Non-wool cold weather clothing

[ncboman]

rather than hijack the wool thread;

I went to Coshocton Co, Ohio last Nov and it was unseasonably brisk the morning I arrived. I stopped at the General Store in Plainfield for some local info and a big cup of brew and met a fella that had already kilt his buck. :)

Well, you know the deal. I got to talkin with him and as we got outside to look at the beast, I noticed the brrrr... cold wind woan botherin him at all. I was snug in my Rivers West but he didn't have hardly nothin on. :confused:

I was thinkin about all my internet friends though and didn't try to commit the brand name to memory. :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v50/ncboman/Ohio%2008/Archery1108101.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v50/ncboman/Ohio%2008/Archery1108099.jpg

Jay Hunt from Michigan at Plainfield, Ohio.

I expect the wind chill was 20f or less when I took the pics. We were both warm but I was bulked up more. :rolleyes:

ncboman

[Bushman]

NCB, Jay looks like he might be packing some extra insulation around his middle and he might have been coffeed up before you got there. Pumped over his buck at the very least. Also being from MI. he is more used to colder weather than you would be from NC. Dad wintered in AZ. after he retired and wore a down jacket well into the late spring once he got back up here.

On the wool verses synthetic issue in cold weather, I don't think that it is an all or none kind of thing. My best cold weather outfits over the years have been combinations of the two technologies. My pants have always been Woolrich double seat / double knee wool breaches. The kind that tapers down to a tighter cuff that goes inside your boot tops. Always synthetic wicking underwear and always Gore-Tex fleece camo as an outer layer. Smart Wool socks and a felt pad in each rubber boot and synthetic Thinsulate Bootblankets over those. Always a wool heavy shirt but an acrylic sweater or fleece or down on the outside. Thinsulate in the muff with cotton jersey gloves. Synthetic again, usually acrylic, for the head and neck. I do like wool, but it takes longer to dry, is heavier and smells like a wet sheep when it gets wet.

[MOGC]

My best cold weather outfits over the years have been combinations of the two technologies.

Me too!

[DancesWithKnives]

Good points. Most of my merino wool stuff is base layer. For me, the top brands (like Ibex and Smartwool) don't seem to hold moisture badly or smell like wet sheep. My second layer during Montana hunting season is usually a good weather-resistant synthetic fleece jacket.

DWK