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Any other thoughts on cleaning wool pants? Other than dry cleaning?

Wash in cold water and hang dry. Some garments need to be laid flat rather than hung.

Woolite and cold water and a gentle machine wash and spin or hand wash.
Hang when resonable(like woolen trousers by the cuffs) or lay flat and block out to dry..Jim
222Rem, Isn't your avatar the woolmark industry symbol?..:)

VERY observant Jim! That's how much I love wool. I almost signed up with the name "wool lover" but knew folks would have way too much fun with that one!

I realized that I was no longer a youngster while watching Grumpy Old Men a few years ago. All I could think about was how cool their clothes, vehicles, houses (including fishing shanties) and general lifestyles were. It was as much a fantasy movie as a comedy for me. My wife just had a worried look on her face......(grin).

I've used Filson whipcords and heavy wool pants and bibs for years, and consider it the best here in the Northeast.I use the whipcords if temps are moderate, but under heavy snow, I find you are wet sooner, and not as warm as with the heavier Filsons. I also bring a pair when I hunt out west, and although it never got cold enough for the heavy ones when I was hunting, I used them while on horseback last week to pack out my elk during a snowstorm. I was warm and dry the whole time.The Filsons have the unique characteristic of allowing you to be comfortable when you are moving at 35 degrees and below, but still stay warm when you stop for awhile.

I also have KOM and Sleeping Indian stuff and so far find the Sleeping Indian superior, although KOM is pretty good;the Sleeping Indian is "one step up" over Filson in warmth,IMO, and works well for me at below zero temps,if I am moving. But last year in Albert at 25-30 below, I desperately wished for something else warmer than wool. I am not as tough as Koutenay!

Getting a set of Sleeping Indian to Canada guarantees overweight baggage charges, and does not cut it for me when stand hunting and temps dip to 25 below zero. Gotta find something else....

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Quality wool clothing, be it light weight Pendleton dress shirts like the older 'Sir Pendleton' hard finished wool or Filson, LL Bean or good mil surplus can hardly be beat for durability, warmth when wet( and insulation even in HOT weather )..

I wore lightweight wool longsleeve shirts & trousers during the summers in the Sonoran desert of Arizona when I lived and hunted there.

The old saying:

"Millions of sheep cannot be wrong with their insulation choice" has alot of truth to it...:)They survive well in some of the hottest and coldest climates on the planet.

I could be an aged spokesman for woolen clothing for dress or work for Pendleton or Filson when I retire..:) Jim

Jackfish, I've been looking at getting one of these coats for over a year. I'm just a little leary as it doesn't seem to be a well-known brand like Filson ( i know that doesn't necessarily mean anything). In terms of comparing the two.....I'm just curious if the single ply 30 oz wool of the Bemidji is as thick and tight of a weave as the single ply Filson Mackinaw crusier?
I think you mentioned earlier you have the 30oz pants too? Are these as good as the Filson Mackinaw pants? I really wish they made the 100% wool pants in green. But, I guess the 85%/15% combo might be just as good.

The 30 oz. 100% wool in the Bemidji Voyageurs Jac Coat is thicker than the 24 oz. material in the Filson Mackinaws, and as far as I can tell the weave is about as tight. The 30 oz. 85/15 pants from Bemidji are comparable to Woolrich Malone pants, yet the Bemidji pants seem to be a bit tighter weave. They used to make the 30 oz. 100% wool pant in other colors than the blaze and perhaps they will again. A call to do some prodding might help. Its too bad they don't do both the 30 oz. 100% wool pants and jac coat in green and/or grey.

And the best thing I've found for washing wool is Atsko Sport Wash. Cold water wash & rinse on gentle cycle and hang or lay flat on a rack to air dry works on all of my wool, even the items that say "Dry Clean Only."

As far as wool year round goes, the Merino wool lightweight shirts (I believe they are 5 oz. with a tight weave) from Australia look wonderful. But at $185 delivered to the US a little rich for my pocketbook. I think there would be a market in the US for such shirts if they were a little more affordable and also for an 11 oz. Merino wool whipcord weave pants.

