Why I Stopped Backpacking In Fleece (and what I use instead)
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- čas přidán 28. 05. 2024
- Why I Stopped Backpacking In Fleece
I spent a lot of years hiking and even backpacking in fleece, but I was never comfortable. I eventually found Merino Wool and never looked back.
In this video, I dive into why I no longer hike in fleece and the benefits of switching to Merino Wool.
Favorite Merino Products:
Merino Insulated Jacket (this is awesome!): alnk.to/4BEQyou
Kuiu lightweight Tshirt: alnk.to/goZCgXn
Ibex Indie Hoodie (lightweight): alnk.to/aWC7RCX
First Lite Kiln Hoodie (heavyweight): amzn.to/4a12lTy
ULTRA Merino 120 LT LS Hoodie: alnk.to/eOKNrvq
3/4 Length lightweight baselayer: amzn.to/46zrKRv
Light Neck Gaiter: alnk.to/ge4Ri48
Darn Tough Socks: alnk.to/gzUnfQQ
First Lite Tag Cuff Beanie: amzn.to/3T5T5az
First Lite Fingerless Gloves: amzn.to/3uFU8nB
Links to great Merino Wool Brands:
Ibex: bit.ly/3jQETix
Kuiu:
Darn Tough Socks: bit.ly/37MQcTb
REI: bit.ly/3lY0VCR
Backcountry: bit.ly/3g1khmu
First Lite: amzn.to/3m6abVp
ABOUT ME:
👋 My name is Emory, and I love helping people learn how to backpack, so I've dedicated this channel to offering practical tips and techniques, down-to-earth perspectives on gear, and general outdoor commentary to help you improve your experience in the backcountry.
Emory, By Land
P.S. Don't forget to check out my beginner backpacking course!
🎓 Beginner Backpacking Course: byland.co/learn-how-to-backpack
📌 Website: byland.co/
🎙️Podcast: byland.co/by-land-podcast
🥾 Backpacking ONLY Facebook Group: / backpackingonly
👋 Contact: emory@byland.co
This channel is dedicated to helping you get better at backpacking. I hope these videos leave you feeling inspired and encouraged to pursue that backcountry adventure you’ve been dreaming of!
**********************
FAVORITE BACKPACKING GEAR:
Jetboil Flash - amzn.to/2ZYVQS6
Long Handled Spoon: amzn.to/3k3uWiU
Kuiu 30 degree bag -
Klymit Pad - amzn.to/3k4iRtu
Fingerless Wool Gloves - amzn.to/3BIwoNr
Altra Lone Peak Shoes - amzn.to/3whhX1F
First Lite Kiln Hoody - amzn.to/3woK2V6
Hunting Pants: amzn.to/3nXcNo3
Sun Hoody - amzn.to/3o1Wma5
Hiking Socks - amzn.to/3GRBgDJ
**********************
WHERE TO SHOP FOR BACKPACKING GEAR:
Backcountry - bit.ly/3pYf17h
REI - bit.ly/2TxZwH1
Garage Grown Gear - bit.ly/2T2WbiA - Sport
A common mistake many do in chill weather is when they stop for a break they take things off to "cool down" - bad idea, never do that. When you stop, always put ON a layer to retain the heat even if you feel "hot". Having stopped, you are no longer generating heat and will quickly chill. When starting again, take off that outer layer again before putting your pack and hit the trail. It will be chilly for a minute but once you start again you will be generating heat again and back to normal.
honestly I prefer to shed layers to shed moisture faster, even in winter. Depending on how cold it gets. Giant guys understand me, 6 foot 9
@@6foot8jesuspilledpureblood82 I agree that if you find yourself sweatly, getting rid of the moisture is a higher priority. But if that is a recurring problem then opening the layers more to prevent it woud be a better strategy
Same when you are in a hot car.
Wear as few layers as possible, until you get out in the cold.
That's the nice thing about wool, you have a rather wide range of temperatures where it is comfortable at.
@@rustyshackleford17 True.
I started with wool before there was fleece. Tried fleece and went right back to wool for all the reasons laid out here. Wool, down and Goretex does everything I need year round in the Canadian Rockies.
Same, here in Northern Ontario's notorious winter; still utilize some fleece 'close to home' because I have it, and, merino wool/wool for 'outdoors' activities.
Does it dry easily?
@@awanderer9966 kinda...if you hang it so water drips out, aim a fan at it, shop vac it, expose it to sunlight and/or heat, smash the bulk of the water out. Drying is just removing water after all.
@@phredphlintstone6455 Thx for the advice buddy. Never thought about smashing the water out :D
@@awanderer9966 wring, twist...whatever. but wringing can stretch wool.
I'm a construction worker in Luleå, a town situated in the north of Sweden, slightly further north than Fairbanks, Alaska. Winters might be very cold, down to -40 Centigrade (turns out to be the same in Farenheit) though rarely below -30C (-22F). Even in the middle of the winter temperatures might reach freezing point so I must have clothes for a huge span. To make things worse, my job is often pendling between really heavy physical job and than waiting for an escavator, a crane or something for a while. Often I walk in and out between the bitter cold outside and the heat in houses or in cars. This means that wool often is the material of choice.
I have to deal with some other things than back packers. If I am on a larger construction site it's mandated to wear hi visibility clothing. I also prefer that in regular neighbourhoods. A stressed parent with restless kids can be equally dangerous as a wheel loader on a construction site. But so far I have not found any wool clothing that also i hi-vis. The wear and tear is substantial as most backpackers don't go backpacking 7-16 five days a week. I do a "dirty job" wich inludes a lot of dust, different fluids (diesel, hydralic oil, paint and more), have stuff around me that might tear a hole like rebars and so on. Unfortunatley wool is not very tear or dust resistant (the fine dust is tremendously tearing). Neigher can wool be washed in high temperatures. I prefer to wash my inner layers every day, something that also wears on wool and that's why I have found out my optimal mix of wool and syntethic fibres. T-shirt and second layer is fleece, outer layer on my torso is a wool sweater that unfortunately is grey wich means I cannot use it if I work around machines and cranes. Under pants are syntethic unless it´s really cold. The wool sweather i much better than I thought i should be, and for really cold days I use two of them. Works down to -30C (-22F) if there is absolutely no wind. On my head I mostly have syntethic soft hats or occasionally, in severe cold a wool hat. On my feet I have thin merino wool socks all around the year, and in winter I have those socks and really thick wool socks outside them. I have a pair of polyurethane foam boots that are extremely light weight, even though they have protection for toes and soles. They works in temperatures down to --30C (-22F). Colder than that I refuse to work...
