Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Backcountry Hunting => Topic started by: tonymoe on April 22, 2014, 03:31:11 PM

Title: Base layer?
Post by: tonymoe on April 22, 2014, 03:31:11 PM: What are you guys rolling with on your base layer? I've used under armor compression for the last few years and I'm thinking about making a change maybe to Merino wool.
Title: Re: Base layer?
Post by: Bmcox86 on April 22, 2014, 03:41:44 PM: Merino merino merino! I have underarmor I and won't wear it hunting anymore. I prefer the core4element wool and first lite. Doesn't smell after one or heck even five days of wearing it like ua or polys you just have t be careful washing and drying it.
Title: Re: Base layer?
Post by: MtnMuley on April 22, 2014, 03:43:03 PM: Merino all the way. UA is useless in hunting applications to me. :twocents:
Title: Re: Base layer?
Post by: janttihunter on April 22, 2014, 04:27:38 PM: I like Icebreaker and Smartwool Merino!
Title: Re: Base layer?
Post by: tonymoe on April 22, 2014, 04:59:32 PM: Beautiful that's what I was looking for I was also looking at the first light definitely going to pull the trigger
Title: Re: Base layer?
Post by: tonymoe on April 22, 2014, 05:11:43 PM: Quote from: Bmcox86 on April 22, 2014, 03:41:44 PM
Merino merino merino! I have underarmor I and won't wear it hunting anymore. I prefer the core4element wool and first lite. Doesn't smell after one or heck even five days of wearing it like ua or polys you just have t be careful washing and drying it.

So I'm curious now as to how to take care of it washing and drying? Not so much at home but in the field if you needed to?
Title: Re: Base layer?
Post by: HighCountryHunter88 on April 22, 2014, 05:22:32 PM: First lite!
Title: Re: Base layer?
Post by: HawkCreek on April 22, 2014, 06:01:22 PM: Filson wool long johns for me.
Title: Re: Base layer?
Post by: Bmcox86 on April 22, 2014, 06:04:04 PM: Do whatever the tag says. I wash cold and hang dry
Title: Re: Base layer?
Post by: irishevox on April 22, 2014, 06:06:30 PM: Underarmour
Title: Re: Base layer?
Post by: Bmcox86 on April 22, 2014, 06:11:42 PM: Quote from: irishevox on April 22, 2014, 06:06:30 PM
Underarmour

Try merino wool, you won't go back to ua for hunting
Title: Re: Base layer?
Post by: couesbitten on April 22, 2014, 06:24:22 PM: While my son, daughter, and I do still own and wear synthetics (like UA), we prefer merino wool for all of the reasons already stated, plus it isn't any more expensive than UA. We own Icebreaker, Core 4, Russell Outdoors, and some Stoic.
Title: Re: Base layer?
Post by: Bmcox86 on April 22, 2014, 06:35:46 PM: Core4 tops are on camofire for the next 4 hours
Title: Re: Base layer?
Post by: dscubame on April 22, 2014, 09:50:59 PM: Quote from: Bmcox86 on April 22, 2014, 06:35:46 PM
Core4 tops are on camofire for the next 4 hours

Thanks for the heads up. Just cost me a bunch of cash.
Title: Re: Base layer?
Post by: WAcoueshunter on April 23, 2014, 10:11:31 AM: I use merino from first lite and Core4. All good stuff.
Title: Re: Base layer?
Post by: xXLojackXx on April 23, 2014, 10:20:20 AM: First lite merino base layers.
Title: Re: Base layer?
Post by: casey58 on April 23, 2014, 01:35:07 PM: I've used underarmour up tell now. I purchased core4elements merino wool for this year.
Title: Re: Base layer?
Post by: tonymoe on April 23, 2014, 01:58:11 PM: I guess I have to drive to Lacey as no one in sw wa carries merino wool!! I know I can buy online, but I hate to do that unless I've had that product before. Bobs has a couple items, but nothing camo. The guy said he won't get camo until June?
Title: Re: Base layer?
Post by: SilkOnTheDrySide on April 23, 2014, 02:52:07 PM: Be careful, there are different qualities of merino. Also companies who are using bred merino sheep.

Just like you can order. "Kobe" beef.

If I were going to cabelas, I'd look at Kryptek and Sitka.