The Sir Pendleton worsted 100% virgin wool dress shirts work well for me for light weight or layering of wool clothing..

I have about 8 of them, some over 15 years old and they look like new even after many hours-years of wear.I wear them for work under a wool blazer or when hunting or working outside..
Lightweight as a fine linen dress shirt, but better insulation in warm or cold weather.

New they now run about 104.00 retail.Wife gets me a 'new ' one every thrid Christmas..:)

I find them used at the local Goodwill or Value Village stores for less than 10.00...Jim

http://drewsboots.com/images/fullsize/BA034-10563_full.jpg

You'd be surprised what you can find on eBay or Craig's List also IF you are a knowlegeable buyer..Jim

I could too. I've given guys a new pair of merino socks just to try to convert them to the enlightened side. Folks find it hard to believe that I actually wear wool sock in the summertime. They're just ignorant, and a few pair of sock usually fixes that.

A few years ago I my wife attended a conference in Seattle and I went with. I walked the full length of that burg just to visit Filson. It was my first time, and it was like going to Mecca--------I almost got misty-eyed! Anyway, I knew as much or more than the head sales dude working on the floor. I could recite fabric weights, colors, options, etc., for all of their products (including the Tin Cloth stuff). Some Filson customers are a little too pasionate I guess.....

My love for quality wool goods has also lead me to bringing home "bargains" from Mil-Surp stores, Goodwill, and yardsales even though they're not my size! "SOMEONE will be able to wear them," I tell myself. I've also got some hideously colored golf sweaters that I got for almost free at Goodwill but they fit, and are made of lambswool, angora, or alpaca. Colors be damned------I'll only wear them in the woods anyway. Older Pendleton and Filson stuff is a great find too on the used racks. Usually a result of grandkids cleaning out an estate I assume.

I'm one of the weirdos who actually looks forward to the colder fall temps so I can dig out my wool, and wait to walk the dogs in the wintertime until the next snow storm moves in.

222Rem...:)
Know what ya mean about looking forward to cooler fall & winter & hunting just to be able to wear some of the fine woolens I have acquired over the years..
When I lived at 6-700' feet elevation for some years in northern Arizona, wool was my choice always.
Still use it with the SAR teams when we go up Mount Hood or Jefferson in winter to find lost folks..

Pendleton blanket will go on the bed in the next few days..:)
Even if the wife has to kick it off..I block the heat vent and open the window and enjoy the cooler air at nite.

Stopped at the local Goodwill store a bit ago on the way home.

Spent $24.50 .

Came home with a like brand new Harris Tweed ( Scottish wool) wool blazer in my color & perfect fit.50 long.......and two Pendleton Sir Pendleton worsted wool dress shirts, XL long.

About 400.00 of premium wool in perfect condition (used) I will wear for 24.50..I feel like I should awear a mask when I go in there..:)

I wear wool socks ALL year( I wear western boots at work when I'm not in steel toes and I buy the heavier Smartwool otc socks)
Wool keeps the feet drier than cotton and provides great comfort.

I wear mostly wool LS shirts even in summer as usually they crank the AC down in the office when I'm there and so I'm comfortable..

I have a Filson Double Mackinaw coat my oldest son got me for Christmas five years back..Beautiful, well made coat.

I've only NEEDED to wear it here in the Willamette valley twice..:)But have worn it up in the Cascades hunting and looking for yew trees many times..usually unbuttoned..:)

I peeked at e Bay today and there's ALOT of potential bargains in <lightly> used Filson, Pendleton, Woolrich, Codet etc ..

I have no problem buying used items and putting them back in service..and IF necessary, I can sew on a button or stitch up a tear on an otherwise bargain priced garment in good wool.

Don't ask me about the sweaters I have..:) Hardly ever wear them, but used just couldn't pass them up for 5 cents on 50 dollars of what they cost new.
Maybe I'm also a 'woolaholic'..:) Jim

jim in Oregon, how are those shirts against bare skin? Do they have any lining on the collar or cuffs? What would you guess the fabric weight is in them? 6 oz.?