In most aspects, whats good for back packing is good for construction workers, but there are also some differences like high-vis and that back packers prefer light weight while construction workers put more emphasis on resistance to wear and tear.
Good points we'll made! 👏👏👏
Kristian, have you heard of Brynje fish net base layers? They are made from Merino wool, and they really work well with temperature regulation while exerting yourself in the cold.
@@mrhounddog8271
I use Merino in all my base layers.
Great product.
Hunting about on the internet, you can find some good bargains.
Same goes for signing up to the companies' letter, as they notify you if something a bit too expensive has been reduced.
Merino jumpers are great for cleaning, as most of the time all they take is a wipe with a damp cloth and a cold wash in the machine.
I go for the antibacterial, too.
Filson USA has more color in some of their wool workwear clothing.
I like Stanfield's Canada for their wool-nylon mid-layer and my New Zealand Icebreaker's merino for first layer, that or Terramar Thermasilk silk longjohns.
Sitka windstopper vest and Sitka soft and quiet gear for hunters has bright colors, and works very well layered.
Baffin, Canada has boots good to -60 F I have had down to -38F here, and the soles of the boots will not crack to pieces.
The particular boots I had might be too warm for everyday -20F.
The 'list for best cold weather face masks on the market in 2021' article online has a selection.
I like a ColdAvenger cold weather mask for extreme temperatures workwear to avoid freezing my lung tissue.
There is also Avalung, for extremes, that is not only for avalanch safety.
I like my Eddie Bauer Karakoram parka that may still have their lifetime guarantee, if damaged.
The Eddie Bauer -30F Menoken Parka might be better for your situation ..plus a brightly colored road worker safety vest.
The Eddie Bauer -40F Superior Parka is available in Rust color.
Find out if their workwear lifetime guarantee is still in effect.
The faux fur ruff can be replaced with a Wolf and Wolverine fur ruff available online.
I do not work at colder than -20F however I have the more extreme cold weather items if walking outside is unavoidable.
Have you considered a colorful canvas anorak over the clothing you have?
I feel Merino Wool is very popular at the moment, and becomes the first wool experience for many people. They then focus a lot on the Merino part. I just want to mention there are numerous kinds of wool, and they all share the same great properties. I feel Merino wool is very smooth and comfortable, but much less durable than other wools. You might want to look into other wool clothings as well.
Lambs wool is a good example...I usually have a merino base layer and a mid weight lambs wool mid layer with a down gillet or gore tex jacket on top ...keeps me happy on very cold mountain days
I think people have avoided wool due to scratchiness and Merino solves that for baselayers. For midlayers though many different varieties of wool can be great!
@@dylanmoran8467 What brand of lambs wool?
are there any multi layer versions of wool? like merino inside and rough on outside or cashmere inside.
Alpaca fiber is the truth
In 1987, I worked in a mine shaft in Colorado one winter. Top of the shaft was 11000 ft elevation. 250 feet down, water poured into the shaft so, we worked in a constant drenching of 32.1 degree F water. I wore 3 layers of wool shirts, two rain slickers and pants, wool socks, wool gloves inside rubber gloves. Some guys even wore wet suits. I managed to stay reasonably comfortable through out that project.
The Mountain Special Forces guys I met used a silk base layer, cotton overwrite camouflage on the outside, with a standard cotton/polyester uniform in between. Then they used Gore-Tex parka & zip over trousers and fleece insulation layer as needed due to weather conditions. Their use case is different that Mr. Emory. The SF Use Case is to hump 100+ pounds for 10 to 30 miles and then sit for days on end. For this the heavy Gore-Tex and Fleece combination is life saving and a God-Send. Gloves, neck gators, etc were different for every soldier. What you need depends on your use case. If you are in constant motion like Mr. Emory, his recommendations are sound. If you hunt with a lot of sitting, think differently. Fleece was designed for Mt Everest alpine conditions and by the US military for sitting inactive in arctic conditions.
Thanks for the information. I started using Merino wool in Afghanistan. It was the only thing that felt warm. That and a sheepskin lined leather bomber jacket. The older I've gotten the less I can stand non natural fibers on my skin. Didn't bother me as much when I was younger.
Yeah, "fleece" CAN be too warm when active. I use numerous articles of light and mid weight merino shirts and leggings, but have also added light and mid weight GRID fleece pieces. Best when active (hiking/climbing, etc.), regular fleece and down when stationary. The design of grid fleece air permeability promotes better ventilation and cooling, especially in a light wind and can augment your merino baselayer. When wind is more forceful, windshirt or softshell will prevent too much cooling.
Yup some of the different fleece patterns like Mountain Hardware and others use now seem to help allot though YMMV
Good points on Merino and temp regulation. I lived in SoCal for decades (hot dry), and traveled to the mountains with my fleece. Then... we moved to Colorado at 5,000 feet, it rains, we get winds, it snows, temps of 10deg. Yep, wool is your friend.
Well said!
I love this video! I've been wearing wool since I started backpacking/camping/hiking/skiing as a kid in the 70's. I used to catch grief for my "heavy, old-school gear" from my "tech-weenie" friends, but wool is the best! Besides the benefits mentioned in the video and some of the other comments, wool doesn't require washing after every wear and it won't retain body odor (as you pointed out). Guys, you want to make sure that your merino base layer bottoms have a fly on them before you buy them! There are many manufacturers out there that sell "men's bottoms" without a fly!
Probably the worst stink ever was when they made nylon shirts. They last forever but...
