylon. While the nylon should make it more durable in my opinion you would be better off with a merino/poly blend as this will aide drying time.

I've always been a big fan of merino but I'm leaning more synthetic these days. To me it honestly depends on where, when and how you are hunting in addition to how much you sweat. I tend to be an active hunter and stay on the move or move then sit to glass or setup. My happy middle ground is the Blackovis 150 which is a 50 merino /50 poly blend. Great price and materials.
Thanks for the insight. I live in eastern Washington, most of my hunting is in mid September and October. I have considered going with a blended fabric before. Ill check the black ovis stuff out.
 
OP
RFOUST89

RFOUST89

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Oct 5, 2017
Messages
287
Location
Central Washington
I used the SG merino all fall and it’s really good stuff. I find it more comfortable than the Kuiu line and it was definitely tougher than the few pieces of First Lite I’ve worn. I highly recommend it.
Good to know thanks for the help.
 

Vandy321

WKR
Joined
Feb 5, 2019
Messages
2,424
I have SG, smartwool. The blend in the Chinook makes it extremely comfortable. I bought the Chinook about a year ago, wore it all spring/summer and then for 8 days each in Sept/Nov elk. I wear it as a daily shirt also. I don't wash my stuff on pack in hunts and It kept the stank down very nicely.

It's honestly showing zero wear, pulling, etc. It's thinner than my smartwool 180g/ms (I think they said) vs smartwool 250, so don't think it's fair to compare drying times. But it does stay dry/dry out very well.

Zero complains overall. I'll be buying another set if these ever wear out.
 
OP
RFOUST89

RFOUST89

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Oct 5, 2017
Messages
287
Location
Central Washington
I have SG, smartwool. The blend in the Chinook makes it extremely comfortable. I bought the Chinook about a year ago, wore it all spring/summer and then gor Sept and Nov elk. I wear it as a daily shirt also.

It's honestly showing zero wear, pulling, etc. It's thinner than my smartwool 180g/ms (I think they said) vs smartwool 250, so don't think it's fair to compare drying times. But it does stay dry/dry out very well.

Zero complains overall. I'll be buying another set if these ever wear out.
Thanks for the reply, based on their ig feed looks like they might be working on a merino hooded i think. My biggest concern with spending the money on a full new set of merino is the fabric breaking down. Sounds like I wont have to worry too much. Thanks.
 
Joined
Sep 19, 2018
Messages
356
Location
Zeeland, MI
Just to interject my $.02, I have pieces from most of the players out there. For the value and performance, I don't think you can go wrong with Black Ovis. I absolutely love it. I am also wearing my Mountain Ops merino today, and I think this is a great piece too. At the end of the day, the margins between the companies is pretty minimal. I will echo the same sentiment about the FL material. I have had issues with them, so I have moved on from their merino products.
Let us all know what you go with. You have piqued my curiosity though with the potential of a SG merino hooded top!!
 
OP
RFOUST89

RFOUST89

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Oct 5, 2017
Messages
287
Location
Central Washington
Just to interject my $.02, I have pieces from most of the players out there. For the value and performance, I don't think you can go wrong with Black Ovis. I absolutely love it. I am also wearing my Mountain Ops merino today, and I think this is a great piece too. At the end of the day, the margins between the companies is pretty minimal. I will echo the same sentiment about the FL material. I have had issues with them, so I have moved on from their merino products.
Let us all know what you go with. You have piqued my curiosity though with the potential of a SG merino hooded top!!
Will do thanks!
 

Pettit877

FNG
Joined
Sep 24, 2018
Messages
80
I’ve ran the chinook merino for over a year, from walleye fishing Erie from April to October, and hunting all fall. By far my favorite merino, stronger than FL.

Eric
 

BBell4

FNG
Joined
Mar 24, 2024
Messages
28
I have SG, smartwool. The blend in the Chinook makes it extremely comfortable. I bought the Chinook about a year ago, wore it all spring/summer and then for 8 days each in Sept/Nov elk. I wear it as a daily shirt also. I don't wash my stuff on pack in hunts and It kept the stank down very nicely.

It's honestly showing zero wear, pulling, etc. It's thinner than my smartwool 180g/ms (I think they said) vs smartwool 250, so don't think it's fair to compare drying times. But it does stay dry/dry out very well.

Zero complains overall. I'll be buying another set if these ever wear out.
Did it shrink when you washed it?
 

Jon_G

WKR
Joined
Jan 25, 2023
Messages
925
Something about the blend in the SG stuff makes it my favorite merino by far. I found that the Kuiu was more itchy against my skin and I almost felt hotter in it. I have also worn other non hunting brand merino products and they definitely don't to last as long. The SG stuff shows no signs of wear after washing.

I've worn the SG merino to work in days that I know will be very hot, knowing that I have not liked other merino products in really hot weather. The SG stuff has been my favorite. To be fair, if I do prefer synthetic on my one or two day hunts in warm weather.

I've always been the type to pick each piece based on what works for me and I don't care if I wear mismatched brands like a sitka shirt and kuiu pants and SG merino underwear. Two weeks ago I chose my clothes for a short 2 day hunt and without realizing, I chose everything stone glacier. There is no better brand of hunting clothing out there. But that's just my opinion.
 
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