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Jackfish, I can't say what the fabric weight is in oz...

Picture your best hard finished Irish linen white Sunday church shirt and that's about the weight.

On the Sir Pendleton worsted wool shirts, neither the collars nor sleeves are satin lined like one may want or see with a heavier, coarser wool hunting shirt.

I can wear the coarsest wool right next to my skin with no itching-allergies..My wife cannot..:)

The worsted wool Pendleton are fine finished and I cannot imagine anyone feeling any itchi-ness from them..

IF you have any shops that sell Pendleton..go take a look-see-feel and you'll get a better idea of what the fabric weight and feel is like.
They are tops for casual dress..or layering for outdoor work-hunting..and wear like iron if cared for well.

I wear mine for days and simply hang them and let them air before putting them in the closet.
Women still have no problems coming close to me to talk..:)

Dry clean maybe every two months after many days hours of wear.

I'm not a sweat hog..but short of getting them really soiled, maint is minimal and they still look and smell good..:) Jim

I don't care for Woolite because it doesn't rinse very clean, leaving a soap residue on the fibers. The soap residue attracts and holds dirt, making your clothing less efficient. Try using a mild lingerie soap instead. I use "Forever New." It is rinsed out in one rinse cycle. It's a great product. I tossed my whole bottle of woolite after I discovered this stuff.

Wash the wool clothing in the washer, but also use Downy or something similar in the rinse cycle. It actually adds a little water repellency to the wool fibers. (Never figured out why the advertisements showed people using it with towels... )

M

Thanks for the tips. I'll look for some Forever New. I agree 100% with using softner on towels BTW, I like my towels clean, rough, and absorbant.

Nikwax is also a pretty good water resistant treatment for wool outergarments.

Well, I'm going to throw my .02 in this discussion. I'm with the crew that says wool just can't be beat. I've been wearing the KOM woolens for 14 years now and find it hard to beat. I've got 4 different types/weights of underwear, from silks to heavy wool ulfrotte, to cover the various conditions, and find that I can do it all in comfort with this set up. There have only been a handful of days that I can remember where it didn't do the job as well as I'd like. I'll be wearing it tomorrow in 55 degree daytime highs...I've also had it on while on stand in 10 below. For warmer weather bowhunting I don't use it and am still searching for the perfect clothing for that situation. I'm thinking of dropping the cash on some sitka gear for next year, as it looks good and have heard some positive things from pards who use it. I'll wait and see what next year brings to the market. Also have some pards who swear by the RW stuff, but I feel that I've got the bases covered in the temperature range with the KOM. I'm always ready to try out that next best product, however, which keeps my wife grinning as I can out shop her when it comes to hunting togs!!!

Our spouses may have a hard time understanding the need for dozens of firearms, but don't seem to drag their feet too hard when we buy more outdoor clothing do they? I think we've found a loophole for buying some neat stuff we want since they'll dare not ask "why do you need more clothes?"

As a side note, I've got my wife loving wool socks when she's going casual with jeans. The crusade continues......

A few days after my ill-considered post that Brad replied to so eloquently I was getting ready to go out on a sunset watch. It was a little more than misty out, temperatures in the high 30's, low 40's and a pretty good wind out of the north. For whatever reason I reached past the synthetics and got my old Johnson Mills caped jacket off the rack. Spent a couple of hours in a tree stand thinking "Why did I ever get away from this?" Just got off the Filson website after spending damn near $800. Thanks a lot guys.

Jim, I wish our good will store was a well stocked as yours.

Youper, I'm sure what part of the country one lives in dictates what will turn in at the second hand stores..tho maybe some old timers may retire & pass on while retired in Michigan?..:)
I saw decent wool at second hadn stores in eastern North Carolina..I'd bet the wool wasn't bought new by folks living there..but who knows?

I'd think you could find some decent wool secondhand..but maybe the Up folks have enough sense to pass it down or keep it rather than giving it away?? Jim