Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting What's better than wool?

Is their anything? My deer hunting clothes are now mostly wool. They're great for warmth and being quiet but are a pain to clean.

I'm open to ideas if anyone has anything better.

Polypropylene or polar fleece. It is lighter than wool, dries faster than wool, and its just as warm if worn under a wind proof layer. But I still like wool for the "cozy" feel it has.

Ingwe says that there is nothing he likes better than wool... but you know those Montana boys.



John

So I see you met my ex wife...

WildewewillregretdatingherAlaska ��2002-2011

True that wool is hard to clean usually but polypro trends to smell. Also wool is more durable than fleece.


ddj

Most synthetics.

nope. I'll give you a few, but not most.

I have been using Cabela's wooltimate fleece for a couple of years. It is a blend of wool and fleece that is very easy to care for. You can machine wash and dry in the dryer on low. It works well in the field and is very comfortable.

hard to beat beaver, for anything

Synthetics have their place depending on conditions but I use a fair amount of wool. I tried a wool baselayer top a couple of seasons ago, bought another last year and picked up some bottoms a couple of weeks ago. I can wear the wool underwear a few days and not stink. Also found some woolrich pants in a wool/nylon blend with a camo pattern. My Mack Cruiser gets used for long cold days on stand, it's heavy but warm.

I use various weights of fleece for mid layers and put my wool vest over those, under my shell layer. My shell is either a fleece, soft shell, or hard shell, again depending on conditions and if I'm moving much.

20-25 years ago we would debate what was best to wear while sitting around the table at camp after spending a cold or wet day in the woods. I feel pretty good about staying warm and dry these days.

Edit: Then there's the waxed cotton stuff but not for deer hunting. Nice for busting brush chasing birds and bunnies.

Not only a pain to clean, wool is heavy, absorbs water and attracts every cocklebur, sandburr and tickseed known to man.

I have carried on the WI,MI whitetail hunter tradition of my Granddad, Dad and Uncles wearing a Mackinaw wool coat and Malone wool pants. No more. Those clothes will not be hanging in the wind out on the back porch come November.



I understand the argument for wearing wool, but I have gone over to the dark side of wearing 60/40% blends and synthetics in a multilayered look.

I would say go with a merino wool baselayer (Minus33 is a very affordable brand when compared to manufacturers like SmartWool) and use whatever you like (synthetics) over it. I'm a pretty sweaty guy and if I use a synthetic base layer, the fabric ends up stinking to high heaven. Wool doesn't really get stinky for me, and it's great at wicking. Cotton, on the other hand, is something I would avoid at all costs. It gets wet and stays wet, and starts to stink. When scent control is important in your hunt (such as when hunting deer), cotton should be avoided at all costs.

as long as you're not too hard on it.

what the hell fun is that?

No kidding - learned the hard way. Ever see a bulldog eating mayo?

Multi layering man made synthetics is comfy.

A Montanan mentioned a thong with some type of big cat print on it.

I really can not remember who it is. He likes the 270 and Savage rifles.

And Ive been nice to you all day....

Harumph! I am feeling ignored...

John

This seemed fitting:

AC/DC dirty deeds done with sheep:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCRE9qOgbug