Hunting Washington Forum
Equipment & Gear => All Other Gear => Topic started by: fuzznuts on January 06, 2015, 01:02:15 PM
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Was just curious if anyone still wears traditional wool anymore with the huge amount of high tech hunting clothes in the market. I have a set of Filson camo that I like, can't beat it for silence. It has been well used for over 10 years and still looks new. Downside is the bulk and weight, the particular hunt dictates if it stays or goes. It works for me, just wondering what others run. Thanks in advance for any replies.
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Yes wool military pants and Pendleton Wool shirt
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I wear Filson whipcord wool pants often, in addition to military surplus wool pants. Then I've got the button up Pendleton and Woolrich wool shirts, and a couple Cabelas wool sweaters that are old enough that the tags say "Made in USA. :o
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Yes,I still wear my millitary issue wool gloves,wool pants and wool sweater under orange.I pack my U.S Army wool blanket in my pack at all times.I love wool!
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I've got a bunch of wool that I wear if it's cold enough out. I can't do it when it's warm though....so I guess due to our crummy seasons in Washington, I hardly ever wear it. None of it is really vintage I guess, but it's all in that traditional style.
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Yep, king of the mountain, love it...
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Absolutely the quietest stuff you can wear in the woods. :tup:
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Yes. No fancy, hyped, scent killer, anything for me. When it's warmer, it's hickory shirts, Levis and Whites Boots.
......................and an orange vest for all the patrol officers on here....................... :chuckle:
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It's all I wear.
Camo is -------- for everything except birds.
-please refrain from pseudo curse words. Thanks. -
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Love my wool have many pieces old military and newer stuff.. Wool really is my choice come wet or cold conditions..
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A couple of the Older gents in our Elk camp still wear wool. Shirts, Pants, etc.
But they don't hike too far out either. I get way too warm in wool. I have a pair of wool pants I'll wear late season if im in a stand but thats it.
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I have a pair of Woolrich Malone bib overalls that I wear and a set of Woolrich Nat Gear Camo pattern heavy shirt and pants.
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All I wear is wool it is naturally quiet and scent free. It is also the only quality hunting gear you can find made in the USA. Have looked at some of the new Sitka type gear and am not really that impressed. I hike my ass off and it can be heavy compared to the new high tech stuff but it is pretty easy to regulate your temperature by layering and adjusting your speed.
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Got a pair of heavy duty wool pants from Bemidji Woolen Mills that go on all my hunts with me. Spendy, but man are they comfy and durable.
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I love my wool German army pants, they will outlast all the fancy new light weight gear
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Nope. But if I was hiking 10 hours through a foot of snow, crossing blowdowns and creeks and facing blowing wet snow and cold like days of old then I would go back to the old wool gear that got wet but kept me warm enough - As long as you have a way to dry it at the end of the day. I've moved to a light shell with merino base layer and down and fleece layering if needed so clothes and I stay dry.
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Yes - For fall Bear when it's still warm out. Smartwool ultra thin long sleeve tee shirts. Wicks way better than anything I've found and unlike synthetics, the stank washes out. They do snag easily on Blackberries. Not traditional, but it's wool!
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Yes. I love wool. Ever since I wore my Army issue scratchy long underwear and wool sweater 30 years ago in my winter warefare training days. I had a few pieces here and there and just discovered First Lite out of Idaho carries a full line of wool clothes. They got a ton of my business. I've got to say that the Sitka Ascent pants are damn comfy and I plan of trying Kuiu but nothing is better than wool in my opinion.
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have a pair of wool pants I have worn for more than 45 years. they look terrible with holes, stains and smell but they are still warm and quiet. mike w
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They can try and make all the fancy clothing they want but when it comes down to it there is nothing better than wool ...military wool has always been my go to clothing :tup:
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A couple of the Older gents in our Elk camp still wear wool. Shirts, Pants, etc.
But they don't hike too far out either.