@@peetsnort Odor build up and retention has a direct correlation to moisture regain and surface energy. The reason why all natural materials deal with odor far better than synthetics is because they have much higher moisture regain than synthetics, with sheep's wool having the highest with around 16% at standard conditions. *
With synthetics, the lowest moisture regain to highest goes from polypropylene, to polyester, to acrylic, and then to nylon. Nylon is unique among synthetics in that it actually absorbs an appreciable amount of moisture vapor in its material (i.e. not just in between the fibers like all fabrics will do).
On a deeper level, this relates to electrical charge and relates to positive vs negative gram microbes. Wool is actually not "antimicrobrial" but it only attracts and facilitates the growth of non odor producing microbes (which are attracted to a certain electrical charge), whereas synthetics attract solely to mostly the odor producing microbes, based on respective electrical charges.
But back to nylon, besides the science outlined above, my own experience aligns with the science in that that nylon is the least stinky of the synthetics and polypropylene is the most odoriferous. Again, this relates to that nylon has appreciable moisture regain and different electrical charge than the other synthetics. The moisture regain of nylon under standard conditions is 4%. To put that into perspective, we usually consider cotton to be a highly water attracting material and its moisture regain is 8.5%.
Polyester is .4% (literally 10 times less moisture regain than nylon...), and polypropylene is practically 0. (for any interested, acrylic is 1.5%)
* Conversely, the moisture regain of wool being so high, also means that it takes longer for it to dry fully. I'm not a fan of all wool baselayers (minus fishnet) and mid layers for this reason. Once it gets sopping wet, it stays sopping wet for a long time. That is not good in cold conditions. The "cold when wet" thing is a bit of a myth or exaggerated over statement. While wool is slightly warmer when damp as compared to other materials, when it is sopping wet, it is still a heat sink and not "warm" because water is well water and has like 20X greater thermal conductivity than air. And furthermore, when water evaporates it has the property to carry a tremendous amount of heat energy with it, which makes it far more cooling than just the higher thermal conductivity alone.
P.S. and the nice thing about nylon is that you can actually get rid of the odor, unlike with polypropylene.
@peetsnort in my experience nylon is far less stinky than polypropylene.✌️
I have decided to convert my wardrobe from polyester to wool. Even blankets make a huge difference in comfort and temperature range. It cuts down on airborne microplastics for health. Plus, wool is completely comfortable and the most temperature wide range fabric made ( including alpaca and other animal fibers.) God knew what He was doing from the start didn't He? I have cotton over coats, driver, field Jak I need to retreat with bees wax for rain protection. Like all the goodness of natural textiles. Merino is the base layer for all.
If it drops to way below freezing, the heavy vintage hunting coats are nice, as are the heavy wool pants, socks and merino long johns. God bless you sir and have a great winter.
Nice! He certainly did!
Old timer here. Started backpacking before polar fleece was a glimmer in anyone’s eye. LONG time fan of wool. Sadly, I developed a skin sensitivity to wool, so always need a cotton barrier.
One really important advantage to wool - it does not MELT and stick to your skin if you get too close to a fire or stove. Wool will be damaged by this sort of heat, but the plastic is far more likely to present you with a bad situation from melted plastic burns. Something to think about…😬
Hey old timer, have you tried silk baselayers under your wool? I used to sell gear and recommended silk baselayers to folks who didn’t want wool, but wanted natural fibers.
@@ThomasCWiley oh yes…silk is nice. A little hard to find these days (at least it was last time I tried), and pricey. Silk sock liners and t-shirt were the norm for my winter adventures “back in the day”. The problem with cotton is that it absorbs a lot of moisture and you can get chilled, but the wool always helped dry that out. I also used duofold and fishnet to help with the moisture.
what did the old timers user as windbreak/rain shedding?
there seems to be a theme of natural fiber, in this discussion. quite intriguing.
@@diligentsun1154 I had a 60/40 cotton/polyester parked treated with silicone for a windbreaker and a k-coated nylon rain jacket. I only used the rain jacket for really hard rain, the parka for light rain.
Some parkas in the day had k-coated nylon shoulder patches. Some folks used waxed cotton or waxed 60/40. For me, the waxed jackets were a little too waterproof - not breathable at all. You would get pretty wet from persperation. The treated 60/40 was a LITTLE breathable. Either option required strategically placed vents to let moisture escape.
When goretex came out it was a game changer in raingear, but terribly expensive at first.
@@hgj2019 thanks!
as a 'newbie', to OutDoors Style, im unfamiliar with these options, but I WILL Educate myself!
many thanks for Your Wisdom!
may you get as many more miles, as you want!
Safe Travels, Companion.
Be Well
Growing up hunting and backpacking here in northern New England wool has always been number one ! It just works!
I bicycle commute all year and on longer commutes of 18km I learned to experiment with layers. I was wearing merino base layer and was wearing a 100 percent lambs wool sweater from Ralph Lauren (polo). It was freezing so I took off my hard shell because my body temperature was too high and uncomfortable. I was cold at first, I felt the wind and cold blow through the fibers but then after 10 minutes my body temperature reached a sort of homeostasis and was neither too cold or warm. I could feel a bit of coolness but the wool fibers from the sweater kept my body heat constantly comfortable
I noticed this with ortovox wool gloves , just wool, no membrane or shell and not merino. The wind blows through and is misleading at first because you might be used to wind stopping layers but the heat from the hands balances out and it is not noticeable and what's great is the hands don't get sweaty.
All types of wool are great. Experiment with wool and be patient. I wear woolpower 400 socks at work with safety shoes and I wear one pair the entire week before washing. I just air them out after the shift. It also helps reduce blisters.
Love it! Well said! What a great example of layers working.
I've always felt like fleece is best for retaining body heat when inactive. One big part of that is that wool doesn't hang onto all the organic compounds involved in stinkiness like how polyester fleece does, so there's no issue with heavy workloads when wearing it. But if you push yourself hard when in polyester fleece, it'll pick up all sorts of oils and sweat and other compounds from the body, meaning it needs to be washed again sooner. If you keep polyester fleece for use as a camp jacket (or a normal day-to-day midlayer), I think it's still very useful.
