I ran a trap line for years, one winter I broke though the snow covered ice ,managed to get out safely but soaken wet .carried on to finish my line, I was wearing all wool clothing from Stanfield , socks and outerwear,I kept warm and by the time I got back to my truck I was fairly dry,it would be a different story if I had been wearing synthetic clothing.

I transitioned to wool ages ago, wearing wool bib overalls and jacket, but never had to really test it...until I broke through ice into a cold creek in -25C and was several kilometres through snowy bush from my car. I'll admit I had a "is this it??" moment, but rolling in the snow sponged off most of it, and after about 5 minutes I was comfortable. By the time I was back to the car I was damp, but completely warm. Ended up hiking around for another hour, and it turned into a normal day. So I ain't never going back.

I’ve always worn wool. My father was a shepherd. He would shear his sheep, my mother would card it and spin it into balls of wool, then knit us all jumpers (sweaters). All the best.👍🏾🇬🇧

I love woollen clothing but one problem no one ever mentions, is about how important storage of this material. When you hang it in a wardrobe or wherever, you must be aware of wool eating moths! You need to buy either old fashioned 'moth balls' (wooden balls soaked in camphor) which deters the wool moth. There are now modern alternatives of a small disposable plastic cage type of thing which holds a pad containg a anti wool moth chemical. These can be hung up on a clothes rail but will need to be changed for a new one after their stated life. I had a very expensive Scotish island Harris tweed jacket which I pulled out one day and it was peppered with tiny holes where the wool moth larva had eaten away the wool! The jacket was ruined. So make sure you get protection for your wool clothing products for during storage.

I have had a long wool coat for over 30 years. It was 300 dollars way back then. But, I still wear it when it’s really cold, and it still looks new. It’s a great material for sure.

I've taken to wearing only Merino wool underwear. I live in Wyoming and I work outside for both of my jobs. I too own a lot of minus 33 base layers and t-shirts, along with Merino wool boxers and boxer briefs from various brands. Where I live, the temperature can swing fifty degrees in a single day. I've worked outside on days where it might be 30 degrees Fahrenheit when I head to work at 4:00, and 80 degrees by 15:00. Wool does an amazing job helping me regulate my body temperature. I bought the wool mostly for backpacking, camping, and fishing but I have found that it is great for work as well.

This gentleman truly understands wool! Bravo.

I love wool!❤️. I’m a spinner and knitter and raise angora rabbits to spin their wool incorporating it with some sheep wool. Angora is 7 times warmer than sheeps wool because the hollow fiber traps the air. If it gets wet I guess it looses its trapping of air so it’s good to mix it up. I worked up in ND and my angora knits were the best and of course also my wool garments. I love the cold because I get to wear wool! I have knitted sweaters, pants, skirts, hats, mittens, gloves, scarves, baklava,etc…😁

Wool is nature also. It's basically hair. Amazing nature provides some awesome materials to work with

My wife is good a crochet and makes me 100% wool yarn beanie hats to wear. Wool always feels light and dry while synthetics have a damp heavy feeling after a few hours.

After years sweating and chilling inside fleece and GoreTex I abandoned these materials completely and changed to wool, felt and waxed canvas, and I will not go back! In my experience wool from any camelid is better than sheepwool since per weight it is warmer, but you should make sure you have a decently knit piece, since the fiber is a little "weaker" (holes can develop in exposed areas) A combination of more than one (natural) fiber is perhaps the best solution, combining strength with warmth. Some manufacturers also use synthetic fibers in the mix, and I thing this is ok as long as you do not exaggerate. It should help with the strength of the cloth but that is it. "Odor inhibiting" properties and slow, flame-free combustion are inherent to these natural fibers and this plus should not be eliminated by the adding of synthetics. BUT there are also other considerations at play, for me right now the environmental aspect is getting more and more important, and many synthetic fibers are just not something that can be associated in good conscience with outdoor activities. I think we are at the beginning of some kind of transformation (the one proposed by Circular Economy) that will enhance interesting research in materials, design, and ways of manufacturing, selling, and using things. Thus "canvas" in the near future is not likely to be the "canvas" perception from the WWII period... And so the branding of products will also change!! The transit to better quality products, and to a longer use of them, is also on the wish list of many. Not only because they are better, but also because this is a far more rational way to use resources in a sustainable way! (repairing, refitting and recycling will be part of the design of chains of added value, and an intrinsic part of the life span assigned to the product ("cascading"), this is resilience and sustainability, this is the logic of Circular Economy!

I love my SmartWool long sleeve merino shirts, my Darn Tough merino socks and my Minus33 long underwear bottoms, and a super awesome no name wool sweater - from Goodwill.

Very authoritative and balanced. Excellent! Thanks! Very well presented!

