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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: little_feather on January 04, 2016, 08:38:00 PM
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Ok guys,
I'm a sweater... whether walking a mile or more, or 150 yards to a set, I'm sweating. I've tried scent blocker regular and fleece base layers along with patagonia capilene. I've double up on the capilene using capilene silk weight under capilene mid weight, and capilene under the scent blocker. I'm at my wits end. Tired of freezing my butt off, so I want to try merino. Hoping to get ideas of what to look for in a quality base layer for moisture wicking and warmth.
Anyone else out there a sweater like me?
Thanks in advance!
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minus 33
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Part of the solution might involve better venting. I won't buy shell jackets and similar pieces for the backwoods without pit zippers. And as far as I'm concerned, the notion that chest zippers are an effective substitute is believed only by product designers who never leave the confines of Boulder and various SoCal locations.
As to your specific request for good merino baselayers, as an owner of every baselayer fabric available since cotton flannel, I can recommend the Minus33 stuff, particularly if you can find good discounts or don't mind the stiff prices:
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Quite the echo in here! ;)
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In case it helps with responses, I pack all my outerwear on my pack/climber when walking in. Not too concerned about venting until I get to the stand, but I see where you're going with that
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First Lite makes some awesome base and mid layers in Merino. Worth the money!
Everyone here seems to like Fred Asbell wool outer layers. I am happy with them.
One tip about getting sweaty. Start the walk to the stand cold, very cold, even very underdressed. It won't be long till you warm up from the walk. Put all your other clothes in a bag and carry them along. If you still get hot, stop and breath. Then get fully dressed once near stand and spray down with Code Blue.
Simple and common sense but i never want to be "wet" when i get to my stand. It works well for me but I am not a heavy sweater.
(Well I guess others posted while I was typing. Anyway I answer your question, First Lite)
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Here's a question... does it defeat the purpose if I were to wear the silk weight patagonia under the merino?
The capilene is meant to wick moisture, but I have questions on how effectively sweat will wick from that into the wool.
Did I just answer my own question? Lol
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I only have experience with First Lite merino wool, and I absolutely love it!!!!
Bisch
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As mentioned, if your not cold at the truck, your dressed too heavy. Carry your outer layers to the stand.
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I love First Lite Merino Wool for base and mid layers!
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Wool power from 3 rivers. It is pricey, but I've been using the same set since 2004.
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This season I purchased a set of LL Bean Cresta mid weight 250 Merino wool base layers and I have been VERY pleased with them. Before next fall I will have a lighter weight pair as well. If you look into the LL Bean Merino base layers I will add that surprisingly their sizes seem to run a bit large. I normally need XXL in everything but if I bought these again I would go with XL instead.
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Filson heavy weight merino thermals. Awesome.
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I purchased First Lite just before Christmas and have now wore them about 4 times since getting a cold spell. Mine are the Light and Mid weight and I have been pleased with everything about them.
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Icebreaker! First Lite is good too, but Icebreaker was the first to bring Merino to the masses. They have limited camo options, but lots of earth tones. I wear base, mid, and heavy weight layers, plus socks(which they have some that are hunter/fisher specific. Awesome) on my hunt with Fujimo in November I was full wool, plus my Helly Hansen Imperteck rain gear, and an ASAT suit over top. Was really comfortable.
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Icebreaker! First Lite is good too, but Icebreaker was the first to bring Merino to the masses. They have limited camo options, but lots of earth tones. I wear base, mid, and heavy weight layers, plus socks(which they have some that are hunter/fisher specific. Awesome) on my hunt with Fujimo in November I was full wool, plus my Helly Hansen Imperteck rain gear, and an ASAT suit over top. Was really comfortable.
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I am in the same boat as you. Do yourself a favor and just do it. I struggled for a long time justifying paying that much money for long johns. I finally did it and bought some minus 33 bottoms and a quarter zip top. First thought was how much more comfortable they were. I liked them immediately. As mentioned already, carry most of your layers in your pack. Unless it is bitter cold , I only wear my merino top while walking out to hunt. It may feel cold at first but you will warm up walking. Better to be chilly at first and comfortable on stand , than hot walking in and sweaty and cold once on stand. The merino wool breathes , not wind proof but warm. Also even if you sweat wool keeps insulating. Another plus is that it doesn't stink . I can wear it for weeks and it still doesn't smell.
Unfortunately mine were stolen out of my truck on a fishing trip, so I am in the market for another set. The big auction site is usually the cheapest but shop around. Didn't mean to be so long winded but I was in the same boat you are and waited way to long to finally take the plunge.
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I recommend the quarter zip top so you can regulate the heat better as well. It zips down to about the center of your chest . I was glad I got it instead of the regular pullover. Hope some this helps.
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I use and very much like First Lite base layers. I just wonder why there are no manufactures making a turtle neck merino wool base layer.
Ron
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First Lite
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Minus 33 for heavy weight and Core4 Element as a base layer.