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!
No one's mentioned silk. It's the best for base layer next to your skin. Silk is used by trekkers in the North/South polar regions. It's light weight, keeps you warm and does not restrict body movement. The best!
You are misinformed It holds water like cotton and does not breath well.
@@michaeldbhawker3556 That was my experience with silk as well. Merino is what I use now for underwear, socks, t-shirts, base layers...hell, I pretty much wear only wool any more.
@@finnberglander7816 Merino IMHO is the #1 most important layer. But I have to say a silk layer is also very valuable (again IMHO) it dries fast, blocks the sun, and can be the perfect layer on those hot days (just add water) plus it works well under the merino layer.
Silk tends to build up static, which can be painful, as it discharges...a matter I seldom see discussed.
I wear silk a lot in my everyday life, but I think it feels sweaty as a base layer, it only dries fast if ventillated well. it might be great for a hot summer hike as an only layer, (I have not tried it though). I also have lots of silk and wool blends, they are great for keeping you warm as an everyday garment and even as pjs, but for a workout or hike, they feel a little sweaty. merino is way better for hiking.
(I am talking about 100% real silk here, and 20/80 silk/wool blends. There might be other silk blends that work well as active wear.)
This is great to hear. I've always been sceptical of the latest "accepted knowledge" for keeping dry and warm. In the past, one wore cotton under a wool sweater - the cotton mainly to protect your skin from the very rough wool. Morino wool solves the comfort problem so now I use 100% 250 weight Morino wool as a base layer, and fleece or wool sweater, depending on how deep the cold (Canada). I tried a synthetic base layer and although it wicks sweat, I felt cold in it. Wool is better at letting the sweat escape while feeling warmer. Sweating is really a tough one to battle - I may also slow down my pace to avoid sweating or open my outer layer or remove it shortly before breaking for lunch for example. Then I can eat with my jacket back on, being warm and dry :-)
Merino is a breed of sheep. Sheep produce wool. Wool production/harvesting doesn't harm sheep, it is a naturally renewable resource. Wool is good, ask Irish fisherman, among others.
Wool won't catch fire easily; fleece/poly won't stop burning when it easily catches . . . . along with all the other mentioned benefits.
Thank you for bringing wool back into view, lets look at other products like silk for instance
one thing to also keep an eye on considering merino is to choose brands that go "mulesing free" meaning the sheep that give the wool are not mutilated, as their backsides are cut open to prevent insects to get into the skin folds, which happenes mostly without any anesthesia. i encourage you to look it up and (if you can) invest a little more money for the protection of the animal that provides this wonderful wool!
Always hiked in merino (Icebreaker) but for a warm layer around camp, its hard to beat fleece. Warmth for weight, fleece beats merino hands down and if it happens to get wet, fleece will dry faster than a heavy merino.
There definitely a time and place for fleece.
Merino is hard to beat for anything you’re wearing most of the time. But yes, it’s on the heavy side for that warmth layer you’ll only be wearing in the early morning or the one especially cold day.
I just re-found wool and I love it! I use it working out, hiking, day to day for everything. But you're right about the durability. I'm just careful with the next to skin wool.
For synthetic baselayers I find Patagonia Capilene very comfortable, even though it's not quite as good as Merino.
I switched to a Merino baselayer for cold weather biking years ago and was a little stunned that it kept me comfy from mid-60s to low 40s, from the beginning of the ride to the end. So it was a natural choice to try for snow hiking this fall. I threw my fleece in the pack just in case but ended up doing both hikes with just the merino base and a good OR shell and never once took out the fleece! Merino's natural regulation is a miracle to me because I always hated being hot&sweaty (which always leads to being cold&sweaty). Thanks for the vid!
Pretty amazing, right?!
Wool has been used and proved for thousands of years. It is by far the best material you can get for what it provides, man-made materials can't beat Mother Nature. Greetings from the woods in Sweden 🇸🇪
Hello! First time watcher. Nice video, man. I like both for different things. One thing about wool is take more effort to dry out over fleece, so for some activities and climates I like it more. Wool is natural, major bonus.
Everyone body reacts differently to cold and warm weather.I tend to sweat a lot even in cold weather.But I think it was the fleece lack of ventilation that made me sweat. Merino keeps me cool.I use Icebreaker,Smartwool,woolly, woolx, and unbound merino. No more cotton for me.
Nice!
You're just not fit
@@AngelValdovinos Try a more constructive and less judgmental comment to put here for people who are trying to get some useful information. Wow.
@@RidersInBlack not judgmental strictly factual, cannot know true success without some ones weakness
@Angel Valdovinos Oh, so you know AS A FACT that this person is out of shape? You entail special powers that makes you feel good about commenting on people you don't know? Dude, go away. You're embarrassing yourself.
Great info Sir,...thanks for this!
My pleasure! Thanks for stopping by the channel!
Very useful! I don’t use merino due to its short “life”. So I didn’t give a chance to different variants. Thanks!
I never heard of it. I have been suffering out the fleece chills and sweat for years. Multi layers managed by layers of zippers open and closed. I learned something today. Thanks!
I wear merino wool socks year round. If I'm wearing my trail shoes or hiking boots, it can be 90° and I'm still wearing my merino wool socks.
@@jeffreymayes907 Dan was the only Marino I ever heard of.
@@johnnywishbone932 Isotoners unfortunately not in wool. ;)
@@GetUpTheMountains 😀
I used merino base layers for a couple of years and just found it dried slower the synthetics,
Thanks for the great video ,
It's not even comparable. Synthetic fleece has its place.
Timely and educational content, I'm glad I found it. I was wondering whether a Merino pullover might serve me better than a poly fleece garment - you've settled the debate for me. Thanks very much for this. Subscribed.
Glad it was helpful! I personally think it’s worth a try. Thanks for checking out the video!
Thank You so much for explaining.
You are welcome! Glad it was helpful!