OK how many of us resemble those gents. heh
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I always wear wool. I have a couple different weights of wool pants and shirts.
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I resemble that remark....I have both milsurp and Filsons wool pants and Pendleton shirts...still love them...haven't has such good luck with the new synthetics.
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I have wool pants, bibs and gloves. Use them for a variety of hunting throughout the year.
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I have a couple pair of wool pants in a variety of weights. I do hike a lot so in the early rifle season I wear the lighter weight ones with Under Armour "Heat Gear" compression leggings that keep my legs cool enough to hike. Have Pendleton and vintage Kmart wool shirts to layer on top with different synthetic undershirts according to conditions.
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There is no improvement on wool, which is comfortable through a variety of temperature ranges and of course not only warm when wet but fairly wind resistant. The wind-stopper synthetic fleece fabrics come closest to imitating wool's properties. Wool is definitely heavy when wet and you can't just ring the water out of it like you can with synthetic fleece. For back-country trips of two or more days, I'm more inclined to go with modern fabrics because they dry out faster. Most of my hunting trips are one-day deals where I'm inevitably going to be soaking wet and I just want to keep warm, and wool is my favorite fiber for socks (100% for socks, no blends), hats, and pants.
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When I was hunting blacktail i wore wool surplus pants from Swains in P.A. Don't hunt deer on the west side anymore. Eastside Muley is damn near summer time, hell the snakes are still out. Don't see why you need to wear designer gear. Pretty much wear my work clothes for hunting general season.
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Too hot most of the time, I love it for baselayers if I'm sitting in a duck blind or tree stand
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i love wool because unlike goretex or other waterproof fabrics, it really does breathe. i always end up soggy on the inside and sweat half to death with "modern" hunting clothes, whereas wool keeps me comfortable, and you don't feel wet even if you do get stuck in a downpour.
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i have a really light weight fleece shirt that i wear under a merino wool sweater (pretty lightweight wool), and a fleece jacket over that. For wool pants, i have a thick set i got at cabelas in Post Falls at a sidewalk sale for $30. They're huge, but they're awesome in the blind when it's cold! :tup:
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Yes
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what?
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I haven't used wool for years and haven't missed it once. Microfiber and hollow fiber technology, different layering strategies, lighter fibers - I can't see the need for wool with the possible exception of gloves and hats.
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It does need to be cold or else I get hot in wool, but otherwise it's the best.
Pianoman - in my opinion nothing comes close to it in: a) scent, it's just really hard to get wool stinky, unlike synthetics b) insulates when wet, I often will forego raingear and just wear the wool, it stays comfortable and warm c) quiet, lots of fabrics equally quiet but they don't come close in the previous two departments. I read about lots of guys, particularly when bowhunting, who struggle to find quiet raingear. Unless it's really raining super hard, you'll do just fine with nothing on but some good layers of wool. If a sustained hard rain comes on I'll throw on something on top, but for drizzly conditions I love it.
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well Fuzz, It seems like wool is still a popular piece of gear in the new age of Hi tech gear. I hope this thread helps you, as we always wonder if we need the latest and greatest, I think there are some great responses on here to your question that should help shed some lite. I have a good buddy who used to live by me that moved to spokane and has a set of top notch filson camo that stuff is Bad!!! Good luck
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Yep OG-108 US military issue wool pants and shirts same two sets from the early 70s. One of the pants have a DOD manufacture date from 1952 buttons have been replaced about a dozen times but still in good shape. I did stop using the wool LJs with the draw string front with I got some Under Armor compression cold gear. :chuckle:
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I just got a free set of king of the mountain wool but not sure if I want to take it out of the house, I'd hate to get mugged at 4000' then freeze to death.
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I keep telling myself that I am going to get some of the new high tech clothing but everytime I come home there is wool in the bag. Can't beat it for moving through thick brush and in the rain.
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It's not traditional but I wear first lite merino wool. The Kanab pants are the most comfortable and versatile pair of pants I've ever worn. From early season archery hunting to layered up in the late season. I highly recommend them.
