Best wool hunting clothing for the buck? I know that KOM and maybe Sleeping Indian are top end along with some others. I've looked at the Columbia line. I realize they are wool blend, but does that make a huge difference? Obviously good range of movement is necessary for bowhunting. Any info is appreciated. Thanks guys and a Merry Christmas to all of you and your families.
It doesn't get 10-20 below where I live but I have a longhunter( Ron LeClair's) wool shirt and do a fleece or sweater under it I like the fact it goes over my rear and front and nothing to get in the way.and its warm as well.I guess it depends on how cold it gets where your at.In NC it would be great I was stationed their.
I bought some Swedish Army wool pants for $34 that are very good quality. Look on line at the army navy stores.
Yes, I'm also gonna follow this post closely because I'm to the point that I want to replace all my hunting cloths with wool. It will be nice to hear some opinions from experienced users. :)
The only thing I know about wool is that as I get older the more I like wool.
When I was a young man I hated anything and everything wool. It was too itchy, too scratchy, I couldn't find any redemptive qualities in the stuff.
Along came "smart wool" and I tried it. Then I sewed myself a pullover out of a wool blanket. My list of wool garments has just continued to grow as has my love for it.
I seriously doubt that the qualities of wool have changed since then so why the change in attitude? IDK
I got some information somewhere that I would like to investigate. Is it true that you're better off with a high wool blend rather than 100% wool. I either read or was told this was true because there was enough wool to keep you warm but enough synthetic material that it wasn't attractive to the critters that like to eat wool
I have the guide series from cabalas. I like it,it is very warm.
I have several wool garmets , swandri 3/4 length, woolrich shirt jackets, KOM pullover, Teresa Asbell Pullover, Cabelas outfitter wool,LL bean wool . What I have found is you pay for quality , BUT you don't need to pay for the TOP of the line stuff . LL bean makes good stuff, as does woolrich . I bought 7 shirt/jackets off e-bay last winter for under $ 100 2 brand new with tags. Also check goodwill in your area.
Jack
I might be a little bias but Woolrich has been a Pa. work and hunting garment for over 100 years. You can still buy a new coat for under 200 dollars and it will last you a life time.
The 2 main differences between top of the line wool and less expensive wool are the tightness of the weave and the blend %. The tighter weaves help to block the wind and you will notice the difference if you spend alot of time outside in cold windy places. Any blend % above 80 will give you all the good properties wool gives you as an outdoor garment. I prefer to buy my wool in the thrift shops like so many others on the site do. I do have a KOM jacket and it is the best jacket that I ever owned.
I have KOM shirt and pants you cannot wear it out! But if it is windy and cold it is not warm, at least for me anyway. I would buy wool with a wind block liner if you hunt where it is cold and you will be sitting.
I am a woolaholic and I'm not looking for a cure! I absolutely love the stuff. I have mostly KOM brand, but also have the Asbel pullovers, Woolrich, & Columbia wool as well.
Buy a good pair of bibs (use KOM, Gray Wolf, or Sleeping Indian... and use an Asbell pullover) and you got a winner without a ton of bulk. I always use a layer of heavy silk as a base layer, the a woolpower 400 series top and bottom undergarment, and then the bibs and pullover. Granted in Mississippi it does'nt often get below 20 but it is likely warm well below that.
I've hunted with wool exclusively all my life. Right now I have KOM, Autumnwood, Sleeping Indian and Weatherby for external camo layers and Woolrich, Bean and Pendleton shirts for under layers, with some silk, Ufrotte and other wool long john tops and bottoms. Wool has a lot of good qualities, but stopping the wind isn't one of them. No wool will do it by itself. If you're likely to hunt in very windy conditions, buy some stuff with a wind blocker in it.
Its like anything else...you get what you pay for. Keep an eye out on the classifieds here for good wool at a reduced price, there are some real deals. Goodwill and such have brand name stuff at crazy low prices. Sweaters, vests, coat and jackets that wool make great hunting gear. You can get a size bigger to layer up. Wool is your friend!!!
I like Filson, always some for sale on the auction site.
My system right now is ulfrotte long underwear underneath some Sleeping Indian pants and jacket, and I can sit in cold temperatures. try to wear wool clothing over cotton shirts or cotton long underwear. DONT do this! The two fabrics are only fighting each other. Get yourself some Ulfrotte longunderwear, and put this under your outer layer. You will stay toasty warm!
Day One w/windstopper, firstlite, filson and smartwool. I would stay away from blends personally, wool does the best job alone and the synthetics only hinder what mother nature made as a near perfect winter gear. Just my .02 cents.
I have heavy wool military pants, a bunch of lambswool sweaters from Goodwool, and an Asbell pullover. I stay toasty and dry!