Couldn’t agree more. I am down here in the north Georgia mountains & I need a highly breathable base layer with a warmer mid layer due to our high humidity. It’s a different kind of cold in the winter when you add in the humidity. I am also very uncomfortable with a fleece mid layer & will definitely check out the heavier merino options out there. My base layer is a merino blend from the NUYARN company that Outdoor Vitals sells as their dragon wool base layers. It has a jersey face with a merino base & is extremely comfortable & great at pulling moisture away from the body.
Glad to know I’m not alone! I think you’ll really like a heavier merino mid layer. It’s a great way to to. Let me know if you want a suggestion.
If you want a budget option, my roommate and I have both had good luck with Meriwool brand Merino wool. We've worn them walking for one full winter and then part of a winter and I continue to wear mine every time I have to take my dog out to potty lol
I would steer clear of the Merino.Tech brand - after just part of a season, the ONE garment we had gotten from them was full of small holes whereas none of the Meriwool is showing such signs of wear after *two* seasons!
I second your point about humidity. In the part of Germany where I live, temperatures very seldom go beneath -5°C/23°F. However, we have many immigrants from Siberia and they say that German 0°C/32°F is way worse than Siberian -20°C/-4°F due to the humidity.
I wish I knew this a long time ago. This video is captioned "backpacking" but I'm a skier. While skiing, exact conditions are hard to predict and change throughout the day. You can open your pit zips, but otherwise its very inconvenient to change the way you're clothed. I've used merino backpacking and jogging and it miraculously seems to be warm when you need that and cool when you need that (how does it know?). I wish I could get back all the money I've spent on skiing base and midlayers and spend it on merino. EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW: NO COTTON NEXT TO YOUR SKIN!
I'm glad I stumbled upon this video. I absolutely LOVE FLEECE shirts, sweaters, gloves, jammies, blankets. Absolutely love them. However, I rarely hike with fleece unless it is just a very light shirt or zipup so I can unzip as appropriate. Merino Wool is amazing and even if totally soaked, it will still keep you warm relatively speaking.
Fleece will definitely keep you warm on a cold winters night, but wool is so much better while exerting yourself on the side of a mountain. Love my Merino Wool socks too, wont winter with out them.
Great tips about percentages, had no idea what range to look for this helps a lot!
Glad it was helpful!
I agree about merino wool.
I also have two 100% Alpaca shirts from Appalachian Gear company and I love them even more than my merino wool. Yes, they are twice the price(or more) than merino, but I have never been disappointed by my alpaca shirts.
I need to try Alpaca. It’s a fleece though, right?
@@EmoryByLand they call it Fleece, but it is a Weft knit fabric. It's nothing like a synthetic polyester fleece. It's more like a light weight sweater.
I love alpaca. Start with one of their beanies and if you like it, go to their shirts, if you can find them that is.
Yup, yup. Merino wool and alpaca. Never going baca. Cotton kills and synthetic is for stinky peasants.
I didn't see anyone mention it, but, Marino Wool comes from the Marino sheep. Their fleece is much lighter weight weight than other sheep fleece. That is why it is so wearable. If you like Marion try Alpaca.
I love alpaca, I wear my alpaca socks year round, They are great at thermo regulating with the hallow fiber core . My tuque is weightless. My Alpaca sweater I have worn almost every day in the winter. Moths love merino but have never bothered my alpaca.
A great many good points here. Lots to think about and reflect on. I do love Merino and like you I find that it is my go to for under wear and ‘shirts’. There is nothing quite like it.
Great tips. Explains why I see so many used 100% merino wool shirts online that are full of holes and stretched out.
Damn, Emory….watching this video was time WELL SPENT!! For my 2018 AT thru hike attempt, I tried lightweight merino t-shirts on my shake down hikes. Comfortable? Yes. But the “stretch out” factor was ridiculous…..and durability was lacking! Simply put, except for some merino thermals for winter, I swore off merino for late spring to early fall trips. Recently, on an early winter section hike on the AT in CT…..I ran into that issue with “hiking, sweating, de-layer, get cold, re-layer” issue. I’m now researching some better merino alternatives. Bravo-Zulu….Nice job, BTW, on communicating your message…..you’re a natural!
hes a "cookie cutter" to say the very least
@Fred Ol Good Evening, Fred. I assume by your question that you are inquiring as to my long-winded comment? I’m retired military and a retired federal wildlife officer, both occupations where my words had to convey “direction” HOPEFULLY before I had to go into “action”. As I’ve become somewhat of a recluse since I left the workforce, I do tend to go on and on when writing. And nowadays, I talk mainly to my dog. So really, in answer to your question, I guess I’ll have to ask my dog! Once she tells me, I’ll let you know. Be well and take care, amigo.
@@captaincoyote1792 My dog is the only one who listens to me.
I have ultralight 100% merino tank top that I’ve worn everyday for almost a year as base and wash in cold - delicate cycle with other items( no zippers or Velcro items) once a week. It’s in perfect condition. I climb, crawl and twist all day in large variations of temperature. I don’t wash because of odor, because there isn’t any.
That’s awesome!
I’ve been loving wool. I now use nothing but wool socks and underwear on a regular basis. I also use a alpaca and wool blanket. I’m never too hot or get cold in the blanket and I can sleep in a ice cold room for he whole time staying warm. The blanket itself is not even that thick or heavy. Wool is amazing
That’s great!
Have a tree business and in the MN winter have used Merino for the last 12 years and it has made a great difference!
Ok - old outdoors person & knitter here. Merino is a sheep breed - it’s wool is softer next to the skin than the numerous other sheep breeds. Cashmere is probably the softest of natural fibers & comes from the Cashmere goat. Alpaca is also itch-free and comes from alpacas, which are not sheep. Alpaca & cashmere may work for you folks with wool allergies. Almost every artisan sock knitter uses wool with about 25% nylon blended in for strength against shoe abrasion. Be CAREFUL how you wash these fibers - even for washable wools! Do NOT use Woolite! Get a good wool wash soap - Laundress is one - and DON’T PUT WOOL IN THE DRYER. Ideally, lay wool flat to dry, then it shouldn’t stretch out. It is worth this extra care - it is expensive, because wool manufacture is a dying industry, and it will keep you warm when it’s cold and wet, cool when it’s hot and should wear a long time if well cared for.
