Wool Thermals - Are the Expensive Brands Worth It?

[John Sheridan]

Do you think the Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket primaloft version is good, was going for down, but this one and brand seems to be good and probably warm enough for a Jacket.

Cheers.

[tasadam]

I've got a few layers of Smitten and am very happy with them. I sometimes use the long sleeve top as a day use top.
A Smitten top and long johns also make up my nightwear / always dry clothes set.

[Rob A]

John I think BCF would let you try them on. They let you try on everything else.
But with thermals you are going to have to work out how you are going to wear which wool weight and when, either snug as a layer/singlet, or loose like a tee shirt.
You eventually wind up knowing what fits you and for what purpose then its just a case of hanging out for sales.
When the two major kiwi brands are on sale they are hard to beat.

[Peaksnik]

I'll vouch for the Macpac wool t-shirt. I have both long and short-sleeves with zip and they are soft as bro.

[slparker]

I'm going to get all bah humbug on your *&^%$#@! here... wool is wool. Merino is no warmer weight for weight than uber-scratchy 1980's army shirts. You can get an ex-army german felted shirt (double breasted, can you believe it!) for 15 bucks in allgoods disposals that is mist/.drizzle/snow/wind resistant, breathable and warm...it has exactly the same properties as a $200 icebreaker jacket, except it looks pretty daggy. You should buy wool for purpose, if you want to look good get icebreaker, if you want to be comfortable get the one that feels good (it's about the microns not the brand), if you want to a heavier weight garment any wool will do, lambswool/romney marsh/poll hereford...doesn't matter for an outer garment.

The ultra-light merino thermals are very comfortable but fall to pieces in a year of regular use...why? wool is not very strong in ultra light weight, regardless of it coming from hand reared, grain fed, hand combed NZ merino sheep or from bogan australian sheep. I believe that ultra light merino is a great thermal but wool is not a great outdoor garment in heavier weights because of its propensity to hold water....for days. Ok in light/mid weights but if it gets wet forget it..

One other caveat in relation to its water retention preoperties: I made the mistake of taking merino thermals canyoning in the blue mountains.... on the walk out i was swinging dirty great wings of wet wool from my arms and legs regardless of how much i wrung them out.

So the lesson is if you're not going to get wet merino is fine, I still wear wool for many activities. If I'm going to get wet or sweat buckets I'll wear synthetics because a stiff dry breeze will dry polypro but wool will only dry once I get home. I haven't tried many hybrid garments but I believe Helly Hansen do a wool/polypro hybrid garment.

I've read from many sources that wool keeps you warm when wet, that is not my experience and I don't believe it. To be dry and insulated is to be warm. And sheep don't get wet (by the way) the lanolin in the outer and inner fleece prevents water getting to their skin. The outer fleece may get damp but the inner fleece remains dry. Sheep don't sweat.

[wayno]

I'm going to get all bah humbug on your *&^%$#@! here...

I second that, I started out wearing woolen t shirts and bush shirts, pre synthetics and merino.
late eightes everyone ditched the wool when the synthetics came in because they stayed a lot drier drier and dried a lot faster
the hype of merino comes along and people switch to merino.....

[icemancometh]

I third that. On the whole I wear synthetics with my merino mainly used around town.

The drying speed or lack of is a big factor.

Do a test, wash a cotton, a wool and a synthetic together then dry them in the sun or better yet in the shade and you'll notice a big difference in drying times

[Nuts]

I pondered a similar question a couple of years back and now agree (accept iv'e heard NZ sheep do sweat)

Sportwool is a good compromise, still take longer to dry but stronger for thinner garments.
Pure wool makes nice Jarmies (if I was to carry some). I dont' like the idea of wearing plastic and would like to support the industry but sadly think that Merino is being milked. It has limited if any advantage over the alternatives.

