Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Silks vs Modern Materials for base layers

West,
I have used silk for a long time and like some of the other guys have found it hard to find. Merino over silk has always worked for me however this year I purchased the KUIU 145 and 210 Merino underwear.
Actually purchased it late last year after I returned from a trip to Colorado where one of my good friends was using Kuiu gear including the underwear. My silk was about wore out and I still have a few pieces but will probably give it away.
I have never experienced anything that wicks moisture away and through into the mid layers like this stuff. Had 145 base and 210 over it this past week in Alberta with an 850 fill Super Down zip T under the Chugach wind breaker/rain gear jacket.
The down garment caught all the sweat and is actually the wrong choice for a mid layer when walking a lot. I did not get cold and the wind was blowing 30-40mph on the downwind side of the mountains. On the ridges it was hard to stand up with a pack on it was blowing so hard on Tuesday.
I know the stuff is expensive and I would never by it choosing to "bull it" and use what I was used to. I cannot say enough about there products. Used it in Mongolia in late September and the first of October in the Gobi and the Altai and again this week in south Alberta.
Zips down each leg so you can layer it on or off without taking your boots off. No more silk for me..

Dave

That used to be the case with the old polypro, but there are modern synthetics which don't stink, even after several days. I particularly like the Medalist Silvermax gear I bought a few years ago. Very good for next-to-skin wear, and no stink. I have some Sitka lightweight long johns too, which are also really good. Both use silver, and this really seems to work to prevent them stinking.

I personally much prefer this stuff to wool or silk.

I have polypropylene in three weights. The light is a pair I got from Walmart about 20 years ago and it has worn like iron. The middle and heavy are miitary issue. Poly stink isn't a factor as I'm not especially stinky by nature and come home and shower and change every night. I've been looking at silk, but according to online reviews there's a lot of phony stuff out there, as well as a lot of cheap and shoddy goods. I suppose I'll have to go with some L.L. Bean or the like to get good stuff. That, with some good merino over it sounds like the hot setup.

Polyester fleece seems to be replacing polypropylene somewhat, but on me it builds up moisture on the inside and it takes a long time to wick away. Fleece shirts are the same way which is why I'm replacing them with light wool Pendletons.

I really like the synthetics also. But, I have yet to find one that doesn't stink. The dri-fit type shirts are the worst. UA gear stinks almost as bad.

I will look into Silvermax.

in theory it should work. silver is incredibly toxic to alot of microorganisms severly inhibiting their growth. whether it works in practice or if it does how "hardy" the silver is in fabric form after repeated use I dont know but given some seem to say it works it may be worth a shot, especially if i can find it at a discount some time. buy alot of my stuff like this from Sierra Trading Post as they usually have great sales and i can pick up a load of stuff cheap.

Some is definitely better than others. The Medalist in particular has stood up to a lot of use, and of course laundering (FWIW cold water, plain soap and no tumble drying with any of my hunting gear), as has the Sitka. OTOH I have some Cabelas underwear with a silver treatment which hasn't been nearly as effective in suppressing odour (not a knock on Cabelas, just this particular line which I think has long been replaced)

I haven't found it too bad. I do like their HeatGear T-shirts and boxerjocks for hot weather. Really cool and comfortable when it is up there close to or into three figures on the Fahrenheit scale - it hit 107F here yesterday. .

All heavy metals are toxic. If you and I would be exposed to enough silver, we would be in trouble.

Silvadene (silver), is a very good topical burn cream.

I've never understood the Under Armor stinks comments. I've worn them for years and they've never stunk.




Travis

Want me to mail you a pair after I wear them tomorrow?

I use a thin layered poly with Merino on top on top of that, works great.


For cold weather hammock camping I like the Helikon Gen III level 2 with Kuiu wool on top.


http://www.kuiu.com/hunting-base-layer/ultra-merino-145-zip-t/20011.html?dwvar_20011_color=AshBrown

Yeah, ask any werewolf.

In cold country, I use the silk for base layers. In the south where I know it will warm up during the day, I use polypropylene. But the one thing that always goes with me is a long fuzzy wool fishermans sweater like they use in the north sea. I bought several in Scotland and they are great. I've been out in freezing rain and had ice build up on them and stay warm and dry.

lol,

Or ask anyone who has suffered from heavy metal toxicity. Pretty miserable.

When my dad was a young guy he wore heavy wool union suits. Then "thermal" cotton pretty much replaced wool and damp weather was a killer. Compared to the bad old days, everything we have now is great. I prefer silk close to my skin but Merino, polypro, polyester, and the proprietary materials all work. I have some off brand stuff and it is great too. I haven't had odor problems with anything. If I was a world class cross-country ski racer I would be picky but for recreation there are a lot of good options at a wide price range. Chalk one up for free market enterprise.

Back in the seventies I ordered some wool long-johns from Sears. I wore them under a Woolrich shirt, Woolrich wool hunting pants, and a Woolrich wool jacket. Spent one morning hunting in a steady rain and all that wet wool just about itched me into the nuthouse. They should try that stuff on the folks at Gitmo some day. They will spill the beans in short order!

Merino may not have that issue, but I think I'll always wear polypro or silk next to my baby-soft skin anyway. I never want to go through that again.

Yesterday I spent 7 hours in a tree waiting for Bucky. No joy. Temp was 8f juat after daybreak, and the highest I saw was 20, and wind less than ten mph. I wore terra max from Sierra trading post under Avery brutalgear top and underarm our wader pants. Great for sitting. Walk SLOWLY! I had a merino wool shirt over that, then a down vest, a jacket, topped with anLL Bean wool hunting coat. Bottom was wool pants under northern outdoors lighter weight hunting pants. Warm in the tree, and on the boat ride att 30 mph

Real men go Commando.

Merino SmartWool 250 weight for me.
www.sierratradingpost.com

Water is toxic if you drink enough of it.