Just wondering what you all have noticed.
Does wool insulate better after shrinking?
I don't know about it insulating better but the weave would get tighter making it more wind- proof which would make it warmer.
Hey neighbor!
That was one of my thoughts.
Wondered if the tighter weave would hold less air though....hhhhmmmmm
Nice buck in your profile.
Get that around here?
:thumbsup:
I would guess for base layers the air pockets raise R value if it shrinks to tight you would lose insulating value on outer coat I would want as tightly woven as possible. That would be my guess curious what others think
When my son was a youngster he wore a wool sweater for a winter coat that was accidentally washed and it shrunk so it fit him perfectly. He never complained of getting cold until he out grew it and we got him a nice parka. My Swanee camo got soaked and shrunk a little. I got it dry cleaned and extra lanolin added, it was most definitely warmer.
I hope my wool doesn't shrink. I like it to fit. Don't think it matters other wise.
It should be more wind-proof, but since insulation is a product of trapping air, I would think it would insulate less.
It is the air spaces between the fibers(dead air space) that actually does the insulating. I would think that shrunken wool would have less insulating properties because the air spaces are less.
Do a search for felted wool. It's definately thicker and more windproof.
Wool comes in a vast spectrum of quality and density. There is a huge difference, for example, between recycled wool, virgin, felted wool, merino, etc. I would think that any change in performance would to some degree depend on what kind of wool you're starting out with.
Now I would think there has to be a fine balance. Or different types of weaves for difrent apllications.I would think for and outer layer if it is to loose of a weave no mater how better it would insulate with out wind. You Will freeze your you know what off when the wind chill factor hits you. I would imagine thats why some people wear a windstop off some kind. Now under layers I would think a few more air pockets would be helpfull like a wool sweater. I have both Filson and a old swandri jackete. I love them both. The Filson double Mac is a very heavy warm or I should say hot coat. I use this coat only on very cold inactive situations like sitting on top of a horse for a 2 hour ride with -10 weather. Its hard to hike with because you have so much weight. This wool is extermly tight weave and it is two layers and I think thats why it is so warm. The swandri jacket is not as heavy but has a good quality wool and is a tight weave. These jackets where a bargin back in the 90s when Paul Brunner was selling them. They now fetch twice as much used at least the camo ones. This jacket is great and a liitle lighter to haul around. But when it gets cold I mean real cold I wear a sweater under it where the double mack you dont need it. So I now I think there are 3 factors weave, quality of wool and weight that determine how warm it will keep you. I was also told dirt can lesson the R value. So on stuff you cant throw in the washer blow it out with an air hose. You should se it all the dirt come out. I wear a Filson Mac vest everyday and I blow it out quite a bit. Swandri is washable and mine has never shrunk a bit. Just my two cents.
I agree with Jeff, but the increase in wind blocking or decrease in insulating is probably not enough to notice. A lot of manufacturers pre-shrink their wool before they make it into garments. Of course, it will shrink more if you need to do it to make it fit better.
Ive had several wool pieces that the weave tightened up on after a few hand washings making them seem warmer as it blocked more wind.....
I like the Filson because they have lots of pockets. Like the old saying goes "put rocks in your pockets and tie down gramma, we have a big blow coming in." I remember a day once, here in Iowa, that the wind didn't blow, it was also 15 below that day.