Polyesters and all synthetics are badly polluting our environment! Every time you wash it, tiny bits are washed into our waterways. They are everywhere on the planet - even Antarctica! All seafood is forced to ingest it, and therefore so do we. Cancers, birth defects, hormone problems…
There are so many reasons to buy and wear wool, cotton, silk, linen!
Good call on the alternatives to wool if people have allergies or don't like the feel of it. GREAT advice!
I used to race bicycles back in the early 1980's. All the best kits at the time were merino wool... it was expensive (the fine Italian stuff) but it worked well. The big problem with it is it would waterlog in the rain and sag like hell. Some of them were blended pretty well with synthetics, which helped the shape-holding. I like the latest tech in this area and going back to the old way would not work at all... however, seeing wool in some of the fabrics I see now would be really functional... I mean, synthetics are plastic, and yeah, we should definitely use less of that.
Great info!
Thank you
great info.I wondered why I sweat so much wearing fleece. I own lots of merino tees,socks,briefs,and pullover & hoodies but my outer layer was fleece.I would come back from a short walk in 50degree weather with a sweaty upper body.When i wore a merino hoodie I was dry,warm, and comfortable. I'm now returning my recently purchased Columbia fleece jacket & vest and getting a merino outer layer.Thanks for the tips. Happy Hiking !
We are all different so materials may perform in different ways but I think it’s worth giving it a go. Let me know how it works!
@@EmoryByLand will do. thanks
I am head to toe merino wool in my baselayers. Even underwear! I sweat like a pig, and the best part of this material is its ability to wick that sweat away and dry in notime. I bring 2 merino wool tshirts on every hike, and usually one merino wool longsleve, and I will swap between them as they sweat up. When I stop for a 10 minute break I whip out a packable clothesline and hang my shirts for the wind and sun to catch them, and they are dry in notime. Its expensive, but very very worth it. Excellent investment.
We always love to see people discovering wool and discussing what it can do. If we were not convinced the best fiber for All-Purpose Outerwear is wool, we would not have a company. It is important to remember that there are many kinds of wool and many ways to turn that wool into garments ... Thanks for a great vid!! --- Ralph for WeatherWool
Great video. Very interesting. Looking foreward to more adventure s from your Channel soon.Atb Søren.
Thank you. Very informative.
You’re welcome!
I guess I'm a little confused by this video. You seem to be confusing fleece with polyester. Fleece is typically used as an insulating layer not a base layer but the whole video is about how great merino is as a base layer. If you've been wearing fleece as a base layer I bet it really did suck. I have tons of both merino and polyester base layers and like them both. I personally find polyester more comfortable and it dries much faster. My current favorite is Patagonia Capilene Cool LW. That said, on longer multiday trips I'll grab merino to keep the few friends I have as the polyester funk factor seems to go up exponentially day after day. The fleece you wore 10 or 15 years ago has been supplanted by much more breathable, compressible and lighter fabrics that are pretty awesome. You should give them a try-as an insulating layer.
Fleece is made of polyester, its the "same".
Hahaha hahaha. Agree. When most folks say fleece they refer to an outer or warming mid layer. I say "poly pros or long underwear." We call them poly pros in the Marine Corps. Short for poly propylene?
@@gudmundurp67 There are a lot of polyester base layers but they are not fleece.
@@alumniduck I know, but fleece is allso poliester
Agreed. Fleece wicks much faster than merino wool and much stronger. You can wear fleece in the forest as an out layer but merino wool I guess will be torn down by branches easily. Fleece has a reason to be popular
Sadly I'm allergic to wool (I get eczema alm over my body) and I also get asthma attacks because of wool. But micropolyester works really good for me imo.
100% Agree with You!!! Thank You for your input!
You're welcome! Thanks so much for watching!
I really love First Lite wool products. Great stuff.
I love merino wool. The only application I wouldn't use it for is backpacking below freezing temperatures. It simply retains way too much water from perspiration and it takes forever to dry.
Relative to what? Merino wool doesn’t retain water and dries very fast compared to almost any other fabric
Relative to polyester.
Merino wool can hold up to 35 percent of its weight in water, without feeling damp, wool fibres are hydrophilic. Anyone who owns merino wool shirts (>70% wool) knows it takes forever to dry them.
This isn’t necessarily bad because merino wool thermoregulates very well, but if you are below freezing without being able to dry your clothes for days having a damp base layer can be deadly.
I run using merino shirts all year round though.
I disagree about the blend percentage. I have 38% wool leggings blended with polypropylene and polyamide that I feel still retain a lot of the wool advantages. I think anything between 40% and 80% is alright. 100% is not very durable like you mentioned
I like to do 100% for base layer and blends for anything that is exposed. The weight and weave of blends also makes a big difference.
The best baseayers I have ever used are merino / nylon 80/20. This is by far the best fabric for a base layer. The nylon mix makes it far superior in ridding water, if you are active, nothing else comes close.
I'm a wool fan in all aspects of life. I'm a budget person also..I haven't found alot of merlino wool at thrift stores. But have the cheaper costco base layer shirts .. but my favorite is cashmere wool sweater light and warm not bulky .. my hubby asked when I'm going to throw away my old ripped sweater away.. I can't think of that .. it is a fav.layer.
I agree my body like the natural fabric of wool above the fleece ones in my past. I found 2 lambs wool yesterday. Under $2.50 each. Score. Still not going to throw out my ratty cashmere.🐑
Really informative and well made video!
Merino wool have ben my "go to" for many years. It is truly versatile!
Thanks for watching!
I’d only disagree with the blend percentage. A 50/50 merino/poly blend can be wonderful. The cap air’s a great example
Agreed the Patagonia thin base layers are the best out there. they dry faster and because of the loft from they way they are woven together they hold heat well
I use Wool Power products....its all about the weave of the merino wool.
Good to know!