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Yes wool military pants and Pendleton Wool shirt
:yeah:
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I do depending on the season, but it rarely gets cold enough to break out wool. I like the light weight wool pants and a codet shirt for deer or grouse when I'm not moving fast. Before I hunted with a camp, I kept some dry wool clothes in my day pack in case I got an unexpected overnighter.
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Thanks fellas for all the replies, with everything changing so fast these days its nice to still see some tried and true products around.
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Hey Fuzz, it seems like it all boils down to YOUR prefrence. I'm with you on the old school though, it's hard to beat the relialable performance of natural wool! And Blindluck, how did you stumble into a FREE set of King of The Mountain gear? What size are you and do you need a new huntin partner?
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love the codet/big bill green wool pants. great for spot n stalk. miss the older versions with multiple pockets though...
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No, mostly.
My Filson cruisers and pants are boxed.
*Merino wool bases (light, med., heavy) on skin depending on forecast.
*Insulation layer/s light weight synthetics ("traditional wool" Filson Jac-shirt and/or vest are still used at times). My jac-shirt is usually kept in my pack as an emergency backup.
*Outer shell. GoreTex, Event, Q-Dry.
Adjustments to what I wear are done to keep sweating to a minimum.
Wool hats and gloves are still used if wet or cold. Lightweight leather gloves if not.
I have found the above setup to be the most flexible in keeping me warm and dry and motivation levels up for extended pack hunts to stay focused on why I'm there.
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If I were in a survival situation in the worst of it, wool is the product I'd wish to have on. I honestly wouldn't trust Sitka or under armor or whatever product of the month is out. From bitter cold to rain to whatever, wool will keep you alive. It's enogh for me to know some real pioneers, mountain men, and know what feats they did and survived with their woollies on.
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I like the fact that wool won't fail. Gore Tex is an amazing product until it fails then your cold and miserable. Have a two filson jackets one is a double mackinaw that is 15 years old and still looks new and the other is a single mackinaw that is 8 years old and still like new. Show me a 15 year old Gore tex jacket that has been used every year and still works as designed.
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Filson base layers keep me warm all winter and have for the last several years.
For hunting I've got a pair of Filson Mackinaw's that have been modified (with leg zippers) a skilled seamstress. They are heavy (to warm) for most of my hunting but they have always kept me warm (even in wind) and the quiet can't be beat.
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I like the fact that wool won't fail. Gore Tex is an amazing product until it fails then your cold and miserable. Have a two filson jackets one is a double mackinaw that is 15 years old and still looks new and the other is a single mackinaw that is 8 years old and still like new. Show me a 15 year old Gore tex jacket that has been used every year and still works as designed.
:yeah:
Every "modern fiber" product I have owned has failed eventually. I like fleece, as long as it's dry or barely damp. I go through Gore-tex lined fleece pants/bibs/coats every few years. They're good as long as I keep moving. But my wool always does what I expect it to. We have a couple Filson coats of unknown vintage that function as new. I do remember my dad actually wearing out a Filson Mack, but he wore it literally every day for years. Woolrich bibs get a lot of use. Got some King of the Mountain bibs for $50 at a yard sale last year- a bit heavy unless its cold, but awesome. And I love those German army pants with the reinforced seat and knees and all the pockets. They are getting hard to find in normal sizes and prices have gone way up.
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i wear smartwool brand under layers under my modern camo stuff, they come in light, mid, and heavy. I wear the socks 8-9 months of the year! Not only does wool work better, its healthier than wearing synthetics, wearing poly clothes made from old BPA laden pop bottles and covered in fire retardants next to your skin as you sweat is obviously going to be a bad idea.
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All of the above. My wool has out lasted any of the newer materials. just stand a little to close to the camp fire and you will wish you had your woolies on. It doesn't melt. The only downside for me is weight and drying it out.