[tsangpo]

I've read from many sources that wool keeps you warm when wet, that is not my experience and I don't believe it. To be dry and insulated is to be warm. And sheep don't get wet (by the way) the lanolin in the outer and inner fleece prevents water getting to their skin. The outer fleece may get damp but the inner fleece remains dry. Sheep don't sweat.

Wool does insulate when wet but not as well as plastic clothes, it all has to do with air spaces when wet which mean that heat can be trapped. Cotton has none, wool has a decent amount and poly-pro/fibrepile/polarfleece has a lot. I always try and wear wool (doesn't have to be icebreaker, cheaper merino isn't really itchy for me) next to the skin because it feels nicer and because I really don't like the smell of sweat on plastic.

[Rob A]

It all depends how you wear it. I rarely wear lightweight wools as an outer, and usually cover with a collared shirt with a poly jacket rolled up in the bungee on the pack.
The lightweight wools work very very well and do keep you warm when wet. Saved my bacon once. Its all about versatility. The day you dont expect it but have to take to a creek its worth having that wool singlet.
They work exceptionally well as a base or shirt layer out in the boats, and on the beach too. Why would I want $15 uber scratchy?
Fit for purpose, if I was mucking round with a monofin then I would wear lycra or a wetsuit. No doubt if I was bramble bashing or jumping out of an aeroplane or driving the mars lander, outer merino wouldnt be much good either.

[Bluegum Mic]

I must admit I only wear merino to bed/around camp. If I want a thermal on during the day its a polypro or synthetic shirt.

[matagi]

I'm going to get all bah humbug on your *&^%$#@! here... wool is wool.

Agreed, if you want wool thermals, get thee to the underwear section of your local department store. Daggy woollen thermals like grandpa and grandma used to wear at a a very good price, especially if you buy on sale.

[Peter C]

Wool is wool, ofc. As a woolclasser I can tell you after a couple of years of part-time study and hours in a shearing-shed...wool varies hugely. I think your point should be....wool is overhyped?

Merino wool is synonomus with fineness of fibre, ie. very thin fibre, which means in a garment you can have a higher density of threads per square centimeter, it can be made thinner etc etc. No other breed produces wool with finer micron than merino. And even merino varies alot. Basically what you pay for in a wool garment (aside from marketing band name mark-up) is how fine the fibre is in the garment. Finer fibers = less scratch, greater warmth for weight. Sheep from NZ or Australia, or anywere else, it shouldnt matter if the fibre is the same micron. So wool is wool in that sense, living at high altitude dosnt make 14 micron wool any better than 14 micron wool from a sheep in central Victoria.

It should be apparent by comparing garments side by side, ignore who makes it, put it side by side and compare the texture of the cloth. Then I guess you just have to look at quality of the construction, cut etc. I have a couple of Icebreaker, love them, way overpriced tho. I have used a couple of other brands, and destroyed them, so far the Icebreaker has proven the most durable.

[oyster_07]

Years back, Marlboro cigarettes were regarded as feminine. To try and capture the male market, the company created the Marlboro Man.

Merino is the same. It's just wool, rebranded. Sure, it feels great but it performs essentially the same as regular everyday wool.

When I am outdoors I want performance, not sensual luxury. For this reason I stick with synthetics as they will perform.

[wayno]

Years back, Marlboro cigarettes were regarded as feminine.

madly stubbing out marlboro cigarette....

[Peter C]

It's just wool, rebranded. Sure, it feels great but it performs essentially the same as regular everyday wool.

Thats sorta my point. There is no such thing as regular everyday wool. Wool being a natural fibre varies widely, as does its 'performance'.

Anyhow we stray!!!! Back on topic! For the people that PREFER woollens, do cheaper brands compare performance wise with the more expensive? In my experience, yes they compare favourably, but like everything, you get what you pay for! ...usually.

[tasadam]

Yes, on topic, what "cheaper brand" wollens are out there?
The three I can think of are Smitten, Macpac, and Icebreaker.
I wouldn't call any "cheap".