I only have two fleece items and the rest is either Irish wool (Gurnsey 100% wool) or merino. I use the fleece during those times when the temps are moderate and I want a different look. That's right, fleece is best for a different look. Wool is the way to go... socks, underwear, base layer, and mid-layer. You are just comfortable all the time. I just fell into wool/merino when I got back into hiking and backpacking and never turned back. Call it dumb luck!
I struggled a lot with synthetic fibers in winter clothes which i just sweated my butt off under them. Then i finally got myself a more expensive Loden jacket for winter. A completly different experience. Loden is a traditional wool fabric (actual sheeps wool), which keeps the water resistant and heat-keeping abilities of the wool, while being more breathable than any synthetic fiber could dream of. Worth every cent.
Good to know!
As much as I love merino wool, it sucks in durability compared to synthetic material… I’ve tried to stick with merino wool, but within a year of normal wearing here in Oregon, my base laters have developed holes… that gets to be pretty spendy given the cost of top name merino outdoor wear compared to synthetic’s… I haven’t had a chance yet to try out the hybrid solutions from Patagonia which may be the best compromise… just don’t have the extra funds to invest in yet another set at this time…
I found the same durability issue with Merino. Tried some socks a few years ago; the heels wore out within a couple of months and there was no way I could live with that considering the cost of them.
Agree. Try silk under merino or alpaca for winter temps. Silk is also an amazing natural fiber that humans have used for centuries. Pairs perfectly with wool in my opinion. Incredible for natural feel against skin and I find the wicking and drying properties far superior to synthetics. I'll take the collective wisdom of the ages over synthetic fad fabrics any day.
Very interesting, thanks a lot for the tip.
I'll try merino in my next trip to the Patagonian Andes.
If you’re trying to make me jealous… 😂
Excellent info
For those who cannot wear wool (because it is itchy), there is cashmere, which is also a good warmth regulator.
And yes, even merino wool can be itchy (I tested it), and wool can cause allergies (because of its lanoline content, as it seems). Nothing of that with cashmere.
Thanks for your infos: I also abandoned fleece, as it lose its warm capacity after being washed. And it is not very ecological, either.
When you wash your fleece in your laundrymachine the fleece releases microfibers of fleece. This doesn’t biodegrade, instead it finds its way out the rest water and ends up in our oceans and water and being absorbed by all kinds of marine life such as plankton and causing a lot of problems, and many times it ends up in the fish we eat. So wool is a better option in many ways. Thanks for good video!
Thanks! We need to keep posting this information. Wish there was a zero synthetic options for all our grear. It is impossible to "leave no trace" if your tent, sleeping bag and sundry gear are shedding microfibers.
Minus 33 is pure Merino wool and the performance is excellent. A few years ago my wife bought me a set of thermals. I said "You spent how much!?!? For thermals?!?" (About 160 for the set) Well, it was money well spent. I've got multiple sets and wear them daily for 6 months of the year.
Nice! Yeah, you certainly get what you pay for and once you experience the benefit of doing so, it's hard to go back.
I completely agree as a long distance cyclist (months) I combined timing Alaska with freezing weather (and rain!) with a “buffalo shirt” an absolute winning combination! Seals and SAS soldiers are wearing it during hard work / training! No more undercooling with that combination. Read the reviews!! Loved your explanation!! Menno from the Netherlands.
what the hell is a “buffalo shirt”
Most of the time merino is better. It is certainly more sustainable. However, it does not perform anyway near synthetics if it gets really wet. Heavy and so much slower to dry.
All the time merino is better. A little extra wet weight doesn't compare to trashing your endocrine system with synthetic polyester
it keeps warm when wet...
I can always smell peasants wearing synthetics from miles away.
I wear merino from icy alpine, dry desert, tropical rainforests, and my native temperate rainforests. Nothing helps regulate body temperature better than merino and alpaca, and no stink even after weeks without a shower.
@@swashfrogsailor peasants wear synthetics?
I tried merino as a base layer, ended up drenched in sweat. went back to polyester. might get wet but dries fast.
Very informative. Thank you You've just confirmed that I'm switching to wool
Love your merino wool, I’ve been in love with Icebreaker superfine merino for many years. When road bike riding in cooler times a 150g base layer is my go to.
Bam!
I tried a lot of merino stuff but stuck with fleece due to durability issues w merino(except kept the socks lol)
Fair enough!
Have you ever hiked in a humid, wet climate? Merino holds on to a third of its weight in moisture, Polyester 4%. Merino also is much less durable and usually more expensive.
A minimal fleece like the Kuiu Peloton 97 or a Polartec alpha direct might have worked for your much better.
Merino is fine but not out east as it NEVER dries. Huge negative on a thru hike.
I now use. the Peloton 97 over a Eco ultralight base layer and it works great for me. Easy to layer and just a windbreaker for the cold wind.
Michael.
Very helpful. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
I carry a merino wool base layer to use as pajamas when I’m on the trail. Nice to have something clean and warm to sleep in after a sweaty day on the trail.
Yes Merino is wonderlfull, but also consider the torture of sheep, “mulesing”. It takes some time to find manufacturers who take the resposibility to produce in a animal friendly way. Some of them give information on websites. This is no guarantee, but I suppose that ones who don’t, do not really care.
Please be aware, and make your viewers aware, that most commercially available Merino products are made from Merino wool that originates from Australia. Australia still persists with the practice of Mulesing, a practice being phased out by most Merino producing countries (including Australia's neighbour, New Zealand). Australia has reneged on it's promise to stop such practises, and one should avoid products made from Australian Merino, and instead buy product from countries with more progressive ethical outlooks.
Great review. I will be looking for 65%-80% blend. Thank you!!
Thanks!
I love my wool garments. They keep me dryer than any other textile I've ever owned
I have gone over to merino too, along with old fashioned ventile and Pendleton shirts.
🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
Fantastic! I have been saying this for decades!
Right on 👊🏼👊🏼👊🏼
Thanks for the video. I've been working with 100% super fine merino wool in cycling and base layers, cycling for 6 years and it's been a stand out right along with hemp. The merino being a bit lighter and more warming.
