Wool.....

[Buckfever]

I have a pair of wool pants and an oversize pair of wool bibs.  They are great because I can wear one or the other or both over Poly underwear.   If it is melting snow or a little rain they are still warm and I don't seem to overheat in them as much as the windstopper based clothing.  Yes they are a little heavier than todays insulated bibs but I really like them.  Do any of you guys use wool for any layering or other applications?  

Buckfever

[willysjeep134]

The only non-wool item I wore on my last camping trip was an army surplus field jacket. I love wool. I have a medium weight pair of wool pants that I love to wear hunting. I have a wool vest made out of the same wool, a Woolrich plaid shirt and ear flap hunting cap, and a wool mackinaw type overcoat. It was usually below 15 degrees on that camp out, I had snow all over my pants, but instead of soaking in most of it beaded up. I was surprised to find that for the most part I was very dry and very warm after a 3 mile hike on snowshoes with a pack. Those little scales on the wool fibers are marvelous. I don't think there are very many modern materials that can compare with wool when you compare weight to warmth, especially if you consider water repellancy and flame resistance too. Wool is still tops for me, but I will wear a windproof shell in extreme cold or high wind.

[EsoxLucius]

Now Buckfever we have to get you out of those Poly underwear.

Duofold Merino Wool Longs Top
Duofold Merino Wool Longs Bottom

[williek]

I grew up and still live in Minnesota.
I wore wool for 40 years, wore the different poly pro materials for 10 years, and am now back to wool.
The poly is very good, the wool is better.
The wool gets to a certain heat and then seems to hold at that point. neither too hot nor too cold. It is better than poly in that regard.  However, I found myself peeling off layers when I used to snowshoe. That is a high heat activity!  They both need wind breakers in below zero windy weather, but poly needs it more than wool. Wool is however heavier all things being equal.  The bottom line is still dress in layers and be ready to peel layers before you sweat.
Also, pure Austrailian lambs wool for one piece long underwear is pure heaven.  Beats anything else I have ever worn.  You will need to get a loan at your local bank if you're not pretty well fixed.
Poly usually wins the price war unless you need to have the "correct" label on the clothing.
Enjoy the outdoors, there's getting to be less and less of it.
Williek

[Dand]

I've gone to a lot of poly pro and fleece for the lightness and it dries out really fast and I'm not allergic to it.  But it sure can stink while wool is more forgiving. Used to have a pair of wool pants.  Once on Kodiak in a mixed rain and snow all day, those pants had to weigh over ten pounds by evening.  I had to hold them up with one hand all the way back to camp- what a slog.

BUT wool is much more safe around fires etc.  Quite a few pilots in my area still wear a lot of wool in the event of a crash and burn.   I really like that feature compared to most synthetic that can turn you into a torch.

I wear a Filson double Macinaw as my main town coat and the more I wear it the more I love it.  It's over 20 yrs old and going strong. I gotta try some of Filson's merino long underwear.

[EsoxLucius]

I have one pair of Woolrich Malone wool pants that I experimented with trying the old fashioned way of waterproofing wool.  This involves creating a solution of anhydrous lanolin and acetone and soaking the pants in the solution, lightly wringing it out and then drying it alternating every two hours between:
- hanging, upsidedown for an hour then upright for the next hour; and,
- laying flat on a rack, turning every hour.  

This treatment is really amazing.  The solvent completely evaporates so there is no odor from that, but the lanolin does have a distinctive odor.  The treated garment repels water and does not get soaked like you describe.  Hence, you stay drier and the pants don't get as heavy when exposed to moisture as it will abosrb less of it.  This worked so well I did it to a jacshirt as well, but I certainly wouldn't do it to my Filson Double Mac.

Check out the Duofold Merino wool longs I have in the link above.  They are great and about a third the price of Smartwool or Filson.  Best deal I have found yet on 100% Merino wool longs.

[BLASERMAN]

Have you guys heard of Autumn Woods Outfitters Wool.
If you have heard of sleeping indian and king of the moutain,
they are junk when compared to Autumn Woods. Much better
wool at 28 oz. They have alot of excessories gloves, hats, bibs
parkas. anoracks -- this is iI think a pull over coat. I have
worn mine in 0-- 20  degree. grate stuff.  In 2003 I wore a
vest and jacket for 14 days on a British Columbia  Moose- Goat
hunt was more than warm. I bought them form  a Butch Meilinger
at a show. I think I still have his adress or number  if anyone is interested.