That was a really interesting video. Absolutely spot on with your points about wool and synthetics. Learnt a bit about wool too from your vid.

If the price is your worries go for European military surplus. I have wool pants about 40 years old. They are like new and the best outerwear I have over all. Skandinaviens armies for the most part. Thanks for the video

Very informative, I learned a few things about wool here, never knew wool was fire retardant! Have yourself a wonderful holiday! 🎄

Thanks for sharing. I used to have an old sweater from a thrift store - was a wool and silk blend - loved and miss it. One thing that helps a lot for outer layer/shell - zippers to vent. Pit zips in a jacket and on the thighs. Helps a lot for when you are active.

You are fantastic! Thank you for the education! 👍

No doubt about it Kirk, wool is king. I had a pair of wool pants for years and loved em , need to get a new pair. When I still hunt it’s not so bad but when I try to track a deer I sweat bad. All the old time deer trackers I’ve known over the years swear by wool. Good info.

Hey brother! Great video, folks need to know this stuff! So many don’t. Even folks that only go outside to watch sports events!

I just got my first set of Wool outerwear and ordered a set of base layers. I have become a Hugh Fan after just this one season of hunting I will Definitely be investigating in some more wool

wool was best 6000 years ago already. Eco-friendly, everywhere to produce, long lasting, warm. I even figured that my thinner wool long sleeve keeps me cold in hot weather conditions. But I always run into the problem that my back begins to get sweaty on longer or steep trails - and that part just keeps being wet. Very uncomfortable when you finally stop for a rest. Gets cold very fast. Still didn't figured out the perfect solution. But I always keep an extra long sleeve in my backpack for exactly this reason. I quickly switch my top when I know that I'll rest for a bit longer or camp. Same goes with socks.

Good video. I got some wool blend finger socks that are my absolute favorite in cold weather.

Thank you. Very informative. I didn't know much about wool.

Wool is king. What did they wear the first time hiking Everest. Even though I have a sheep farm and partial to the breed I have, I also believe in alpaca. When you weave both together it’s amazing.

I've asked about the waterproof clothes for hunting with the team I joined. The answer was - "when it rains, we go to the PUB". So there is that 😆

I have an oilskin vest lined with 350gsm wool... It breathes, it's waterproof & it's beautifully warm. I've ditched the down jackets for oilskin lined with wool. Sooooo much better 😍

Filson trench coat with a mackinaw wool liner is more than enough for me and I’ve lived in the mountains most of my life. From -35°F to 70° and don’t worry about freezing or overheating.

Excellent education and detail, thank you!

First time I've seen one of your videos I liked it good job.

I'm returning to backpacking after many years away. I love the desert, but avoiding summer trips obviously, means that nights are often frigid, sometimes with snow. And I'm a terrible cold-hater; I just suffer endlessly once it's below 20. Starting to equip now, so I really appreciate your informed opinion!

Man your spot on. I have a Lester River pull over and all I wear is Merino wool tee shirt underneath in the teens! Love wool!! I have since purchased all merino wool socks under wear and outer wear. I notice Sitka seems to moving away from wool. FirstLite is still producing garments in merino. Love my wool! Thanks! Your right on all accounts brother!

I have the same Filson coat except mine is the double Mack. Bought it back in the mid 90s still like new love it.

That was great Thankyou …i went and retrieved my army wool shirt…i will wear it hunting tomorrow here in chilly Ontario

Found your site this morning...I use wool all the time enjoy this video...also wear wool for work...did subscribe...looking forward to more videos

I hear you man, if you can get past the heavier weight wool rocks. Great video. Synthetics are petroleum products. Fire and gas don't mix, lol. I grew up using wool so it doesn't bother me. I'm not knocking those that prefer Synthetics, it is just a personal preference for myself.

we had woolpower middle layers in the army. the best piece of equipment in my opinion

Good evening Sir 👍 Very well made informative video Sir about Wool 👍 Great birds activity around yourself 🧐👍 Keep wool warm and have a great week Sir Cheers !!!

I wear a wool overcoat and never had a problem with cold windy weather. Just need a tight weave or felted fabric. I also ripped out the synthetic lining. I want my wool jacket to breathe.

Really enjoyed your review of the wool products. Have you heard of the ‘Aran Sweater’ from the Aran Islands on the west coast of Ireland? Apparently each family had a particular pattern and if ever a fisherman drowned at sea he would be identifiable by the pattern of his sweater!

Columbia Wool! I bought the pants for 50 and coat for 70 a few years ago! Still going strong.

Great video, thank you

😂 I love that you put on soaking wet pants to make your point. Great video!