I have filson, sleeping indian, pendleton, smartwool longjohns, cabela's windshear sweater. I personally love filson wool clothing, from pants to jackets, the stuff wears like iron, but when the wind blows you cant beat the cabelas windshear wool sweater, worth its weight in gold, also smartwool thermals with a smartwool neck-gaitor is the key to my outfit. Hope this helps.
I have Pendelton,Browning,Cabelas and Columbia. Each one has a certain application depending on the temperature and conditons out. I do know that with wool on my movement is almost silent, but early in the season when I wear cotton my movement in the stand is almost immediately noticed by animals and walking in to me sounds like I'm rattling cans compared to wool! Ben
I used the columbia coat and pants for several years and I liked it for warmth but didn't like the bulk of it. I bought some KOM pants and a bowhunter jacket off of the classifieds here and I'm really impressed with it. The KOM is alot less bulky and I'm pretty surprised at how much warmer it is. I think you really do get what you pay for, but at the same time the columbia is a good alternative if you want to save some $$. Then again, if you average out the price to comfort and durability over years and years I think it's worth it.
I own both of Ron Le Clairs Longhunter shirts. I layer my clothing starting with long johns, sock liners, wool socks, fleece lined pants, a wool sweater or a hoody sweatshirt. Over that I can wear my Gatlin Wool bibs, 100 below rated Sorel boots, Both of the Longhunter shirts and a watch cap for my head. This setup keeps me plenty warm when it gets cold and windy here in North Jersey. If I need to I'll wear my Gatlin Wool coat over everything I listed.
Just remember to wear less when you are hiking into your stand and then add layers as needed when you start cooling off.
I used a lot of this layering system while deer hunting here in the early mornings when the temp was in the upper teens. But I didn't need to wear every layer that I listed. I was comfy wearing the heavy longhunter shirt over a wool sweater and longjohns and my wool bibs.
How cold does N. Carolina get? I've never been there.
Not cold enough. Deer season is over this weekend. Probably the coldest this year is maybe high 20's.
So much good has been talked about wool it almost needs it's own forum. Never had any wool until Woodchucker hooked me up with my sweaters. Than it was Justin charles wool longunderwear. Than i got ahold of a heavy wool longhunter shirt and love it. But when it is really cold have to layer up heavy. This past month i got a Dayone wool parka that is insulated with windstopper. I figured it would be too bulky. But i been wearing it shooting and it is not bulky at all. I wore it one day in 20 something degrees and 25 mile hour wind with very bad windchill. Nothing on under it but a tshirt and it is the warmest coat i ever had.
The European populations always depended on whools,same for the best climbers that are been over the peaks of the top Mountain around the world up to 30,000 feet.They have just the outer shell of sintetic.I use different layers of whool under my King of the Mountain Jacket.Why KOM and not a cheaper one? Because it has some features that other don't carry.Double, padded, elbows,double layer on back and shoulders to protect from rain,very low profile pockets and tight sleeves to don't interfer with your bowstring.Same for the pant build for sit in the snow with out getting wet.The overall quality of the fabric is top level too.
QuoteOriginally posted by jonsimoneau:
My system right now is ulfrotte long underwear underneath some Sleeping Indian pants and jacket, and I can sit in cold temperatures. try to wear wool clothing over cotton shirts or cotton long underwear. DONT do this! The two fabrics are only fighting each other. Get yourself some Ulfrotte longunderwear, and put this under your outer layer. You will stay toasty warm!
Ulfrotte,Worth it's weight in gold!
Ulfrotte is plain warm. I love the stuff.
Dave
Look at Filson wool.well made.very warm.
Filson socks at $25 a pair will hike you farther, keep your feet warmer and last forever. The high quality Marino wool is amazing. With these socks, a set of their long johns and a good shell you can outlast anything else I've tried, sitting still or hiking hard...IMHO
My advice is to buy wool, buy quality the first time and only spend the money once.
I went the thrift store route with wool for a few years but found it bulky, it didn't block the wind well, and most important it didn't keep me warm. Flat out it didn't keep me warm when I needed it the most, while sitting on a tree stand in Montana from November through January when it is -10 to -40 and the wind blowing between 5 and 30 mph. I broke down and bought some Hidden Wolf when it first came out around 1998 and have since replaced all my cheap, Umm....I mean inexpensive thrift store, wool since then. My favorite wool is Gray/Hidden Wolf because of the tight weave, weight, fit (it is designed for bowhunting and not as bulky as KOM), and patterns (predator & plaid). After Gray Wolf I prefer King of the Mountain, Sleeping Indian, Swandri (when I can find it), and Filson. Like most people, the retail price for wool clothing from these companies is beyond my budget. Heck, you could pay for a good out of state hunt for the price of pants, shirt, and jacket. It took several years but I eventually found all the wool I wanted/needed, either in the classifieds here or at the auction site, for my self imposed price limit of 50% of retail. Yeah, I know, that is still a lot of money for most of us, especially for used clothing, and it took several years to get everything, but I have never regretted spending the time or money. Also, if you buy it used and are not satisfied with it, re-sell it on the classifieds and get you money back.