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Ermenegildo Zegna, cachemire alpaca and vicuna. A little pricey but with lot of style :biglaugh:
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Core4element are cut ridiculously small, with very short arms and bodies, if that matters to you. 3xl was way too small for me, and certainly smaller that the first lite xl. I guess they are trying to save money on material. Icebreaker also is cut somewhat small, but not nearly as bad. I think first lite is the best that I have seen, for sure, outlasting the KUIU gear that I have seen. Good luck. Others apparently have different opinions. Too bad you can't try several out for yourself before buying.
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I like a poncho. For ventilation, but not for stalking it gets caught on everything...
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First Lite hands down, best I've ever used.
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I think if you choose any good merino base layer, two have been mentioned, I will put in Kuiu as well that you will be happy. If as suggested you wear only the merino layer on top, and as little as possible on bottom, yo will find all heat build up will dissipate well. I also suggest starting light in wear, and as carefully as possible add your final layer a while after you sit. I find I will start to sweat if I add all my layers as soon as I arrive at stand.
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I will preface this by saying I sweat like a pig.. I can not do anything without sweating..
So what I do is walk in with as little on as possible. Usually a pair of jogging pants and a t-shirt. Even when it is in the 20's, thats what i'm wearing. I carry in everything else. Which these past few weeks has been atleast 3 more layers up top and a pair of quality bibs(bone dry from basspro).
I sweat so much that I can not climb up the tree with my climber dressed. I have to wait until I get up to the right height, then wait until I cool off(15 mins usually), and then get dressed. that is the only way I can do it.
That is also one of the reasons i moved to a rock climbing harness. I put it on over my base layers and then putt all the clothes on it i want and don't ever have to take it off.
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First lite
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I dress light and carry the heavy stuff with me. But the main thing for me is to start plenty early and move very slowly. When I feel any warmth at all I stop and rest so I don't get overheated.
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Originally posted by Bisch:
I only have experience with First Lite merino wool, and I absolutely love it!!!!
Bisch
x2
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I have core4 and icebreaker. I like them both. Both do have an athletic fit though. They a can both usually be found for good prices if you look hard enough.
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First Lite rocks the house for everything from opening day to the rare truly cold days in Lower AL. i wear their light and mid-weight next-to-skin when it's hot, and never worry about stinking, even if i sweat.
i have heard good things about Minus 33, but have never tried it.
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It will help greatly with the sweating if you carry your jacket into the woods and put it on only when you are ready to settle in the stand. It doesn't get very cold here in Middle Georgia so I use fairly light merino but don't actually know the brand name. On most chilly days, I do well with silk under wear from the ski catalogs and prefer it over wool. But put the silk under the merino, and you will have a really good layering system.
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love my Kuiu !
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If I have to walk a long distance to my stand I will carry my wool coat and my second layer on my pack . Once I'm in stand I my wait up too an hour before I add any additional layers . This may seem simple but it works for me .
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Minus 33. Don't be fooled by the expensive products minus 33 does the exact same thing for Less money. It's just a hype
doug77
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I love my minus 33. I also have first lite and core 4. I like em all .
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Wool Power 400 weight is the awesome ! you will love it because not only is it super comfortable,
incredibly warm , but is made to last . you will find your self wearing it all the time.
---------Black Wolf 68"57#@28--------
---------Tall Tines 60"52&45#@28-----
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Originally posted by Bisch:
I only have experience with First Lite merino wool, and I absolutely love it!!!!
Bisch
I agree completely. I'm a big Firstlite fan!
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I really like my Minus 33 clothing .. Only had problem with one item shrinking after washing (could be my expanding waist line too) lol
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Originally posted by Arrowcraft:
Wool Power 400 weight is the awesome ! you will love it because not only is it super comfortable,
incredibly warm , but is made to last . you will find your self wearing it all the time.
---------Black Wolf 68"57#@28--------
---------Tall Tines 60"52&45#@28-----
Well after reading your post I decided to check out wool powers website. They were having a clearance sale on the 400 zip up so ordered a top and balaclava. Looks like good stuff. Excited to try it out.
As for the OP's question. I can't offer much insight as I myself just recently started investing in all wool hunting clothes. I can say I just picked up a set of icebreaker 260 top and bottoms. From my limited experience they appear to be pretty solid and well made. Also as somebody else mentioned they have a very athletic fit. They were a bit pricey but I bought locally so I was able to try them on first. And all wool is priced high, but you get what you pay for and from what I hear, wool lasts forever. But once, cry once.
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As Daniel stated, I dress light for walk to stand and carry clothes in. I will wear base layer and next layer to stand in below 20 degree Fahrenheit temps. Otherwise I will sweat too much. Depending on how far my walk in to stand is, I might spend 10 minutes on ground and stripping to my base layer to let sweat evaporate until I dress in all clothing and climb into my stand.
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I love my first lite. I also added some Asbell wool after last season. Of course it never gets hot enough down here to wear it a lot so mainly for my Ohio trip in Nov.
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Wool power fan. Open weave and really warm. Not the form fitting stuff. I've used mine for the past 10 years and would buy it again but I don't need to! Might get the heavier weight for colder months sometime though. Pricy but quality.
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Just got my wool power 400 half zip top and balaclava in. Very happy with them, will definitely be buying more.