Thank you!

great information on the wool. I dont think I have ever wore wool

LOL for an experiment I wore the same wool base layer or through our covid lockdown . Seriously it didnt smelled a lot better than a polyprop after one day. I were wool summer and winter. In the summer I just hang it to dry over night . I get about 3or4 days out of a wool base layer during the summer.

Very nice and probably informative, if I could hear what you're saying. Please put a proper mic on your priority shopping list if you want more people to watch your videos. I'm not hating on you, I'm actually trying to help with a little piece of constructive critique. Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year.

To go along with what you were saying. I bought a wool sweater from Cabellas about 12 years ago and it had that windshear technology layer on the inside. That never made sense to me so I have always worn it inside out and seems to work well that way.

I still have my old red union suit. Cotton on the inside. Wool on the outside. Plus the back hatch for true winter comfort. Thin and thick sweaters, wool mitts, gloves, hat and of course socks.

One of my friends wears wool, it’s a Finnish M-36 great coat, says the thing is good at temperatures as low as 23 degrees.

Nice vid well explained

Pricey, but would love to get a set of wool clothes

I soaked my Filson Mackinaw Cruiser in a bucket of water and wore it outside in the low 20's as a test. I noticed that it dried very fast up top at my shoulders, but the bottom of the coat at my waist and wrists stayed wet and the waist froze solid on my body. I did Not get cold though. I wear more synthetics these days and I just burned a hole in the arm of my baselayer tending the wood stove. That would not have happened had I had my wool baselayers on.

That was great!! Thank You! ... If there was something better than wool, we would not be doing WeatherWool! ... All the Best --- Ralph

If it weren't for the fact that briars shred it and burrs stick to it like a magnet... I'd call it the perfect outdoors winter-time clothing material. Even with those issues, it's still an 8/10 for me. Nice vid.

Nice video, I’ve slowly been moving in that direction.

I have health problems that make it so I sweat nearly constantly, regardless of temperature. The roommate and I have had to walk in the winter to get groceries (vehicle trouble) a couple times now and I swear by my Merino wool! I'd be dead without it! I may sweat profusely when I'm in the store but at least I don't freeze when I have to go back out into the freezer!

Just tryed out my big bill wool pants Wow very nice and warm in the cold. I do like them a lot A lot of these synthetic plastic pants don’t even make you that warm and they make that annoying noise

Good wisdom

Use a combination of both but wool as a base layer/mid layer is great.

You,re right on all statements, the onlyist thing I.ll give you an example, I,m 74 and my stand is 1.39 mi from my truck, I weigh everything to succeed, and I can,t hunt 2 days in a row, my wool suit is just too heavy, it takes my stamina.

When I was from the age of about 10 to 13 I fished a local creek about about a 1 and a half miles from home, almost every day, I sure wish I had someone to tell me about wool, I remember coming home from fishing in the winter pants from knee down frozen tennis shoes wet and also frozen. Covered in ice

awesome video ive just bought me self a boreal 100% anorak and 100% wool shirt. yes the biggest problem ive found is the wind i live in the north east england and have very cold wind chill. what ive found best is depending on the temp is one base layer of wool and one windbreaker (for mine is use a thin down puffer jacket) then put me anorak over the top. but when theres no wind just strait up wool best clothing ive ever bought. i fish and do bushcraft in it. again lovely video keep them coming.

Amen brother... You are preaching what I have proven for years. While I have synthetics and wear them at times, I far prefer wool over anything else. All I wore when on cold weather ops teams was wool for socks, etc. And double amen on Goretex... It's purpose is actually VERY limited. I wish the industry would quit drinking the goretex koolaid. The one thing about wool that IS its big con... is weight and bulk. It does not pack down well.

I live in Herefordshire on the Welsh border and there are many sheep in the very wet hills and we don't get exceptionally cold like colorado and further north. The main difference is that after minus 15 celcius the air is very dry. I have camped in minus 30 in rock spring and no tent. But when I have minus one with fog in the UK i feel very cold But the sheep don't seem bothered

Can you go into more detail about the negatives of a wool jacket with a liner like tricot? Does the tricot lining not absorb moisture/water? I'm looking at getting a Johnson Woolen Mills 100% traditional wool mackinaw jacket for Christmas and it looks like it has a liner in it.

Good stuff

I wear wool when I tramp/hike and even when its hot weather while cycling. I dont get bacteria problems, I can wear them if wet and they dont stink as polypropylene does.

Which material do you recommend as a windproof outer layer for stalk hunting? I will have rain gear but find it too noisy when it’s only windy or a light rain. Do you recommend waxed cotton canvas?

Always knew wool is the best, somehow got away from it I believe because of the "dry clean only" on most wool labels, I like to wash my hunting clothing each time.

