WOOL

[Freedom4US]

Synthetics have largely replaced wool as they are lighter in weight and dry quicker, while still providing insulation (warmth) even when soaked.

My favorite articles though are a pair of pre-shrunk boiled wool mittens made by Dachstein. Most everything requires gloves, but if not those babies get put on w/ a pair windproof shells. If my hands get cold then, I gots problems.

[mamelukesabre]

Interesting.

I’ve noticed I can’t stand modern puffy comforters unless I throw a heavy blanket on top of them. If I get too warm I just let my feet hang out.

[Lurker]

Hey now....

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

I’ll be sure to wear it only when in mild fires.

[RedMDer]

Click the link. The Republic you save may be your own.

[Disambiguator]

I lived in a Filson wool vest most of last winter, and it was great. I didn’t need a jacket sometimes.

[Chickensoup]

I buy LLBeans longer grey rag-wool socks. They are about 20 dollars for three pair. I like the longer versions. I wear them all winter and on cold nights I have my bed pair.

of course I now have a mattress pad heater and my life is nigh unto wonderful.

Years ago I purchased a pair of ragg wool knee socks, the kind that were used for cross-counry skiing when people wore CC skiing knickers...ok this was in the 90’s. They were wonderful ragg socks and lasted almost 15 years of winter use. Have not been able to find them again.

[jocon307]

Silk is actually the warmest fiber, by weight, or so I’ve been told.

[Sherman Logan]

Synthetic fleece and advanced materials are much warmer than wool for the weight. Also dry faster and insulate better when wet.

If you want to really know about fabric performance, ask ice climbers and winter mountaineers. Synthetics of various types have almost replaced wool for this group.

[mamelukesabre]

I tried some military long underwear made of some kind of synthetic that was supposed to be superior to wool. I didn’t like it. It didn’t feel warmer than wool to me.

[takebackaustin]

In college I asked a textile major coed the same question, and she said that the wool fibres have an alpha and beta helix, ( like DNA ), i.e. a molecular chain which is a helix of helixes, which makes the fibres so space-filling. I would add, you can't spin an alpha / beta helix squirting liquefied plastic out of tiny jets, as with synthetic fibres. It would be better if the wool and mohair promotion boards positioned natural fibre as “advanced biomolecules”.

A lot of what makes wool and mohair warm is that, when wet or moist, it still insulates. This may be due to polar amino acids holding the water molecules within the helix rather than having water continuous from inside to outside of the fabric, permitting conduction and (liquid) convection.

Also, wool and mohair don't burn and melt easily like artificial fibre, additional reasons that the military use it. I think that for mountaineering, wool is old school. Synthetics are more convenient but not better. If it is your survival, use wool.

[calex59]

I stand corrected but still love wool!:)