There is clothing made from synthetic materials out there but all that I have seen or tried has at least one, if not two big draw backs, they are noisy and/or bulky. I haven't found anything warmer, while sitting a late season tree stand, then a quality snow mobile suit. However, it is also was the most bulky and noisiest clothing I have worn while hunting. It didn't work very well. I have friends who hunt late season in the latest synthetic hunting gear, and they swear by it, until the temperature drops below zero, then they are wearing their KOM, SI, HW, or Filson in the tree stands to stay warm. Another comment they make is that the other stuff "makes to much noise".
One note, this recommendation is for sitting or little movement when hunting, if you will be exerting yourself other types of wool work fine. For example, when hunting mountain lions, unless it is below -20, I wear a $5.00 pair of European military wool pants because my KOM's and GW's are too hot while chasing hounds around the mountains. However, the military pants need to be replaced every year or two where the others have lasted for ten years and have at least another ten or twenty years of use left in them.
I have had great luck lately at Goodwill,nobody seems to want wool. I got two LL Bean sweaters and a Pendleton shirt all for less than 8 bucks.
I'm going to Goodwill first thing Monday.
Doesn't happen every time but it happens enough to keep me checking.Only takes a few minutes and you never know.
Best for the money - I'm sold on my longhunter shirt *and* hood from Ron L. Want to get the Asbell macanaw as well but the longhunter is inexpensive and it works very well.
Buy quality wool ( thick weave weather-proof, machine-washable). You won't regret it, and above all, you will spend money one time only.
If you like the traditional look, try Johnson Woolen Mills. They have been in business since 1842. Not cheap but really good stuff. They hav e website, same name. rightminded
I have used and loved wool for decades and I think it beats anything for certain applications... but neither wool, nor any particular type of wool, is the right tool for every job, so I mix wool and synthetics to make best use of both.
On top, I wear wool shirts (Pendleton and Woolrich) on the outside in warm weather and inside in cold. I add a lightweight insulated Woolrich jacket under a windstopper pullover for sitting on cold, windy days.
On the bottom, I wear lightweight (!) wool pants when the temperatures drop to zero, and I've found no equal for walking in snow. Snow and moisture don't get through or compact them, they breathe so you stay dry, and they don't become cold to the touch like synthetics. For sitting in cold temperatures, I pull windproof synthetic insulated bibs over the top. Wool can't compete with the light weight, compressibility, or warmth, and bibs don't really contribute noise when drawing a bow.
The high-end brand names are expensive and don't always fit in with the rural budgets. I doubt they keep you any warmer than good second hand wool garments; sweaters, pants ($39.95 via internet), shirts, jackets, vests, etc.
I saw a sleeping Indian once at a bus station, but I don't own any. No KOM, or other high-falutin' brand, but I stay warm and comfortable in what I find doing internet searches and frequent stops at the local Goodwill Store. Layering with good wool will keep you warm. Don't forget the neck and midrift area when layering for cold weather hunts. And, of course, feet and head.
Now if you have to impress your hunting buddies, you may need to go another route 8^).
A very important item I like is a wool scraf, keeps the neck warm and out of the wind,also can use it as a face cover to hide this old ugly mug...
Adding to what Mr. Vic said above, I had my Sitka jacket fall out of my packpack this morning and sat with just my DayOne wool vest (w/windstop) and it was like 23 and a windchill of 8 degress out this morning for 2.5 hours. Never did get cold!
I like Filson-it is a little pricey but very well made and warm!
Don
You can find great deals on wool at thrift stores,ie goodwill, volunteers america and so on, wont be camo. I am using a heavy pullover and jacket, from a thrift store, cost a buck each! Was out in 16 degree weather 2 weeks ago, had on a t shirt, thin wool sweater , thick as long johns, a thin hoodie and the heavy wool sweater. Stayed toasty warm. I bought 3 thin wool layering pullovers from ****, new w/tags for $6 each!
For those of us on a budget. I also have to strongly support Army surplus stuff. The military does not skimp when then spend our tax dollars. ;) I have found all Army surplus stuff of the very highest quality and very tough stuff.
I have two pair of (Italian?) army wool cargo pants. Very tightly woven, very warm. I got them years ago for $8 a pair. I got them from the Sportsmans Guide" Military surplus catalog web page (http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/sitemap/military-hq.aspx?d=122)
I like the asbell wool.just placed another order with Teresa.