Does wool have a good calorie rating for electrical work? Or is cotton still safest

my grandfather wore wool mittens out lobster fishing in the winter and his hands were all was warm

Unfortunately I can't wear wool as I am very allergic to it. I wish I wasn't as I have heard all my life it is warm and comfy.

Nice vid!

Thanks

Great video. Wool never disappoints for me in winter. Like you said, it has a super wide temp range for feeling comfortable and you don't have to keep switching up layers. And the water vapor inside when you're doing physical activity is driven out to the outer surface of the garment where it condenses into water or frost. Then it will evaporate or sublimate and dries out pretty well. In super cold temps, you can use a cotton canvas anorak over the wool which acts as a wind break but doesn't trap the vapor inside your garments.

very informative but riding in a car and could barely hear with volume maxed on AirPods

I totally agree👍🇨🇦🌲

It’s also American made, not made in sweat shops like Under Armour and Sitka and all the others

Love my King of the Mountain Wools!

The founder of Northface died of hypothermia while kayaking. He may still be here had he been wearing wool.

For about a year now I've been watching everything wool. People are repeating what everyone else is saying. Your presentation is the best, most complete information!

We have been wearing wool since we were children. My Mother used to knit our sweaters , mittens, hats and socks. I'm 68 now and I still have two pairs of heavy wool socks she made back when we were young teenagers. They look like felt now. I have never had any luck with synthetics. Synthetics stink and smell awful after one day. So my long underwear are cotton/wool combinations. Nothing is perfect but wool comes close.

I got smartwool baselayers and they got holes in them after one year. What do you use to keep moths or whatever is eating the holes in the wool????

Choose your kit dependent on what you are doing, he temps, humidity, your own body whether you are a warm/cold temp person. Wools good but is often beat by modern fibres. That’s why the military don’t use blankets. It’s heavy and you need lots of it to stay as warm as man made synthetics. Each to their own.

Wool socks....nothing like them. I bird hunt a lots and follow the dog through it all, water being always a part of it. I wear leather boots, as you should for fit, support, traction and durability. Buttttt, NO leather is water proof. Wool socks allow me to remain comfortable, warm and focused. I get home almost every time to find my feet wet, but warm. A bit of deer hunt clothing advice. Carry your heavy clothes to stand. Unless its close to you car, the walk will heat you up and cause sweat, which will chill you, once on stand and being still. Hypothermia sneaks up on you. For this reason alone, wool is king. It will breath and NOT over heat you.

It’s been a minute since you posted this but can you share the names of the companies in the comments?

I have also been wearing alpaca wool because it’s softer and less scratchy…

If you was sitting about it wouldn't matter if you put the down over the top of the wool outerwear visa versa right?

Many asterisks with this video. Some short-sightedness, half truths, false info, and myths. You're not wrong, in general theory, just in many of the ways you justify it. It's good you made this video, but it also sustains many misunderstandings of wool, gore-tex, synthetics, and even cotton. Cheers, man. Wool is good, just not king.

One problem with wool is that it shrinks irremediably if you leave it in the hot dryer too long. How many good, expensive pieces were lost, shrunk out of shape.

Can you leave at some companies that sell wool and which you recommend

Where did you get that jacket you were wearing

Woodpecker at 14:19 😁

Wool is king for sure

How do you wash or clean your wool?

Yes, wool is worth its weight. Two or three layers from top to toe as the basic winter ensemble. Wash it and store with cedar.

Can't improve upon nature. I love that and it's so true. Funny how that fact is ignored when it comes to talk about our immune systems. 🤔

You are wrong to assert that Gore-Tex is not water proof. It is 100%. The problem is that it can only reach is highest breathability performance in cold dry conditions and with air flow over the surface. In rainy conditions or even very humid conditions the vapour transfer rate is massively reduced as the surface wets out (that’s why the surface is treated with water repellency products to facilitate the water running off rather than soaking in but this is damaged by rucksack straps, general wear and tear and contamination by dirt and oils) leading to perspiration build up on the inside of the garment. Good ventilation is the way to best manage this moisture buildup but that potentially gives an opportunity for liquid water to penetrate into the garment. In heavy rain conditions, and exacerbated in strong winds, water penetrates though the neck and sleeve ends particular if you are doing anything active like climbing or hunting. I do agree with your assertion that wool is a far better garment at dealing with moisture build up inside the garment and that, even when wet, provides a good level of residual insulation. Many times I have got wet into my bottom layers but never really felt cold and my body heat did a good job at keeping the moisture away from my skin even when the outer garments had ice forming on them. Wool garments are also massively more durable both in terms of over time and when snagged and are easily repaired even in the field. Gore-tex is great for fast and light activity, wool is far better for longer term outdoor periods.

I do dig me some wool.