Polypro or Merino Wool?

[screamin]

Originally posted by Kevin Dill:
Polypro...for those times when you just want to be left alone.

Merino for everything else!

Man, isn't that the truth. It gets so bad after a couple days you can't stand yourself!

[Marksman Quivers]

Originally posted by ozy clint:
tradgang sponsor TUSX has recently conducted a base layer evaluation during the development of their baselayer garments which provides real time, in the field comparisons between wool and polyester. interesting reading.

  http://www.tusxhunter.com/resources/base-layer-evaluation-synthetic-and-natural-fabrics.html  

I to participated in this study along with Ozyclint and 28 others.
Along with the field testing The guys at Tusx did some fairly intensive lab tests to, this data should lead to some pretty awesome base layers.

You guys seem to like the merino a lot, has anyone had any issues with the wool garments being fragile compared to polyester ?
Just something I noticed.
Mark.

[wingnut]

Keep an eye on CamoFire.com.  They have had merino base layers at 50+% off almost every week.

Mike

[Terry Green]

Mark....no.

just like my 15 year Gray wolf pull over has outlasted many a polar tech or fleece

[smokin joe]

I like wool for an outer layer, but I am one of those unfortunate guys who cannot even wear merino wool next to my skin. I have tried it and within a few minutes I am itching like crazy.

I wear DuoFold synthetic for a light to mid weight base layer, but as I get older I am learning that I need something heavier for colder weather.

So, does anyone have a NEXT BEST AFTER MERINO idea? I am thinking of trying Cabelas ECWCS Thermal Zone base layer next.

[Duncsquatch]

I scored some merino shirts at a thrift store, not made  for out doors but works Pretty well For 4.99

[Chuck from Texas]

Well I live near Ft.Polk and have access to a surplus store so I have lots of military surplus  stuff. The poly pro stuff is really good. Not too stylish but very good and 10% the cost of merino wool.
Chuck

[Kelly]

So is polypro different than polyester?

Have several different layer of ECWCS which have served me well and they don't stink but then am not wearing them all day long. Only wear while on stand but do wear many days in a row.

Love wook and use it as outer layers, always had the old Duofold tops and bottoms because they had a cotton liner-I too am sensitive to wool next to my skin but have never tried Merino wool.

FYP, most of the ichyness of wool outer garments come from the use of coarser wools and uncleaned wool(containes microscopic piesces of vegetation) too.

I now wear wool socks almost daily so maybe my skin is gradually getting used to it. Will be trying Merino wool for base layers this year.

[ozy clint]

i have used both wool and synthetic base layers in cold wet climates, namely new zealand, for the last 5 years. i found wool dries slower and is less durable but doesn't get stinky and is marginally warmer.

poly dries much much faster, is alot more durable but tends to get more stinky.

i've come to the conclusion, at least in cold wet climates, that the primary role of the base layer is to wick moisture from the skin and dry as fast as possible. it is not a layer that adds warmth via insulation. that task is performed by the outer insulating layers. where the baselayer fits into the providing of warmth is it's ability to dry fast after a big sweaty push up a mountain before adding extra layers for warmth, therefore not trapping a wet baselayer under dry outer layers.

i know wool insulates when wet but i've found that, at least in NZ conditions, dry synthetic under proper layering is warmer than wet wool.
no sense in wet wool under a down jacket for example.

i like wool too and i find it's better suited to colder drier conditions where there's less physical exertion.

[wingnut]

Well I like a lite manmade layer with the merino over the top.  We got our first merino mid weight from First Lite this year and absolutely loved them on our elk hunt.

Mike

[MnFn]

Love my merino wool for a base layer.  My wife bought it for me 5 years ago.  She happened to see some guys walking by talking about the good deal they got on these merino wool long johns, and thought I'd probably like it for a Christmas present.

Got to love gals like that.

[ozy clint]

Originally posted by wingnut:
Well I like a lite manmade layer with the merino over the top.  We got our first merino mid weight from First Lite this year and absolutely loved them on our elk hunt.

Mike

sounds like a combo that gets the best of both worlds.

[ozy clint]

mike- did you happen to notice if the synthetic underneath still stank and did it transfer into the wool?

[Terry Green]

joe....what brand did you use that made you itch?....some merino is processed different than others....and it depends on where the sheep are from.

just curious

[Terry Green]

ozzy....if the stink doesn't transfer from the body to the wool..... then I would not think it would transfer to the garment either from another garment but that's just my take

[Terry Green]

ozzy....if the stink doesn't transfer from the body to the wool..... then I would not think it would transfer to the garment either from another garment but that's just my take

[amicus]

In my opinon, wool is more comfortable when the temps warm up in the afternoon. I have had some polys thermals on when the weather warmed up and I could not stand it. Doesn't happen to me in wool. 2 years ago I hunted the Prince of Wales area for 3 weeks, it was wet most of the time. I was very comfortable and dry with my Wool as a base and outer layer. Very happy with my SmartWool.

Gilbert

[mbugland]

I will say that after 20yrs of playing Army, I can pull out my polypro and roll through memories of diferent crap hole countries and field time based on the smells they hold.
The new waffle shirts have been better, but wool is still tops.
I have an original mil issue wool sweater, use to wear under BDUs, but it went through the dryer once and looks like I stole it from one of my kids... That and I think I have gone up a size or two since I was 20. Those were way too thick to be a base layer, but are nice when you can find them.
That said, I will run the newer silkies up on my skin and thrift store wool shirts over them, and that combo with a quilted flannel is perfect sitting down into the 20s, as long as you didn't get to hot walking in.

[smokin joe]

Terry,
It was first lite. They say their merino is "super fine" but it drove me crazy.      

The idea of layering merino over a synthetic base layer makes a lot of sense. I think I'll give that a try.

[JDinPA]

I wear multiple layers of wool. How much and where depends on the hunt (walking or sitting on stand).
Merlino is my preferred base layer.

I have some Duofold that is falling apart but it's got good mojo so I can't throw it out.