[Snowzone]

I've just tried a lighter weight Macpac merino T-shirt on a five day walk and was very happy with it. I've used Icebreaker for years but have recently had one of their tops that was just not up to their usual standard. The Macpac top was a third of the cost of a similar icebreaker.

[John Sheridan]

I just bought some Sherpa Merino thermals from BCF and the bottoms are fine, but the top is a little snug, I was ust wondering how does merinio wool react to washing, does it shrink or loosen up, should I use fabric softener with it, cold hot water wash ?


It's a bit itchy even though it says its NO itch, my skin is a little sensitive I guess.

Should I take the top back and get the next size up or will the top strerch and fit me, I know for thermals to work properly they need to be a snug fit.

Cheers

[Strider]

I was ust wondering how does merinio wool react to washing, does it shrink or loosen up, should I use fabric softener with it, cold hot water wash ?

Cold water, using wool wash.

Do not use enzyme washing powder (most are these days - beware) or Biozet, etc.

I find mine tend to stretch a little with wear, though washing returns them to their original size.

[John Sheridan]

I think I need to change the top for the next size up, It's just not comfortable at the moment, one size up I think will be perfect, also once I give them a wash and use some fabric softener it should remove all the itch it has abd even make it softer as well

I can say that with the Thermals on I am toasty, but it's only 15c at the moment, will be happy if I am toasty at 0c, though it will be 8c tonight so I can see how well it handles then. I should be more than toasty in my 2c Goose down sleepinng bag.



Cheers for the info.

[matagi]

Don't use fabric softener! Hair conditioner is the stuff to use for softening wool. Just make sure it is the standard "normal hair" type - no volume stuff, no damaged hair stuff, no dyed hair stuff.

[Eremophila]

Doing a bit of research recently, I see Icebreaker make thermals in XXXL which is what my partner needs. He's a big fella, and doesn't really want to be trussed up in tight thermals like a packet of sausages....
Does anyone know of other brands which make large sizes?

[Strider]

Oversize thermals sort of defeat the purpose. They really need to be skin tight to provide any real warmth.

[matagi]

http://www.wool-underwear.com

Very plain, basic and functional.

They don't need to be skin tight, but they do need to be close fitting.

[Eremophila]

Oversize thermals sort of defeat the purpose. They really need to be skin tight to provide any real warmth.

Trust me, they will be. He has tried on 2XL in a couple of the "major" brands and they are simply too tight to be comfortable, and the tops way too short.

http://www.wool-underwear.com
Very plain, basic and functional.
They don't need to be skin tight, but they do need to be close fitting.

Thanks Matagi, that looks great.

Despite his size, he trundles up hills all day with no problem as I struggle along behind.

[matagi]

Oversize thermals sort of defeat the purpose. They really need to be skin tight to provide any real warmth.

Trust me, they will be. He has tried on 2XL in a couple of the "major" branchs and they are simply too tight to be comfortable, and the tops way too short.

http://www.wool-underwear.com
Very plain, basic and functional.
They don't need to be skin tight, but they do need to be close fitting.

Thanks Matagi, that looks great.

Despite his size, he trundles up hills all day with no problem as I struggle along behind.

No worries, they have been field tested by my hubby - he wears them in winter when he is working on the farm - and he is very happy with the performance.

[John Sheridan]

I bought myself a large long sleave shirt and it fits sweet, I as wondering if 18.5 micron and 240gsm is good for thermals, I guess that would be light thermals and not medium to heavy thermals, I have no idea how they grade thermals for effectiveness.


All I need now is maybe some wool gloves,beanie, maybe some other bits and pieces.

Does anyone know the quality of the sherpa Merino Thermals compared to other thermals, or if it's 100% Merino it should be great, even if it's made in China



Cheers for the help.

[John Sheridan]

How much will a wool shirt shrink if you wash it in hot or warm water, I want to shrink down a large shirt and long sleave shirt, just a little, save to use hot water, I dont want to end up with baby cloths :p

cheers.

[Strider]

I wouldn't risk it.