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Title: Re: Base layer?
Post by: jackelope on April 23, 2014, 03:04:07 PM: Quote from: tonymoe on April 23, 2014, 01:58:11 PM
I guess I have to drive to Lacey as no one in sw wa carries merino wool!! I know I can buy online, but I hate to do that unless I've had that product before. Bobs has a couple items, but nothing camo. The guy said he won't get camo until June?

You don't need camo for a base layer.
Title: Re: Base layer?
Post by: tonymoe on April 23, 2014, 03:50:04 PM: Quote from: jackelope on April 23, 2014, 03:04:07 PM

Quote from: tonymoe on April 23, 2014, 01:58:11 PM
I guess I have to drive to Lacey as no one in sw wa carries merino wool!! I know I can buy online, but I hate to do that unless I've had that product before. Bobs has a couple items, but nothing camo. The guy said he won't get camo until June?

You don't need camo for a base layer.

I know, but it's been hot before when I've had to strip to my base layer while in the bush. It's mainly a security option. Which doesn't matter anyway. Sportsmans doesn't have ANY, and bobs had -33, but very small selection.
Title: Re: Base layer?
Post by: MtnMuley on April 23, 2014, 03:52:37 PM: Minus 33 are my favorite merino bottoms. Less than half the price of Smartwool merino bottoms, and the Minus 33 fit better and last quite a bit longer. :twocents:
Title: Re: Base layer?
Post by: 300rum on April 24, 2014, 12:40:39 PM: I am a smartwool fan for the base layers. I wear a light weight short sleeve t-shirt and then a mid weight 1/4 zip long sleeve pull over sweater. I can wear that combo to about 20 degrees or so as long as I am moving somewhat.

I never put any wool in the dryer and always hang dry or (more then likely) wear dry (in the field). Wool base layers will dry fairly quickly just from your own body heat. That's the idea with wool anyway, always wear it, even when it is wet.

Quote from: tonymoe on April 22, 2014, 05:11:43 PM
Quote from: Bmcox86 on April 22, 2014, 03:41:44 PM
Merino merino merino! I have underarmor I and won't wear it hunting anymore. I prefer the core4element wool and first lite. Doesn't smell after one or heck even five days of wearing it like ua or polys you just have t be careful washing and drying it.

So I'm curious now as to how to take care of it washing and drying? Not so much at home but in the field if you needed to?
Title: Re: Base layer?
Post by: go4itlab on April 24, 2014, 01:18:45 PM: First lite :tup:
Title: Re: Base layer?
Post by: NRA4LIFE on April 24, 2014, 02:06:30 PM: Merino blends for me. My wife got it for me at Costco, forget the brand. Beats the hell out of all my underarmour.
Title: Re: Base layer?
Post by: couesbitten on April 24, 2014, 05:50:12 PM: Quote from: NRA4LIFE on April 24, 2014, 02:06:30 PM
Merino blends for me. My wife got it for me at Costco, forget the brand. Beats the hell out of all my underarmour.

Paradox, 11% merino if I remember correctly, I prefer mine to be considerably higher.
Title: Re: Base layer?
Post by: iflyils on April 26, 2014, 12:03:40 PM: I went KUIU and love it!!!!!
Title: Re: Base layer?
Post by: huntnnw on April 27, 2014, 10:21:10 PM: merino! scent control alone with merino is worth it.
Title: Re: Base layer?
Post by: WAcoueshunter on May 07, 2014, 12:40:58 PM: Kuiu is running a sale on its merino base layers, 30% off everything in stock. Hurry while they last.

http://store.kuiu.com/base-layer-s/1820.htm (http://store.kuiu.com/base-layer-s/1820.htm)
Title: Re: Base layer?
Post by: tonymoe on May 18, 2014, 07:50:13 AM: Thanks folks, I picked up a set of -33. I'll be given them a try on this weeks backcountry bear hunt. They sure seem comfortable!
Title: Re: Base layer?
Post by: dreamingbig on May 20, 2014, 06:07:35 AM: 100% merino in a couple different weights. Both kuiu and FirstLite.

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Title: Re: Base layer?
Post by: Stein on June 05, 2014, 02:31:25 PM: Merino is freakishly expensive - and worth every penny. I never thought a t-shirt would be the most expensive top I have ever bought but I am glad I did.

I have worn most synthetics over the last 20 years and nothing touches 100% merino in any category other than price. Find a sale and you won't regret it.