My pleasure! How’s the durability of hemp compared to Merino?
@@EmoryByLand In theory the hemp is stronger.. I'm sure the hemp ropes and fibers from decades ago are still around holding up. I know that the merino wool has a weakness when it comes to rips and tears when it meets a thorn or something sharp. I've crashed in the hemp/ org cotton blended cycling jersey on some cobbles.. landing on my elbow and the material was still in tact. Hemp's just a strong fiber over all.It's better at regulating to room temp though and not as warming in my opinion but everybody is different when it comes to wool. I don't have a direct test on rubbing wearing out as both fibers in the last 6 years have held up well. We'd need a friction or rubbing test to be done. I'll see if any of this have been done out there. But then again quality is an issue as well. We wanna test to high end fibers back to back.
Nothing beats wool. Incidentally years ago I met an exporter of the finest wool in the world with a thread count of 2500 per inch. Market? Suit makers for millionaires in the middle East. Nothing is cooler.
Wool is amazing - and not a petrochemical/ polluting byproduct.....
I ditched fleece over a decade ago. I'm not wearing anything but hair and skin. Been wearing the same thing for days, indoors 78f outdoors 34f, active, inactive; same clothes (pac boots over my wool leather moc. slippers in the snow though). I like zipable mid layers so you can vent right to your base shirt when hiking uphill etc.
Its all about breathability. I have "sweater pants" (woven yarn wool like typical sweaters) That I wear over my base/ wicking layer and then a shell layer when out. If I can vent the shell, I can manage heat, but that outer windblock can really lock it in. Sometimes I use a thin waxed canvas, sometimes leather, sometimes a packable nylon windbreaker or puffy, etc etc.
Wool wont melt standing by the stove. As a Small, I often get up to 2xl and shrink to my size. Inalso learned to darn and needle felt for my thicker wools like heavy mackinaws or felts or thrift store scores.
That's awesome it's working out for you, although I haven't found wool to live up to the hype for cold weather. I think many people are realizing the "warm when wet" claim is a myth, and the "warmer when wet" claim can be misleading. Wool also takes substantially longer to dry than certain synthetics, meaning it may not be a wise choice for cold weather. And new antimicrobial synthetics have made wool's odor-resistance much less of a selling point. I think wool still has its place, but it's not the best option for every scenario.
Agreed. If it's wet and can't dry out, then it's not ideal. I've personally never had this issue in colder weather though. If my shirt is wet from sweat when I go to bed, I just keep it on and allow my body heat to dry it out. You can also have a dry set of clothes to sleep in at the end of the day and just keep the wet items in you bag with you to dry out over night. Still, I don't think extreme mountaineers wear Merino. I think they're running synthetics, but I could be wrong. Thanks for the input!
My only problem with wool of any kind is what to do with it when it gets wet… even sweat can cause natural materials to become a sponge that guarantee you will be cold.
“Fleece” is a pretty darn generic term. Are we talking polypropylene or polyester.. big difference.. I see more and more material sold as polypro that’s actually polyester.
When I was a SAR member, we were adamant about the use of polypropylene in all our insulation gear from the first layer to the last w/ a synthetic wind, rain, snow blocker as the last layer.. getting caught waring cotton was a sure way to be left behind.. wool was considered a problem because you can’t get it to dry out while still in the bush and have to suffer with it until you get home again..
FYI - I love marino wool and wear it all the time in my “civilized’ life but when in the bush, it stays home…
When I was Backpacking, in the Summer, I wore cotton clothes, and ALL year, wore "Lifa" polypropylene Liner socks and 80+% wool. I NEVER got blisters.
In the Winter, I wore "Lifa" polypropylene underwear, polyester or acrylic insulation layers. Overton was a Gore-Tex coat.
It worked!
Nice!
Thanks for mentioning that blends are best and % ranges. I'm buying a base layer soon and wouldn't want it to tear, and lose $. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
@@EmoryByLand by the way what merino leggings are your favorite?
I learned to wear wool in the army, and layers. Never once had problems with that approach. Can recommend.
Maaaaaaaaaaaaaan I wish I'd seen this before doing my Christmas wish list 😭 great info for later though!
My merino wool lightweight t shirt is 100% Australian merino wool, doesn’t smell and is light and soft. No holes. I never let it get laundered. Just warm water, air drying. I don’t wear deodorant with this shirt because that damages wool and can lead to holes. This also dries faster than any other article of clothing I’ve ever owned. Incredible.
Thanks for sharing!
I'm glad it worked out for you. I tried a 250 weight base layer, and it itched like hell. I had to return it.
Haha! Yeah, some skin doesn’t do well with wool. At least you know now!
Update Patagonia base layer Patagonia mid layer and shell in North Face Gore Tex for hiking backpacking. Sitting around camp. Maybe Marino Wool. Fleece just works in every situation. Try sitting up 40’ in a tree in 15 degree weather and high humidity (Alabama). Fleece lighter. Just works. I received my Patagonia base layer and mid layer last week. Game changer !
I've used just about everything and still love a good grid fleece. Dries quickly and is a great midlayer imo. I'll often just throw on a merino base and grid fleece down to 30F when I pull my puffy/down jacket or rain gear. I still pack a grid fleece and probably always will. There's a reason it's still popular.
Yep, still very popular if it works for you. That's all that matters!
I would like to add that one of the drawbacks of merino is that is doesn't dry nearly as quickly as synthetics. That's why I do favour a blend in situations where I am likely to sweat. Another good thing to know is the length of the merino fibres used by manufacturers: the longer the better because it means less tips in a product, therefore less itchiness. Also, if the length of the wool fibre is long, it'll be more resilient, but you'll pay more for the product (Icebreaker specifies fibre length). I don't know if you can get it in your country, but here in Hokkaido, Japan, I've started using a brand called Finetrack which does top notch blended products.
Thanks for the input! Agreed, if it’s going to be wet for long period time with little opportunity to dry it could be a problem. That’s certainly where synthetics take the cake.
Also, thanks for the education on what can cause a material to be itchy. I had no idea what made it better or worse!